just some idle $2 curiosity here so no researching allowed.  I'm
guessing this might be a markj-ga question, but this info could be  
deposited in someone else's memory bank, too.  don't rightly know.

so it's about Ryan Adam's song "Desire" and here's a link to the clip:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00006IRHZ/qid=1107215002/sr=8-5/ref=pd_bbs_5/104-2134330-4161555?v=glance&s=music&n=507846

my question is if his phrasing and stressing of those next to the last
syllables has a name.  it almost makes granny wanna do a slo-mo
unisonian Butabi Bros. to-the-side head bob.  do it with me now...

with no SEE crets
no ob SEH shun
'is time I'm SPEE ding
with no deh REK shun
without a REE zun

thanks!
G?, bobble head

Granny --

After THINKing
'bout your ANswer
In the MIDdle
Of the NIGHT

I came UP with
One more TItle
With a RHYthm
Like deSIRE

It's "Precious Lord," the great gospel song by the Rev. Thomas A. Dorsey.
Actually, it's not quite the same because most of the phrases lack the
unstressed fourth syllable, but it'll do:

Barnes & Noble: B.B. King Sings Spirituals/Freedom Songs
http://music.barnesandnoble.com/search/product.asp?sourceid=00401402266266383336&ean=4995879030332&bfdate=02-01-2005+07:14:34


Now, to make the answer official, I am reposting here my comment of yesterday:


Thanks to Pink's glossary, we now know that the meter of each phrase
of the lyrics of the song, standing alone, can be described as a
"paeon", or one accented syllable in a four-syllabe phrase.  Even more
precisely, it can be called "tertius paeon," since the accent is on
the third syllable:

Open Poetry: Paeon
http://openpoetry.com/paeon

What is interesting about it musically is that it involves an accent
on the first beat, and only the first beat, of a song written with the
time signature of 4/4 (four beats to a measure; quarter note gets one
beat).

It is much more common in 4/4 time to have a primary accent on the
first beat and a secondary accent on the third beat. This is the
so-called "fox-trot rhythm of such songs as "On the Street Where You
Live" and, from back in your heyday, "Embraceable You."

While all traditional waltzes have their only accented beat on the
first beat, it is unusual to have the only accented beat in 4/4 time
on the first beat.  The most familiar of such a rhythm may be the
stereotypical tom-tom rhythm for American Indian dances that goes
DUM-dum-dum-dum, DUM-dum-dum-dum.

One prominent example of such a rhythm in the country/bluegrass
repertoire is the opening measures of the chorus and the verse of the
classic "Will the Circle be Unbroken."  



Search Strategy:

No searching, so no strategy.



As usual, you came up with a fascinating question.  Keep 'em coming.


markj-ga

wow, nothin' like wakin' up to a BB spiritual in the a.m.   I had a
feeling if anyone would know this, it'd be you, mj.  thanks for your
head knowledge of musicology.  long may it wave and granny wishes she
could tip you what it's worth.  fascinatin' answer as always!

love,
your tom-tom granny

Gran,

This may help you to analyze the patter of tiny metric feet:

http://www.noggs.dsl.pipex.com/vf/feet.htm

Grandmother --

Thanks to Pink's glossary, we now know that the meter of each phrase
of the lyrics of the song, standing alone, can be described as a
"paeon", or one accented syllable in a four-syllabe phrase.  Even more
precisely, it can be called "tertius paeon," since the accent is on
the third syllable:

Open Poetry: Paeon
http://openpoetry.com/paeon

What is interesting about it musically is that it involves an accent
on the first beat, and only the first beat, of a song written with the
time signature of 4/4 (four beats to a measure; quarter note gets one
beat).

It is much more common in 4/4 time to have a primary accent on the
first beat and a secondary accent on the third beat. This is the
so-called "fox-trot rhythm of such songs as "On the Street Where You
Live" and, from back in your heyday, "Embraceable You."

While all traditional waltzes have their only accented beat on the
first beat, it is unusual to have the only accented beat in 4/4 time
on the first beat.  The most familiar of such a rhythm may be the
stereotypical tom-tom rhythm for American Indian dances that goes
DUM-dum-dum-dum, DUM-dum-dum-dum.

One prominent example of such a rhythm in the country/bluegrass
repertoire is the opening measures of the chorus and the verse of the
classic "Will the Circle be Unbroken."  I would be interested in
seeing whether other researchers and commenters can come up with other
examples.

Anyway, that's my two-cents worth.

markj-ga

honey child, I think you and me are the only folks with a 4/4 jones so
post away in the answer box whenever you're ready.  couldn't place the
rhythm for that tune until you reminded me of WTCBU.  doh!

and thank you kindly to the lovely Pink for the pentameteric nudge!

tertius paeon.  sounds like the name of a "Gladiator" extra, don't it?

granny --

Thanks. You're the nicest granny ever.


markj-ga