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Harry Manx — I'm Sitting On Top Of The World
Album: Isle of Manx - The Desert Island Collection
Avg rating:
6.8

Your rating:
Total ratings: 2087









Released: 2010
Length: 3:27
Plays (last 30 days): 3
Was in the spring
One sunny day
My sweetheart left me
Lord, she went away
And now she's gone
And I don't' worry
Lord, I'm sitting
On top of the world

She called me up
From down in Al Paso
She said "Come back, daddy
Ooh, I need you so"
And now she's gone
And I don't' worry
Lord, I'm sitting
On top of the world

If you don't like my peaches
Don't you shake my tree
'n Get out of my orchard
Let my peaches be
And now she's gone
And I don't' worry
Lord, I'm sitting
On top of the world

And don't you come here runnin'
Holding out your hand
I'm gonna get me a woman
Like you got your man
And now she's gone
And I don't' worry
Lord, I'm sitting
On top of the world
't Was in the spring
One sunny day
My sweetheart left me
Lord, she went away
And now she's gone
And I don't' worry
Lord, I'm sitting
On top of the world
Comments (79)add comment
living just 35 miles north of El Paso this song always brings a smile 😊
The echo from background vocals is truly delicious -- especially through headphones.
 nomnol wrote:


That's when they could sing, dance and act. What talent.


So, I am curious about the thoughts behind the thumbs down? Truly, what turned you off? 
I've always kinda liked this one, but today I'm finding I like it for sure.  +1 to 8 for me now, a lot to do with the background vocals and the 'peach tree shaking' parts of the lyrics. 

And my +1 is also supported by the Wiki listing of Genres for Mr. Manx, gotta love these 3 together:

Blues
Folk music
Hindustani classical music

Long Live RP and Hindustani classical music!!
 kcar wrote:

Times two:

Gene Kelly and another man dancing on table 


That's when they could sing, dance and act. What talent.
Best song performance in the history of the human race. Yeah, I like it.
 cc_rider wrote:
Backing vocals by Fairfield Four?
 
I was gonna guess the Blind Boys of Alabama...
This is Manxificant!  Big 8
 KirstinMurphy wrote:

I just realised, most way through the song, that I'd been staring at these dancers the whole time :P
 

Sometimes you choose the gif and sometimes the gif chooses you. 

Love Harry Manx.
 Proclivities wrote:

I would assume he has several Mojan veenas, but I read somewhere that the stolen one was recovered.
 
It was recovered with help from Stuart McLean (now passed) on his CBC Radio show
The Vinyl Cafe. And no I don't believe he has any others.
 KirstinMurphy wrote:

I just realised, most way through the song, that I'd been staring at these dancers the whole time :P
 

FYI: "these dancers" are Donald O'Connor and Gene Kelly. If you want to see the whole dance, watch "Singin' in the rain," a musical released in 1952. The movie is well worth it and has some brilliant singing and dancing scenes. It also stars Debbie Reynolds, who went toe to toe with the O'Connor and Kelly throughout the movie despite dancing in heels.



Gene Kelly was a beautiful dancer and is credited with almost single-handedly making ballet acceptable to general film audiences. Watch "American in Paris" 
 
Sittin' on top of the...Taj Mahal.

ha. 
This is marvelous :)
I believe him
Thanks to RP to make me know Harry Manx. I love it!
 kcar wrote:

Times two:

Gene Kelly and another man dancing on table 
 
I just realised, most way through the song, that I'd been staring at these dancers the whole time :P
 beelzebubba wrote:
Layered textures of Appalachian bluegrass, gospel and mystical Eastern sounds. All in a single song. At the same time. Mad skills. 
 

And he must have had a blast playing this...
Backing vocals by Fairfield Four?
 thewiseking wrote:
took something badass and made it cornball

 
The King is indeed wise.  He speaks the truth.
 kylieh wrote:
Proof of Nanaimo, BC's revitalization

 
That's the lead in to the most Canuck pun ever...

You're not saying they played this song in Nanaimo Bars are you? Cause that would be SWEET EH?

live love and stay Wild my friend 
Layered textures of Appalachian bluegrass, gospel and mystical Eastern sounds. All in a single song. At the same time. Mad skills. 
Proof of Nanaimo, BC's revitalization
 Skydog wrote:
I don't know what song the lyrics here are posted to be but it ain't this one

 
Fixed. Thanks for pointing that out.
I don't know what song the lyrics here are posted to be but it ain't this one
I like that I wondered what year this was recorded / released when I heard it. Designed to fit on a 78rpm, a 45, or a digital file in an elegant way, no?
 
Working on the basis that the world in question is an oblique sphereoid in open space but caught in a gravitation well around a smallish sun being a  ball of hydrogen engaged in some neuclear fission, and taking in to account the holes in todays scientific theories regarding gravity and the affects of dark matter, I doubt there is a top, of it and doubt even more if you could sit there if there was one.   Oh and the Taj Majal is next to a river so that rules that one out for starters.
straight up cornball hokiness. kinda like Prairie Home Companion time, although nothing tops that
 rtree wrote:
Yow!{#Bananapiano}

 
Times two:

Gene Kelly and another man dancing on table 
Love to hear Harry on here... it takes me back to Salt Spring Island, every time.
Someday I shall live there again.
 thewiseking wrote:
it would be nice to hear some blues out here. not this cornball stuff. blues. 

 
You are, without a doubt, one of the most tiresome twats on this site.
it would be nice to hear some blues out here. not this cornball stuff. blues. 
I love songs that mention ol' El Paso, my hometown!
 Piranga wrote:
Dang! Got to get out of my chair again!

 
Same here !!!
Dang! Got to get out of my chair again!
Also grinning and liking this....
took something badass and made it cornball
Really like this. Bucks me up no end.
This song has an interesting history: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sitting_on_Top_of_the_World. This version is much like Howlin' Wolf's and Cream's.
 heliosweb wrote:

Banjo, I believe, and then the Mojan Veena. Didn't know he had the MV stolen. Bummer. But I bet he's replaced it. A signature sound for him.

Saw him here in Albuquerque back around 2007 or '08, and then again in Seattle. Great shows. Love his music and fusion of musical traditions of American blues and Indian classical. (Would you call that classical?) Since I love both genres, it's double good!

 
I would assume he has several Mojan veenas, but I read somewhere that the stolen one was recovered.
Very nice!
Nice!
 Lazarus wrote:
Everybody in my homeless camp loves this song...

 
Oh, my...the church was repossessed...or just possessed probably.
Everybody in my homeless camp loves this song...
 Amyjacksoncc wrote:
Is he playing here the special sitar sounding instrument that was recently stolen from him? How sad! :( 
 
Banjo, I believe, and then the Mojan Veena. Didn't know he had the MV stolen. Bummer. But I bet he's replaced it. A signature sound for him.

Saw him here in Albuquerque back around 2007 or '08, and then again in Seattle. Great shows. Love his music and fusion of musical traditions of American blues and Indian classical. (Would you call that classical?) Since I love both genres, it's double good!
Quite the contrast between the lyrics and music. Very cool.
Is he playing here the special sitar sounding instrument that was recently stolen from him? How sad! :( 
 MsJudi wrote:
God, Bill, we're just not worthy!!! {#Notworthy}

 
I think you meant to say:
Bill. God.

Cool song Mr G!
=: )
 MsJudi wrote:
God, Bill, we're just not worthy!!! {#Notworthy}

 
bill is not god....... Rebecca, now.....................
Get off Taj Mahal! He can't breathe!
on TOP of the Taj? ok,  respect.

I did get in there with a mate late at night when all the tourists had gone and lay on my back on the warm white marble as a few wan stars struggled through the ubiquitous haze of the Indian sky and hardly any artifical light disturbed the scene... muted sounds of the town and the eerie silence of the river where everything disappeared into an indigo blackness on the other side where the Maharjah wanted to build the same in black marble.... yeah. it was good. but on TOP.   no, not buying it.
The big grin on my face is thanks to the crazy, wacked-out guys singing background!
JUST GETS BETTER......{#Guitarist}{#Flamed}
... but who's playing the tabla behind him?  That's an essential part of the sound.
See you in ARAMBOL or ANJUNA, Harry!
Sweeeeet. Bumped to an 8. Dancing in the kitchen.
muting time ....
Yow!{#Bananapiano}
 Steve wrote:

It's actually called a Mohan Veena.
 
Sweet Mother of Pearl. That's a lotta instrument

Harry Manx with an instrument called a Moheen Veena.  
 zenhead wrote:
I love Harry Manx use of the Mohan Veena. Unique multi-instrumentalist.
 
So that's what it is - thanks for the info. It does have a very distinct sound, and the glissandi fair run down my spine and generate goose pimples. 8 from the spooked Nottingham jury.
sounds like a Ry Cooder project, as continuance to bob til you drop
Damn, but that's a fine version!
Top of The world seems to be a nice place where to hang out with such company - Isle of Manx, place of space
This is so very odd. Nowhere else but RP.
That was freakin' excellent! Nicely wierd!
 marmelock wrote:
it's always nice to hear your own upload! {#Angel}
 
{#Yes}
I love Harry Manx use of the Mohan Veena. Unique multi-instrumentalist.
makes me want to hear the subdudes.
God, Bill, we're just not worthy!!! {#Notworthy}
 kcar wrote:

Very cool version. Is that a sitar? I always thought this was written for Howlin' Wolf, say by Willie Dixon...
 
It's actually called a Mohan Veena.
I've liked this guy every time I've heard him—-I was brought up by an amateur ethnomusicologist and like when I hear anything with a sitar. (Well, not anything...)
 WonderLizard wrote:
Strange songwriting credit on Manx's album. The song of course is a blues classic, written by Walter Vincent and Lonnie Chatman of the Mississippi Sheiks in 1930. More on Wiki: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sitting_on_Top_of_the_World
 
Very cool version. Is that a sitar? I always thought this was written for Howlin' Wolf, say by Willie Dixon...


Strange songwriting credit on Manx's album. The song of course is a blues classic, written by Walter Vincent and Lonnie Chatman of the Mississippi Sheiks in 1930. More on Wiki: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sitting_on_Top_of_the_World
it's always nice to hear your own upload! {#Angel}
 marmelock wrote:

The song is originally from the album 'west eats meet' :-) so maybe you can find some more info in these liner notes....
 

The Harry Manx website confirms The Heavenly Lights sang backup for the original album.
 mrgus wrote:
Interesting. The backups are actually from New Zealand, I believe, maybe Australia, the Heavenly Lights.
 
The song is originally from the album 'west eats meet' :-) so maybe you can find some more info in these liner notes....


Interesting. The backups are actually from New Zealand, I believe, maybe Australia, the Heavenly Lights.
Interesting rendition of this staple.  Like the album cover art.  Wonder what other tunes are in his "desert island" collection, and if they're shot through with the same country-fried, banjo-picking treatment.  Reserve rating for a few more listenings, but this has promise.

Is that the Blind Boys behind him? Or maybe the Fairfield Four? I'm going with FF.