“And often when the beetle’s horn
Hath lulled the eve to sleep
I steal unto her shieling lorn
And through the dooring peep”
“There on the cricket’s singing stone
She spares the bogwood fire
And hums in sad sweet undertone
The songs of heart’s desire”
I’ve heard this verse a 100 times
it has always passed me by
this morning I read it for the first time
and caught sight of such a verse
no singer has ever sung this verse as beautiful as it reads
and maybe thats the way its going to be
but who knows
there maybe a thousand renditions that I have yet to hear
I better get moving
Morning Christy!
Great night at Vicar St. Great to hear “Well below the Valley” and “December 1942” was poignant but given the respect it deserves. It’s a real privilege to sit and listen, to watch and to learn.. míle buíochas.
Hello Christy,
Wondering what new songs made their grades last night. I’m thinking Myra’s caboose might be the first, but I am just making that up.
I love what Colm said about being as old as the beetle.
I’m so full of words this morning.
And often when the beetle’s drone has lulled the, eve to sleep
I creep unto her sheiling lorn and through the door in peep
There by the cricket’s singing stone she stirs the bogwood fire
And sings in sad soft undertone the songs of heart’s desire
The rats and the worms were still as mice
That’s my favourite line in a song
Rebecca
Christy's reply
last night…”Dec 1942″, “Flying into Mystery”, “Johnny Boy” and “Gasún”
Watching news of Channel tragedy is heart breaking. I’m not here to prattle today. Just to say that Lisa O’Neill’s ‘Drawing from the well’ is superb… via http://www.itma.ie and on youtube.
CM mo chara bán go néirí leat anocht .
I was looking at a very old map of Baile Átha Cliath and I saw Vicar street on it ..that street is ..Chomh sean leis an cheo agus níos sine faoi dhó..
You could also say ” comh sean leis an Ciaróg. ”
I never figured out how old the poor auld Ciaróg was.Shes always too busy to stop and chat. CS
Thanks Marty, I must have been at the gigs where Mcilhatton didn’t get to chase the hounds. I have a bad memory but I don’t think I’d have completely wiped it. He’s one of my absolute favourites.
Hello Christy,
Is that why we never get Mcilhatton live? I love that one and also Back home in Derry.
His words are gorgeous.
We cursed em to hell as our bough fought the swell
Our ship danced like a moth in the fire light
White horses rode high as the devil passed by
Taking souls to Hades by twilight.
Also
The fox is out and begod he’s chasing the hounds
The fairies are out and they’re dancing on the hob.
All from memory, so I’m sorry for any words I’ve made up.
Thinking about how magical the gig in Zozimus and Zimmerman sounds.
Wishing you the same for this new vicar street series.
a few times after Bridgewater gigs, I stopped by the sound desk to pay compliments and chat with David et al… a great crew, always on top form – as is ‘the singer in the outfit’…please pass on my best wishes.
I’d love to be at Vicar Street tonight – and be a fly on the wall at soundcheck for Atkin vs Tak negotiations… happy days to be back on the NET.
Sending good wishes to yourself & the crew for the start of the Vicar St gigs. Will hit the road after the working day & look forward to hearing the songs once more..
“Away through the window, away in the rain, over the city, away on the air..”
‘floating on a picture of the sky’…what a mighty line from the wonderful ‘ Greenland’ song…certainly, added to my list of gems…
Interesting about songs becoming regular requests (or not)…it’s a real puzzle, especially for you, I’m sure.
Gasun (sorry, not to find the accent – nor to be able to spell it, I think I can pronounce it!) is an intriguing song. It seems like a very unusual melody too… your singing is powerful throughout ‘Flying..’ – is it trial and error, choosing a key or do songs fit ‘naturally’?
I remember you saying here about being knocked out by ‘December 1942’ and working hard to get it ‘right’… if ever there’s an example of hard work paying off, that’s it. You set the bar high for budding performers – Atkins and workroom are a great combo!
Have a great day and gig!
Dave
ps – love the ‘like snuff at a wake’ comment – not heard that for years…
Christy's reply
Gasún
Gas…. like Goss or Boss
ún…….like spoon or moon
Gossoon…..(did Spike Milligan use it in a title ??….or was it Puckoon)
of course that is the Kildare pronunciation….over Slane way I suspect there may be a different turn on it
that “floating”line took me away…Greenland is awash with killer lines
In rehearsing the songs for inclusion in the live set I’m finding slight (better) alternatives to the lyrics….(wishing I’d discovered them prior to recording)
I’m bringing the retro Atkin 1945 in today….gonna give it a good rattle at the sound check..see if I can convert David …hes joined at the hip to the sound of vintage taks…
Love the new album! And sounding all the better on vinyl.
Christy's reply
Thanks Brendan…They’re out there now…flying around the Glens like nobody’s business…all I gotta do now is sing ’em and vamp ’em, scatter them around like snuff at a wake.. lets see what happens….they have to make their own way into the set..pass their examinations…a few of them have settled in nicely…Johnny Boy, Gasún and Clock Winds Down seemed to have passed muster …I got high hopes for the others but you listeners can be quite sniffy about new songs coming into the set…you do be fierce discerning betimes, this throws up a challenge that I always enjoy….
Some songs gain traction while others disappear without a trace…its all a glorious mystery…impossible to forecast…
I’m hoping to debut a brace of them in Vicar Street tonight….with bated breath…but I’ll not be forgetting Glenravel’s Glen
Just read my own post, what a ……should be
TO THE TUNE OF THE LEAVING OF LIVERPOOL
G C G
Jonas Bold was a man who lived in our town
D
He was big in the old slavery trade
G C G
Took people from their homes to work in his fields
D G
And blood were the wages they paid.
christy, I wrote a few words about Liverpool and street names associated with the slave trade, I am not a musician, eek! but you may be interested. I am not looking for any dough, just an opinion and of course if you think it is worth whirl!!!
I recorded it on youtube to the tune of leaving of liverpool, but here it is.
Bold Street
TO THE TUNE OF THE LEAVING OF LIVERPOOL
C F C
Jonas Bold was a man who lived in our town
G
He was big in the old slavery trade
C F G
Took people from their homes to work in his fields
G
And blood were the wages they paid.
CHORUS
Rodney and Parr, Sir Thomas and Earle,
Streets that are named in this town
Don’t forget Gladstone that pearl of a man
They let the human race down.
Sugar and banking they went hand in hand
Financed the wealth of the few
And the merchants and bankers did what they could
To keep the truth from me and from you
They were Mayors, MP’s and thought they were grand
Many a slaver lived in our town
Their despicable trade was the way they acquired
Wealth and power to held in their hands.
Now we have streets in our Town named after those
Who chose to enslave and abuse
The bodies of young Black African folk
So they could live a life that they could choose.
Christy's reply
Good Man Kenny..its never too late to shame those murderous blood suckers, their deeds blest by church and approved by state. Well done.Thanks for sharing.
Thank you, Christy, for passing on my remarks on „December 1942“ to Ricky Lynch. Such an important work to write such a song: Capturing in its lyrics & gentle melody the abyss of inhumanity, to be remembered for the sake of humanity … sung by your good self in a way that strikes the soul. A song that paints a picture before my very eye thus telling more than a thousand words.
Peter & I will be at Vicar St. (sure know the way 😎) on Jan.3, first row as always. Much looking forward to it 🎶.
Wishing you and all the crew a good start into the series of shows tomorrow!
Dietmar
Hello Christy,
Started learning Listen (again) yesterday. It’s such a beauty. I’ve tried a few times before. This time I’m determined.
I enjoyed Louise Mulcahy’s episode of Drawing from the Well, on Liam O’Flynn. I think it’s his b flat set that she plays. The b flat sets have a mellowness, don’t they. https://youtu.be/-_SNC6zSVDc
Rebecca
Christy's reply
I love that song of Hank Wedel’s…..a beauty to sing.. contains one of my favourite lines from any song
” as the snow falls gently on the mining town”
Listen is a beautiful song but I’ve always struggled to deliver it….I often return to it here late at night…always searching for the key
It’s from Lagan love
The pictures it creates
“And often when the beetle’s horn
Hath lulled the eve to sleep
I steal unto her shieling lorn
And through the dooring peep”
“There on the cricket’s singing stone
She spares the bogwood fire
And hums in sad sweet undertone
The songs of heart’s desire”
I’ve heard this verse a 100 times
it has always passed me by
this morning I read it for the first time
and caught sight of such a verse
no singer has ever sung this verse as beautiful as it reads
and maybe thats the way its going to be
but who knows
there maybe a thousand renditions that I have yet to hear
I better get moving
Morning Christy!
Great night at Vicar St. Great to hear “Well below the Valley” and “December 1942” was poignant but given the respect it deserves. It’s a real privilege to sit and listen, to watch and to learn.. míle buíochas.
“A good feed’d kill ’em” 😄😄😄
Kev
first time I picked up the old drum for 3 years
you got an ear like a hawk Kev
Hello Christy,
Wondering what new songs made their grades last night. I’m thinking Myra’s caboose might be the first, but I am just making that up.
I love what Colm said about being as old as the beetle.
I’m so full of words this morning.
And often when the beetle’s drone has lulled the, eve to sleep
I creep unto her sheiling lorn and through the door in peep
There by the cricket’s singing stone she stirs the bogwood fire
And sings in sad soft undertone the songs of heart’s desire
The rats and the worms were still as mice
That’s my favourite line in a song
Rebecca
last night…”Dec 1942″, “Flying into Mystery”, “Johnny Boy” and “Gasún”
Mornin’ Christy
Watching news of Channel tragedy is heart breaking. I’m not here to prattle today. Just to say that Lisa O’Neill’s ‘Drawing from the well’ is superb… via http://www.itma.ie and on youtube.
Dave
I’ve never known you to prattle
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=2215135908686061&set=a.104605719739101 Happy birthday Sir Billy Connolly, 79 hilarious years old today.
happy day to you dear Billy….sending you love
CM mo chara bán go néirí leat anocht .
I was looking at a very old map of Baile Átha Cliath and I saw Vicar street on it ..that street is ..Chomh sean leis an cheo agus níos sine faoi dhó..
You could also say ” comh sean leis an Ciaróg. ”
I never figured out how old the poor auld Ciaróg was.Shes always too busy to stop and chat. CS
forever on the go
Hi ,
If I wanted to send you some songs I think you would be great singing
Where would I send them too?
I’m http://Www.Jobyfox.com
I’m listening here Joby
Thanks Marty, I must have been at the gigs where Mcilhatton didn’t get to chase the hounds. I have a bad memory but I don’t think I’d have completely wiped it. He’s one of my absolute favourites.
https://youtu.be/y_6wSwy_rSY
Doesn’t get much more live than this….
Come all you dreamers
Songs flying around
On the wild and crazy wings of yourh
They went flying around in the rain
Till their feathers once so fine were torn and tattered.
I love the lyrics
some of us are dreamers ,some of us are fools
Catmelodeon
That’s another good word
Not sure of the spelling
neither am I !
Cats’s Mullarkey and Cow’s Melodgin
Hello Christy,
Is that why we never get Mcilhatton live? I love that one and also Back home in Derry.
His words are gorgeous.
We cursed em to hell as our bough fought the swell
Our ship danced like a moth in the fire light
White horses rode high as the devil passed by
Taking souls to Hades by twilight.
Also
The fox is out and begod he’s chasing the hounds
The fairies are out and they’re dancing on the hob.
All from memory, so I’m sorry for any words I’ve made up.
Thinking about how magical the gig in Zozimus and Zimmerman sounds.
Wishing you the same for this new vicar street series.
Rebecca
McIllhatton Ye Blurt ,we need you
Thanks, Christy
and for a prompt to re read Spike’s ‘ Puckoon’…
a few times after Bridgewater gigs, I stopped by the sound desk to pay compliments and chat with David et al… a great crew, always on top form – as is ‘the singer in the outfit’…please pass on my best wishes.
I’d love to be at Vicar Street tonight – and be a fly on the wall at soundcheck for Atkin vs Tak negotiations… happy days to be back on the NET.
Enjoy the gig.
Dave
time to pack the bag one more time
Sending good wishes to yourself & the crew for the start of the Vicar St gigs. Will hit the road after the working day & look forward to hearing the songs once more..
“Away through the window, away in the rain, over the city, away on the air..”
Kev
safe journey
Mornin’ Christy
‘floating on a picture of the sky’…what a mighty line from the wonderful ‘ Greenland’ song…certainly, added to my list of gems…
Interesting about songs becoming regular requests (or not)…it’s a real puzzle, especially for you, I’m sure.
Gasun (sorry, not to find the accent – nor to be able to spell it, I think I can pronounce it!) is an intriguing song. It seems like a very unusual melody too… your singing is powerful throughout ‘Flying..’ – is it trial and error, choosing a key or do songs fit ‘naturally’?
I remember you saying here about being knocked out by ‘December 1942’ and working hard to get it ‘right’… if ever there’s an example of hard work paying off, that’s it. You set the bar high for budding performers – Atkins and workroom are a great combo!
Have a great day and gig!
Dave
ps – love the ‘like snuff at a wake’ comment – not heard that for years…
Gasún
Gas…. like Goss or Boss
ún…….like spoon or moon
Gossoon…..(did Spike Milligan use it in a title ??….or was it Puckoon)
of course that is the Kildare pronunciation….over Slane way I suspect there may be a different turn on it
that “floating”line took me away…Greenland is awash with killer lines
In rehearsing the songs for inclusion in the live set I’m finding slight (better) alternatives to the lyrics….(wishing I’d discovered them prior to recording)
I’m bringing the retro Atkin 1945 in today….gonna give it a good rattle at the sound check..see if I can convert David …hes joined at the hip to the sound of vintage taks…
Love the new album! And sounding all the better on vinyl.
Thanks Brendan…They’re out there now…flying around the Glens like nobody’s business…all I gotta do now is sing ’em and vamp ’em, scatter them around like snuff at a wake.. lets see what happens….they have to make their own way into the set..pass their examinations…a few of them have settled in nicely…Johnny Boy, Gasún and Clock Winds Down seemed to have passed muster …I got high hopes for the others but you listeners can be quite sniffy about new songs coming into the set…you do be fierce discerning betimes, this throws up a challenge that I always enjoy….
Some songs gain traction while others disappear without a trace…its all a glorious mystery…impossible to forecast…
I’m hoping to debut a brace of them in Vicar Street tonight….with bated breath…but I’ll not be forgetting Glenravel’s Glen
Just read my own post, what a ……should be
TO THE TUNE OF THE LEAVING OF LIVERPOOL
G C G
Jonas Bold was a man who lived in our town
D
He was big in the old slavery trade
G C G
Took people from their homes to work in his fields
D G
And blood were the wages they paid.
christy, I wrote a few words about Liverpool and street names associated with the slave trade, I am not a musician, eek! but you may be interested. I am not looking for any dough, just an opinion and of course if you think it is worth whirl!!!
I recorded it on youtube to the tune of leaving of liverpool, but here it is.
Bold Street
TO THE TUNE OF THE LEAVING OF LIVERPOOL
C F C
Jonas Bold was a man who lived in our town
G
He was big in the old slavery trade
C F G
Took people from their homes to work in his fields
G
And blood were the wages they paid.
CHORUS
Rodney and Parr, Sir Thomas and Earle,
Streets that are named in this town
Don’t forget Gladstone that pearl of a man
They let the human race down.
Sugar and banking they went hand in hand
Financed the wealth of the few
And the merchants and bankers did what they could
To keep the truth from me and from you
They were Mayors, MP’s and thought they were grand
Many a slaver lived in our town
Their despicable trade was the way they acquired
Wealth and power to held in their hands.
Now we have streets in our Town named after those
Who chose to enslave and abuse
The bodies of young Black African folk
So they could live a life that they could choose.
Good Man Kenny..its never too late to shame those murderous blood suckers, their deeds blest by church and approved by state. Well done.Thanks for sharing.
Thank you, Christy, for passing on my remarks on „December 1942“ to Ricky Lynch. Such an important work to write such a song: Capturing in its lyrics & gentle melody the abyss of inhumanity, to be remembered for the sake of humanity … sung by your good self in a way that strikes the soul. A song that paints a picture before my very eye thus telling more than a thousand words.
Peter & I will be at Vicar St. (sure know the way 😎) on Jan.3, first row as always. Much looking forward to it 🎶.
Wishing you and all the crew a good start into the series of shows tomorrow!
Dietmar
safe journey
Hello Christy,
Started learning Listen (again) yesterday. It’s such a beauty. I’ve tried a few times before. This time I’m determined.
I enjoyed Louise Mulcahy’s episode of Drawing from the Well, on Liam O’Flynn. I think it’s his b flat set that she plays. The b flat sets have a mellowness, don’t they.
https://youtu.be/-_SNC6zSVDc
Rebecca
I love that song of Hank Wedel’s…..a beauty to sing.. contains one of my favourite lines from any song
” as the snow falls gently on the mining town”
Listen is a beautiful song but I’ve always struggled to deliver it….I often return to it here late at night…always searching for the key