Tune Req: Mother Earth (Frankie Armstrong)

Subject: Tune Req: Mother Earth by Frankie Armstrong
From: Flowerchild
Date: 09 Nov 07 - 02:43 PM

I just joined a community choir and Mother Earth by Frankie Armstrong(?)sung by Faye White is in the repetoire. Does anybody know the tune and possibly the words...we actually do have a copy of these but there seems to be a discrepency in the order and some verses that in some searches, seemed not to be there...

Thanks for all input

Flowerchild

Subject: Lyr Add: MESSAGE FROM MOTHER EARTH (F Armstrong)
From: Peace
Date: 09 Nov 07 - 11:59 PM

I think maybe you mean

"Message From Mother Earth"

Message From Mother Earth

(Frankie Armstrong)

   Remember, I gave you birth
   Remember Mother Earth
   Remember, I gave you birth
   Remember Mother Earth

I am the soil that harbours the seed
I am the crops the good soil yields

I'm the wood, the forest, the trees
I give the buds, take back the leaves

I am the rain, the river, the sea
All creatures born must drink of me

I have been here since time was new
But now I fear what time may do

You plunder me for coal and oil
Leaving me scarred, leaving me spoiled

You clear the forest, uproot the trees
Poison the air, pollute the seas

Pure air, pure rain, millions of years
Now on the wind come acid tears

Why can't you hear, why can't you see
You kill yourself if you kill me

(as sung by Iain MacKintosh)

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Mother Earth by Frankie Armstrong
From: Peace
Date: 10 Nov 07 - 12:00 AM

That is from

http://www.mysongbook.de/msb/songs/m/messagef.html

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Mother Earth by Frankie Armstrong
From: rich-joy
Date: 10 Nov 07 - 02:15 AM

Frankie wrote this song in 1982 and it often formed part of her concert sets in the 80s. She recorded it on the cassette "Ways of Seeing" (Harbourtown, 1990) - which I think is now available on CD (???)

The lyrics given above, coincide with that from my own repertoire, except that the chorus runs :
"Remember, I GIVE you birth"
and in the 4th verse above, the last line was :
"But now I fear what YOUR time may do".
I also have in the last verse :
"Why can't you HEED ..."
but that may just be my mis-hearing!!!


Cheers! R-J

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Mother Earth by Frankie Armstrong
From: rich-joy
Date: 10 Nov 07 - 02:19 AM

Ah, I've just realised that you asked about the verse order too!
This is what I have :

I am the soil ...
I am the rain ...
I AM the woods ...
I have been here ...
You plunder me ...
You clear the forests ...
Pure air, pure rain ...
Why can't you heed ...


Cheers, R-J

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Mother Earth by Frankie Armstrong
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 10 Nov 07 - 04:30 AM

'Way of Seeing' was put out on a CD by Harbourtown in 1996

just to confuse the issue the wonderful community choir, Ecopella sings this song, arranged by Miguel Heatwole & uses this slightly different arrangement on their CD 'An organism called Earth'

As this is a choral arranagement (by one of the best choirmasters in Oz!), maybe you could contact Miguel using the link here

sandra

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Mother Earth by Frankie Armstrong
From: Flowerchild
Date: 10 Nov 07 - 07:00 AM

Thanks for all the input!!!

The words and verse order that i have are as follows...

MOTHER EARTH
(Frankie Armstrong)

I am the soil that harbours the seed (Solo)
I am the crop the good soil yields
Remember, i give you birth            (Choir)
Remember Mother Earth

I am the rain, the river, the sea
All creatures born must drink of me
Remember....

I have been here since time was new
But now i fear what your time may do
Remember...

Pure air, pure rain for millions of years
Now on the wind come acid tears
Remember....

You plunder me for coal and for oil
Leaving me scarred, leaving me spoiled
Remember...

You clear the forest, uproot the trees
Poison the air, pollute the seas
Remember...

Why can't you hear,why can't you see
You kill yourself if you kill me
Remember...
Remember Mother Earth          (solo line to finish)

There seems to be a verse missing and the verse order i had was a little squ iff.

Thanks again... i will follow up on all leads...

Smiles

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Mother Earth by Frankie Armstrong
From: Susanne (skw)
Date: 10 Nov 07 - 07:42 PM

Thanks, rich-joy, for the word 'heed' - makes more sense than 'hear', I must admit. I'll check what Iain sings. BTW, Iain uses a very simple tune. I have another recording by Alison McMorland (on 'Rowan on the Rock') who uses a much more ornamented tune. I haven't got Frankie's own recording.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Mother Earth by Frankie Armstrong
From: goatfell
Date: 11 Nov 07 - 02:24 PM

A great song

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Mother Earth by Frankie Armstrong
From: Susanne (skw)
Date: 15 Nov 07 - 06:57 PM

I've checked, and both Iain MacKintosh and Alison McMorland clearly sing 'Why can't you hear'. Has anyone got Frankie's original lyrics?

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Mother Earth by Frankie Armstrong
From: rich-joy
Date: 16 Nov 07 - 12:35 AM

On the commercial tape "Ways of Seeing", she sings "hear" so (unless like many singer-songwriters she varies her words), I must've mis-heard it (but I kinda like "heed" too!!!)
I have a number of her concert tapes, but don't have time to trawl through, right now!!)


Cheers! R-J

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Mother Earth (Frankie Armstrong)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 19 Apr 21 - 05:32 PM

Joe - needs cleanup