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Mike Doughty — Ossining
Album: Rockity Roll
Avg rating:
6.5

Your rating:
Total ratings: 379









Released: 2003
Length: 2:35
Plays (last 30 days): 0
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Put my faith in the price of mud
And my lord shall match the pounds,
Ten thousand days and a night spelunking
Kill my years in the lightning round,
Confound it

Why not
Seek Ossining
These threes and foursomes
Abounded,
Why not
Seek Ossining
This time around?

No, not a maze, but like blazed-out inner star
Disclosed completely in a plain film canister
Comments (69)add comment
Why not see God coming. 
Posted 4 years ago by Stefen    [ Reply ]
Well you can see Gosling if you want to.  The Nice Guys is playing on HBO this month.
Posted 7 years ago by LPCity    [ Reply ]
Actually the problem is not with the singer - the problem is with everything in this weak song. 1.
Posted 8 years ago by whomhow    [ Reply ]
 IndyDoug wrote:
Mike D. gives hope to those of us who can't carry a note. A real working class vibe from Mike. 
 
He's cool!!!
Posted 8 years ago by hayduke2    [ Reply ]
Kill my years in the lightning round

Clearly a reference to Sing Sing.
Posted 9 years ago by Grammarcop    [ Reply ]
i think if anybody says (insert singer of your choice here) cannot sing or hold a note again I am going to start singing. LOUD. REALLY REALLY LOUD.
Posted 9 years ago by NoEnzLefttoSplit    [ Reply ]
Ossining.

I had relatives from Ossining when I was a kid. I was maybe five the last time I saw them.

The only thing I remember about them was that the lights in their house dimmed every time there was an execution at Sing Sing.  
Posted 10 years ago by Grammarcop    [ Reply ]
 Larrygrrl wrote:
How did this guy EVER ever make it on to the airwaves??  I'm not hatin, but his voice is simply awful!

 
Funny - I like a lot of Mike Doughty's stuff and love all of Soul Coughing's work, largely because of his voice.

to each his own
Posted 10 years ago by scrubbrush    [ Reply ]
Stripped down sound, never gets old.
Posted 10 years ago by Shimmer    [ Reply ]
 Larrygrrl wrote:
How did this guy EVER ever make it on to the airwaves??  I'm not hatin, but his voice is simply awful!

 
Worldliness, energy, and ennui all twisted into one furious, smart package.

Also, the best lyricist going:

Fort Hood.
27 Jennifers.
Looking at the World from the Bottom of a Well.
Busting up a Starbucks.
Down the River by the Sugarplant.
Grey Ghost.
Like a Luminous Girl.
White Lexus...

And that doesn't even touch the Soul Coughing.
 
Posted 10 years ago by the_antibob    [ Reply ]
Mike D. gives hope to those of us who can't carry a note. A real working class vibe from Mike. 

Larrygrrl wrote:
How did this guy EVER ever make it on to the airwaves??  I'm not hatin, but his voice is simply awful!

 


Posted 10 years ago by IndyDoug    [ Reply ]
How did this guy EVER ever make it on to the airwaves??  I'm not hatin, but his voice is simply awful!
Posted 11 years ago by Larrygrrl    [ Reply ]
Lol! I love this song because it sounds like he is saying my name
 
Posted 11 years ago by jocelynsart    [ Reply ]
THANK YOU BILL FOR ANOTHER INTERESTING MUSICIAN TO LOOK INTO.  THERE AINT ENOUGH HOURS IN THE DAY!
Posted 11 years ago by oilydwarf    [ Reply ]
 cirruss wrote:
If this is who I think it is (singer: Soul Coughing) then I dig it completely... I mean I would still dig it!

MORE SOUL COUGHING!!!
 
Yes.

And yes! {#Dance} 
Posted 12 years ago by ziggytrix    [ Reply ]
My home town!
Posted 12 years ago by trissi    [ Reply ]
 Proclivities wrote:

Unusual to have heard a song written about Ossining; it is a nice place though.  I'd spent a lot of time there years ago (the town, not the prison, that is).  I lived in Sleepy Hollow for a few years.

 
Not nearly as unusual as a song about Canajoharie, but They Might Be Giants pulled through on that.

Doughty's probably talking about the prison though, I think he wrote this shortly after he kicked his heroin problem.

Posted 12 years ago by coffeeadikt    [ Reply ]
 Byronape wrote:

Seconded.

 

It could happen, but I Doughty it!   {#Naughty}



Posted 13 years ago by cohifi    [ Reply ]
Good stuff.
Posted 13 years ago by aaronm    [ Reply ]
When I first heard this from the other room, I almost thought this was his amazing, BUSTING UP A STARBUCKS, and what a hoot that tune is!  And I agree, let's hear more of this wry wordsmith!  

Posted 13 years ago by coloradojohn    [ Reply ]
Ossining -Best reason to see it: Betty Draper
Posted 13 years ago by Pharlap    [ Reply ]
 rp1125 wrote:
less knopfler more doughty please
 
Seconded.

Posted 13 years ago by Byronape    [ Reply ]
If this is who I think it is (singer: Soul Coughing) then I dig it completely... I mean I would still dig it!

MORE SOUL COUGHING!!!
Posted 13 years ago by cirruss    [ Reply ]

Like the music, but if it wasn't there this guys voice would be so deadpan.  Still, mostly works together.


Posted 13 years ago by justlistening    [ Reply ]
To: Mike Doughty
From: Harold C. Cranchford
Re: Ossining.mp3

Mike:

When we commissioned you to write a jingle for use in our upcoming "Why not see Ossining?" TV/radio/new media promotional campaign—well, not to put too fine a point on it, this wasn't quite what we had in mind.

Harold C. Cranchford
Assistant Deputy Manager for Public Relations
Convention and Tourism Bureau
Village of Ossining, New York
Posted 13 years ago by Baby_M    [ Reply ]
Bumping to a 9—— really digging this song
dancing at my desk 
Posted 13 years ago by DanFHiggins    [ Reply ]
less knopfler more doughty please
Posted 13 years ago by rp1125    [ Reply ]

Love me some Mike!  {#Heartkiss}


Posted 14 years ago by pinklife    [ Reply ]
 Bridieboo wrote:
I really like the song he did with BT - 'Never Gonna Come Back Down'.  That's a mad song altogether.
 

Yea me too (especially the way he says "English girls named Cheriiiiiiise{#Lol}), but this one, not so much.{#No}
Posted 14 years ago by sirdroseph    [ Reply ]
Love this song!. his robot band sounds great.
Posted 14 years ago by scrubbrush    [ Reply ]
 Proclivities wrote:
Unusual to have heard a song written about Ossining; it is a nice place though.
 
John Cheever lived there for over 20 years. (And died there.)

Posted 15 years ago by lmic    [ Reply ]
 EB3 wrote:
Ossining is more like 35 - 40 miles 'up the river'. SingSing is also the original 'big house'. The prison does not in any way dominate the town, we hardly know its there. The name change was something like a century ago, and was meant to make sure people knew that good made in Ossining were not made by prisoners. Soon after the prison quiety also changed its name to include 'Ossining', its not Sing Sing anymore. Ossining is a wonderful, diverse place. Come say hello!

 
Unusual to have heard a song written about Ossining; it is a nice place though.  I'd spent a lot of time there years ago (the town, not the prison, that is).  I lived in Sleepy Hollow for a few years.

Posted 15 years ago by Proclivities    [ Reply ]
Yes, that was him.  Crazy isn't it?  Too bad the video is kind of sucky.
https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x10aq4_bt-feat-m-doughty-never-gonna-come_music

 OmegaConcern wrote:


That was him?!
 


Posted 15 years ago by Bridieboo    [ Reply ]
 Bridieboo wrote:
I really like the song he did with BT - 'Never Gonna Come Back Down'.  That's a mad song altogether.
 

That was him?!
Posted 15 years ago by OmegaConcern    [ Reply ]
I really like the song he did with BT - 'Never Gonna Come Back Down'.  That's a mad song altogether.
Posted 16 years ago by Bridieboo    [ Reply ]
Increasingly not my thing!
Posted 16 years ago by Shesdifferent    [ Reply ]
Rockity Roll!
Posted 16 years ago by Krispian    [ Reply ]
i generally don't like this artist's music, but this song is pretty good.
Posted 16 years ago by venus_df    [ Reply ]
Something about his voice ... totally works for me ... driving beat without the Bryan Adams rhyming couplets or the Chad Kruger (we Canadians have a monopoly on the Rhyming couplet rock thing) I like it… he sounds flat at first then you realize it works … very cool sound
Posted 17 years ago by huebdoo    [ Reply ]
i have an idea. why dont we blast this song 24 hours a day to the residents of sing sing. that really would be cruel and unusual punishment.
Posted 17 years ago by ndad47    [ Reply ]
nice song IMO
Posted 17 years ago by Wizzuvvoz    [ Reply ]
BLADERUNNER wrote:
Ossining is a little town in Westchester County, NY, maybe 50 miles from Manhattan...the locals changed the name of the village to Ossining several years ago to disassociate themselves from the reputation of being a prison town.
Ossining is more like 35 - 40 miles 'up the river'. SingSing is also the original 'big house'. The prison does not in any way dominate the town, we hardly know its there. The name change was something like a century ago, and was meant to make sure people knew that good made in Ossining were not made by prisoners. Soon after the prison quiety also changed its name to include 'Ossining', its not Sing Sing anymore. Ossining is a wonderful, diverse place. Come say hello!
Posted 17 years ago by EB3    [ Reply ]
Love the Doughty...
Posted 17 years ago by celadonstone    [ Reply ]
I've learned to love this guy. Another great NY song from this CD is "Thank You, Lord, for Sending Me the F Train."
Posted 17 years ago by lmic    [ Reply ]
fredriley wrote:
Ok, I give in - WTF is "ossining"?
To save you the trouble of Googling it, it's a town up the river from New York City with a famous prison best known for it's former name: Sing sing. I used to work next door to the prison. One of the walls keeps getting a fresh coat of paint every time somebody wants to use a prison wall as a backdrop.
Posted 17 years ago by Banaszak    [ Reply ]
Ossining is a little town in Westchester County, NY, maybe 50 miles from Manhattan. it is better known as the home of the infamous prison Sing-Sing, where many a bad person was sent "up the river" to. used to live about 10 miles from there. the locals changed the name of the village to Ossining several years ago to disassociate themselves from the reputation of being a prison town.
Posted 17 years ago by BLADERUNNER    [ Reply ]
fredriley wrote:
Ah, right - it's a place, not a noun or a verb. I was thinking that it was the gerund of "to ossinn" :o)
Technically a place is a noun. And it is currently 24 degrees Fahrenheit in Ossining - that might be a reason not to seek it!
Posted 17 years ago by Faulplz    [ Reply ]
Happygirl wrote:
google it! :)
Ah, right - it's a place, not a noun or a verb. I was thinking that it was the gerund of "to ossinn" :o)
Posted 18 years ago by fredriley    [ Reply ]
fredriley wrote:
Ok, I give in - WTF is "ossining"?
google it! :)
Posted 18 years ago by Happygirl    [ Reply ]
Ok, I give in - WTF is "ossining"?
Posted 18 years ago by fredriley    [ Reply ]
OK. That's it. I will now go buy this album already. Groove after groove after groove ... Groovy!
Posted 18 years ago by blackpebble    [ Reply ]
I've attended Doughty's concerts in Toronto the last 3 years, he always puts on a great show.
Posted 18 years ago by thewaxtadpole    [ Reply ]
Repetitive, sure, but damned if it doesn't make me wanna dance!
Posted 18 years ago by SinBlossom    [ Reply ]
I've always loved Soul Coughing... and I also love this. Actually didn't know he had solo stuff, but I recognized the voice immediately
Posted 18 years ago by chaderick    [ Reply ]
I've been spending a lot of time in Ossining this year
Posted 18 years ago by pdhski    [ Reply ]
This guy is a hack. Repeating one inane line over and over does not make something a song. I wish this guy would just go work at the 7-11, where he belongs.
Posted 18 years ago by anniebear    [ Reply ]
This guy reminds me of Darius Rucker of Hootie and the Blowfish. You enjoy his voice at first, but after awhile you realize he has a very limited range and it gets monotonus to listen to (at least for me).
Posted 18 years ago by justlistening    [ Reply ]
now i like this mans voice. i am so out of it. soul coughing eh?
Posted 18 years ago by mem_313    [ Reply ]
Just Love this Guy...Never a big Soul Coughing fan but Mike solo is the real deal!!
Posted 18 years ago by Farquwaar    [ Reply ]
dharmanavy wrote:
This double album is FREAKING great!!! I found it at a yard sale and it's been in my rotation ever since!!!
Yep, freaking great I agree. Something about this set really touches some good base feeling.
Posted 18 years ago by wdasher    [ Reply ]
This double album is FREAKING great!!! I found it at a yard sale and it's been in my rotation ever since!!!
Posted 18 years ago by dharmanavy    [ Reply ]
the guy can sing, but there is someting grating about the voice after a while
Posted 18 years ago by TonyBear    [ Reply ]
Wow. That was really good. I may have to look into that CD.
Posted 18 years ago by orbit03    [ Reply ]
Looking forward to his show at Bonnaroo this year!! It'll be hard to top the 2004 show. Just the same, it's MIKE DOUGHTY......LIVE!!!
Posted 18 years ago by seekinggrace    [ Reply ]
Tappin' my foot and diggin' it. The guy seems to be emerging as having a touch of genius, music-wise.
Posted 18 years ago by Gregorama    [ Reply ]
AphidA wrote:
Oh, the Soul Coughing guy...
I prefer to think of him as the "Never Gonna Come Back Down" guy. Seriously, his music is far more interesting than Soul Coughing's ever was. If you've not heard much of him, check out his Bonnaroo live album. Or just find "Move On" off the Future Soundtrack for America.
Posted 18 years ago by magicnumber    [ Reply ]
Oh, the Soul Coughing guy...
Posted 18 years ago by AphidA    [ Reply ]
He's certainly got an unmistakable voice. First time hearing this one and so far, so good! EDTI: Never been the first reviewer before, woo-hoo! What can I say, I'm easily amused.
Posted 19 years ago by Jacksonstat    [ Reply ]