After time in the Army Reserves, Paxton moved to New York City where he frequented the city's Greenwich Village coffeehouse circuit. His early success in Greenwich Village coffeehouses led to an ever-increasing circle of work. He made his professional debut at the Gaslight, the renowned folk haunt that also issued the singer's first album. In 1962 Gaslight Records would press 2,000 copies of his debut album, I'm The Man Who Built The Bridges.
Paxton also auditioned to join the Chad Mitchell Trio, but although he failed, the group enjoyed a 1963 hit with "The Marvelous Toy," one of Paxton's early songs. Paxton performed at the 1963 Newport Folk Festival, a performance that would be recorded-and released-by Vanguard Records. Paxton would go on to record a second album with Vanguard-at the Newport Folk Festival the following year - but his association with that record company lapsed, and it would not be until the year 2000 that Vanguard once again released a Tom Paxton album, Tom Paxton: Best of the Vanguard Years. In 1964 Paxton was signed to Elektra Records for whom he recorded his best-known work. Then in 1965 he made his first tour of the United Kingdom - the beginning of a still-thriving professional relationship that has included at least one tour in each of the succeeding years.
He and his wife Midge have been married since 1963 and have two daughters, Jennifer and Kate. All three women have served as inspiration for many of Paxton's songs. He now has three grandsons, Christopher, Sean, and Peter.
In addition to songwriting, Tom Paxton has written many critically acclaimed children's books, some of which were inspired by his songs for children.
He has performed thousands of concerts around the world in countries such as Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Hong Kong, Scandinavia, France, Italy, Belgium, Holland, England, Scotland, Ireland and Canada. Paxton enjoys a strong relationship with fans throughout the world. His songs have experienced enduring appeal, including modern standards such as "The Last Thing on My Mind" (perhaps Paxton's best-known song, it has been recorded by dozens of artists, including Judy Collins, Sandy Denny, Dolly Parton, and Porter Wagoner), "Ramblin' Boy", "Bottle of Wine", "Whose Garden Was This", "The Marvelous Toy", and "The Hostage" (which recounts the 1971 uprising at Attica State Prison).
In February 2002, Tom Paxton was honored with the ASCAP Lifetime Achievement Award in Folk Music. A few days later, he received three Wammies (Washington, DC, Area Music Awards); as Best Male Vocalist in the "traditional folk" and "children's music" categories, and for Best Traditional Folk Recording of the Year for Under American Skies (the duo album he made with Anne Hills in 2001). This was the first Paxton album to receive an award of any kind.
Paxton has been nominated four times for Grammy Awards in his career, all since 2002.
In 2004, the Martin Guitar Company introduced the HD-40LSH Tom Paxton Signature Edition acoustic guitar in his honor.
In 2005, Paxton received a Lifetime Achievement Award for Songwriting at BBC Radio 2's Folk Awards at London's Brewery Arts Centre.
In 2006, Paxton received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the North American Folk Music and Dance Alliance.
On January 22, 2007, Paxton was honored with an official UK Parliamentary tribute at the British House of Commons at the start of his 2007 United Kingdom tour.
On May 3, 2008, Paxton was honored with a special lifetime tribute from the World Folk Music Association, and a concert was held at the Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall and Arts Center at Northern Virginia Community College, Alexandria Campus, in Alexandria, Virginia.
Introduction By Pete Seeger
Tom Paxton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We rambled 'round in the hard ol' days
He never cared if I had no dough
We rambled 'round in the rain and snow
So here's to you my ramblin' boy
May all your rambles bring you joy
So here's to you my ramblin' boy
In Tulsa town we chanced to stray
We thought we'd try to work one day
The boss says he had room for one
Says my old pal, "We'd rather bum"
Late one night in a jungle camp
The weather was cold and it was damp
He got the chills, and he got them bad
They took the only friend I ever had
Late one night in a jungle camp
The weather was cold and it was damp
He got the chills, and he got them bad
They took the only friend I ever had
He left me here to ramble on
My ramblin' pal is dead and gone
If when we die we go somewhere
I'll bet you a dollar he's ramblin' there
Late one night in a jungle camp
The weather was cold and it was damp
He got the chills, and he got them bad
They took the only friend I ever had
The song "Ramblin' Boy" by Tom Paxton & Anne Hills is a moving tribute to a loyal friend who shared the struggles and joys of life. The opening lines of the song are about the close bond between the two friends, who used to roam together in the tough times without worrying about money. They were always there for each other, regardless of the circumstances. The chorus of the song is a toast to the ramblin' boy and a wish that his travels continue to bring him happiness. The lyrics suggest that the ramblin' boy was someone who loved to wander and explore the world, which made him feel free and alive.
The song then takes a darker turn as the singer recalls an incident in Tulsa when they were looking for work. The boss had just enough work for one of them, but instead of fighting over it, the two friends decided to continue their journey without money. The second verse poignantly describes a scene where they were camping in the jungle and the ramblin' boy fell ill with chills. Despite the singer's efforts to help his friend, he passed away, leaving the singer 'ramblin' on his own. The final verses express the singer's grief and his belief that his friend has continued his travels beyond this life.
Overall, the lyrics of "Ramblin' Boy" convey a sense of deep friendship, the importance of resilience in hard times, and the freedom that traveling can bring. The song is a tribute to a dear friend and to the spirit of adventure that can overcome any obstacle.
Line by Line Meaning
He was a pal and a friend always
He was a constant companion and a genuine friend
We rambled 'round in the hard ol' days
We wandered around in the difficult times
He never cared if I had no dough
He never judged me based on my financial situation
We rambled 'round in the rain and snow
We wandered around in any weather, no matter how harsh
So here's to you my ramblin' boy
A toast to my companion who wanders
May all your rambles bring you joy
May all your wanderings bring you happiness
In Tulsa town we chanced to stray
We ended up in Tulsa town by chance
We thought we'd try to work one day
We attempted to find employment one day
The boss says he had room for one
The employer had one job opening available
Says my old pal, "We'd rather bum"
My friend said, "We prefer to wander and not work"
Late one night in a jungle camp
During a nighttime stay in a wilderness area
The weather was cold and it was damp
The temperature was low and the surroundings were wet
He got the chills, and he got them bad
He became very ill with a fever
They took the only friend I ever had
He died from the illness, and it was an immense loss
He left me here to ramble on
He departed, leaving me to continue wandering alone
My ramblin' pal is dead and gone
My friend who wandered with me has passed away
If when we die we go somewhere
Assuming there is an afterlife
I'll bet you a dollar he's ramblin' there
I am confident that he is still wandering even after death
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: TOM PAXTON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Rune Ulriksen
A little known fact for lover’s of the 5-string banjo. The banjo Tommy Makem plays in this video is the same one Luke Kelly of The Dubliners played from late 68 til 77’ when it fell apart on stage. It’s a Merlin and I’ve tried for years to get a hold of one, but without luck so far.
Tommy gave the banjo to Luke because he really did’nt like it all that much. I think it has a great sound, and it looks great too.
The Real ÓDonovan
You can find a number of Merlins for sale on the internet.
http://duckduckgo.com/?q=%2Bmerlin+%2Bbanjo&iax=images&ia=images
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Xntricity
Absolute gold
David May
Where's Tom Clancy?