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The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress (song)

January 06, 2023

For the novel by Robert Heinlein, see The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress (book).

"The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress" (sometimes titled "The Moon's a Harsh Mistress") is a song by American songwriter Jimmy Webb. It has become a much-recorded standard, without ever having charted as a single. Webb appropriated the title from the 1966 science fiction novel The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress by Robert A. Heinlein.[1] The song is especially associated with Glen Campbell, who performed the song on his farewell tour,[2] Judy Collins, Linda Ronstadt, and Joe Cocker, who first recorded the song in 1974.

The song is commonly presented in the key of G (to B♭). The song structure consists of three seven-line verses and a two-line coda. The first two verses have a rhyme scheme of AABACDC. The third verse modulates three half steps (from G to B♭), with the rhyme scheme altered to ABABCDC, and the coda repeating the DC. The time signature of the song is common time with the lines introduced between the second and third beat.

In a 2009 interview with Lisa Torem for Penny Black Music, Jimmy Webb talked about the influence of Robert Heinlein and the song's title:

Robert Heinlein, was a kind of early mentor of mine. I started reading his books when I was eight years old. ... I guess I was really getting more of my education out of science-fiction than out of public school. I was reading Ray Bradbury and Isaac Asimov and learning a great deal about the patois of the language itself and how these words were being used to create emotions. I was learning this from writers without even knowing it. ... "The Moon is a Harsh Mistress" was one of the best titles I've ever heard in my life. I really am guilty of appropriating something from another writer. In this case I had contact with Robert A. Heinlein's attorneys. I said, 'I want to write a song with the title, "The Moon is a Harsh Mistress". Can you ask Mr. Heinlein if it's okay with him?' They called me back and he said he had no objection to it.[1]

Since Joe Cocker's first recording of the song in 1974, "The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress" has been recorded by a variety of artists, from traditional renditions by female singers such as Judy Collins, Linda Ronstadt, and Joan Baez, to versions by male singers such as Glen Campbell, and Michael Feinstein. Webb recorded the song three times, in 1977 for his El Mirage album, again in 1996 for his Ten Easy Pieces album and finally in 2012 in a Duet with Joe Cocker for his 2013 album Still Within the Sound of My Voice.

The song has attracted a wide range of artists, including the Norwegian singer Radka Toneff, who recorded the song on her 1982 album Fairytales, which in a 2011 poll of Norwegian musicians was voted the best Norwegian album ever.[3] Various instrumental versions have also been recorded, including the 1997 version by Charlie Haden and Pat Metheny on the album Beyond the Missouri Sky (Short Stories), which won a Grammy for Best Jazz Instrumental Album, Individual or Group.

Recorded versions

References

  1. ^ a b Torem, Lisa (October 20, 2009). "Jimmy Webb: Interview". Penny Black Music. Retrieved November 14, 2012.
  2. ^ Gilbert, Calvin (January 4, 2012). "Glen Campbell Hits All the Right Notes at Nashville Concert". CMT. Retrieved November 14, 2012.
  3. ^ "Månen hersker strengt". Morgenbladet. Retrieved November 14, 2012.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u "The Moon is a Harsh Mistress". Discogs. Retrieved January 19, 2016.
  5. ^ "Unclouded". Discogs. Retrieved August 30, 2016.

January 06, 2023
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For the novel by Robert Heinlein see The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress book The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress sometimes titled The Moon s a Harsh Mistress is a song by American songwriter Jimmy Webb It has become a much recorded standard without ever having charted as a single Webb appropriated the title from the 1966 science fiction novel The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress by Robert A Heinlein 1 The song is especially associated with Glen Campbell who performed the song on his farewell tour 2 Judy Collins Linda Ronstadt and Joe Cocker who first recorded the song in 1974 The song is commonly presented in the key of G to B The song structure consists of three seven line verses and a two line coda The first two verses have a rhyme scheme of AABACDC The third verse modulates three half steps from G to B with the rhyme scheme altered to ABABCDC and the coda repeating the DC The time signature of the song is common time with the lines introduced between the second and third beat In a 2009 interview with Lisa Torem for Penny Black Music Jimmy Webb talked about the influence of Robert Heinlein and the song s title Robert Heinlein was a kind of early mentor of mine I started reading his books when I was eight years old I guess I was really getting more of my education out of science fiction than out of public school I was reading Ray Bradbury and Isaac Asimov and learning a great deal about the patois of the language itself and how these words were being used to create emotions I was learning this from writers without even knowing it The Moon is a Harsh Mistress was one of the best titles I ve ever heard in my life I really am guilty of appropriating something from another writer In this case I had contact with Robert A Heinlein s attorneys I said I want to write a song with the title The Moon is a Harsh Mistress Can you ask Mr Heinlein if it s okay with him They called me back and he said he had no objection to it 1 Since Joe Cocker s first recording of the song in 1974 The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress has been recorded by a variety of artists from traditional renditions by female singers such as Judy Collins Linda Ronstadt and Joan Baez to versions by male singers such as Glen Campbell and Michael Feinstein Webb recorded the song three times in 1977 for his El Mirage album again in 1996 for his Ten Easy Pieces album and finally in 2012 in a Duet with Joe Cocker for his 2013 album Still Within the Sound of My Voice The song has attracted a wide range of artists including the Norwegian singer Radka Toneff who recorded the song on her 1982 album Fairytales which in a 2011 poll of Norwegian musicians was voted the best Norwegian album ever 3 Various instrumental versions have also been recorded including the 1997 version by Charlie Haden and Pat Metheny on the album Beyond the Missouri Sky Short Stories which won a Grammy for Best Jazz Instrumental Album Individual or Group Recorded versions EditJoe Cocker on his album I Can Stand a Little Rain 1974 4 lyrics Glen Campbell on his album Reunion The Songs of Jimmy Webb 1974 4 Judy Collins on her album Judith 1975 4 Jeannie Lewis on her album Tears of Steel amp the Clowning Calaveras 1975 4 Jimmy Webb on his album El Mirage 1977 4 Erick Nelson amp Michele Pillar on their album The Misfit 1979 Radka Toneff and Steve Dobrogosz on the album Fairytales 1982 4 Linda Ronstadt on her album Get Closer 1982 4 Joan Baez on her album Recently 1987 4 Jimmy Webb on his album Ten Easy Pieces 1996 4 Pat Metheny and Charlie Haden on their Jazz album Beyond The Missouri Sky 1997 4 Grazyna Auguscik on her album The River 2001 4 Michael Feinstein on his album Only One Life The Songs of Jimmy Webb 2003 4 Tone Damli on her album Bliss 2005 4 Doug Parkinson on his album Somewhere after Midnight 2005 Christine Collister on her album Love 2005 Karrin Allyson on her album Wild for You 2006 4 Albert Lee on his album Road Runner 2006 4 Aleksandra amp the Belgian Sweets on their album Island Girl 2008 4 Maureen McGovern on her album A Long and Winding Road 2008 4 Rumer musician as a b side to her single Slow Rumer song 2010 Celtic Woman soloed by Lisa Kelly on their album Celtic Woman Songs from the Heart 2010 4 Nick Haywood Quartet on the album 1234 2010 Nils Landgren on his album The Moon the Stars and You 2011 4 Silje Nergaard on her album Unclouded 2012 5 Josh Groban on his album All That Echoes 2013 4 Jimmy Webb with Joe Cocker on the album Still Within the Sound of My Voice 2013 Rita Marcotulli amp Luciano Biondini on their album La strada invisibile 2014 4 John Hollenbeck on the album Songs I Like a Lot 2020 References Edit a b Torem Lisa October 20 2009 Jimmy Webb Interview Penny Black Music Retrieved November 14 2012 Gilbert Calvin January 4 2012 Glen Campbell Hits All the Right Notes at Nashville Concert CMT Retrieved November 14 2012 Manen hersker strengt Morgenbladet Retrieved November 14 2012 a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u The Moon is a Harsh Mistress Discogs Retrieved January 19 2016 Unclouded Discogs Retrieved August 30 2016 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress song amp oldid 1105015566, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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