joe mcdonald
Henry Valentine Miller (1891 – 1980) was an American novelist, short story writer and essayist, famous for controversial, crude language and obscene sexual elements in his stories; quite often globally censored. In 1956 he released the semi-autobiographical novella (156 pages) "Quiet Days in Clichy" about his life in Paris during the thirties, establishing himself as a serious writer while enjoying a wide variety of sexual escapades.
It was banned, of course. In most countries.
In 1970, Danish writer Jens Jørgen Thorsen caught the not so very bright idea of making a film out of the stuff, moving the scene to the sixties and adding music. The musical part was offered and left briefly to Country Joe McDonald, after his famous double performance at Woodstock the year before. He penned the title song and four more minors ("Nys' Love", "The Hungry Miller and the Hungry World", "Luxembourg Stomp" and "Mara") and supervised the rest.
It was banned, of course. In most countries. Both film and soundtrack, released same year by Vanguard (79303).
When things are banned, they often receive cult status, and that is exactly what happened in this case. It survived restriction in e.g. Germany, Holland and Denmark by luck, and up to this very day at least the title song has retained it's position - even though it really is a left-hand work I expect McDonald to have scribbled down from the screenplay for the money. In fact, he lost some respect from this, else known for political humour and left-wing activity.
My motivation for spending time on this is altering. I dig whoopiecrap. I dig obscure fun. I dig folksy fingerpicking rag. And I dig Country Joe McDonald, with or without "The Fish".
Joseph Allen McDonald passed away on 7th of March 2026, and the VERY old official website his bottom icon links to doesn't mention this. I've left it unchanged in reverence. Click HERE for updates.
come on people and listen to me
I'll tell you the story of Carl and Joey
the girls they fucked and the women they laid
this is the story of the love they made
:/:oh quiet days in Clichy:/:
now don't get excited : be patient please
put your hand on your lover's knee
and during this song if you get a chance
put your hand inside her pants
so come on people and listen to me
I'll tell you the story of the Place Clichy
so come and let us spend a while
with Joey and his french friend Carl
:/:oh quiet days in Clichy:/:
there were two girls from the café
we picked both of them up one day
we took both of them to our flat
and the red-headed one gave Carl the clap
the dark-haired girl took off her shoe
she smiled at Joey and then she was through
he tried everything but just as luck
the one from Jamaica just wouldn't fuck
:/:oh quiet days in Clichy:/:
little Colette she has no sense
serving the breakfast without her pants
spoiling the coffee and burning the eggs
all of her brains are between her legs
baby Colette she's go no sense
sweeping the floor and making a mess
doing the dishes : ironing the clothes
what she's thinking God only knows
:/:oh quiet days in Clichy:/:
the sad-eyed girl from the grocery store
her american husband didn't love her anymore
he deserted her : he vanished away
and she wants to speak english now night and day
they would go to a movie and then for a walk
and to the apartment for some fun and talk
she could sleep with one or she could sleep with the other
as long as they spoke english it really didn't matter
:/:oh quiet days in Clichy:/:
then there was Jean from the Herald Tribune
bringing bottles of wine up to their room
they could squeeze her tits and rub her crack
but the thought of fucking drove her quite mad
at the thought of a cock inside her cunt
she would always begin to smash the place up
she would scream and yell and holler and cry
and then come back for another try
:::/:::oh quiet days in Clichy:::/:::
For lyrics only, fullscreen b&w, go HERE and press F11. Hit the blue bullet or press backspace to return.
For the following CHORD section, fullscreen/horizontal mobile is recommended.
Chords in brackets may be omitted.
G Em G Em come on people and listen to me G Em7 D [D7] G I'll tell you the story of Carl and Joey G Em G Em the girls they fucked and the women they laid G Em7 D [D7] G this is the story of the love they made G Gsus4 Bb D oh quiet days in Cli chy G Gsus4 Bb Cadd9 G oh quiet days in Cli chy
