Thanks a million for taking the time to listen to the song Christy. Sometimes the whole world feels like it’s full of gobshites… anyway… Hope you’re keeping well. Go steady 👍
Sarries had the spots knocked off them by Ulster last night. Rugby crowds are lovely. Looking forward to seeing and hearing ithem again. All mixed up, friendly rivalry and cameraderie all round and drinking beer out of plastic measuring jugs. I love those daffodil hats you see when Wales play. I’ve missed the singing the most.
I’ve never been to a football match apart from a horrendous local thing where my soon to be ex boyfriend spent the whole sorry tome bawling at the referee. It was torturous.
Rebecca
Christy's reply
In 1955 I was at a Gaelic Football between Moorefield and Rathcoffey,..it developed into a frightening brawl during which a lad ran onto the field and hit the Ref over the head with a bicycle pump..my Father ran in to help the ref…..the brawl was scary for a 10 year old but also very exciting, more so then the game itself
Dear Christy,
Yellow Bittern is a wonderful piece , especially when read by the Laureate himself.
I love Seamus Heaney’s ‘Digging’ and was hugely proud to have my eldest son, Hamish, read it for us at our marriage service recently.
Bellaghy’s bhoys are a wonderful breed of Irishmen….now where are those toasted muffins?
Cheers
Rory
Christy's reply
It describes the futility of alcoholism completely…..even in translation it rings true…I dearly wish I could clearly comprehend the original Gaelic poem….but I lost the native tongue in my mis-spent youth….a loss for which I take full responsibilty…gotta stop blaming the colonizer for every flaw….
You do well to keep your allegiances to yourself Christy, as its not always that easy. I’m a life long Evertonian and about 25 years ago we played Utd at Old Trafford, a friend of mine was a United season ticket holder and asked me if I wanted his ticket as he couldent attend with it being a mid week game. He said I could have it but ‘its in the Stretford End & they dont like scousers so keep your gob shut’. So off I set ticket in hand, I didn’t wear any colours of course and politely smiled and nodded when asked any questions,I even managed to keep my emotions in check when we were ‘on top’.with only a few muffled ‘get ins’ . I got away with it till United scored late on in the second half and the whole Strefford End rose as a man to celebrate only to look back to see me firmly rooted to my seat. You can only go so far to hide your allegiance but celebrating another team scoreing against you is a step too far. Sometimes you just have to stand up (or in my case sit down) and be counted. We lost the game 1-0 which was a bad result for Everton but in hindsight probably a good result for me following my lack of enthusiasm for the winning goal.
Christy's reply
The only European game I ever attended was at Goodison….circa ’67-’68 ye were playing Juventus…I cant remember who won or the score…but I was driving a blue 1956 VW Beetle and had a gig in Jacqui & Bridie’s Club the night before ( or the night after)
It was my second car…I got it in Sheffield from “Uncle”Harry in Nether Edge. I swopped him a 1960 grey mini-van I’d bought from Reg Nuttall in Birtle (nr Bury) for £50. My first two cars.I was so proud of those transports.Have no such feelings about current chariot.A glorious PR puffed up heap of computer driven technical wizadry that dont evoke no emotional attachment from its aged owner/driver.The price of my first car would not fill its tank
At Jacqui & Bridie’s I learned “The Ballad of Seth Davy”.I brought it back to Dublin and it was very well recieved. Some years later (the late) Danny Doyle had an Irish Hit with “Whiskey on a Sunday” (aka Come They Go They)…
I first heard it sung by Tony Downes at St Clare’s Folk Club in Manchester. Tony also sang “Plane Crash at Los Gatos”…At that time in my life it was so exciting to hear these wonderful songs.Harry Bradshaw singin “Poverty Poverty Knocks”, Jackson Frank “Blues Run The Game” The Watersons “Jolly Waggoner”
Such diverse music in the Folk Clubs of England….Johnny Silvo,Cyril Tawney, Jo-Ann Kelly,The Yetties, Bob Davenport,Annie Briggs,….every night different sounds,
for me….a golden era
Hi Christy,
I was on with you last year sharing a few songs…here’s the newest one…I’ve been watching the disgrace thats been happening over in Afghanistan the last lot of weeks and have been left dumbfounded at the bare faced lies and lack of humanity and i had to try to make some sort of recording to say how it makes me feel… If you get the chance would you have a “Watch Listen”
Well Christy, which song do you recon you’ll be singing under your breath on Saturday night, Knock Airport or Tyrone Boys?
Christy's reply
Are you trying to flush me out here John ?….I’ll play safe and sing Liverpool Lou and Seth Davy…..I have so many good friends and memories from both The Red Hand and The Red & Green….I look forward to a good game..I will confess to favouring one county in Saturday’s tussle but I’ll keep such thoughts under my hat…..I still follow Tranmere
Thank goodness for Dave’s post. Narrowly avoided 3 in a row there..
Glor theatre in Ennis say they are rescheduling Christy’s gigs from June 2020 and original tickets are valid.
I’m rooted to the spot and shaking.
My spellchecker has lost the will to live.
‘Top of the Morning’ – Pickwick Records – a budget vinyl LP licensed from Mulligan Music in 1979. When we started the duo a few years later, this is one of the albums we played looking for ideas. As a result, ‘Arthur McBride’ and ‘A Kiss in the morning early’ (Mick Hanley’s version) hit many a folk club…a few years since I last played it, there are many highlights, (3 diverse tracks by the excellent Bothy Band) and the final tracks are a historic treat – ‘Girl’ by Barry Moore and ‘Biddy Mulligan’ by Frank Harte.
So, respect to budget LPs – Donovan’s ‘Music for Pleasure ‘ discs are due a spin soon…15 bob a piece in the mid 60s – class!
Dave
Christy's reply
Mulligan Records shone bright back in the 70s…great music was recorded, new voices and sounds were given exposure…the initial ethos of the label was groundbreaking ….. but different elements took control and, sadly, Mulligan lost its way…BUT the music still reverberates and those who made that music can still look the world right in the eye
beautiful..thank uou..
The Great Monarch Butterfly Migration film which followed yours is well worth 4 minutes..the emotion of the film maker, the camera woman being “kissed by a butterfly”
Hello Christy,
I think that if you don’t record yellow bittern it will be a crime.
With its parhos, humour, self knowledge and irony, the thing is crying out for you.
I’d love to hear you bring yourself to it and let it pass through your humanity.
I looked at two versions of it yesterday. Love both of them. Seamus Heaney’s is more visceral and I like that.
I did a field trip across the Internet. No luck finding the recording you mentioned, unless someone has it sqirrelled away in their attic. Couldn’t even find a bootleg version.
When I saw my mum the other day she mentioned how I used to sing Scarborough fair everywhere when I was a kid. Picked it up again yesterday. There’s a nasty streak in there that I’m going to enjoy playing with.
Rebecca
Christy's reply
“come fill my bowl,
come soothe my soul,
for I’ll get no more drink when my life is past”
from “An Bunnán Buí” written by Tomás Mac Giolla Gunna, translated by Thomas McDonagh
Always good to find a new band. Saw a reference to ‘The Duhks’ as a Canadian folk/fusion band, so hit youtube…and wikipedia.
‘Suffer no fools’ was an immediate grabber and there a few more to go at…very tasty arrangements /playing…apologies for ‘preaching to the converted’ if there are long term fans here…for others, I hope you also enjoy some cool Canadian music – have a good day.
Good morning Christy,
How is the bicep, is it fully healed?
I hope that the exercises with a full mug of rea have remedied the injury.
Whilst i am sure you want it properly ready to play left cornerback for the Lilywhites,i was more hoping that the bicep could once again cope with tunes like Tippin’ it up to Nancy and that bodhran piece from Glastonbury recorded and blended into middle of the island.
All power to your elbow…and bicep.
Rory
Christy's reply
It dont heal Rory…. trying to strengthen the other 4 biceps in the upper arm region to take up the slack…bodhrán activity greatly curtailed since but I have not totally given up on the old drum….I doubt there will be any more vigourous lengthy drum solos…
that Glasto piece worked well on Traveller. album….thanks for recalling it…it was a lovely bit of editing work by Leo Pearson….all done down in the garden shed
Here is a version of the yellow bittern that I like as you were asking about it in a previous comment.
Hope to see you out there on the road again soon.
Sorry about the ads that break the spell.
I couldn’t find one without them.
Rebecca
Christy's reply
“O Yellow Bittern I pity your loss
‘tho they say that a drunk like myself is cursed
I was sober for a while
now I’ll drink an I’ll be wise
for fear that I might die ,in the end, of thirst”
Part of the song I once performed with Liam in the 1980s at the National Concert Hall. How I’d love a recording of that..
Its a song I’ve been trying to record for a long time…perhaps its time to try again
Really enjoyed your snippet of 1960s London Christy. Even though our sojourns were 25-30 years apart everything you say rings thru, the seeking out and playing of the music! And the emotion it brought. It does change your appreciation of it. On a side note it turned Sweet Thames into one of my favourite songs and gave me an awful goo for the Ruby Murrays!
Your comments about experiencing 60s Irish music in London, reminded me to re visit Gerry Diver’s ‘ Speech Project’ CD. Since getting it, (following Rory’s comments here)I find it absorbing and your recorded words certainly sum up your thoughts.
For any readers/listeners who have yet to discover ‘Speech Projects’…invest in a copy and soak up the wonderful content.
Dave
Christy's reply
“Margaret, my Margaret.”..
Gerry Diver’s album ,”Speech Project”, always a favourite of mine
Hello Christy and All,
Just thinking about what you said about listening to music in exile.
I’ve spent my whole life travelling towards music.
There’s always been miuaic here, starting in my childhood. Brass bands, hymns, sacred music, classical music, then 80s pop. But, if I look at it head on, it never touched my soul.
So the travelling has always been towards music for me, always searching.
I’ve no idea what any of this means. Probably nothing. Just musing on what you said.
London, some people love it. For me, it’s ok till you get there
Rebecca
Christy's reply
I like that concept…forever travelling towards whatever is yet to come..gotta get moving again
Hello Christy,
Thanks to Gipp for the link to Billy Gray from 1982. I was 12 at the time. Just starting to plan tunnelling out.
Lovely gentle, careful vocals. Liam on the pipes.
I like his whistle too. It never gets mentioned but it’s used so beautifully in the song. Like a scream.
There’s rosalita and Jack Campbell in there. That song puts me back to moss side in Manchester. I lived across the road in Rusholme from 1988 to 1992.
I listened to you sing Mercy yesterday. It’s on the souncheck for the Dublin 2006 dvd.
Rebecca
Christy's reply
“I used to sit and watch the kids
Belly-flop diving in the River” (Wally Page)
Speaking of the Swan, for a few years in the mid nineties I lived just down the road, used to have great stuff there. One particular line-up on a Saturday night there was a four ball of Andy Irvine, Donal Lunny, Maurice Lennon, and Paul Roche, was pure magic. Don’t think they’d ever played before or after, shame, they really had something there.
Christy's reply
just got a flashback there to 1966 …when I was knockin about London…what the music meant to me then…listening in exile brought different emotions…hearing Raymond Roland, Liam Farrell, Roger Sherlock, Maggie Barry, Martin Byrnes,John Bowe, Steve Loughlin,Jimmy Power,Michael Gorman, and many others brought on feelings I had not experienced when listening to the music back at home….those feelings linger to this very day..your mention of these 4 musicians playing in London in the 1990s brings me back to those wild, footloose, exciting,hand to mouth, nomadic days of long gone … that music still reverberates…those 4 musicians you mention still playing…on it goes
Thanks a million for taking the time to listen to the song Christy. Sometimes the whole world feels like it’s full of gobshites… anyway… Hope you’re keeping well. Go steady 👍
still pluckin the A minor here
Like catching the song of the blackbird
https://youtu.be/ggsmQU_nb84
Sarries had the spots knocked off them by Ulster last night. Rugby crowds are lovely. Looking forward to seeing and hearing ithem again. All mixed up, friendly rivalry and cameraderie all round and drinking beer out of plastic measuring jugs. I love those daffodil hats you see when Wales play. I’ve missed the singing the most.
I’ve never been to a football match apart from a horrendous local thing where my soon to be ex boyfriend spent the whole sorry tome bawling at the referee. It was torturous.
Rebecca
In 1955 I was at a Gaelic Football between Moorefield and Rathcoffey,..it developed into a frightening brawl during which a lad ran onto the field and hit the Ref over the head with a bicycle pump..my Father ran in to help the ref…..the brawl was scary for a 10 year old but also very exciting, more so then the game itself
Dear Christy,
Yellow Bittern is a wonderful piece , especially when read by the Laureate himself.
I love Seamus Heaney’s ‘Digging’ and was hugely proud to have my eldest son, Hamish, read it for us at our marriage service recently.
Bellaghy’s bhoys are a wonderful breed of Irishmen….now where are those toasted muffins?
Cheers
Rory
It describes the futility of alcoholism completely…..even in translation it rings true…I dearly wish I could clearly comprehend the original Gaelic poem….but I lost the native tongue in my mis-spent youth….a loss for which I take full responsibilty…gotta stop blaming the colonizer for every flaw….
You do well to keep your allegiances to yourself Christy, as its not always that easy. I’m a life long Evertonian and about 25 years ago we played Utd at Old Trafford, a friend of mine was a United season ticket holder and asked me if I wanted his ticket as he couldent attend with it being a mid week game. He said I could have it but ‘its in the Stretford End & they dont like scousers so keep your gob shut’. So off I set ticket in hand, I didn’t wear any colours of course and politely smiled and nodded when asked any questions,I even managed to keep my emotions in check when we were ‘on top’.with only a few muffled ‘get ins’ . I got away with it till United scored late on in the second half and the whole Strefford End rose as a man to celebrate only to look back to see me firmly rooted to my seat. You can only go so far to hide your allegiance but celebrating another team scoreing against you is a step too far. Sometimes you just have to stand up (or in my case sit down) and be counted. We lost the game 1-0 which was a bad result for Everton but in hindsight probably a good result for me following my lack of enthusiasm for the winning goal.
The only European game I ever attended was at Goodison….circa ’67-’68 ye were playing Juventus…I cant remember who won or the score…but I was driving a blue 1956 VW Beetle and had a gig in Jacqui & Bridie’s Club the night before ( or the night after)
It was my second car…I got it in Sheffield from “Uncle”Harry in Nether Edge. I swopped him a 1960 grey mini-van I’d bought from Reg Nuttall in Birtle (nr Bury) for £50. My first two cars.I was so proud of those transports.Have no such feelings about current chariot.A glorious PR puffed up heap of computer driven technical wizadry that dont evoke no emotional attachment from its aged owner/driver.The price of my first car would not fill its tank
At Jacqui & Bridie’s I learned “The Ballad of Seth Davy”.I brought it back to Dublin and it was very well recieved. Some years later (the late) Danny Doyle had an Irish Hit with “Whiskey on a Sunday” (aka Come They Go They)…
I first heard it sung by Tony Downes at St Clare’s Folk Club in Manchester. Tony also sang “Plane Crash at Los Gatos”…At that time in my life it was so exciting to hear these wonderful songs.Harry Bradshaw singin “Poverty Poverty Knocks”, Jackson Frank “Blues Run The Game” The Watersons “Jolly Waggoner”
Such diverse music in the Folk Clubs of England….Johnny Silvo,Cyril Tawney, Jo-Ann Kelly,The Yetties, Bob Davenport,Annie Briggs,….every night different sounds,
for me….a golden era
Hi Christy,
I was on with you last year sharing a few songs…here’s the newest one…I’ve been watching the disgrace thats been happening over in Afghanistan the last lot of weeks and have been left dumbfounded at the bare faced lies and lack of humanity and i had to try to make some sort of recording to say how it makes me feel… If you get the chance would you have a “Watch Listen”
PS your music keeps me going 🙂
https://youtu.be/b8jKLAO0p8c
Thanks for sharing…your song sums up the whole cruel mess of death and destruction…
Well Christy, which song do you recon you’ll be singing under your breath on Saturday night, Knock Airport or Tyrone Boys?
Are you trying to flush me out here John ?….I’ll play safe and sing Liverpool Lou and Seth Davy…..I have so many good friends and memories from both The Red Hand and The Red & Green….I look forward to a good game..I will confess to favouring one county in Saturday’s tussle but I’ll keep such thoughts under my hat…..I still follow Tranmere
Thank goodness for Dave’s post. Narrowly avoided 3 in a row there..
Glor theatre in Ennis say they are rescheduling Christy’s gigs from June 2020 and original tickets are valid.
I’m rooted to the spot and shaking.
My spellchecker has lost the will to live.
Hi Christy
Talk about good value…
‘Top of the Morning’ – Pickwick Records – a budget vinyl LP licensed from Mulligan Music in 1979. When we started the duo a few years later, this is one of the albums we played looking for ideas. As a result, ‘Arthur McBride’ and ‘A Kiss in the morning early’ (Mick Hanley’s version) hit many a folk club…a few years since I last played it, there are many highlights, (3 diverse tracks by the excellent Bothy Band) and the final tracks are a historic treat – ‘Girl’ by Barry Moore and ‘Biddy Mulligan’ by Frank Harte.
So, respect to budget LPs – Donovan’s ‘Music for Pleasure ‘ discs are due a spin soon…15 bob a piece in the mid 60s – class!
Dave
Mulligan Records shone bright back in the 70s…great music was recorded, new voices and sounds were given exposure…the initial ethos of the label was groundbreaking ….. but different elements took control and, sadly, Mulligan lost its way…BUT the music still reverberates and those who made that music can still look the world right in the eye
What do you think of this noise?
https://youtu.be/x0m_rK_WpjQ
beautiful..thank uou..
The Great Monarch Butterfly Migration film which followed yours is well worth 4 minutes..the emotion of the film maker, the camera woman being “kissed by a butterfly”
Hello Christy,
I think that if you don’t record yellow bittern it will be a crime.
With its parhos, humour, self knowledge and irony, the thing is crying out for you.
I’d love to hear you bring yourself to it and let it pass through your humanity.
I looked at two versions of it yesterday. Love both of them. Seamus Heaney’s is more visceral and I like that.
I did a field trip across the Internet. No luck finding the recording you mentioned, unless someone has it sqirrelled away in their attic. Couldn’t even find a bootleg version.
When I saw my mum the other day she mentioned how I used to sing Scarborough fair everywhere when I was a kid. Picked it up again yesterday. There’s a nasty streak in there that I’m going to enjoy playing with.
Rebecca
“come fill my bowl,
come soothe my soul,
for I’ll get no more drink when my life is past”
from “An Bunnán Buí” written by Tomás Mac Giolla Gunna, translated by Thomas McDonagh
Mornin’ Christy/all
Always good to find a new band. Saw a reference to ‘The Duhks’ as a Canadian folk/fusion band, so hit youtube…and wikipedia.
‘Suffer no fools’ was an immediate grabber and there a few more to go at…very tasty arrangements /playing…apologies for ‘preaching to the converted’ if there are long term fans here…for others, I hope you also enjoy some cool Canadian music – have a good day.
Dave
I’ll be on to them soon as I clear the decks
Good morning Christy,
How is the bicep, is it fully healed?
I hope that the exercises with a full mug of rea have remedied the injury.
Whilst i am sure you want it properly ready to play left cornerback for the Lilywhites,i was more hoping that the bicep could once again cope with tunes like Tippin’ it up to Nancy and that bodhran piece from Glastonbury recorded and blended into middle of the island.
All power to your elbow…and bicep.
Rory
It dont heal Rory…. trying to strengthen the other 4 biceps in the upper arm region to take up the slack…bodhrán activity greatly curtailed since but I have not totally given up on the old drum….I doubt there will be any more vigourous lengthy drum solos…
that Glasto piece worked well on Traveller. album….thanks for recalling it…it was a lovely bit of editing work by Leo Pearson….all done down in the garden shed
https://youtu.be/iBDqo_OPewM
Hi Christy,
Here is a version of the yellow bittern that I like as you were asking about it in a previous comment.
Hope to see you out there on the road again soon.
Alex
sound
https://youtu.be/NrL5YP9VRvk
The response
Sorry about the ads that break the spell.
I couldn’t find one without them.
Rebecca
“O Yellow Bittern I pity your loss
‘tho they say that a drunk like myself is cursed
I was sober for a while
now I’ll drink an I’ll be wise
for fear that I might die ,in the end, of thirst”
Part of the song I once performed with Liam in the 1980s at the National Concert Hall. How I’d love a recording of that..
Its a song I’ve been trying to record for a long time…perhaps its time to try again
Hello Christy and All,
The speech project. Yes!
Its an album that I dived into and it surrounds you like water.
Christy recommended it twice.
This morning thinking about it sent me here
https://youtu.be/_K2XRP4l6Rk
The call
Really enjoyed your snippet of 1960s London Christy. Even though our sojourns were 25-30 years apart everything you say rings thru, the seeking out and playing of the music! And the emotion it brought. It does change your appreciation of it. On a side note it turned Sweet Thames into one of my favourite songs and gave me an awful goo for the Ruby Murrays!
Hi Christy
Your comments about experiencing 60s Irish music in London, reminded me to re visit Gerry Diver’s ‘ Speech Project’ CD. Since getting it, (following Rory’s comments here)I find it absorbing and your recorded words certainly sum up your thoughts.
For any readers/listeners who have yet to discover ‘Speech Projects’…invest in a copy and soak up the wonderful content.
Dave
“Margaret, my Margaret.”..
Gerry Diver’s album ,”Speech Project”, always a favourite of mine
Hello Christy and All,
Just thinking about what you said about listening to music in exile.
I’ve spent my whole life travelling towards music.
There’s always been miuaic here, starting in my childhood. Brass bands, hymns, sacred music, classical music, then 80s pop. But, if I look at it head on, it never touched my soul.
So the travelling has always been towards music for me, always searching.
I’ve no idea what any of this means. Probably nothing. Just musing on what you said.
London, some people love it. For me, it’s ok till you get there
Rebecca
I like that concept…forever travelling towards whatever is yet to come..gotta get moving again
Hello Christy,
Thanks to Gipp for the link to Billy Gray from 1982. I was 12 at the time. Just starting to plan tunnelling out.
Lovely gentle, careful vocals. Liam on the pipes.
I like his whistle too. It never gets mentioned but it’s used so beautifully in the song. Like a scream.
There’s rosalita and Jack Campbell in there. That song puts me back to moss side in Manchester. I lived across the road in Rusholme from 1988 to 1992.
I listened to you sing Mercy yesterday. It’s on the souncheck for the Dublin 2006 dvd.
Rebecca
“I used to sit and watch the kids
Belly-flop diving in the River” (Wally Page)
Speaking of the Swan, for a few years in the mid nineties I lived just down the road, used to have great stuff there. One particular line-up on a Saturday night there was a four ball of Andy Irvine, Donal Lunny, Maurice Lennon, and Paul Roche, was pure magic. Don’t think they’d ever played before or after, shame, they really had something there.
just got a flashback there to 1966 …when I was knockin about London…what the music meant to me then…listening in exile brought different emotions…hearing Raymond Roland, Liam Farrell, Roger Sherlock, Maggie Barry, Martin Byrnes,John Bowe, Steve Loughlin,Jimmy Power,Michael Gorman, and many others brought on feelings I had not experienced when listening to the music back at home….those feelings linger to this very day..your mention of these 4 musicians playing in London in the 1990s brings me back to those wild, footloose, exciting,hand to mouth, nomadic days of long gone … that music still reverberates…those 4 musicians you mention still playing…on it goes