17 February 2004 (Tuesday)
MP3 Demo - Download Here (2.4mb)
I was meditating on Hopper's challenge early on that I write a song on "what I love most about Wisconsin." That's hard, because it's generally unloveable, with only two seasons (a short warm one and a long cold one) and nary an armadillo in sight. But I have to say the beer is worth it. So this is my ode to the New Glarus Brewing Company in particular. I thought about writing a separate verse for each beer they make, but that'd get boring... so I just wrote about the ones I've actually had. I need to tour the brewery sometime.
Note: I was actually finishing off the 6-pack of Spotted Cow I had in the fridge as I recorded this demo (about 6 takes layered on top of each other, trying to get that "sing-along drinking song" feel). Natalie helped with some of the clapping, and she hasn't the best sense of rhythm in the world... but in all fairness, she informed me that "Edel-Pils" is pronounced "ee-del" and the last syllable of "Reinheitsgebot" is pronounced "boat." My mistake. She learned her German in a classroom, and I learned most of mine in a bar near a tent in München. Go figure.
Uff-Da, Wisconsin!
lyrics/music by Burr Settles
Uff-Da!! Wisconsin!
I drink to your Spotted Cow
your Hearty Hop can keep me warm
when the snow will not allow
your brewing skills and Edel-Pils
will never quite go stale, so
Uff-Da!! Wisconsin!
I drink to your Native Ale!
when I came to the snowy north
from the hills where grass is blue
I knew not quite what to expect
or what beverage to pursue
but fortune mine, I was to find,
ten score miles south of Harris
a family of saintly suds
from a brew-house in New Glarus
(repeat chorus)
barkley flakes and local malts
conditioned in a cask
a hint of corn for flavor
it's more than we could ask
a cloud of yeast when brewing's ceased
remains while up for sale
so have a pint of bovine beer
as I recount my tale
(repeat chorus)
the pilsner, she is special
a creation all their own
straight from south Bavaria
the special yeast is flown!
brewed with bitter barley
in the cellars it will rest
until finally we break it out
and we know that it's the best
(repeat chorus)
to please the gods of winter
we sample now the bock,
with chocolate-coffee undertones
in the style of Reinheitsgebot
naturally mahogany
both in stature and in hue
this fine make is no mistake
and I raise my glass to you!
(repeat chorus)
Comments: 5
This rocks! I can't wait to hear it!
Eric [09:09AM CST 17-Feb-2004]
I agree Eric, this song is going to rule. Funny you mention this brewery Burr because I just found one here in LA called the Westwood Brewing Co. and they have $2 pints on Tuesdays...which means...um, I'll be there tonight! ha ha. I think you should present this song and the lyrics in a plaque so they can put it on the wall - who knows you might get some free beer out of the whole ordeal??? (if you do - snag me a six pack of the pilsner and bring it over when you visit)...
hopper [01:52PM CST 17-Feb-2004]
ha ha ha...this rocks.
I have a good idea Burr - we can redo this track and send it to each fawm member and add our own vocals on the chorus! it could be a nationally recorded song.
hey - my friend kate lives in wisconson and she might e-mail you...you should take her to the brewery and hook her up with a nice friend Burr.
hopper [12:53AM CST 19-Feb-2004]
i sent an e-mail this afternoon to the brewery and let them know the song exists. i wonder if they'll get back to me?? or what they'll think?
burr [10:44PM CST 19-Feb-2004]
if you get free beer out of this I'm gonna write a song for all my favorite breweries!
hopper [01:24AM CST 20-Feb-2004]