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Walking My Mandolin

from Pocket Hang Glider by Boris McCutcheon

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about

I wrote this song about my first guitar lesson with Ralph Rinzler. Ralph had a huge influence me on me. He would never go anywhere without an instrument. He would tune his banjo to the ferry boats engine sometimes. He was the famous mandolin player from the Greenbrier boys among other things.. He hired me to drive his private collection of wax cylinders from Washington DC to Ojai California. I was only 20 years old at the time when I passed through New Mexico. I was never the same after I laid eyes on New Mexico and the southwest.

lyrics

Walking my Mandolin

Walking my mandolin up the trail
It's been weary not wagging its tail
People smile as I'm walking along
I don't even have to bang a gong
Music to me has always been the holy grail
So I'm walking my Mandolin up the trail, walking my mandolin up the trail

I knew an old man who carried a banjo
On his back everywhere he go
Way down south in the wood
Elizabeth Cotton taught him good
He showed me three chords to play
And I play them to this day
Knew an old man who carried an banjo
I knew an old man who carried a banjo

He’d go wee Lila Lila Lie lie lie lie wee
He’d go wee Lila Lila Lie lie lie lie wee

I got an old beater I don’t worry about
I take it down rivers we howl and shout
Nothing’s wrong when we play that song
And all the pain in the world is gone
I feel worthy I feel free, when it’s sitting on my knee
Got an old beater I don’t worry about
Got an old beater I don’t worry about

We go wee Lila Lila Lie lie lie lie wee
We go wee Lila Lila Lie lie lie lie wee

I can tune it up to a ferry boat
You won't even hear the note
Tune it up to a seagulls cry tune it up on the fly
Tune it up to a clambake tune it up to a frozen lake tune it up to a rattlesnake
Tune it up to something small don't get me stoned I want tune at all
Tune it up to something big tune it up to an oil rig
Tune it up to your beating heart even though we're worlds apart
Tune it up to the last suns rays shining on my dusty days
Tune it up to a fog horn tune it up to a newly born
Music to me has always been the holy grail
So I'm walking my mandolin up the trail
Walking my mandolin up the trail
I'm going wee Lila Lila Lie lie lie lie wee

credits

from Pocket Hang Glider, released November 20, 2023
boris solo

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Boris McCutcheon Dixon, New Mexico

Mother Ditch (2001) When We Were Big (2003) Turbulent Amusement (live) (2004) Cactusman vs the Blue Demon (2006) Lost Sessions and B-Sides (2006) Bad Road, Good People (2008) Wheel of Life (2010)Utrecht (live) (2011)Boris McCutcheon Sings the Songs of Townes Van Zandt (2012)Might Crash! (2013)I’m Here Let Me In (2017)• 2004 Boston Music Awards best male singer songwriter• 2004 ... more

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