What is "The Greenpoint Song"?

It is a song written in 1979 by the legendarly fictitious song writing team of Buttwhistle and Monty as a celebration of the town that they loved and was "sure you'd love as well." It is a simple party song often referred to as "Greenpoint's A Grand Old Town".

Origins of "The Song"...

"The Song" was written for the 1979 St. Cecilia Wine and Cheese party. Inspired musically by a Steve Goodman song called "The Lincoln Park Pirates","The Song" is at it's core a sea shanty sing-a-long.

"The Song" through the years...

In the late 1980's there was a feeble attempt made to put a 45rpm record of "The Song" in the jukeboxes of Greenpoint. It seemed like a good idea at the time, but it wasn't and the project never got beyond rehearsals. Listen for yourself. It is truly cringe worthy and personally very painful to listen to. Enjoy. Since that time "The Song" has been relegated to party song status. It is trotted out every couple of years and then is returned back to it's place back in the cedar closet of Greenpoint history.

More than a song...

Beyond all that, The Greenpoint Song also represents the spirit of a neighborhood and it's people. It's a feeling and an attitude common to residents past and present.

And now it is a website.

 

Hey! Hey! What's the big idea?

The big idea is The Greenpoint Song website.

It's About Homegrown Music...

Essentially this website is a celebration of music homegrown in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. Specifically, it is a celebration of a particular slice of homegrown music that climbed out of the St. Cecilia Parish Teen Center of the mid-1970's. This site also celebrates, to some degree, the town of Greenpoint. But mostly it's about that particular slice of homegrown music.

I Am Buttwhistle, Goo Goo G'Joob...

On this website, when you come across the names Wheat Buttwhistle and/or 3-Chord Monty that's me. Don't ask why; it's not important. Buttwhistle and Monty are a fictitious song writing team responsible for many of the incredible songs featured on this site including such classics as "Today I was a Bird", "The Laundromat Song" and "One Legged Woman". Incredible. Buttwhistle is the lyricist and 3-Chord handles the music.

About the website...

As your webmaster I can state that The Greenpoint Song website is, and always will be, a work in progress. Think of it as a creative playground. And, as in any playground, you may come across some broken glass and dog shit. But don't let that stop you from exploring the many areas of this site. Rest easy and know that I will be policing this playground and always working to make it a better place to be (virtually).

I will be adding to it as ideas and suggestions come to me.

Note: nothing on this website should be considered as very serious (unless otherwise stated) and everything is presented with a sense of fun and a lack of pretense. Facts are not of much importance either and have not been thoroughly checked. Good spelling and grammar are encouraged but not essential.

Why?

My reason for building this site is at least three fold.

First, I want to learn how to build a website. I want to create buttons and interactivity. I want to create fun, surprising and interesting places to go. And as I learn how to do this there will be bumps along the way. Most things will work fine while others not so fine. Those things that work not so fine will be discarded. The site you visit today may be quite different 6 months from today. Or maybe not. Who knows.

Secondly, I feel the core content of this site (the homegrown music that grew out of the center) deserves to be organized and presented in a way that pays proper respect to the scene and it's continuing legacy.

Thirdly, but no less significant than the first two; doing this is a good and positive hobby to have. It is best explained by the ad for Taylor guitars above and to the left.

 

About the music on this site...

Again, let me state, the main theme of this site is Homegrown Music.

The homegrown music featured on this site is a mixture of Bluegrass, Country Rock, Blues and Rock. This blend of styles, together with the character of the town in which it developed, is called by some "The Greenpoint Sound". In "the center" section of this site you will find archival recordings dating as far back as 1976. In "the landmark" section of this site you will find links to music being created today by members of the center scene.

The Greenpoint Sound

What is the Greenpoint Sound you ask? Here's how I define it. Simply put, the Greenpoint Sound is the sound of 7 guitars, each slightly out of tune with the others, all playing the same chord, in the same position, at roughly the same tempo for as long as possible and then a bit longer. The sound is filled out with an occasional banjo or harp but for the most part it's the thunder of those guitars. And it is glorious. Add in those distinct North Brooklyn harmonies, douse with beer, light the fuse and bam!, hear the magic.