Buckingham Green

"Buckingham Green" is a song by Ween from the 1997 album The Mollusk.

Song Details

The Mollusk album version of "Buckingham Green" features lead vocals by Gene Ween and a guitar solo by Dean Ween. The song's title may have been inspired by a shopping center called Buckingham Green in the town of Buckingham, PA, near New Hope.

"Buckingham Green" is significantly older than its appearance on The Mollusk and dates back to 1992.

1992 Demo Recordings

Three separate demo recordings of "Buckingham Green" were made during the sessions for Chocolate and Cheese, all three of which can be found on the bootleg Chocolate and Cheese Demos: Summer 1992.

• A version labeled "Buckingham Clean" or "Buckingham Green Take 1" is a short and simple rendering of the song's three verses, with a repeat of the first verse as in the Mollusk version. The simple arrangement features only Gene's vocal over an accompaniment of "clean" guitar (i.e. without distortion) with a simple guitar solo.
• A version labeled "Buckingham 2" or "Buckingham Take 2" is especially notable, as it features an extended middle section containing a spoken narration by Gene that is not found in any other version (see Lyrics section below). The instrumentation and arrangement of this version is also unique. It features a heavy, distorted guitar solo, which foreshadows the Mollusk version, although the solo itself is quite different.
• A version labeled "Buckingham Hiss" or "Buckingham Green Hiss" is similar to "Buckingham Clean" but is recorded with noticeable tape hiss.

Live Performances

The first known live performance of "Buckingham Green" was at a 12/9/1992 show on the Pure Guava tour by Ween as a duo with DAT-deck accompaniment. This recording has been officially released on the At the Cat's Cradle album. The song was played fairly often in the years after this debut, and especially since the Mollusk tour it has become one of the most common live Ween songs ever, across almost every era (with the notable exception of the 12 Golden Country Greats tour). Additional officially released live versions include a 7/7/2000 recording from the White Pepper tour (Live at Stubb's), and a 11/7-9/2003 recording from the Quebec tour (Live in Chicago).

"Buckingham Green" has also been played live numerous times individually by both Gene Ween (both solo acoustic and with his band Freeman) and Dean Ween (with the Dean Ween Group).

Lyrics

Official Lyrics (Album Version)

Official lyrics were printed in the liner notes of The Mollusk album:

A child without an eye
Made a mother cry
Why ask why
She kept her child clean
On Buckingham Green

The children saw the eye
As a sign from God
Descending from the sky
It was alright to dream
Of Buckingham Green

Summon the queen
Spoke the child of eye
It's time to fly
Turning fire to steam
On Buckingham Green

"The Little Gnome" Monologue from "Buckingham 2" demo

The little gnome trudged onward through the forest. Overhead, the storm raged fierce. He was bringing forth gifts unto the child of Eye. The people of the village danced gaily. For seven days and seven nights, the storm continued, as did the celebration. The gnome saw Eye as the children came forth to greet him. "Why must you cry from^[?] the child of Eye?" spoke the mother, bringing warmth and shelter. The storm raged fierce, as the fleece was carved from the mountain of God. The gnome cried when the child of eye began to fly. "It is I who cries, it is I who cries. It is for Eye," he sighed. "It is for Eye," he sighed.

Song Themes

Sung by Gene Ween