Hi Christy,
Spirits were low last night so we pulled the family together (me, the missus, all five kids and my 90 year old mother) to watch/listen to the Planxy 2004 reunion show. I know telling you how brilliant that recording is would be like telling Paul McCartney “hey Rubber Soul is a pretty good album” but we all immensely enjoyed the evening. I haven’t seen my mother (originally from Galway) that happy in quite some time. She refers to you only as “that nice lad with the beautiful voice”. Those gigs must have been an amazingly rewarding experience for you and the boys. There doesn’t seem to a wasted note during that entire recording. Thanks again for the joy and relief you and your music bring in these strange times. All the best!
Buck
Christy's reply
Thank you Buck..
greetings to your Family..
from what part of Galway did your Mother emigrate ?
( always the first question when expats meet !! “what part you from ?”)
that Planxty reunion was a joy…. we got to spend some real quality time together.
From the first gig in Lisdoonvarna to the last hurrah in London we played the music once again…..those gigs created some life enhancing memories for us…….Lovely to read of your Family listening to Planxty, of your Mother referring to me as “a Lad” ( and me only a wet week after her !)
Hi Christy,
I must agree, Dave’s posts are a fabulous window on the world of music , well worth waiting for .
If you ever fancy a virtual trip down under can i recommend some wonderful Aboriginal music available on youtube ,like David Hudson’s ‘yigi yigi’ or Lewis Burns’ traditional rhythms which are ear opening, while listening to some of Gurrumul’s frankly astoundingly sung songs, like ‘wiyathul’ ,just open up the mind to a whole different plane whilst at night in the dark stillness of the bunker.
Wherever we turn there is beauty in music, i hope you get the chance to dip in at some stage.
Best regards
Rory
Christy's reply
thank you for your recommendations
gonna dip in when time permits
gotta lot of projects on the go here
some may never see the light of day
but they keep the auld head occupied
focused upon things positive
good to hear Nicola Sturgeon talk about the need for “adult conversation”
good to see the Examiner crossing the Irish Sea and the Pennines ( just like I did myself 50 years ago !)
Thanks for that Rebecca….
“O the Cuckoo is a pretty bird and it sings as it flies
it brings us good tidings and tells us no lies
it sucks the young birds eggs to make its voice clear
and the more it cries ” CUCKOO” the Summer draws near”
Males blackbirds are black with a yellow beak. Females are brown with a brown beak. ☺️
Rebecca
dagrab
April 23, 2020 at 6:59 am
Location: day time in the big city-no one is on the streets...a suffragette's statue stands alone...
Hi Christy
I know we both shared a liking for Dylan’s radio shows…pretty much the audio equivalent of ‘film noir’…an excellent site contains the glories…
http://www.themetimeradio.com in many ways,radio is a natural format for a master wordsmith,although the quality and quantity of the shows is quite amazing..
in the bunker,a radio plays softly…
Dave
Christy's reply
even before getting out of the scratcher I thought I’d see what Dagrab got for me today…..the daily essentials duly delivered to the door….but I gotta ask you Dave…how do you make time to absorb it all …. you post such an array of goodies, I wanna get stuck in and study it all but,even in time of pandemic, I can only absorb a fraction…but Thank You,Thank You,
as for Bob’s Radio Shows…..magnificent…..my good colleague,friend and collaborator Luke Drifter (Him who curated thon Box Set 1964-2004) gifted me the entire encyclopedia of Bob’s Radio Theme Shows….110 cds in four beautiful red boxes….I see them everyday there on the shelf….I’ve listened lovingly to maybe 10 of them over the past 15 years…..but the Atkin always beckons, I’m working on 4 new covers at the moment…. a Jim Page, a Paul Doran, a John Prine and a John Spillane…. I got various bits and pieces of my own scribbled around the floor but nothing of any consequence, I also have a John Hoban song here that I’ve been wrestling with for many moons , a Web Pierce that winks at me,
A few nights back I was reminiscing upon my Manchester years…back when I was dossing around Moss Side, Fallowfield, Cheetham Hill, Bury & Rochdale..serving my apprenticship to song….I drew up a list of all the singers and players I met back then….
Hi Christy,
I agree about these great songs from the Handsome family, and i appreciate how they could probably only fit into a certain type of gig.
I would venture a guess that ‘Butterfly’ must be one of the saddest songs in your whole collection, but it’s sadness is matched by it’s beauty.
A friend mentioned that ,despite our sunburnt pates, the falling of Easter Snow is never an impossibility…and that too is a fine, soft song.
Certainly i have found that this lockdown has me listening to a calmer section of songs and artists than i may have been enjoying in my oft’ rage against inequality ….but it will return.
The rhubarb gin ( cork dry naturally) is under construction ,so i will use some of the remaining crop of rhubarb stems for both a crumble and a pie, thanks for the suggestion. Custard and a good cup of tea will be welcome presents to accompany them!
Stay well, and watch the old pate yerself in this sun.
Regards
Rory
Christy's reply
“Pity the Poor Immigrant ”
“Away You Broken Heart”
“Spancilhill”
“Everybody Knew,Nobody Said”
“Giuseppe”
“Magdalen Laundry”
I toured Germany with Champion Jack Dupree way back in the early 70s.Us Planxty fellows were bathing in the Summer Sun. Champion Jack looked at us saying “I think I’ll go and lie in the snow, maybe I’ll turn white”
Hello Christy,
I’ve just been almost in touching distance of a male blackbird, I don’t know where Mrs was, 3 goldfinches and 2 Wood pigeons. I almost stopped breathing. Then the cat wandered past and that was the end of that.
Good day to you.
Rebecca
Christy's reply
“I almost stopped breathing”
sounds like you are finding time to live life to the full
to gaze upon the Blackbird and the Goldfinch
to listen to the Widgeons coo coo
for the life of me, I could not define the gender of a Blackbird
you’ve trumped me there Rebecca
Just saw the announcement on the gig page that the concerts in Ennis are cancelled. Understandable and difficult decision for all involved. In the Netherlands all events (including those in theatres) are cancelled until 1 September. Hopefully people who had purchased tickets for your- or other concerts are able and willing to accept it this without refund. It’ll help the hard hit cultural sector (e.g. theatres) to stay on their feet. I suppose that in our countries this situation is the same.
We’ll come over for another gig sometime in the future. Stay safe and we’ll all support the people who are in the frontline of this health crisis.
greetings from Amsterdam
John
“Home comes the rover his journey is over…..”
Christy's reply
Morra John,
when our ship is on the ocean
we gotta dance to the reel.
„I´m an ordinary man nothing special nothing grand”, begins the Christy Moore song that takes me back to my youth in Ireland in the eighties. Its premise, a family man’s struggle in hard times, unemployment, little money and a fierce desire to pay his own way, “I’ve had to work for everything I own”, reminds us of our present day dilemma. I like many of my generation had to leave our homes in pursuit of employment,” didn’t ask for a lot. I was happy with what I got, enough to keep me Family and my home”.
The Covid 19 driven hard times are through no fault of the ordinary man! Fault lies elsewhere but where? Is it in China? Is it due to the lack of concern on behalf of our European leaders? Did our government spend too much time sitting on their hands debating about who went to vote for whom at times when they couldn´t be bothered to attend a certain session in the Dail? No, this is not the time to seek out the guilty party, to find a scapegoat, to render blame, cast the first stone upon some institution or world health organization. The blame-game will only distract, and ultimately slow down the process of moving forward, as Irish history has proven time and time again this will lead to nothing that would help the ordinary man „keep his family and his home”.
It is as has been said many fold over the last months, we need to practice our solidarity, engage in social-distancing, keep our parents and grandparents safe, the ordinary man will do what is asked of him but “now they say the times are hard and they’ve handed me my cards, they say there’s not the work to go around”! Once more is history repeating itself?
The ordinary will be asked to take a substantial pay cut, will be compelled to sign on the dole, will be expected to sit back and leave his fate in the hands of others, not to question what is right and what is wrong! “When the whistle blows and the gates finally close”, which factory, pub, hotel, restaurant, café, clothes shop, newsagents, bakery, farmers etc. Will be “shut down”?
As Dylan said, “times are a changing “. So many things have changed and it will be a long time before normality returns. It is up to our “captains of industry”, to show their solidarity, to path the way into the future, to protect the “condemned ordinary man “and his “darling wife” from” standing in a queue”!
“God knows what the kids are going to do”? No school to go to, no friends to meet up with, no sports to heel the body and soul, no freedom just to do and be kids. We ask them to scarify a lot, we ask of them to be patient, we ask of them to comprehend something we barely comprehend ourselves, we expect much and they deliver! We must make sure the this “generation is not cast aside”, and in the long run, we must be innovate, find a ways for them to enjoy their childhood and not suffocate them 20 years down the line with our overly –priced housing and banking systems that allow “one law for the rich, one for the poor”!
The “cruel irony” of Covid 19 is, it does not seem to care, its ruthless, its lacking compassion, it is void of race, and colour or creed, something that maybe the ordinary man has been sometimes guilty of forgetting? Covid 19 is one disease, united in its task to destroy, render havoc and divide where unity is required but it should never be allowed to strip us of our “dignity and pride”.
Ride on ! Colm
Christy's reply
“Its hard to know what to say
when a child looks up and says
Hey Old Man,what did you do
we were depending on you”……….( Clock Winds Down- Jim Page )
You’ve certainly hit the roll call of great singers and tellers of tales,Christy…
Have you ever taken on the likes of ‘Tam Lin’,’Sir Patrick Spens’ or ‘The House Carpenter’?…they’d fit in the same team as ‘Lord Baker’,for sure…
You’re right about the journey that’s taken after finding an artist/song…its a wonderful trek-fun to follow the sidetracks too…and,not to be afraid to take a few chances,here and there…D
Christy's reply
as Declan sang on the 2nd Moving Hearts album
“You’ve gotta take a chance sometime
stake it all on a glance sometime
let some feelings show
let somebody know”
Following Bob’s surprise song last week,I went online to read comments etc…and found the motherlode of Dylan and related writings…by a well established author who hadn’t previously hit my radar,but now has!
http://www.annemargaretdaniel.com if you hit the ‘blog’,there are excellent,insightful pieces on the two recent Bob works,with background references etc…ace geek stuff..then ,head to ‘essays and articles’ for a feast of Bob /The Band info…plus a bonus under ‘Articles I most loved writing’…there’s a superb 2010 piece about Liam Clancy’s farewell to New York… RIP Liam who passed in 2009.
Apologies if any/all of the above distract you from your playing…most of my meagre ‘to do’ tasks are on hold until I’ve worked through these pieces…’Basement Tapes’,ideal for the bunker too!
keep well
Dave
Christy's reply
Thanks Dave….all your suggestions greatly appreciated….I’ll be diving in at the first opportunity
Dear Christy,
The distractions of the hussle and bussle of ‘normal’ life having left us alone it is great to behold the wonders of nature.
It was great to hear tales of,and read the posts about, the lovely bird song being enjoyed from dawn to dusk…reminds me of your blackbird accompanyist on the version of ‘Folk Tale’ in the box set fabulous yellow disc…. i don’t suppose you could persuade your publishers to release the box set in coloured vinyl for us auld fogies?
Anyway, the wonder of nature has me staring at the big stalks of rhubarb sprouting away in the corner of the yard….i think an attempt at rhubarb gin is next on the agenda.
The daffodils adorning the vases are making way for the daisy chains to be connected for the necklace , and so we go on . A sadly departed bumblebee has it’s wing examined under the microscope by the wee lad ,and a couple of fragments of birds eggs have us looking for the dusty and forgotten nature book to work out the species. Oh what joy we can get from feeling what is about us.
It has meant that i have taken greater interest in a rarely heard song, from the Burning Times album. A lovely understated song, telling of the perhaps not too far off time of when nature makes herself our boss again, rather than us pretending that it is the other way round. The song is Peace in the Valley Once Again, when we all return to the live stuff it would be great to hear her sung again, in the meantime the disc spins…but quietly.
Regards
Rory
Christy's reply
A song I loved upon first hearing….yet it never blended into the live set…certainly going to give it a play when next we tread the boards….
So Much Wine (Butterfly) also written by Brett and Rennie, The Handsome Family..unique Troubadours who live their songs in performance
That Box set in Vinyl would become a weighty matter…. cant have listeners getting their backs put out….
when you are finished distilling Rhubarb Gin you might consider a rhubarb tart or crumble…I’ll bring the custard
Peace in The Valley Once Again……….. (The Handsome Family)
When They close down the last shopping Mall
Crickets will sing through crumbling walls
Termites will eat through the doors
as Rabbits hop round the shop floors
empty shelves will swarm with Bees
cash machines will sprout Weeds
Lizards will crawl across the parking lot
as Birds fly around empty shops
……………………There will be Peace in the valley once again
Wild Flowers will grow up the mannequins
painting them with a leafy skin
their plastic eyes will fall to the floor
to be gathered up by wild Boar
Mirrors will crack in half
as wild Horses gallop past
wild Doves will build their nests
on the escalator steps
………………………….There will be Peace in the valley once again
Hello Christy,
I’ve been working hard on Little Musgrave. Can’t really call it working, it’s so much fun. It’s like Tosca in 10 minutes.
The melody has got me hooked. The pattern to it is all from the emotion of the song. I’m loving it. This is the first song I’ve sung that works like this. Wondering if there are any more.
I watched Barrowland. I hope you get back there soon.
Rebecca
Christy's reply
“I’d gladly give one hundred pounds to be on yonder plain”
There are indeed many more of those songs known as the “Big Songs” or “Big Ballads”
Finding them is a journey in itself….upon the journey we learn from those who carried them….singers like John Reilly, Bert Lloyd, Mike,Lal and Norma Waterson, Jeannie Robertson,Shirley Collins, Frank Harte,Ewan MacColl, Peggy Seeger, Sam Lee, Peter Bellamy, Martin Carthy to name but a few
Hey Dylan,some real sweet pickin there, what a great song, never heard it before, John Prine will forever be such a gentle man, I love your version, kept imagining how it might sound with the beautiful resonance of a Wicklow accent….one of my favouite dialects…..
Hope your havin a good day in Nashville….you look and sound like you’re settlin in ….keep up the good work ‘n keep coming back….
it works if we work it
PS…
thats a sweet box your pickin there..great sound..is it an old Martin ?
Sandy Denny’s music is resounding in the bunker today…acoustic/demo/radio versions of songs that were often subsequently arranged for albums.The acoustic treatment enhances the brilliant depth of her vocals as well as highlighting some lovely guitar and piano playing.
I’m particularly drawn to ‘Who knows where the time goes?’…written when she was a teenager with The Strawbs…also,her stunning take on ‘Wild Mountain Thyme’…
Thankfully,I saw Sandy with Fotheringay in the 70s…did your paths ever cross?
Am also wondering if you ever either of the above songs?
In my head ,I can hear your version of ‘Who knows…’,enhanced by Declan’s slide electric,with a hint of reverb…yep,definitely been here too long…time for a cuppa and a short walk,
All the best to all
Dave
Christy's reply
saw Fairport in Free Trade Hall, Manchester circa 1970….think I saw Strawbs somewhere along the road…never heard Sandy live nor tried that beautiful song…there is great depth to her singing….
coud do with a bit of Declan’s slide myself these days…. the Atkin is helping me thru…..the reflections offered here also bring comfort and distraction…Thank You
G’day Christie and all the good folk of Ireland. We are all in quarantine here and ive been enjoying immensely your Live in Dub album that i purchased online. Doing a home recording of your version of the late Ronnie Hynes, Sonnys Dream .
Dearly wanting to see you live in Ireland, hopefully next year !!
All the best , Tom Last
Christy's reply
Good Morning to you Tom and to all the good listeners of Wagga Wagga, Warnambool, Wooloomaloo, Woolongong,Cudgee,Mudgee,Vinegar Hill and Byron Bay…..I’m sitting by the window of my room on the stair, watching the waves gently wash o’er the pier….
and I’ve been listening to Nic Jones again….his album “Penguin Eggs” perhaps my favourite album…..
I hope your recording goes well…..that we can all return safely to a brave new world with more love,compassion, care and good sense then displayed heretofore…..
“If you saw it from a satellite
all the green and the blue and white
The beauty of the curve of the earth
And the oceans below
You might think it was paradise
If you didn’t know
You might think it was turning
But it’s turning so slow
How long can you hear someone crying?
How long can you hear someone dying?
Before you ask yourself why
How long will it be till we’ve turned
To the tasks and the skills that we’ll have to learn
If we’re going to find a place in the future
Have something to offer to the children of the world”……
I’ve been sitting here in quarantine playing a lot of (bad) guitar.. You, John Prine, Conor Oberst Jerry Garcia, Bob Dylan and some others have been helping me get through these weird times. I doubt you remember me but I had the online forum before 4711ers.org. I have great memories of chatting with Maryline and Brian. Hope all is well with you during these crazy times, and thank you for all of the fantastic music I have to help pass the time.
Sincerely,
Ben Larkin
Christy's reply
Thank You..
I remember you well Ben Larkin….I recall the early days of this platform…how this link was created and all the communications I have since enjoyed…..I gratefully enjoy the ongoing camraderie with listeners the world over…..keep coming back
Christy, just watching/ listening to Declan and you at Barrowlands 2019 with a glass of whiskey for the umpteenth time. I hope you know how much you you mean to us in these difficult times, thank you.
Christy's reply
Thank You…I know,for certain, what all you listeners have meant to me these past 55 years….
Thanks be that the Barras gig was filmed and kept for eternity. … however long that may be….. there’s a strong front row to be seen soaking up the vibe and the music.
The original 4711ers…. founder members … the pilgrims of the adventure that we all love to follow …. when the phoenix rises again….
Christy's reply
Had all gone according to plan, myself and Michael would now be disembarking the Cairnryan-Belfast Ferry returning from Scotland….instead I’m sitting here looking forward to times ahead whilst enduring the difficulties of lockdown… Amidst all the horrors and hardships being endured around the world we must celebrate the Heroism of our Health Workers, our Protectors in State Forces, our Food providers……
(nor should we forget the actions of those miscreants who have shown utter disregard for the majority, who flocked to Holiday destinations ignoring all appeals, who crowded into public areas,the likes of those who rode to Cheltenham…)
Sending good JuJu to The Glens..and to all 4711ers and singing birds wherever ye are perched this Sunday Morning
Let The Music Keep Our Spirits High….Thank You Jackson
Hi Christy,
Spirits were low last night so we pulled the family together (me, the missus, all five kids and my 90 year old mother) to watch/listen to the Planxy 2004 reunion show. I know telling you how brilliant that recording is would be like telling Paul McCartney “hey Rubber Soul is a pretty good album” but we all immensely enjoyed the evening. I haven’t seen my mother (originally from Galway) that happy in quite some time. She refers to you only as “that nice lad with the beautiful voice”. Those gigs must have been an amazingly rewarding experience for you and the boys. There doesn’t seem to a wasted note during that entire recording. Thanks again for the joy and relief you and your music bring in these strange times. All the best!
Buck
Thank you Buck..
greetings to your Family..
from what part of Galway did your Mother emigrate ?
( always the first question when expats meet !! “what part you from ?”)
that Planxty reunion was a joy…. we got to spend some real quality time together.
From the first gig in Lisdoonvarna to the last hurrah in London we played the music once again…..those gigs created some life enhancing memories for us…….Lovely to read of your Family listening to Planxty, of your Mother referring to me as “a Lad” ( and me only a wet week after her !)
Hi Christy,
I must agree, Dave’s posts are a fabulous window on the world of music , well worth waiting for .
If you ever fancy a virtual trip down under can i recommend some wonderful Aboriginal music available on youtube ,like David Hudson’s ‘yigi yigi’ or Lewis Burns’ traditional rhythms which are ear opening, while listening to some of Gurrumul’s frankly astoundingly sung songs, like ‘wiyathul’ ,just open up the mind to a whole different plane whilst at night in the dark stillness of the bunker.
Wherever we turn there is beauty in music, i hope you get the chance to dip in at some stage.
Best regards
Rory
thank you for your recommendations
gonna dip in when time permits
gotta lot of projects on the go here
some may never see the light of day
but they keep the auld head occupied
focused upon things positive
good to hear Nicola Sturgeon talk about the need for “adult conversation”
https://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/lifestyle/outdoorsandgarden/lets-hear-it-for-the-blackbird-905049.html
good to see the Examiner crossing the Irish Sea and the Pennines ( just like I did myself 50 years ago !)
Thanks for that Rebecca….
“O the Cuckoo is a pretty bird and it sings as it flies
it brings us good tidings and tells us no lies
it sucks the young birds eggs to make its voice clear
and the more it cries ” CUCKOO” the Summer draws near”
Males blackbirds are black with a yellow beak. Females are brown with a brown beak. ☺️
Rebecca
Hi Christy
I know we both shared a liking for Dylan’s radio shows…pretty much the audio equivalent of ‘film noir’…an excellent site contains the glories…
http://www.themetimeradio.com in many ways,radio is a natural format for a master wordsmith,although the quality and quantity of the shows is quite amazing..
in the bunker,a radio plays softly…
Dave
even before getting out of the scratcher I thought I’d see what Dagrab got for me today…..the daily essentials duly delivered to the door….but I gotta ask you Dave…how do you make time to absorb it all …. you post such an array of goodies, I wanna get stuck in and study it all but,even in time of pandemic, I can only absorb a fraction…but Thank You,Thank You,
as for Bob’s Radio Shows…..magnificent…..my good colleague,friend and collaborator Luke Drifter (Him who curated thon Box Set 1964-2004) gifted me the entire encyclopedia of Bob’s Radio Theme Shows….110 cds in four beautiful red boxes….I see them everyday there on the shelf….I’ve listened lovingly to maybe 10 of them over the past 15 years…..but the Atkin always beckons, I’m working on 4 new covers at the moment…. a Jim Page, a Paul Doran, a John Prine and a John Spillane…. I got various bits and pieces of my own scribbled around the floor but nothing of any consequence, I also have a John Hoban song here that I’ve been wrestling with for many moons , a Web Pierce that winks at me,
A few nights back I was reminiscing upon my Manchester years…back when I was dossing around Moss Side, Fallowfield, Cheetham Hill, Bury & Rochdale..serving my apprenticship to song….I drew up a list of all the singers and players I met back then….
Hi Christy,
I agree about these great songs from the Handsome family, and i appreciate how they could probably only fit into a certain type of gig.
I would venture a guess that ‘Butterfly’ must be one of the saddest songs in your whole collection, but it’s sadness is matched by it’s beauty.
A friend mentioned that ,despite our sunburnt pates, the falling of Easter Snow is never an impossibility…and that too is a fine, soft song.
Certainly i have found that this lockdown has me listening to a calmer section of songs and artists than i may have been enjoying in my oft’ rage against inequality ….but it will return.
The rhubarb gin ( cork dry naturally) is under construction ,so i will use some of the remaining crop of rhubarb stems for both a crumble and a pie, thanks for the suggestion. Custard and a good cup of tea will be welcome presents to accompany them!
Stay well, and watch the old pate yerself in this sun.
Regards
Rory
“Pity the Poor Immigrant ”
“Away You Broken Heart”
“Spancilhill”
“Everybody Knew,Nobody Said”
“Giuseppe”
“Magdalen Laundry”
I toured Germany with Champion Jack Dupree way back in the early 70s.Us Planxty fellows were bathing in the Summer Sun. Champion Jack looked at us saying “I think I’ll go and lie in the snow, maybe I’ll turn white”
Hello Christy,
I’ve just been almost in touching distance of a male blackbird, I don’t know where Mrs was, 3 goldfinches and 2 Wood pigeons. I almost stopped breathing. Then the cat wandered past and that was the end of that.
Good day to you.
Rebecca
“I almost stopped breathing”
sounds like you are finding time to live life to the full
to gaze upon the Blackbird and the Goldfinch
to listen to the Widgeons coo coo
for the life of me, I could not define the gender of a Blackbird
you’ve trumped me there Rebecca
Dear Christy,
Just saw the announcement on the gig page that the concerts in Ennis are cancelled. Understandable and difficult decision for all involved. In the Netherlands all events (including those in theatres) are cancelled until 1 September. Hopefully people who had purchased tickets for your- or other concerts are able and willing to accept it this without refund. It’ll help the hard hit cultural sector (e.g. theatres) to stay on their feet. I suppose that in our countries this situation is the same.
We’ll come over for another gig sometime in the future. Stay safe and we’ll all support the people who are in the frontline of this health crisis.
greetings from Amsterdam
John
“Home comes the rover his journey is over…..”
Morra John,
when our ship is on the ocean
we gotta dance to the reel.
I’m goin to wander
among the Wicklow Hills
Monday, 20.04.2020
4.24 am.
„I´m an ordinary man nothing special nothing grand”, begins the Christy Moore song that takes me back to my youth in Ireland in the eighties. Its premise, a family man’s struggle in hard times, unemployment, little money and a fierce desire to pay his own way, “I’ve had to work for everything I own”, reminds us of our present day dilemma. I like many of my generation had to leave our homes in pursuit of employment,” didn’t ask for a lot. I was happy with what I got, enough to keep me Family and my home”.
The Covid 19 driven hard times are through no fault of the ordinary man! Fault lies elsewhere but where? Is it in China? Is it due to the lack of concern on behalf of our European leaders? Did our government spend too much time sitting on their hands debating about who went to vote for whom at times when they couldn´t be bothered to attend a certain session in the Dail? No, this is not the time to seek out the guilty party, to find a scapegoat, to render blame, cast the first stone upon some institution or world health organization. The blame-game will only distract, and ultimately slow down the process of moving forward, as Irish history has proven time and time again this will lead to nothing that would help the ordinary man „keep his family and his home”.
It is as has been said many fold over the last months, we need to practice our solidarity, engage in social-distancing, keep our parents and grandparents safe, the ordinary man will do what is asked of him but “now they say the times are hard and they’ve handed me my cards, they say there’s not the work to go around”! Once more is history repeating itself?
The ordinary will be asked to take a substantial pay cut, will be compelled to sign on the dole, will be expected to sit back and leave his fate in the hands of others, not to question what is right and what is wrong! “When the whistle blows and the gates finally close”, which factory, pub, hotel, restaurant, café, clothes shop, newsagents, bakery, farmers etc. Will be “shut down”?
As Dylan said, “times are a changing “. So many things have changed and it will be a long time before normality returns. It is up to our “captains of industry”, to show their solidarity, to path the way into the future, to protect the “condemned ordinary man “and his “darling wife” from” standing in a queue”!
“God knows what the kids are going to do”? No school to go to, no friends to meet up with, no sports to heel the body and soul, no freedom just to do and be kids. We ask them to scarify a lot, we ask of them to be patient, we ask of them to comprehend something we barely comprehend ourselves, we expect much and they deliver! We must make sure the this “generation is not cast aside”, and in the long run, we must be innovate, find a ways for them to enjoy their childhood and not suffocate them 20 years down the line with our overly –priced housing and banking systems that allow “one law for the rich, one for the poor”!
The “cruel irony” of Covid 19 is, it does not seem to care, its ruthless, its lacking compassion, it is void of race, and colour or creed, something that maybe the ordinary man has been sometimes guilty of forgetting? Covid 19 is one disease, united in its task to destroy, render havoc and divide where unity is required but it should never be allowed to strip us of our “dignity and pride”.
Ride on ! Colm
“Its hard to know what to say
when a child looks up and says
Hey Old Man,what did you do
we were depending on you”……….( Clock Winds Down- Jim Page )
You’ve certainly hit the roll call of great singers and tellers of tales,Christy…
Have you ever taken on the likes of ‘Tam Lin’,’Sir Patrick Spens’ or ‘The House Carpenter’?…they’d fit in the same team as ‘Lord Baker’,for sure…
You’re right about the journey that’s taken after finding an artist/song…its a wonderful trek-fun to follow the sidetracks too…and,not to be afraid to take a few chances,here and there…D
as Declan sang on the 2nd Moving Hearts album
“You’ve gotta take a chance sometime
stake it all on a glance sometime
let some feelings show
let somebody know”
Hi Christy
Following Bob’s surprise song last week,I went online to read comments etc…and found the motherlode of Dylan and related writings…by a well established author who hadn’t previously hit my radar,but now has!
http://www.annemargaretdaniel.com if you hit the ‘blog’,there are excellent,insightful pieces on the two recent Bob works,with background references etc…ace geek stuff..then ,head to ‘essays and articles’ for a feast of Bob /The Band info…plus a bonus under ‘Articles I most loved writing’…there’s a superb 2010 piece about Liam Clancy’s farewell to New York… RIP Liam who passed in 2009.
Apologies if any/all of the above distract you from your playing…most of my meagre ‘to do’ tasks are on hold until I’ve worked through these pieces…’Basement Tapes’,ideal for the bunker too!
keep well
Dave
Thanks Dave….all your suggestions greatly appreciated….I’ll be diving in at the first opportunity
Dear Christy,
The distractions of the hussle and bussle of ‘normal’ life having left us alone it is great to behold the wonders of nature.
It was great to hear tales of,and read the posts about, the lovely bird song being enjoyed from dawn to dusk…reminds me of your blackbird accompanyist on the version of ‘Folk Tale’ in the box set fabulous yellow disc…. i don’t suppose you could persuade your publishers to release the box set in coloured vinyl for us auld fogies?
Anyway, the wonder of nature has me staring at the big stalks of rhubarb sprouting away in the corner of the yard….i think an attempt at rhubarb gin is next on the agenda.
The daffodils adorning the vases are making way for the daisy chains to be connected for the necklace , and so we go on . A sadly departed bumblebee has it’s wing examined under the microscope by the wee lad ,and a couple of fragments of birds eggs have us looking for the dusty and forgotten nature book to work out the species. Oh what joy we can get from feeling what is about us.
It has meant that i have taken greater interest in a rarely heard song, from the Burning Times album. A lovely understated song, telling of the perhaps not too far off time of when nature makes herself our boss again, rather than us pretending that it is the other way round. The song is Peace in the Valley Once Again, when we all return to the live stuff it would be great to hear her sung again, in the meantime the disc spins…but quietly.
Regards
Rory
A song I loved upon first hearing….yet it never blended into the live set…certainly going to give it a play when next we tread the boards….
So Much Wine (Butterfly) also written by Brett and Rennie, The Handsome Family..unique Troubadours who live their songs in performance
That Box set in Vinyl would become a weighty matter…. cant have listeners getting their backs put out….
when you are finished distilling Rhubarb Gin you might consider a rhubarb tart or crumble…I’ll bring the custard
Peace in The Valley Once Again……….. (The Handsome Family)
When They close down the last shopping Mall
Crickets will sing through crumbling walls
Termites will eat through the doors
as Rabbits hop round the shop floors
empty shelves will swarm with Bees
cash machines will sprout Weeds
Lizards will crawl across the parking lot
as Birds fly around empty shops
……………………There will be Peace in the valley once again
Wild Flowers will grow up the mannequins
painting them with a leafy skin
their plastic eyes will fall to the floor
to be gathered up by wild Boar
Mirrors will crack in half
as wild Horses gallop past
wild Doves will build their nests
on the escalator steps
………………………….There will be Peace in the valley once again
Hello Christy,
I’ve been working hard on Little Musgrave. Can’t really call it working, it’s so much fun. It’s like Tosca in 10 minutes.
The melody has got me hooked. The pattern to it is all from the emotion of the song. I’m loving it. This is the first song I’ve sung that works like this. Wondering if there are any more.
I watched Barrowland. I hope you get back there soon.
Rebecca
“I’d gladly give one hundred pounds to be on yonder plain”
There are indeed many more of those songs known as the “Big Songs” or “Big Ballads”
Finding them is a journey in itself….upon the journey we learn from those who carried them….singers like John Reilly, Bert Lloyd, Mike,Lal and Norma Waterson, Jeannie Robertson,Shirley Collins, Frank Harte,Ewan MacColl, Peggy Seeger, Sam Lee, Peter Bellamy, Martin Carthy to name but a few
Picking away… …hope yer doin’ all right, Dylan
https://youtu.be/5Czo2q6MOAg
Hey Dylan,some real sweet pickin there, what a great song, never heard it before, John Prine will forever be such a gentle man, I love your version, kept imagining how it might sound with the beautiful resonance of a Wicklow accent….one of my favouite dialects…..
Hope your havin a good day in Nashville….you look and sound like you’re settlin in ….keep up the good work ‘n keep coming back….
it works if we work it
PS…
thats a sweet box your pickin there..great sound..is it an old Martin ?
ps have you ever worked on/gigged the Sandy Denny songs I mentioned?D
It fell upon a holy day
as manys in the year
Hi Christy
Sandy Denny’s music is resounding in the bunker today…acoustic/demo/radio versions of songs that were often subsequently arranged for albums.The acoustic treatment enhances the brilliant depth of her vocals as well as highlighting some lovely guitar and piano playing.
I’m particularly drawn to ‘Who knows where the time goes?’…written when she was a teenager with The Strawbs…also,her stunning take on ‘Wild Mountain Thyme’…
Thankfully,I saw Sandy with Fotheringay in the 70s…did your paths ever cross?
Am also wondering if you ever either of the above songs?
In my head ,I can hear your version of ‘Who knows…’,enhanced by Declan’s slide electric,with a hint of reverb…yep,definitely been here too long…time for a cuppa and a short walk,
All the best to all
Dave
saw Fairport in Free Trade Hall, Manchester circa 1970….think I saw Strawbs somewhere along the road…never heard Sandy live nor tried that beautiful song…there is great depth to her singing….
coud do with a bit of Declan’s slide myself these days…. the Atkin is helping me thru…..the reflections offered here also bring comfort and distraction…Thank You
G’day Christie and all the good folk of Ireland. We are all in quarantine here and ive been enjoying immensely your Live in Dub album that i purchased online. Doing a home recording of your version of the late Ronnie Hynes, Sonnys Dream .
Dearly wanting to see you live in Ireland, hopefully next year !!
All the best , Tom Last
Good Morning to you Tom and to all the good listeners of Wagga Wagga, Warnambool, Wooloomaloo, Woolongong,Cudgee,Mudgee,Vinegar Hill and Byron Bay…..I’m sitting by the window of my room on the stair, watching the waves gently wash o’er the pier….
and I’ve been listening to Nic Jones again….his album “Penguin Eggs” perhaps my favourite album…..
I hope your recording goes well…..that we can all return safely to a brave new world with more love,compassion, care and good sense then displayed heretofore…..
“If you saw it from a satellite
all the green and the blue and white
The beauty of the curve of the earth
And the oceans below
You might think it was paradise
If you didn’t know
You might think it was turning
But it’s turning so slow
How long can you hear someone crying?
How long can you hear someone dying?
Before you ask yourself why
How long will it be till we’ve turned
To the tasks and the skills that we’ll have to learn
If we’re going to find a place in the future
Have something to offer to the children of the world”……
(from “How Long” by Jackson Browne)
Hi Christy, long time no talk!
I’ve been sitting here in quarantine playing a lot of (bad) guitar.. You, John Prine, Conor Oberst Jerry Garcia, Bob Dylan and some others have been helping me get through these weird times. I doubt you remember me but I had the online forum before 4711ers.org. I have great memories of chatting with Maryline and Brian. Hope all is well with you during these crazy times, and thank you for all of the fantastic music I have to help pass the time.
Sincerely,
Ben Larkin
Thank You..
I remember you well Ben Larkin….I recall the early days of this platform…how this link was created and all the communications I have since enjoyed…..I gratefully enjoy the ongoing camraderie with listeners the world over…..keep coming back
Christy, just watching/ listening to Declan and you at Barrowlands 2019 with a glass of whiskey for the umpteenth time. I hope you know how much you you mean to us in these difficult times, thank you.
Thank You…I know,for certain, what all you listeners have meant to me these past 55 years….
Thanks be that the Barras gig was filmed and kept for eternity. … however long that may be….. there’s a strong front row to be seen soaking up the vibe and the music.
The original 4711ers…. founder members … the pilgrims of the adventure that we all love to follow …. when the phoenix rises again….
Had all gone according to plan, myself and Michael would now be disembarking the Cairnryan-Belfast Ferry returning from Scotland….instead I’m sitting here looking forward to times ahead whilst enduring the difficulties of lockdown… Amidst all the horrors and hardships being endured around the world we must celebrate the Heroism of our Health Workers, our Protectors in State Forces, our Food providers……
(nor should we forget the actions of those miscreants who have shown utter disregard for the majority, who flocked to Holiday destinations ignoring all appeals, who crowded into public areas,the likes of those who rode to Cheltenham…)
Sending good JuJu to The Glens..and to all 4711ers and singing birds wherever ye are perched this Sunday Morning
Let The Music Keep Our Spirits High….Thank You Jackson