Folk singer-songwriter Willi Carlisle performs live at the 2024 Mile of Music festival. He rotates playing the banjo, harmonica, fiddle and acoustic guitar as he sings to an audience at the Lawrence University Memorial Chapel. The four-song set includes "Critterland," "The Down and Back," "Boy Howdy, Hot Dog!" and "Your Heart's a Big Tent."
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Willi Carlisle
Willi Carlisle: [singing] I coulda been a businessman. I was too hot-headed. Plus I never had the money. Plus I kind of got arrested. My sweet old folks thought I’d make a pretty decent one of those. And I still live the kind of life where people judge you on your clothes.
Now it’s 40 miles of backroad on all-terrain tires. And that little blue hymnal sittin’ open all the while. Singing songs to a god I’ve met but do not know. Making wagers on the critters that we’ll see crossin’ the road.
Yeah, the sparrow on the wing taught me to find you. And the ‘possum knows her own mind more than I do. I’m here for all the love that I can stand.
Take me to critterland.
In the decade of our lovin’ we’ve grown to not-so-young. I’ve come to know the seasons by the lashing of your tongue. But the propane gently sputters. There’s spring water in our tap. Why can’t we feel the peace of this sweet dog upon our laps?
Yeah the granny witch and herbalist have remedies for us. A tincture and a prayer poured down the holler of our guts. On the homestead in the pine beds we’ve grown our holy power. Layin’ bare like critters there, hour by lovin’ hour.
Yeah the sparrow on the wing taught me to sing for you. And the ‘possum keeps her young closer than I do. Oh I’m here for all the grief that I can stand.
Take me to critterland.
Oh I never thought I could love like this. You might call me a queer or a communist. But I’ll go along to get along, darling. It feels so right.
‘Cause why have a God if no one is saved? I think love is a burden if it ain’t brave. I’ll live and die forever there. Right there in that divine.
‘Cause it’s hard to say what I have learned from all these hills and hymns. We’re dyin’ and we’re singing, “I love you” and “We’ve sins.” And when marauders come ’cause the apocalypse is nigh. Want my rifle on my shoulder, my lover by my side.
I wanna be the kind of man that might stand his ground and die. Take my fiddle and my good hat, I’ll go out in style. Gonna do it for my family, not for glory or a god. In this war that’s ragin’ ‘tween the haves and the have-nots.
Yeah the sparrow on the wing taught me to sing for you. Oh the ‘possum keeps her teeth sharper than I do. You oughta bury me where I make my last stand.
At the Battle of Critterland.
At the Battle of Critterland.
[bright harmonica and banjo music]
[audience applauding and cheering]
Willi Carlisle: Thanks very much.
“The Down and Back”
Willi Carlisle: [singing] Well, get up gents, shimmy up the holler. Down and back for a silver dollar.
[lively fiddle music]
It’s a pretty big haul for pretty small pay. Down from upriver in the snow and the rain. Workin’ for a livin’ is a pretty raw deal. And Jesus on the mainline is hell on wheels. Whoa, I’ll ball that jack ’til my money comes back. Down on the down of down and back. Be right here ’til my money comes back.
Oh won’t you cut all the timber and mine all the coal ’til half of West Virginia is a fishin’ hole. Big mamma’s sittin’ on the piglets in the pen. You can’t get to heaven in a big black Benz. Whoa, I’ll ball that jack ’til my money comes back. Down on the down of down and back. I’ll be right here ’til my money comes back.
I’m gonna vanish in the woods without a damn trace. She’ll never forget ol’ whats-his-face. Small town gossip is the wrath of god. Say fish, cut bait, or spare me the rod. Whoa, I’ll ball that jack ’til my money comes back. Down on the down of down and back. Be right here ’til my money comes back.
I wanna be saved, but danged if I’ll try. The designated hitter is a goddanged lie. Whole lotta doin’ ‘tween done and needs did. ‘Tween a crazy old man and a messed-up kid. Whoa, I’ll ball that jack ’til my money comes back. Down on the down of down and back. Be right here ’til my money comes back. Whoa, I’ll ball that jack ’til my money comes back. Down on the down of down and back. Be right here ’til my money comes back.
[lively fiddle music]
[audience applauding and cheering]
Introduction to “Boy Howdy, Hot Dog!”
Willi Carlisle: This is a silly one I wrote for my drunk uncle right after he passed away. If he was about to crack open a cold beer or eat a pulled pork sandwich, he would say the phrases, “Boy howdy, hot dog.” I thought that was a pretty funny portmanteau, so I collected a bunch of other portmanteaus and put them into this silly song. And to sing along, you’ll learn a component of which. It is the same as the titular component. I say the phrase “Boy howdy!” When I say the phrase “Boy howdy,” you say the phrase “Hot dog!” and that’s it. It’s not more complicated than that. Let’s try it.
Boy howdy!
Audience: Hot dog!
Willi Carlisle: Okay, that worked, that’ll do. Okay, try to join up with each other, but don’t worry about it. It should be a mess. Boy howdy!
Audience: Hot dog!
Willi Carlisle: Nice.
“Boy Howdy, Hot Dog!”
Willi Carlisle: [singing] Them coals are turnin’ bright red. Firewood’s in the truckbed. River’s runnin’ low this time of year. Ragweed’s on the turnpike. Bedroom’s mostly Christmas lights. I’m sorry, friend, I don’t lend tools.
Here it comes! Boy howdy!
Audience: Hot dog!
Willi Carlisle: [singing] It’s a pretty good life. I got a pretty little house, pretty big wife. Lets me fry her pork chops twice a week.
That’s a euphemism.
Well, hot plate, hot plate, baby went and made a cake. I’ve never seen a heaven that did not have a snake. Well, hot plate, hot plate, baby went and made a cake. I’ve never seen a heaven that did not have a snake.
Sss.
Well, bluejay’s a mean-ass bird. Ugliest song you’ve ever heard. Get off my porch, I’ll kick your ass. Everything she does is magic. I’ll watch her catch a lizard. Careful or his tail will come right off.
Boy howdy!
Audience: Hot dog!
Willi Carlisle: [singing] It’s a pretty good life. I got a pretty little house, pretty big wife. Lets me fry her catfish twice a week.
Well, swamp rose, sweat stain, get money, make it rain. Cold beer, tin can, Cadillac, Mustang. Well, swamp rose, sweat stain, get money, make it rain. Cold beer, tin can, Cadillac, Mustang.
The doctor asks me where it hurts. Born to fish, forced to work. Don’t let ’em tell ya what your broken heart’s worth. Fire ant on the sugar trail, tailfeathers on a nightingale. Arrowheads and bones is all you’ll find.
Boy howdy!
Audience: Hot dog!
Willi Carlisle: [singing] It’s a pretty good life. I got a pretty little house, pretty big wife. Lets me wear her underwear anytime I please.
Well, she’s thick as a forest and a cavalry of bushwhackers. Never seen a baldknobber bullets wouldn’t scatter. She’s thick as a forest and a cavalry of bushwhackers. Never seen a baldknobber bullets wouldn’t scatter.
###damn, I’ll be go to hell. This bar’s mostly peanut shells. But if you drive, we can play pool. Hot pocket, sweet potato pie. Saturday, Sunday rollin by. Take off your pants, let’s watch TV.
Boy howdy!
Audience: Hot dog!
Willi Carlisle: [singing] Pretty good life. I got a pretty little house, pretty big wife. Can’t recall my ex wife’s name.
But the love you lost is right where you left it. Oh right, gone forever friends, go ahead, forget it. Oh yes, the love you lost is right where you left it. Oh right, gone forever friend, crack a beer and forget it.
Them coals are turnin’ bright red. Firewood’s in the truckbed. River’s runnin’ low this time of year.
Boy howdy!
Audience: Hot dog!
Willi Carlisle: Hot dog! Well done, good job. Give yourselves a round of applause, friends.
[audience applauding and cheering]
Introduction to “Your Heart’s a Big Tent”
Willi Carlisle: This song is predicated on the idea that your heart’s a big tent, that you gotta let everybody in. It doesn’t matter who they are, if they do right, or where they’ve been. Everybody gets in. So I’m gonna say– it’s in the key of C, for those of you playing banjo along at home. Oh, your heart’s a big tent. And when I say that, after that, you’re gonna go, Oh, your heart’s a big tent. Like right after me, like an echo, you know what I’m saying? Let’s try it.
Oh, your heart’s a big tent.
Audience:Oh, your heart’s a big tent.
Willi Carlisle: Yeah, that was really, really good, nice. Okay, let’s do it the next line. You gotta let everybody in.
Audience:You gotta let everybody in.
Willi Carlisle: Ooh, you guys are so beautiful and not perfectly together, which is great, because it’s the folk music process. Everybody’s supposed to mess up and look silly, you know what I mean? That’s the folk process. Next line is, Doesn’t matter who they are.If they do right or where they’ve been. That line’s my line. You don’t have to do anything with that one. But it does cue us for us all to say at the same time the last phrase, Everybody gets in.
So I’m gonna cue you in on that line. It goes like, Doesn’t matter who they are.If they do right or where they’ve been. Everybody gets in.
All:Everybody gets in.
Willi Carlisle: And if you need choreography, I can’t do it ’cause I’m playing the banjo. You can do this. If you don’t need choreography with it, that’s fine. You can just sit there and look pretty, which is difficult enough for some of ya. [audience laughing] Here it goes. We’re gonna do it until it feels good. Friends, my name’s Willi Carlisle. Thank you so much for having me out to the beautiful Mile of Music Festival.
“Your Heart’s a Big Tent”
Willi Carlisle: [singing] This mornin’ a miracle happened as promised. The risin’ of the world’s closest star. And the almanacs warned us that the fast-coming weather might blow us away like dandelion flowers.
Oh, if I had a nickel for every time I’ve taken shelter from the storm. Alone and naked in my bedsheets. I could pay off all my loans, buy some nicer clothes. Find a job that didn’t always scare me. I’ve been trying not to think before my third cup of coffee.
Oh, your heart’s a big tent.
Audience:Oh, your heart’s a big tent.
Willi Carlisle:Gotta let everybody in.
Audience:Gotta let everybody in.
Willi Carlisle:Doesn’t matter who they are. If they do right or where they’ve been.
All:Everybody gets in.
[lively harmonica and banjo music]
Willi Carlisle: Oh, come on, banjo string, you can do it! Oh, no! [rapid banjo strumming] Nice. [laughs]
Well, I think I know a secret, still not really sure. Somewhere between I’m livin’ and I believe I can fly. What’s up’s, I saw the devil in a used bookstore. He was rippin’ up and spittin’ on Catcher in the Rye.
And I’m coming to myself like a man finding religion. Am I baptized, drowned, or washed in the blood? If life’s an open field, I’d like to plant a garden. And get ready for the fire and the flood. I need a theory of all love.
Oh, your heart’s a big tent.
Audience:Oh, your heart’s a big tent.
Willi Carlisle:Gotta let everybody in.
Audience:Gotta let everybody in.
Willi Carlisle:Doesn’t matter who they are. If they do right or where they’ve been.
All:Everybody gets in.
My conclusion’s not a great one. I’ll leave that to you smarter ones. The soul is an idiot, it doesn’t care why. Oh, whatever you do with it. The gift’s a pretty simple one. Sing until you love yourself and love until you die.
Oh, I’ve seen the trees like pillars full of blood. Chlorophyllic laughing, swaying in their glory. Seen the sparrows in the air, alight on branches there. And there’s no way that they’re afraid of being 30. If I can’t live clean, then I’d better love dirty.
Oh, your heart’s a big tent.
Audience:Oh, your heart’s a big tent.
Willi Carlisle:Gotta let everybody in.
Audience:Gotta let everybody in.
Willi Carlisle:Doesn’t matter who they are. If they do right or where they’ve been.
All:Everybody gets in.
[lively harmonica and banjo music]
Closing Remarks
Willi Carlisle: Friends, I hope I get to see you again here at Mile of Music. I hope you go see a bunch of things that you did not know if you were gonna like or not. I hope that when you leave one of those things like, “Well, I thought I wouldn’t like it and I didn’t,” you tell somebody that’s walking in, “Hey, buddy, you might like it,” you know what I mean?
Friends, I wanna do this one more time with you as a way to bless the rest of your day so that you can take a little bit of this sentiment home with you in a doggy bag and give it to everybody who might need it, whoever might need it. I want to do this last time for the idea that everybody born on planet Earth could have equal access to all the joys and sorrows that life has to offer at an affordable goddang price. Let’s try it.
Oh, your heart’s a big tent.
Audience:Oh, your heart’s a big tent.
Willi Carlisle:You gotta let everybody in.
Audience:You gotta let everybody in.
Willi Carlisle:It doesn’t matter who they are. If they do right or where they’ve been.
All:Everybody gets in. [Willi laughs]
Willi Carlisle: Thank you so much, friends. I really love Wisconsin. I hope to see you later. I’m Willi Carlisle. A little bit of merch back there, thanks.
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