From the recording The Flip Side: Well, what do we have here!
Ode to Gertie Ryan I wrote for a concert for a woman blacksmith’s convention on International Women’s Day. I wanted a song that fit the occasion, but despite being raised in a rural farming area, I had never met female blacksmiths until that conference. Instead, I drew upon the complexities of annual agricultural exhibitions. I play off the name Gertrude Stein, plus things I knew about my relatives’ and ancestors’ lives, threw in cultural changes I’ve witnessed and the challenge of making up rhymes that are silly! Then, when the guys and I started arranging it, we couldn’t resist taking it over the top with sound effects. Listen for the merry-go-round’s calliope (by Staples), and La Marseillaise and Randy the Auctioneer (Larry, who joined me for the pig duet too). The rooster and chicken chorus is from our neighbour Joe’s flock. I asked him what time of day to come over to record them, and he answered “Well, they’re early birds.” Hence their name.
Up and coming artist, Ada Denil, created the animated video with me. It should be on Youtube by now too: https://youtu.be/lnz9OytgdBc
Lyrics
Ode to Gertie Ryan
by Karen Robinson
I‘ll tell you a story about a gal named Gertie Ryan,
A normal gal she seemed but she proved before her tyame,
An unlikely Heroyan of the feminist kyand
She nearly burned the farmhouse down when the Heavens sent a sian
Left the laundry on the lyan, left the fry pan fryin’
But Gert started runnin’ her own farm…since 19 twenty-nyan
(Back then) Women spent their days with sox to darn & clothes to iron
Making dowry lace or dinner for the men they stood behyand
Sure sisters, now we know these things are fyan,
It’s just we women are not all of the same myand
There’s been a revolution - one step at a tyame
Thanks to those like Gertie Ryan
Gertie Ryan, Gertie Ryan, Gertie Ryan! (repeat)
Our story happened at the County Fair paradigm
Amidst the heady smell of horse manure and bailer twiane
Guys were showin’ cattle, slappin’ flanks & lyin’
All the while their rivals they were eyein’
But in the ladies baking contest things weren’t so Sublyame
Over biscuit dough the newlyweds and veterans were vyin’
Young Sadie jostled for her place in lyan
To win at flaky crusted apple pie’n
The Stakes Were High...high…high!
N’ when our Gertie happened by, it had her turnin’ on a diame
Saw the peril Sadie faced as young Sadie started cryin’
Clever Sadie who loved ox pulls and horse buyin’
Was destined for a life of flour and lard and sighin’
N’ parsley sage rosemary and thyam (yes,“Thyamme”)
(speak) Not a brassiere’d been burned yet, That would come, there’s no denyan
Gertie saw her own life fly’n here was Sadie in her priame
If Sadie couldn’t quit this pantomiame, Oh, it would be a cryame
Sadie sweating at the prospect of a life of baking bread
When Gertie knew Sadie’d really rather pitch manure instead
(Now folks)
By now, we know that heros come in many shapes and sizes
N’ ya never know just who’ll step up when the temperature rises
Heat was building…sweat & flour were flyin’
Oooooh I wish those frosted cakes were myan…mmm-mmm
Sadie wields the apple peeler, tears mix with the pastry
Brave Sadie was still tryin’ so Gert couldn’t be too hasty
In denims strode through aprons in a bee-lianne.
The room was still as Gertie stopped… and firm, but kiannd… said…
Sadie… Put That Peeler Dayown (Repeat)
In a flash, Sadie blossomed where before her soul’d been dyan
And in a floury heap she left her frilly apron lyin’
Grabbed the pitch fork that she’d been spyin’
Ran to her future with flowing hair a flyin’
Sadie runs this whole darned county fair since 19 Thirty-nyan
Thanks to Gertie Ryan!
Gertie Ryan, Gertie Ryan, Gertie Ryan! (repeat)
Once, women spent their days with sox to darn & clothes to iron
Making dowry lace or dinner for the men they stood behyand
Sure sisters, now we know these things are fyan,
It’s just we women are not all of the same myand
There’s been a revolution… Gals are building… gals are flyin’
(speak) “One small step for woman,
One giant leap for womankyand”
Thanks to those like Gertie Ryan
Gertie Ryan, Gertie Ryan, Gertie Ryan! (repeat X 2)
© 2010 Karen Robinson