Lyr Add: Press Rooms Extra Voice (song for Barry)

Subject: Lyr Add: Press Rooms Extra Voice (song for Barry)
From: Charley Noble
Date: 19 Oct 09 - 07:51 PM

Here's a song I've been working up while thinking about the recent loss of our good friend Barry Finn. It's based on the many evenings we spent together singing in the Press Room in Portsmouth, NH, and my experience there last weekend after we learned that Barry had died. The song itself borrows some lines from a poem by C. Fox Smith,The Tryphena's Extra Hand as arranged for singing by Bob Zentz, recorded on Closehauled on the Wind of a Dream, © 2007. Here's a link to Bob's website for the tune: click here for tune

The Press Room's Extra Voice

In the Press Room, just last evening,
The usual crowd was gathered there,
You could hear a concertina
Tracing out some doleful air;
And when the last verse ended,
Good-bye my Riley-o
I heard a voice behind me
Say these words so soft and low:

"Many a year I've sung these old songs,
And I've got to like them well,
And I've not much hopes of heaven
And I've not much use for hell:
But if so be as they'll let me,
By the great hook-block I swear,
When I hear you singing shanties,
My voice will be there."

"There'll be one more voice on the chorus,
One more voice on the refrain
Be it shanty or forebitter,
Be it snow or sleet or rain;
We'll raise those old songs to the roof
Such as shellbacks used to know
In the good old China tea trade,
Many and many a year ago."

Was he standing in the shadows?
I kind o' felt him near,
Kind o' saw him and didn't see him,
Kind o' heard him but did not hear,
And the funny thing about it
Was I somehow couldn't swear
Though I knew it sure as shooting
An Extra Voice was there.

Notes:

"The Tryphena's Extra Hand" by C. Fox Smith ,from Full Sail: More Sea Songs and Ballads, edited by Cicely Fox Smith, published by Houghton Mifflin Co., New York, US, © 1926, pp. 41-45.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Press Rooms Extra Voice (song for Bar
From: Charley Noble
Date: 20 Oct 09 - 08:42 AM

Here's a couple of messages I've received back on this song:

"Another sad passing! Thanks for introducing me to the man & his music! That was a fine evening at the Press Room! I'm so glad the 'song' was/is useful.

Fair Winds...
Bob Zentz"

"The song is wonderful and a fitting if not accurate summing up of how I will feel when i am singing in a crowd. 2BS&S (Two Black Sheep and a Stallion) will certainly be singing it.
Had a word with the boys and we are all up for being at a memorial concert for barry, we need a bit of notice cos Ron has his diary arranged months in advance.

Do take care, thanks once again for the song

kindest regards
Pete"

My own thoughts on this song are that it helps me get through the present but it may not last for the long term. That's good enough for me!

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Press Rooms Extra Voice (song for Barry)
From: JudyB
Date: 20 Oct 09 - 10:50 AM

I'm not going to think about the metaphysics of it all, but there were a lot of powerful singers at the Press Room on Saturday - and we really were raising the roof an inch or two on the shanties.

I enjoy singing, but I'm not a strong singer, and generally have to struggle to make even my loudest songs heard over the ambient room noise. But I decided to sing Roll the Old Chariot anyway - it's a song I sometimes use as a focus for sending good thoughts - as well as a great song to sing with a crowd!

And when we got to the final chorus, and kicked the volume up a level - I realized partway through that I was singing lead over the top of a very loud chorus. Adrenalin? Maybe. The energy in the room? Partly. A little help from somewhere? Who knows?

~JudyB

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Press Rooms Extra Voice (song for Bar
From: Charley Noble
Date: 20 Oct 09 - 05:10 PM

I did some singing of this song today and as frequently happens with a new song I've come up with some changes. Here's how it looks now:

Inspired by "The Tryphena's Extra Hand" by C. Fox Smith
Tune: as arranged for singing by Bob Zentz as recorded on Closehauled on the Wind of a Dream, © 2007.
New words by Charles Ipcar, 10/19/09
Dedicated to Barry Finn (1951-2009)

The Press Room's Extra Voice

In the Press Room, just last evening,
The crowd was gathered there,
You could hear a concertina
Tracing out a doleful air;
And when the last verse ended,
"Good-bye My Riley-o"
I heard a voice behind me say
These words so soft and low:

"Many's a year I've sung these old songs,
And I've grown to like them well,
And I've not much hopes of heaven
And I've not much use for hell:
But so if they'll let me,
By the great hook-block I swear,
When I hear you singing shanties,
My voice will be there."

"The'll be one more voice on the chorus,
One more voice on the refrain
Be it shanty or forebitter,
You'll hear my voice again;
We'll raise them old songs to the roof
Such as shellbacks used to know
In the good old China tea trade,
Many and many a year ago."

Was he standing in the shadows?
I kind o' felt him near,
Kind o' saw him and didn't see him,
Kind o' heard him but did not hear,
And the funny thing about it
Was I somehow couldn't swear
Though I knew it sure as shooting
An Extra Voice was there.

There was one more voice on the chorus,
One more voice on the refrain
Be it shanty or forebitter,
We could hear his voice again;
We raised them old songs to the roof
Such as shellbacks used to know
In the good old China tea trade,
Many and many a year ago."

Of course, someone else may have to lead this one. I'm not sure I could do it on my own.

After the last verse should come a reprise of "London Julie;" maybe the "extra voice" will lead that one!

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Press Rooms Extra Voice (song for Barry)
From: Susan A-R
Date: 20 Oct 09 - 07:06 PM

Thank you Charlie. If there is a gathering, let me know. I haven't gotten south and east for anything since Barry's singing party about eight years ago, but I'd figure out the trip for such an event.

Susan

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Press Rooms Extra Voice (song for Bar
From: Charley Noble
Date: 20 Oct 09 - 07:21 PM

Susan-

Absolutely!

Charley Noble

Subject: Press Rooms Extra Voice (song for Barry Finn)
From: Genie
Date: 20 Oct 09 - 08:26 PM

I really like it, Charley. Hope I can hear you sing it one day (maybe at the 2010 Getaway?).

Genie

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Press Rooms Extra Voice (song for Bar
From: Charley Noble
Date: 20 Oct 09 - 08:55 PM

Genie-

Thanks.

I'm not sure I could sing it in front of real people, certainly not now. But I'll probably record a rough version this weekend that I can post a link to.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Press Rooms Extra Voice (song for Barry)
From: Lonesome EJ
Date: 21 Oct 09 - 01:17 AM

Great song, Charlie. And I'm glad it eased the sorrow for you. I know exactly what you mean.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Press Rooms Extra Voice (song for Bar
From: Charley Noble
Date: 21 Oct 09 - 08:21 AM

Lonesome EJ-

Thanks.

We've lost a number of strong sea music singers this year, including Barry and Johnny Collins. Although this song is dedicated to Barry, it can work for others as well.

Now if "they" would just learn the chorus, it wouldn't sound so ragged in my head!

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Press Rooms Extra Voice (song for Bar
From: Charley Noble
Date: 21 Oct 09 - 03:10 PM

Here's a nice reply from Neil, one of Barry's long-time singing partners:

"That is so profound; a fitting tribute to our shipmate. Thank you both for writing it and sharing it with me.
               
                                                   Fair winds,
                                                         Neil"

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Press Rooms Extra Voice (song for Bar
From: Charley Noble
Date: 22 Oct 09 - 11:55 AM

I've been rethinking the last four lines of this song after singing it to my band members last evening after practice:

We raised them old songs to the roof,
Such as shellbacks used to know,
In the good old China tea trade,
Many and many a year ago.

And I think the last three lines are "filler" which while nostalgic don't add to the song. Here's what I propose as a replacement which to me resonates more of a shanty feel:

We raised them old songs to the roof,
Like shellbacks used to shout,
As they hauled upon the haillards,
Or broke the mudhook out.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Press Rooms Extra Voice (song for Bar
From: Charley Noble
Date: 25 Oct 09 - 05:33 PM

Well, here's a link to how I'm singing this song now: Click here for lyrics and MP3!

This song appears pretty stable now but I think my delivery will improve with more practice.

Has it really just been a little over a week since we heard of Barry's passing? It seems like a much longer time.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Press Rooms Extra Voice (song for Bar
From: Gibb Sahib
Date: 25 Oct 09 - 05:50 PM

Well done, Charley. Beautifully put together and rendered! Thanks for directing me here.

Gibb

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Press Rooms Extra Voice (song for Bar
From: Janie
Date: 25 Oct 09 - 05:58 PM

Tears again.

Thanks Charlie.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Press Rooms Extra Voice (song for Bar
From: Charley Noble
Date: 26 Oct 09 - 10:06 AM

I've been getting more positive response about this song, primarily via e-mail from distant corners of this wide world, and I still like it myself. When a good friend like Barry suddenly passes away it does leave a big hole in one's heart, most certainly in the hearts of his family, and in the hearts of our music community. No song can make that all better (and I hear echoes of Bob Franke singing that sentiment in my head) but even if such a song brings tears to our eyes (and a big lump in our throats) it may help with the grieving process. I would hope that it doesn't just reinforce depression.

Tomorrow (October 27) I plan on delivering my song to our friends in Gloucester, at the shanty session at Cameron's. I do hope we don't spend the entire evening singing such tribute songs! Don't get me wrong. I do want to hear David Coffin sing his rendition of Lonesome Ernie Johnson's tribute shanty and Alexander Thompson sing the his memory song that he posted on Facebook. Still, it would be nice if folks also sang a few irreverent sailortown songs and work shanties.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Press Rooms Extra Voice (song for Bar
From: Charley Noble
Date: 28 Oct 09 - 11:16 PM

My venture to Cameron's worked out well. I must say that the Gloucester folks show up really late for their singing sessions. I was there at 8 pm sharp and one person showed up about 15 minutes later but the critical mass didn't arrive for singing until close to 9 pm. That being said, it was a fine session lasting to 1 am in the morning.

I got Alex to sing his song in honor of Barry, and later led mine, not messing up the fresh words too badly and getting a lot of help on a fairly long chorus, with possibly an "extra voice" added in.

I got a nice e-mail back from Justine and from a few others that I've sent the song to directly.

I'm still undecided if the song is a keeper but it does wonders for me at the moment.

Ray and Judy were nice enough to provide me a cozy bed after the session in their home in Cape Ann. And then I had a leisurely drive back in the rain today for practice with Roll & Go in Portland.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Press Rooms Extra Voice (song for Barry)
From: stallion
Date: 29 Oct 09 - 06:37 AM

Charley, just listened to the song again, about sums it up, we shall be singing it, I fear for a while and for a few more.
thanks
Pete

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Press Rooms Extra Voice (song for Bar
From: Charley Noble
Date: 29 Oct 09 - 10:04 AM

Pete-

I'll certainly look forward to hearing you and the Black Sheep lead this song when I'm in Yorkshire this September, or if you're here in the States before that.

Keep well!

Charley Noble