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The Big Strong Man

from Hot Potatoes by The Out of Kilters

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about

A North American song from the early twentieth century which found later popularity across the Atlantic, this tall tale refers to events of the period including the Jeffries-Johnson fight of 1910 and the Lusitania disaster that occurred off Ireland’s south coast during the first World War. All
members of the band join in on the chorus to great effect, as well as repeating comical phrases throughout the song.

lyrics

Have you heard about the big strong man? He lived in a caravan.
Have you heard about the Jeffries-Johnson fight? Oh, Lord what a hell of a night.
You can take all of the heavyweights you’ve got - we’ve got a lad that can beat the whole lot.
He used to ring bells in the belfry, now he’s gonna fight Jack Dempsey.

Chorus:
It's me brother Sylvest’ (What’s he got?)
A row of forty medals on his chest (big chest!)
Killed fifty bad men in the west; he knows no rest.
Think of a man, hells’ fire, don’t push, just shove, Plenty of room for you and me.
He’s got an arm like a leg (a ladies’ leg!) And a punch that would sink a battleship (big ship!)
It takes all of the Army and the Navy to put the wind up Sylvest’.

Now, he thought he’d take a trip to Italy.
He thought that he’d go by sea.
He jumped off the harbor in New York,
And swam like a man made of Cork.
He saw the Lusitania in distress.
He put the Lusitania on his chest.
He drank all of the water in the sea,
And he walked all the way to Italy.
Chorus...

He thought he take a trip to old Japan.
They brought out the big brass band.
He took took all of the instruments you’ve got,
Like a lad, sure he played the whole lot.
Well the old church bells will ring (Hells bells!)
The old church choir will sing (Hells fire!)
They all bowed down to say goodbye to me brother Sylvest’.
Chorus...

credits

from Hot Potatoes, released July 16, 2018

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The Out of Kilters Tucson, Arizona

Formed in 2009, we have played everything from the main stages at Tucson’s St Patrick’s Day and Celtic festivals to charity and other events across Arizona and New Mexico. We have three CDs under our belts, Down the Rocky Road, Get Yer Irish Up, and Hot Potatoes.

Though we feature some raucous tunes about drinking and fighting, we are really a bunch of happily sober pacifists! ... more

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