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Piano Lessons

Piano lessons with Mrs. Klamm, at the house behind the Presbyterian church. To test whether I had perfect pitch, she had me stand by the window, and would play a note for me to identify, but she always started with middle C, then A, sometimes F, then B-flat. My favorite pieces were marches: "Parade of the Wooden Soldiers," and especially "Garry Owen." The only problem was that the school bully, Willis, often waited for me near the underpass and chased me home. He was going to beat up any sissy piano player. Willis was large, hairy, ugly, and a poor student. His younger brother was small and ill most of the time, but no one picked on him.

Garry Owen (Perfect Pitch)

Practice

The tune is first documented as Auld Bessy in 1788. It was later (1800) in the opera Harlequin Amulet (the Majic of Mona). General Custer heard the song being sung among his Irish troops. He liked it so much that it became the unofficial marching song of the Seventh Cavalry.

Let Bacchus' sons be not dismayed But join with me, each jovial blade Come, drink and sing and lend your aid To help me with the chorus:

Chorus
Instead of spa, we'll drink brown ale And pay the reckoning on the nail; No man for debt shall go to jail From Garryowen in glory.

We'll beat the bailiffs out of fun, We'll make the mayor and sheriffs run We are the boys no man dares dun If he regards a whole skin.

Chorus
Our hearts so stout have got no fame For soon 'tis known from whence we came Where'er we go they fear the name Of Garryowen in glory.

Chorus

Family Discourse