Withington Pub Quiz League - Quizbiz 03/11/05

The Paper

This week it was the turn of the Electric Pigs. Everybody seemed to enjoy this one. The word 'eclectic' cropped up a couple of times in the comments I received (possibly as much to do with its similarity to the setters' forename as its meaning). Certainly the abruptness of the switches in topic and style from one question to the next was dizzying. FCEKer Damian reported:

".....something in it for everybody, managing to appeal to the old rock groupies, computer and maths geeks, and devotees of 19th century literature and art among us as well as providing a fair assortment of contemporary sports stuff. A good balance indeed!"

My own favourite moment came with the pair of Bob Dylan questions in Round 8. The enigma of Dylan is summed up perfectly in the 2 songs referred to in these questions. Positively 4th Street was his childish and petulant rant against Joan Baez - who by that time must have truly had enough of him. At the other extreme, the sublime Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll (which, with a bit of luck, you will be listening to right now) with its heartrending tale of American injustice beautifully and simply told, arguably did more to advance the cause of the civil rights movement than even Luther King's "I have a dream" speech. For those younger Withquizzers whose memories do not extend back to the music and events of the 60's here are the full lyrics of Dylan's Hattie Carroll song:

William Zanzinger killed poor Hattie Carroll
With a cane that he twirled around his diamond ring finger
At a Baltimore hotel society gath'rin'.
And the cops were called in and his weapon took from him
As they rode him in custody down to the station
And booked William Zanzinger for first-degree murder.
But you who philosophize disgrace and criticize all fears,
Take the rag away from your face.
Now ain't the time for your tears.

William Zanzinger, who at twenty-four years
Owns a tobacco farm of six hundred acres
With rich wealthy parents who provide and protect him
And high office relations in the politics of Maryland,
Reacted to his deed with a shrug of his shoulders
And swear words and sneering, and his tongue it was snarling,
In a matter of minutes on bail was out walking.
But you who philosophize disgrace and criticize all fears,
Take the rag away from your face.
Now ain't the time for your tears.

Hattie Carroll was a maid of the kitchen.
She was fifty-one years old and gave birth to ten children
Who carried the dishes and took out the garbage
And never sat once at the head of the table
And didn't even talk to the people at the table
Who just cleaned up all the food from the table
And emptied the ashtrays on a whole other level,
Got killed by a blow, lay slain by a cane
That sailed through the air and came down through the room,
Doomed and determined to destroy all the gentle.
And she never done nothing to William Zanzinger.
But you who philosophize disgrace and criticize all fears,
Take the rag away from your face.
Now ain't the time for your tears.

In the courtroom of honor, the judge pounded his gavel
To show that all's equal and that the courts are on the level
And that the strings in the books ain't pulled and persuaded
And that even the nobles get properly handled
Once that the cops have chased after and caught 'em
And that the ladder of law has no top and no bottom,
Stared at the person who killed for no reason
Who just happened to be feelin' that way without warnin'.
And he spoke through his cloak, most deep and distinguished,
And handed out strongly, for penalty and repentance,
William Zanzinger with a six-month sentence.
Oh, but you who philosophize disgrace and criticize all fears,
Bury the rag deep in your face
For now's the time for your tears.

For more information about the actual events of 1963 that lie behind this tale click here.