Hi,

In the book McGinn of the Calton a number of songs are noted, along with the music . When the tunes have been taken from something else that is noted. In this case it doesn't say anything. So , whoever dealt with that part of the book wasn't aware of it being taken from another song. It would be interesting to see if anyone else knows if it was taken from something else. Knowing Matt's style of taking from the traditional and adapting it to his era, that would be very likely.

Matt's brother Joe was a big fan of Omar Khayyam, and Matt wrote this after his brother died. It's a beautiful song, which has been used as the basis for a poem about Matt himself, written by Edwin Morgan. Anyway, for the moment here are the words of Matt's song. If I can post Edwin Morgan's poem I will do so later.


( I have heard a rumor that this might be re-released soon. )

The Magic Shadow Show by Matt McGinn

In and out, above, below
Phanton figures come and go,
Just a magic shadow show
Come, love, watch with me.

It may be sad, it may be fun,
The leaves of life fall one by one,
The wine of life too soon is done
In this magic shadow show

A loaf of bread and you and me,
A jug of wine beneath the tree,
We will sit and we will see
A magic shadow show

A thousand blossoms of today
Will soon be scattered into clay,
Today becomes a yesterday-
Magic shadow show

Leave tomorrow and yesterday,
With old Khayyam come sip today,
Listen to my Rubaiyat,
Magic shadow show

Could you and I with fate conspire
remould the scheme of things entire
Nearer to the heart's desire,
What a magic shadow show.