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Well.....Dan Sullivan had a completely different and truly fun vision/approach for this! He rewrote it and fictionalized much of it in a truly delightful way that really captures the essence of childhood tattling, from all points of view! He put it to music in his wonderful, easy going, storytelling way...and I'm smiling away! I'm posting it here and it's on the MP3 forum!

Tattle Tale Tattle Tale

© Dan Sullivan/Lisa Gundling 2013

An imaginary arrow
An imaginary bow
A boy pulls back the bowstring
And lets the arrow go

It flies right out the window
It flies so straight and true
But a little girl sees it
And spills the beans at school

Tattle tale, tattle tale
You belong in jail
We’re gonna hang your britches
On a rusty nail

Next day the little boy
Gets hauled into the office
The little girl is frowning
"Yes," she says, "I saw it."

The little boy denies it
"What proof is there?" says he
The little girl just frowns some more
"Who needs proof?" says she

Tattle tale, tattle tale
You belong in jail
We’re gonna hang your britches
On a rusty nail

The parents of the children
Are called to testify
And both tell the policeman
"My child would never lie"

"Well somebody is lying
And somebody must pay
"I have no choice," the sergeant says
"I'll take them both away"

Tattle tale, tattle tale
You belong in jail
We’re gonna hang your britches
On a rusty nail

Tomorrow he'll regret
Playing make believe at school
And he won't be quite so quick to break
Imaginary rules

Tomorrow she'll be sorry
For all the trouble she got in
And if she's learned her lesson well
She'll never snitch again

Tattle tale, tattle tale
You belong in jail
We’re gonna hang your britches
On a rusty nail

VERSION 2
Okay -- another rewrite here, using all of Terry's great suggestions, in ALL CAPS here, and keeping Summeoyo's previous structural change ideas. Thanks so much to both of you -- I think it's looking good! -- Lisa

TattleTale (REWRITE #2)

A ten-year-old boy shot an imaginary arrow
Straight from his imaginary bow
He and his buddy, horsing around at school
In that one-horse town of literate fools

A ten-year-old witnessed the IMAGINARY arrow
From her classmate's invisible bow
Off to the teacher, THIS dutiful child
Her truthful act REWARDED WITH a smile

CHORUS
Tattle tale
Tattle tale
Hang your britches on a rusty nail
That's what tattling used to get you
Back when grown-ups had a clue

Offender and bow MARCHED to the principal's office
WHERE policy NOW is TO BE cautious
Imagine the bow BEING PRIED from his hand
Invisible lessons on being a man

CHORUS
Tattle tale
Tattle tale
Hang your britches on a rusty nail
That's what tattling used to get you
Back when grown-ups had a clue

Bridge
Pity the children programmed to snitch
Compliant WITH INDICTMENTS FOR make-believe crimes
SHOULD guilt begin to consume them alive
They'LL BE AS BAD OFF AS THE INNOCENT doing time

CHORUS
Tattletale
Tattletale
Hang your britches on a rusty nail
That's what tattling used to get you
Back when grown-ups had a clue

(c) 2013, Lisa Gundling

Per Summeoyo's suggestion, I changed the structure of this. I DO think it flows really nicely this way...THANKS so much for your great help, Summeoyo! I've also changed the structure of the fourth verse/bridge, in keeping with the new structure. Below is the new version...

TattleTale (REWRITE #1)

A ten-year-old boy shot an imaginary arrow
Straight from his imaginary bow
He and his buddy, horsing around at school
In that one-horse town of literate fools

A ten-year-old girl witnessed the invisible arrow
From her classmate's invisible bow
Off to the teacher, a dutiful child
Her truthful act no doubt brought a smile

CHORUS
Tattle tale
Tattle tale
Hang your britches on a rusty nail
That's what tattling used to get you
Back when grown-ups had a clue

Offender and bow got hauled to the principal's office
Their policy is always cautious
One can imagine the bow forced from his hand
Invisible lessons on being a man

CHORUS
Tattle tale
Tattle tale
Hang your britches on a rusty nail
That's what tattling used to get you
Back when grown-ups had a clue

Bridge
Pity the children programmed to snitch
Compliant in finding make-believe crimes
If their guilt begins to consume them alive
They may be worse off than kids doing time

CHORUS
Tattletale
Tattletale
Hang your britches on a rusty nail
That's what tattling used to get you
Back when grown-ups had a clue

(c) 2013, Lisa Gundling

VERSION ONE BELOW
Here's yet another song in my series about kids getting in trouble for trumped-up "weapons" charges! When I wrote my first one, I said I'd chronicle them all. I didn't realize it would be a full-time job!

This one's about a 5th grade kid in a small town in Pennsylvania. The story says a girl reported him to the teacher. I got to thinking about how tattling used to get the tattler in trouble, if the tattling was about something stupid, wasting the teacher's time...

TattleTale

A ten-year-old boy shot an imaginary arrow
Straight from his imaginary bow
He and his buddy, horsing around at school
In that one-horse town of literate fools

A ten-year-old girl witnessed the invisible arrow
From her classmate's invisible bow
Off to the teacher, a dutiful child
Her truthful act no doubt brought a smile

CHORUS
Tattle tale
Tattle tale
Hang your britches on a rusty nail
That's what tattling used to get you
Back when grown-ups had a clue

Offender and bow got hauled to the principal's office
Their policy is always cautious
One can imagine the bow forced from his hand
Invisible lessons on being a man

Meanwhile the girl who tells of things no one can see
Has gained a new kind of pedigree
New-age accusers who report these false crimes
May be worse off than the kids doing time

CHORUS
Tattletale
Tattletale
Hang your britches on a rusty nail
That's what tattling used to get you
Back when grown-ups had a clue

(c) 2013, Lisa Gundling

Wow! This is cool - a very accurate description of the current day "hey something happened, not really but the intent was there" justice. A great discovery of an idea! One suggestion - only because I'm uncertain - call it a "one horse town of ILliterate fools" - I think that would be more fitting - unless you are suggesting that while these people are educated, they're still irrational. In that case, I completely understand.

A really clever write!!! Kudos!!

Chris

The worlds going pottier, a glance at someone soon will have the no win no fee lawyers rubbing their slimy hands.As for kids, they're kids!
Keep em coming Lisa
Travis

They can have all the shoot ups they want on children's cartoons, but they come to school and mimic them with imaginary weapons and everyone freaks out and is not surprised? It's IMAGINARY.
PC'ness has gone waaay overboard and is actually stifling free speech and making kids "troublemakers" when their not. A good tale you conveyed there Lisa of a sad state of affairs.

We've beem paranoid since 9/11. Perhaps with good reason. But things do seem to get out of hand.

Hi Pop,

When I wrote this, I looked up the tattletale taunt, because I couldn't remember the whole thing, and I thought it was ironic that it had "britches," after we'd just discussed those in your song! This morning, the version we sang as a kid came to me, "tattletale, tattletale, stick your head in a garbage pail." I think the britches is better!

Regarding the literate/illiterate...your latter interpretation was correct. I was trying to get across that you can be educated, but also be a fool, like those teachers and principal!

Thanks for your nice visit!

Lisa

Hey Travis,

Thanks, and I agree about the glance at each other! Actually, big in the news in the US now is a story about a six-year-old boy who kissed his "girlfriend" on the hand, and on the cheek, and they charged him with "sexual harassment"! The family got a lawyer and has been fighting the "sexual harassment" designation on his permanent record, and I just heard that they did remove that charge from his record.

I hope the insanity stops and I'll never have another song on the issue!!!

Lisa

Hi James,

I agree! And just think...for every story that makes the news, imagine the thousands that don't make the news, because the children are just being quietly compliant! It's scary to think of what's going on!

Thanks for your thoughts and visit!

Lisa

Hi Jim,

Yes, and going after the children because we're paranoid from 911 is akin to rearranging the furniture on the Titanic!
Thanks for stopping by!

Lisa

Why didn't they just take his bow and arrows away and put him in invisible detention/Another good write on bad grownups.Mike

Oh, perfect, Michael! I'm thinking about how I can include that invisible punishment in here...thanks! --Lisa

Hi Lisa,

When your dander is up you're at your songwriting best; as foxy as your pup.

Great short and sweet chorus . . . musically accommodating. . .

Love these lines:

Back when grown-ups had a clue

Invisible lessons on being a man

Alex Jones would like this.
Not only a song of importance but crafty.

Cheers,
T

Hi Lisa. I see you like to do social commentary. I think you have the material in this song. However an adjustment in structure may take this to a higher level. Right now your structure is AABAAB, which actually weakens your lyric. May I suggest going with AABABCB - using what was your last A as C - because once this goes to music you'll be able to climax this song with the C(bridge)and adding an additional chorus always helps your audience remember the song.

Hi Terry,

And this kind of thing sure gets my dander up!

Thanks so much -- I'm so glad you liked this! That would be cool if Alex Jones liked it -- I should send him my series of these types of songs, just for fun! Mike Kruse had put the poptart gun song to music about a year or so ago, and I did send that song to the lawyer in my area who is handling a lot of these ridiculous cases, including the poptart case.

That lawyer had wanted me to take the song to a state congressional hearing, where a lawmaker was introducing legislation to stop the persecution of children in my state. However, I didn't have enough notice and couldn't go. And, besides, when I read the legislation itself, I thought that while it had good intent, it could open up a whole can of worms in and of itself. It's really hard to legislate against stupidity without winding up stupid yourself!

Based upon Summeoyo's suggestion, I restructured this, and I changed the fourth verse to make it more bridge-like. I think you might like the new wording even better!

Thanks for your nice visit!

Lisa

Hi Summeoyo,

Thanks for your great advice -- I took it and have posted a rewrite! I think you're right that it does sound (or at least look -- lol) much better -- much better flow! At least, I'm hoping I did what you were envisioning! I also changed the structure of the last verse/bridge. If this isn't what you had in mind, I'm willing to try again until I get it right!

Thanks so much!

Lisa

Hi Lisa,

Better and better as songs should grow.

I gave it my in-depth so I hope you don't mind what I consider fine tuning -- some of which you may likw.

Terry

TattleTale (REWRITE)

A ten-year-old boy shot an imaginary arrow
Straight from his imaginary bow
He and his buddy, horsing around at school
In that one-horse town of literate fools

A ten-year-old girl witnessed the invisible arrow
From her classmate's invisible bow
Off to the teacher, THIS dutiful child
Her truthful act REWARDED WITH a smile

CHORUS
Tattle tale
Tattle tale
Hang your britches on a rusty nail
That's what tattling used to get you
Back when grown-ups had a clue

Offender and bow MARCHED to the principal's office
WHERE policy NOW is TO BE cautious
Imagine the bow BEING PRIED from his hand
Invisible lessons on being a man

CHORUS
Tattle tale
Tattle tale
Hang your britches on a rusty nail
That's what tattling used to get you
Back when grown-ups had a clue

Bridge
Pity the children programmed to snitch
Compliant WITH INDICTMENTS FOR make-believe crimes
SHOULD guilt begin to consume them alive
They'LL BE AS BAD OFF AS THE INNOCENT doing time

CHORUS
Tattletale
Tattletale
Hang your britches on a rusty nail
That's what tattling used to get you
Back when grown-ups had a clue

(c) 2013, Lisa Gundling

Hi Lisa,

Better and better as songs should grow.

I gave it my in-depth so I hope you don't mind what I consider fine tuning -- some of which you may likw.

Terry

TattleTale (REWRITE)

A ten-year-old boy shot an imaginary arrow
Straight from his imaginary bow
He and his buddy, horsing around at school
In that one-horse town of literate fools

A ten-year-old girl witnessed the invisible arrow
From her classmate's invisible bow
Off to the teacher, THIS dutiful child
Her truthful act REWARDED WITH a smile

CHORUS
Tattle tale
Tattle tale
Hang your britches on a rusty nail
That's what tattling used to get you
Back when grown-ups had a clue

Offender and bow MARCHED to the principal's office
WHERE policy NOW is TO BE cautious
Imagine the bow BEING PRIED from his hand
Invisible lessons on being a man

CHORUS
Tattle tale
Tattle tale
Hang your britches on a rusty nail
That's what tattling used to get you
Back when grown-ups had a clue

Bridge
Pity the children programmed to snitch
Compliant WITH INDICTMENTS FOR make-believe crimes
SHOULD guilt begin to consume them alive
They'LL BE AS BAD OFF AS THE INNOCENT doing time

CHORUS
Tattletale
Tattletale
Hang your britches on a rusty nail
That's what tattling used to get you
Back when grown-ups had a clue

(c) 2013, Lisa Gundling

Hi Lisa,

Better and better as lyrics should grow
On the road from lyric to song as you know . . .

I gave it my in-depth so I hope you don't mind what I consider fine tuning -- some of which you may like.

Terry

TattleTale (REWRITE)

A ten-year-old boy shot an imaginary arrow
Straight from his imaginary bow
He and his buddy, horsing around at school
In that one-horse town of literate fools

A ten-year-old girl witnessed the invisible arrow
From her classmate's invisible bow
Off to the teacher, THIS dutiful child
Her truthful act REWARDED WITH a smile

CHORUS
Tattle tale
Tattle tale
Hang your britches on a rusty nail
That's what tattling used to get you
Back when grown-ups had a clue

Offender and bow MARCHED to the principal's office
WHERE policy NOW is TO BE cautious
Imagine the bow BEING PRIED from his hand
Invisible lessons on being a man

CHORUS
Tattle tale
Tattle tale
Hang your britches on a rusty nail
That's what tattling used to get you
Back when grown-ups had a clue

Bridge
Pity the children programmed to snitch
Compliant WITH INDICTMENTS FOR make-believe crimes
SHOULD guilt begin to consume them alive
They'LL BE AS BAD OFF AS THE INNOCENT doing time

CHORUS
Tattletale
Tattletale
Hang your britches on a rusty nail
That's what tattling used to get you
Back when grown-ups had a clue

(c) 2013, Lisa Gundling

Hi Terry,

I think that ALL of your changes look perfect and I've included all of them in a third rewrite above! Thanks so much for your help--I think this is looking GOOD! (If that little girl who tattled was my child, I'd be sitting her down for a LONG explanation of what's wrong and right!)

Lisa

And no such heart-to-heart would be complete without including one of the fathers who warned of such times that would befall when the tyrants of corporate governmental control would consider it necessary for their "state" to usurp parental control
and use that new power to generate fearful phobias facilitating confiscation of the liberty of self defense.

It's so multi-layered and so diabolically evil that it is hard to even get started without writing run-on sentences like the above that could have been a non stop tangle of ramifications and proofs.

Just like your discernment of how a seeming desire and effort to address an issue will only open the door a little wider to let more invasiveness in -- like that Biblical passage about the house once swept clean.

Oh yes . . . the founding "father":

"If America ever gives control of its currency to these international bankers, the banks and corporations that spring up around them, will deprive people of all property and prosperity until their children wake up homeless in the land their fathers
conquered". Thomas Jefferson

They got that control in 1913 and have since then been pursuing their Stalin-level fascism with great success.

and as pertains to your potential song, Thomas again:

"America could still be a happy prosperous place, if the people could stop the government (now in a state of blatant tyranny)
from spending the peoples money UNDER THE PRETENSE THAT THEY CARE."

. . .that they care about our spiritual health, physical health and safety.

That very "pretense" you covered in Tattletale with the CAUTION line.

Glad you liked the changes.
Perhaps because of the recovery mode I'm in, I feel I'm gearing up to pick up guitar again but for the past while I've been totally into my setup of 5 hand drums and haven't touched guitar for years. On Nov 5th I fell on my left side out in the rain while bringing in some firewood and broke the ball right off my upper thigh bone. The surgeon recommended a complete hip joint replacement.

Cheers,
Terry

P.S.
Children Encouraged to Be State Spies
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...es-report-neighbours-pay-little-tax.html

Hi Terry,

I'm sorry to hear about your broken hip! From what I hear, hip replacement surgery does have an amazing success rate, so it might be worth it.

Regarding the children...you've captured the diabolical nature of it all very well here. It boggles the mind and even if we do have an inkling, I guess they count on us throwing up our hands and turning our children's minds and hearts over willingly. That's also a creepy story about the children turning in their tax-evading neighbors...

Thanks again for your great help with the song and analysis!

Lisa

Thanks.
I'm walking without supports but I could use a cane for a short while -- wonder if I can find one tall enough. :-)

Thought for the day:
By mutual consent two children, exercising their natural masculine genetic dispositions
as defenders/protectors/hunter/gatherers,
decide to enjoy exercising their God-given liberty with role playing that is healthy role playing compared to the PP variety foisted on the innocent.
Enter the thought police to indict them for the thought crime labeled "hate/kill" or whatever.
Therein lies what is called their "plausible deniability" where they can claim that it was the boys' desire to inflict harm
that was really what they were being indicted for.

But that is the grand lie. While the brainwashed sheeple at the lower levels of these compartmentalized psyops are actually fool enough to think that they are doing the right thing, the real modus operendi of the upper levels IS TO STIGMATIZE THE WEAPON. THE BOW in the evil hope of extending their confiscation of weapons from their enemies (honest people)to include any and ALL weapons. Turning up the heat on the illusory phobia that makes fools tremble at the mention or sight of a gun in anything but militaristic state hands and gets grandpa swat teamed cause a neighbor "felt threatened" when she saw him cleaning his deer rifle in the carport.

Patrick Henry, I think it was, said it well:

To tyrants
"LOGIC is an enemy
and the truth is a MENACE."


Anyone doubting what is behind this "control" needs to search:
"The historical results of gun control"

________ __________________________

Back to TATTLETALE

How can one NOT digress these days!

How about this?

A ten-year-old witnessed the IMAGINERY arrow
From her classmate's invisible bow

One of my favorite songs from 1968
Cowboys to Girls
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kcRxhMBHkT4


Terry

Hi Terry,

I made the change! I originally did have "imaginary" but I went back and forth on it. But you're right -- that's a good change -- thanks!

Your thought for the day is chillingly true. There are so many levels and facets to it. I actually started thinking of this aspect of the lyric because I thought...for every kid who breaks the imaginary weapon rule and gets in trouble, just think of how many thousands of other children aren't getting in trouble because they're simply scared to move! And then if they do move, they get medicated, of course.

"Cowboys to Girls" is a great song -- I enjoyed it! Also, good luck finding a cane - maybe some average-sized human will apply for the position -- lol!

Lisa

Your thought for the day is chillingly true. There are so many levels and facets to it. I actually started thinking of this aspect of the lyric because I thought...for every kid who breaks the imaginary weapon rule and gets in trouble, just think of how many thousands of other children aren't getting in trouble because they're simply scared to move!

And then if they do move, they get medicated, of course.

Brilliantly discerning; so sadly true.
Bad enough that what you said is true for all of us relative to free speech, the truth being their targeted threat, but they have no qualms about using children as cannon fodder for their ends even if that means the unthinkable!

"Cowboys to Girls" is a great song -- I enjoyed it!

Isn't it great! I've found that some people are surprised that I would count it among my faves of 1968. Another that brings me joy from that year is "It's a Beautiful Morning."

Going back home tomorrow morn.

One of my nurses just wrote to ask if I would still give her daughter bongo lessons in the new year.

Terry


[/quote]

Hi Terry,

Yes, if it were a movie, we'd be creeped out by the teachers and the forced tattlers, and the imaginary weapon kids would be the heroes! Oh, you actually did have the hip operation -- wow -- good luck with your recovery!

Lisa

Great song Lisa,

I love how you're spreading the word on all this rediculusness!

Kids can't be kids anymore!

Geneva

Hi Geneva,

Yes -- and it's very sad that they can't be kids!

Thanks for your nice visit!

Lisa

Hi Lisa,

I really like this. Did you consider using present tense e.g. "ten year old boy" shoots imaginary arrow...

I can't explain why the idea. But, that's what came to mind as I began reading.

I know it's been an eternity. I was finally able to log in after forgetting my password and the old email info.

Been following this for a while and have read this a few times. Simply awesome writing and a testament to the fear that has us acting like fools.

My only nit has been that damned bridge. It flows so nicely IMO until the bridge and it seems to lose a little momentum due to the unique rhyming pattern. The flow is diverted briefly.....here's a suggestion.

Bridge
Pity the child, programmed to snitch.
CONSPIRE to indict the make-believe crimes.
Guilt like pain, a well placed switch,
fairing worse than the innocent.


Killer job Lisa! Love it!!
Good luck with this one!!!!

Hi Vanessa -- It's SO nice to see you here! Long time, no see!! Dan Sullivan actually had a really cool take on this lyric and he's rewritten it in an adorable way -- and he's put it to music! I've included his rewrite and the link to the music above! In his version, the arrow actually does get shot in the present tense. Thanks for your nice visit! -- Lisa

Hi Blues -- As I just mentioned to Vanessa -- Dan Sullivan had a very different and fun vision for this and he's completely redone it and put it to music! It's on the MP3 forum now! Thanks for your really nice ideas for the bridge, though, as you'll see, it's a completely different animal now! -- Lisa