Thoughts on Si Kahn's songs

Subject: RE: Thoughts on Si Kahn's songs
From: GUEST,Don Meixner
Date: 22 Dec 20 - 10:06 PM

I will tell you a Si Kahn story. Not to try and one up Oombanjo's story from years ago but to support him in what a decent guy is Si Kahn.

"Live at The Ten Pound Fiddle" was an NPR radio show that I listened to every Saturday nite from WRVO, the Oswego NY affiliate because it was repeated the next day at noon. Si Kahn was a guest that one evening and he did his newest song, Molly In The Mill, which I was just taken by. A perfect story in simple verses. The next day I heard it again. That night at a folk club meeting I mentioned the song and Si Kahn to my friend the late Don Austin. At the next club meeting he handed me an envelope with a single sheet of lyrics to Molly in The Mill typed, typed, on typewriter paper and signed by Si Kahn.

Don was dating a woman in one of the Carolinas and she was the neighbor of Si Kahn. Don had heard the name from his girlfriend but wasn't aware of who Si Kahn was. Don visited his girl the following weekend apparently asked Si over the fence if there was recording available and was told it hadn't even been published yet. And then he said I can give you the lyrics tho'. So Don Austin walked into Si Kahn's study where he rolled a piece of paper into a manual typewriter and poured forth the lyrics to Molly.

I recreated as best as I could the melody I recalled and have done it that way for 35 years or more. Si Kahn has since recorded Molly In The Mill but I have never heard it. I met Si when he was touring with Susan Freundlich and "People Like You." I told him the story and he said He recalled the event and was happy I like his songs. He offered to do the song after the show for me if I had a recorder. I didn't.

About the only time I have ever met one of my heroes and not been disappointed.

Don Meixner

Subject: RE: Thoughts on Si Kahn's songs
From: PHJim
Date: 22 Dec 20 - 11:08 PM

GUEST gave the lyrics to Backroom Lady back in 12 Oct 09 at 12:34 AM and asked,"...did Si write "Backroom Ladies?"
Yes, he did.
My wife and I used to do this one back before the turn of the century. I'm pretty sure we learned it from a Cathy Fink & Duck Donald LP.
This song was my introduction to Si's music.

Subject: ADD: The Didin Didin (Si Kahn)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 20 Jul 24 - 08:43 PM

Scots fiddler Phoebe Rees has a new video of the Si Kahn song set in Dublin, "The Didin Didin." I can't understand all the lyrics, but it's an interesting video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cHQTpjhY7vw

And the Si Kahn Website has his Songbook available for free viewing.
https://sikahn.com/songbook-2/

Lyrics found at https://airplaydirect.com/music/PhoebeRees/song_291802_lyrics.php

THE DIDIN DIDIN
(Si Kahn)

When I was a young girl
I used to go around
With older girls who’d tell me
‘Bout days in Dublin Town
How they did the didin didin
They did the didin down
They did the didin didin
All over Dublin town

So my friend Mary Reilly
And her friend Sally Brown
Took the train from Sligo
And went to Dublin Town
To do the didin didin
To do the didin down
To do the didin didin
All over Dublin town

The taps ran with Guinness
The ale was always brown
My heart flowed with forgiveness
All over Dublin Town
And we did the didin didin
We did the didin down
We did the didn didn
All over Dublin Town

We sang “Kathleen Mavourneen”
“The Star of the County Down”
We sang until the morning
Flowed through Dublin Town
Doing the didin didin
Doing the didin down
Doing the didin didin
All over Dublin town

Young girls take warning
The years are soon flown
Put away your apron
Go to Dublin town
And do the didin didin
Do the didin down
Do the didin didin
All over Dublin town

Doing the didin didin
Doing the didin down
Doing the didin didin
All over Dublin town

All over Dublin town