From Cape Cod Light to the Mississip', to San Francisco Bay, They're talkin' 'bout this famous place, down Greenwich Village way. They hootenanny all the time with folks from everywhere, Come Sunday morning, rain or shine, right in Washington Square. An' so I got my banjo out, jes' sittin', catchin' dust, An' painted right across the case: "Greenwich Village or Bust!" My folks were sad to see me go, but I got no meanin' there. So I said, "Goodbye, Kansas, Mo. And hello, Washington Square!" Near Tennessee, I met a guy who played 12-string guitar. He also had a mighty voice, not to mention a car. Each time he hit those bluegrass chords, you sure smelled mountain air, I said, "Don't waste it on the wind. C'mon to Washington Square." In New Orleans, we saw a gal a-walkin' with no shoes, An' from her throat there comes a growl, she sure was singin' the blues. She sang for all humanity, this gal with raven hair. I said, "It's for the world to hear, C'mon to Washington Square." We cannonballed into New York on good old US 1, Till up ahead we saw the arch, a-gleamin' bright in the sun. As far as all the eye could see, ten thousand folks was there, And singin' in sweet harmony right in Washington Square. Say how's about a freedom song, or the ole' "Rock Island Line"! Or how's about the dust-bowl crop, or men who work in a mine? The songs and legends of our land is gold we all can share, So come and join us folks who stand and sing in Washington Square.
Many years ago I was learning how to dance, pushing the teacher over and over again to play this song. Somehow he humored me and I was delighted. Now I found this and feel like that young girl, dreaming and loving music so much. Singing, no shoes and still with raven hair. Thank you so much for posting, you made me smile now days are hard.
You're off by two years. The Village Stompers original was on the charts in the Fall of 1963. Your memory of the song should probably include JFK's untimely demise.
oh wow this is one of my dearest songs from all time, one of the most beautiful songs I have ever heard and I've heard so many versions, but I now think, that this might be my favourite out of all of them! I just stumbled upon this, never knew it! Damn!
The song really should have been a big hit for them, but sadly it was not. Wish someone could tinker with it and bring out a DES stereo version. Those brothers could really sing! Many thanks for posting!
Thank you for this. I think I only heard this sung with lyrics once, probably faintly on a distant radio station one night, but I never stopped looking for it. Such a middle-of-the-road group singing the beatnik anthem, but great musicians can make anything work, and this one absolutely does.
@twitteriscancer5403 Yep. Drugs and/or alcohol brought down some of the best. Part of it is fame and the fear of losing it. I have some experience with this.
This song should be turned into a movie about a traveling band that comes to Washington Square Park to find out if they can makes it in folk music. I am a New Yorker who grew up in NYC during the Mad Men era of the 1960s.
Great old tune. Learned from my parents and their friends who played it often on their "phonograph" during card games. Later in life, when I was about 23, I went to Washington Square in NYC. Twice for some goofy reason. BORING!
Oh Dale you made me chuckle when you called a "record player" a "phonograph". Isn't it funny how the decades change our verbage? 😁🎶🪕🤗🎼Yes I still remember the 78s my grandparents had. 😊
Despite the RCA Victor album cover, this song wasn't recorded for RCA, it was recorded for Epic Records, and probably included the Village Stompers, the instrumental Folk-Dixie band that had the instrumental hit version of "Washington Square" backing the Ames Brothers up on the song. Also, Ed Ames doesn't appear on this song; he already left the band for a solo career on RCA Victor, leaving the Ames Brothers as a trio.
I heard this on the radio last night and got my cellphone out to see what it was. It was the Village Stompers instrumental version. I couldn't quit humming it. Nice to find the lyrical version especially by the Ames' brothers. I'm kind of disappointed to see Ed wasn't with them then. I grew up loving his Daniel Boone character, Mingo. He had a beautiful singing voice, too. Thanks for your information.
@@olderendirt That's primarily why Ed left the brothers. RCA renegotiated Ed's contract as a solo artist in 1963, while the brothers moved over to Epic records to continue until their disbanding in 1965. Ed also wanted to try out his acting chops, since he wanted to prove he could act as well as sing, and wound up on a couple of TV shows as a result. Although it was not a hit TV show, it was Ed's guest appearance on the Screen Gems TV western, "Redigo" in September 1963 that convinced the executives at 20th Century Fox that Ed could play a major role in a TV western they were developing in the works starring Fess Parker titled "Daniel Boone." They casted Ed as the Native American Indian Mingo, even though Ed is Jewish in real life . The rest was history for Ed's acting career until he left in the final 1969-1970 season to continue his singing career.
The three brothers recorded in Nashville so the band was probably local musicians and not the Stompers. Ed didn't resume recording until late '63 after the brothers had made all their Epic records. Their producer Jim Foglesong went on to produce Ed's records until 1971. Ed never wanted a reunion with the group. He joked that they'd come back as the Andrews Sisters. His leaving the group took their unique sound away and eventually the other brothers also split up and had to find new occupations.
More evidence that musicians are all on drugs 24/7... If you go from Kansas to Tennessee to Washington, but you somehow end up in New Orleans.... :D :D :D
I'm commenting so whenever someone likes it I can come back and listen to this piece again
I re-like this comment whenever I come back to listen again
commenting to summon you again
Cmon to Washington square!
There’s good music here
I love this song!
R.I.P. Ed Ames, Thank You For The Music 🎶
When they saw the raven haired girl with that voice, Mariska Veres instantly came to mind...
Mi favorita desde el año 1963. Con esa canción nos despertaba mi papá para ir a la escuela. Desde La Paz, República de Bolivia
From Cape Cod Light to the Mississip', to San Francisco Bay,
They're talkin' 'bout this famous place, down Greenwich Village way.
They hootenanny all the time with folks from everywhere,
Come Sunday morning, rain or shine, right in Washington Square.
An' so I got my banjo out, jes' sittin', catchin' dust,
An' painted right across the case: "Greenwich Village or Bust!"
My folks were sad to see me go, but I got no meanin' there.
So I said, "Goodbye, Kansas, Mo. And hello, Washington Square!"
Near Tennessee, I met a guy who played 12-string guitar.
He also had a mighty voice, not to mention a car.
Each time he hit those bluegrass chords, you sure smelled mountain air,
I said, "Don't waste it on the wind. C'mon to Washington Square."
In New Orleans, we saw a gal a-walkin' with no shoes,
An' from her throat there comes a growl, she sure was singin' the blues.
She sang for all humanity, this gal with raven hair.
I said, "It's for the world to hear, C'mon to Washington Square."
We cannonballed into New York on good old US 1,
Till up ahead we saw the arch, a-gleamin' bright in the sun.
As far as all the eye could see, ten thousand folks was there,
And singin' in sweet harmony right in Washington Square.
Say how's about a freedom song, or the ole' "Rock Island Line"!
Or how's about the dust-bowl crop, or men who work in a mine?
The songs and legends of our land is gold we all can share,
So come and join us folks who stand and sing in Washington Square.
ㄳ
This is me & my 8yr old favorite song she must have an old soul to like this long 😊
I got the Village Stompers single for Christmas 1963. I was seven.
One of the best folk songs.
Yep. A might wind is blowing.
Un monde que l'on ne connaîtra jamais
wow ... totally brings me back
Sam Hui, an old singer from Hong Kong, use the melody of this song to sing "Hok Sanng Goh" (which means "Students").
學生哥 is the most famous vocal version.
Many years ago I was learning how to dance, pushing the teacher over and over again to play this song. Somehow he humored me and I was delighted. Now I found this and feel like that young girl, dreaming and loving music so much. Singing, no shoes and still with raven hair.
Thank you so much for posting, you made me smile now days are hard.
I remember this song coming out out of my 49 buick sonamatic radio in 61. Song gone but buick still lives
You're off by two years. The Village Stompers original was on the charts in the Fall of 1963. Your memory of the song should probably include JFK's untimely demise.
I couldn't find this version on Spotify. I love this one.
oh wow this is one of my dearest songs from all time, one of the most beautiful songs I have ever heard and I've heard so many versions, but I now think, that this might be my favourite out of all of them! I just stumbled upon this, never knew it! Damn!
Always wondered if this catchy tune had words. Now I know and I love the lyrics!!!! NH
I just want to pack a guitar and head straight back to 1965!
This song has lyrics? Who knew? The only version I've ever known all these years is the famous instrumental version by the Village Stompers.
I think it is an instrumental and the Ames brothers just made their own lyrics
Another famous instrumental from the same time frame was Stranger On The Shore. Andy Williams hurriedly released a vocal version.
學生哥…好溫書咯…
Absolutely great
The song really should have been a big hit for them, but sadly it was not. Wish someone could tinker with it and bring out a DES stereo version. Those brothers could really sing! Many thanks for posting!
it was used in a chinese man song
Biutiful song
I never forget this melody for a Cantonese pop song named “學生哥” (Students) sang by Mr Sam Hui. The lyrics is to advise students to study hard.
THIS FANTASTIC SONG WAS A "BRIDGE," BETWEEN THE "BEAT GENERATION," "THE HIPPIES," AND "NEW AGE." WOW !!!
Wow. How exactly? I' m really curious
Thank you for this. I think I only heard this sung with lyrics once, probably faintly on a distant radio station one night, but I never stopped looking for it. Such a middle-of-the-road group singing the beatnik anthem, but great musicians can make anything work, and this one absolutely does.
@twitteriscancer5403 They probably weren't, but those were days of conformity in thought, dress, and music, so it was tough to tell.
@twitteriscancer5403 Yep. Drugs and/or alcohol brought down some of the best. Part of it is fame and the fear of losing it. I have some experience with this.
Never could find the lyrics, thanks for the post !
Great music
This is amazing
I get on a crazy natural high while listing to this
I never knew this song had lyrics.
Me neither, but I'm glad to have found them.
Yes
I'm sure they were added after the village stompers hit
@@EPA18 they were, the one maralyn maye sung was the first with lyrics from the word go.
ua-cam.com/video/ZkB1uDEAXt8/v-deo.html
Holy shit this is so good
This is an interesting version of Washington square
학창시절즐기던음악 생각난다
This song should be turned into a movie about a traveling band that comes to Washington Square Park to find out if they can makes it in folk music. I am a New Yorker who grew up in NYC during the Mad Men era of the 1960s.
GRACIAS !!!!!
Why is this version not on any music streaming platforms?
Great old tune. Learned from my parents and their friends who played it often on their "phonograph" during card games. Later in life, when I was about 23, I went to Washington Square in NYC. Twice for some goofy reason. BORING!
Oh Dale you made me chuckle when you called a "record player" a "phonograph". Isn't it funny how the decades change our verbage? 😁🎶🪕🤗🎼Yes I still remember the 78s my grandparents had. 😊
Everyone did. Like San Francisco ten years later.
Despite the RCA Victor album cover, this song wasn't recorded for RCA, it was recorded for Epic Records, and probably included the Village Stompers, the instrumental Folk-Dixie band that had the instrumental hit version of "Washington Square" backing the Ames Brothers up on the song. Also, Ed Ames doesn't appear on this song; he already left the band for a solo career on RCA Victor, leaving the Ames Brothers as a trio.
I heard this on the radio last night and got my cellphone out to see what it was. It was the Village Stompers instrumental version. I couldn't quit humming it. Nice to find the lyrical version especially by the Ames' brothers. I'm kind of disappointed to see Ed wasn't with them then. I grew up loving his Daniel Boone character, Mingo. He had a beautiful singing voice, too. Thanks for your information.
@@olderendirt That's primarily why Ed left the brothers. RCA renegotiated Ed's contract as a solo artist in 1963, while the brothers moved over to Epic records to continue until their disbanding in 1965. Ed also wanted to try out his acting chops, since he wanted to prove he could act as well as sing, and wound up on a couple of TV shows as a result. Although it was not a hit TV show, it was Ed's guest appearance on the Screen Gems TV western, "Redigo" in September 1963 that convinced the executives at 20th Century Fox that Ed could play a major role in a TV western they were developing in the works starring Fess Parker titled "Daniel Boone." They casted Ed as the Native American Indian Mingo, even though Ed is Jewish in real life . The rest was history for Ed's acting career until he left in the final 1969-1970 season to continue his singing career.
Muy interesante tu información, amigo. Saludos.
@@robertorick6383 Ed left Daniel Boone before the last season of the show..
The three brothers recorded in Nashville so the band was probably local musicians and not the Stompers. Ed didn't resume recording until late '63 after the brothers had made all their Epic records. Their producer Jim Foglesong went on to produce Ed's records until 1971. Ed never wanted a reunion with the group. He joked that they'd come back as the Andrews Sisters. His leaving the group took their unique sound away and eventually the other brothers also split up and had to find new occupations.
Some other group sang it as well. Wish I could remember them.
James Last has a version with vocals on his ''Beach Party'' LP
Looking at the poster - that just could have painted one brother!
Qué hermosas voces para una hermosa melodía, desde siempre me ha gustado mucho esta pieza musical, me trae recuerdos de adolescencia.
I can't recall if I originally heard this with lyrics or as a plain tune. But I can hear it sounds like "Bunyip Moon" off "Dot and the Kangaroo"
Я хочу с Вами, ребята.
I ment the greatest jazz band EVER
Afroman - Colt 45
Never knew it has lyrics
Ed Ames died today, May 26, 2023. RIP
One wonders whether Dad or Mom looked like Lurch.
😄😄😄
Westworld
Sounds like The Star of the county dowm
Sounds a bit like Andy Andy Williams!
學生哥
Not bad at all with lyrics should have been a double sided hit instrumental one side lyrics the other
More evidence that musicians are all on drugs 24/7... If you go from Kansas to Tennessee to Washington, but you somehow end up in New Orleans....
:D :D :D
But she had raven hair.