(I’m posting a little early this week, in anticipation of an out-of-town trip starting tomorrow!)

Drinking songs, of which this week's song is one, tend to be fun romps with hearty beats.  I’ve never written a drinking song before -- likely having to do with the fact that I don't drink -- but it was fun to do.  This week’s song celebrates the McMenamins line of pubs, theaters, hotels, and just generally amazing renovation projects.  McMenamins is a nearly impossible phenomenon to explain to people outside of Portland -- what would you say, “a series of pub/hotel/movie theater/performance venues, many of which are housed in historical buildings or sites”?  They're uniquely Portland.  And even we non-drinkers can have a lot of fun at McMenamins.

So here's a romp for all of you McMenamins lovers out there.  “Sing Ho! Sing Hi! Sing Hey! (McMenamins Drinking Song),” like any good drinking song, doesn’t rely on perfect harmonies or timing.  I’m going for an improvised feel here, and the way I've panned the six parts (from left to right) hopefully helps you imagine a row of friends, singing and drinking and generally having a good time.

Incidentally, for those of you keeping track: after a series of songs in 4/4 time all with vocal percussion, we've now had three songs in a row in a triple meter (Farewell Cirque Du Soleil and Pro Baseball In Portland were both in 3/4, this week's song is in 6/8) with no vocal percussion (aside from a quick jaunt in Farewell Cirque Du Soleil).  Anyway, there's your random fact for the week.  I hope you've enjoyed this little excursion into different rhythms and sounds.  We'll most likely be back to 4/4 and vocal percussion next week...

Lyrics:

Raise a glass (ha ha ha!),

Raise it high (ho ho ho!),

Let's wander on down to the best place we know!

Chorus:

Sing ho, sing hi, sing hey,

Let's all go to McMenamins!

Sing ho, sing hi, sing hey,

Let's all go to McMenamins!

Tra la, tra loo, tra lay,

I'll see you at McMenamins!

Tra la, tra loo, tra lay,

I'll see you at McMenamins!

If you wander off to the Bagdad,

Please save a pint for me.

I'll be coming straight from Edgefield,

Having just left the distillery.

But if you go to the Kennedy School,

I may be rather late.

I'll be at the Crystal Ballroom,

Just dancing the night away...

Chorus

For shows I'll go to the Mission

(A fabulous music club).

But day-by-day you'll find me

At one of their fifty-plus pubs.

But there may be a day when the pubs are all closed:

A dark, dark day for me.

In that case look at the Grand Lodge,

I'll be in my room asleep.

Chorus

McMenamins, olé!