Clint Edwards Music.com

“Fat Tuesday Caterwaul”

Music composed, orchestrated, and recorded by CLINT EDWARDS
Lyrics by MICHAEL AMAN

From “Becoming Tennessee”

Performed by (in order of appearance): Jessica Carter, Steven Ray Watkins, Lauren Bradley, Adam Mastrelli, and Harris Doran.

The past several weeks have been filled with lots of rehearsals and recording sessions putting together the demo CD of my musical “Becoming Tennessee.” This post features one of the new tracks, “Fat Tuesday Caterwaul,” scored for a New Orleans band and a bunch of friends, both new and old, singing their hearts out. Thank you so much to everyone who graciously gave their time and talents to help Michael and I record all of the songs. It would not have been possible without you!

“Fat Tuesday Caterwaul” is a song from the second act of “Becoming Tennessee.” It brings together Tom “Tennessee” Williams with his friend Nick, the paratrooper, as they join a New Orleans Crewe decorating their float for the big Mardi Gras parade on Tuesday. It is still morning, but the partying has started early and will continue all week long.

“The Fat Tuesday Caterwaul”

Mardi Gras in the French Quarter

Various Chorus:
For most of the year no one plays.
We’re happy to sit in the haze.
Three hundred and sixty-four days
Of piddlin, fiddlin, twiddlin thumbs.

Though scads of distractions might knock,
We don’t dare to open the lock.
We’re counting the tics on the clock
Until Fat Tuesday comes.

Then we run amuck,
As hell breaks loose.
We could resist,
But what’s the use?
So heed the call
Of the alcohol.
It’s the Fat Tuesday,
The Fat Tuesday Caterwaul.

You never could tell from our grins
That we have such shame for our sins.
That’s why when Ash Wednesday begins
We’re lented, contented, repented, contrite.

So let the dementia ensue,
And bid all your morals adieu.
Then write God a big I.O.U.
For twelve o’clock that night.

Then the city rocks,
And buildings sway.
And churches look
The other way.
When ev’ry wall
Seems it just might fall.
That’s the Fat Tuesday, Fat Tuesday,
The Fat Tuesday Caterwaul.

(Tom is passing. He is carrying his typewriter case. Nick sees Tom and recognizes him.)

Nick:
Hey, Walt Whitman!
(Tom panics and starts to leave.)
Where you going? Come back here. You’re not upset about that money, are you? I’ll pay you back. I promise. I’ve been having fun. You see this? This is art! They’re getting it ready for the parade on Tuesday. You should stick with me and we’ll do it up big, but we’ll need to get a head start to keep up with these locals. How much money you got?

Tom:
I don’t have any.

Nick:
What’s in the case? That your typewriter?

Tom:
I’m selling it.

Nick:
That’s the spirit! Let’s live it up. I owe you a lot. Let me make it up to you. What do you say?

Tom:
I don’t know.

Nick:
On Wednesday I’m going back to the base,
Smile on my face,
Maybe a trace
Of gin on my breath,
Feeling like death
Warmed over…
But between now and then I’m rolling in clover.

Four days of restraint to endure.
My goal is to end in the sew’r.
I hear that the city turns pure
Insanity, vanity, man, it e-rupts.

Tom:
The life that a libertine has,
We’ll blame it on bourbon and jazz,
Cuz we are as innocent as
A couple of pups.

Nick:
I had heard the south
was all uptight.
I must admit
I seen the light!
Halleluiah!
So listen y’all
To my southern drawl.
It’s my first Fat Tuesday Caterwaul.

We’ll jump up on one of them floats
While pouring some hooch down our throats.
It’s time to start sewing some oats.
Begin to dive into a sin to confess.

Tom:
We all wear our vices with pride.
I can’t keep desires inside.
It’s useless, believe me, I’ve tried
Without much success.

Tom and Nick:
It’s all about celebration, intoxication,
The preparation to tempt temptation.
Put moderation in moderation.
Tom:
Robbing Peter
Nick:
Then robbing Paul!
Both:
The Fat Tuesday Caterwaul.
(Tom picks up his typewriter case.)

Nick:
Atta boy. I remember where you live. I’ll meet you there Monday night. Go get ‘em.

Tom:
See you later, Nick.
(Tom leaves. We see him with the Auctioneer exchanging the typewriter for cash.)

Chorus:
Put restraint away
And join the romp
Come take a swim
Here in the swamp.
Come one, come all
To our drunken brawl.
It’s the Fat Tuesday, Fat Tuesday,
The Fat Tuesday Caterwaul.

So run or crawl
Without guilt or gall
It’s the Fat Tuesday…
Fat Tuesday Caterwaul.
Fat Tuesday!

Fat Tuesday in New Orlean

Upcoming performances:

Reginald Bennett Jr. will be performing my song “Farewell” twice in November:

On November 8th, in NYC, at St. John’s in the Village. 8:00 PM

On November 15th, in Beacon, NY, at the Howland Center. 8:00 PM

I will be playing at “One If By Land, Two If By Sea” on Saturday, November 8th, and Tuesday, November 25th.

www.OneIfByLand.com/home.html

Tags: Becoming Tennessee