Lyr Add: Maria Consuelo Arroyo (Tim Henderson)

Subject: Lyr Add: MARIA CONSUELA^^
From: Stewie
Date: 24 Oct 99 - 08:43 PM

MARIA CONSUELA ARROYO
(Tim Henderson)

Maria Consuela Arroyo was born and was raised
On the south side of town
With eyes holding midnight,
And face like an angel come down.
In softness and beauty,
She grew like a rose without thorn.
At fifteen, she married,
At sixteen, her first child was born.

And time is a lover,
A planter in ripeness,
Who harvests your dreams.
Time is a river,
That sweeps us along in its stream.
It brings us together,
And tears us so surely apart,
And there's no wrinkled crone,
In her dry skin and bones,
Who is not a young girl in her heart.

Maria Consuela Arroyo,
She bore seven more on the south side of town.
And her love for her family
Like soft rain, came whispering down.
Like flowers in the garden,
They flourished in beauty and grace,
With their eyes like dark mirrors
Reflecting the love in her face.

And time is the traitor.
Time is the villain who stalks on our stage,
The bringer of heartache,
The bringer of wrinkles and age.
It brings us together
And tears us so cruelly apart,
And there's no wrinkled crone
In her dry skin and bones
Who is not a young girl in her heart.

Maria Consuela Arroyo,
Her man died in battle, in cruel rivalries.
And her children were scattered
Like feathers that ride down the breeze.
She kneels in the darkness,
Nine candles she lights every day
And Padre Alphonso remembers their names when he prays.

But, time's the black angel,
The dark curandero who brings the long sleep.
Time is a shepherd
Who's keeping a watch on the sheep.
He brings back together
The souls that he once tore apart
And he comforts old crones
In their dry skin and bones
For he still loves the girl in their hearts.
Time is a lover,
A planter in ripeness
Who harvests your dreams.

Author: Tim Henderson.
Source: Transcribed from Jan Marra 'These Crazy Years' Flying Fish FF 482

I have loved this song for many years. I cannot remember how I came by 'curandero', or whether it is the correct word – can anyone verify this word or indicate what it should be? Also, can anyone tell me where I can find other songs by Tim Henderson?

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Maria Consuela Arroyo
From: Art Thieme
Date: 24 Oct 99 - 09:30 PM

Katie Lee did the definitive job on this song on one of her fairly recent recordings. She did a fine job on "Galllo De Cielo" by Tom Russsell on the same recording.

Art

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Maria Consuela Arroyo
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 29 Aug 01 - 12:46 PM

Stewie: "Curandero" means "healer" and seems to fit.

This song is sung by Tim Henderson on "Kerrville Folk Festival: Early Years 1972-1981," 1998 -- where it is called simply "Maria Consuela."

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Maria Consuela Arroyo
From: Marymac90
Date: 29 Aug 01 - 01:03 PM

Beautiful lyrics.....

I'll have to try and hear the song.....

Marymac

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Maria Consuela Arroyo
From: Stewie
Date: 29 Aug 01 - 06:56 PM

Thanks, Jim. I will try to get hold of that album. Jan Marra must have added 'Arroyo' to the title. She noted that the song 'is but one jewel in Tim's vast coffer of songs'. I would love to hear a few more of them.

--Stewie.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Maria Consuela Arroyo
From: Art Thieme
Date: 01 Sep 01 - 01:46 AM

I knew Jan in Chicago in "the old days". Never knew she made a record. A lovely voice.
Curandero is a shaman -- a healer that's much more than simply a medical doctor. Wade Davis uses the word when it's appropriate in his search for uses for ingredients in various plants as used by folks in the Amazon basin, Haiti, Cambridge, Massachusetts etc.

Art

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Maria Consuela Arroyo
From: GUEST,J
Date: 25 Apr 02 - 03:29 PM

Hi guys,

I acquired the song from Tim on one of my trips to TX and folk-processed it a bit (error and God knows what possessed me).

The correct Spanish name for a woman is Consuelo, and I can't remember enough of the 80s to say why I substituted "in cruel rivalries" for "across the dark seas." I guess I thought it was more topical in terms of Central America.

Hey Art: Ciao, baby. You've probably heard the one about vultures at the airport.

J

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Maria Consuela Arroyo
From: rich-joy
Date: 09 Jul 03 - 06:44 AM

refresh

(any more data on Tim Henderson and his songs???)

Cheers! R-J

PS Stewie, Alex and I are just reviving "Maria Consuela", after all these years!!!

Subject: Lyr Add: MARIA CONSUELO ARROYO (Tim Henderson)
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 08 Aug 05 - 01:40 PM

A couple of notes:
As Guest J (Jan Marra) posted, the name is Maria Consuelo (not Consuela). As he noted, he changed the first two lines of the third verse.
Tim Henderson wrote the poem in three stanzas, each with nine lines, some quite long.
Here it is in the form Henderson used in his book "Sweeping Up Dreams, Lyrics as Poetry," p. 16.

MARIA CONSUELO ARROYO
(Tim Henderson, 1996)

Maria Consuelo Arroyo was born
   and was raised on the south side of town,
With eyes holding midnight, the face of an angel come down,
In softness and beauty she grew like a rose without thorns,
At fifteen she married, at sixteen her first child was born,
And time is a lover, the planter in ripeness
   who harvests your dreams,
And time is the river that sweeps us along in its stream,
It brings us together, then forces us cruelly apart,
And there's no wrinkled crone, in her dry skin and bones,
Who is not a young girl in her heart.

Maria Consuelo Arroyo, she bore seven more
   on the south side of town,
And her love for her family like soft rain came whispering down,
Like flowers in a garden, they flourished in beauty and grace,
With their eyes, like dark mirrors, reflecting the love in her face,
And time is the traitor, yes, time is the villain
   who stalks on our stage,
The bringer of heartache, the bringer of wrinkles and age,
He brings us together, then forces us cruelly apart,
And there's no wrinkled crone, in her dry skin and bones,
Who is not a young girl at heart.

Maria Consuelo Arroyo, her man fell in battle
   across wine dark seas,
And her children were scattered like feathers
   that ride down the breeze,
She kneels in the darkness, nine candles she lights every day,
And Padre Alphonso remembers their names when he prays,
And time's the black angel, a dark curandero
   who brings the long sleep,
And time is a shepherd who's keeping good watch on his sheep,
So he brings back together the souls that he once tore apart,
And he comforts old crones in their dry skin and bones,
For he still loves the girl in their heart.

And time is a lover, the planter in ripeness who harvests your
   dreams...

Tim Henderson, 1996, "Sweeping Up Dreams, Lyrics as Poetry," Sun Country Publications, Wimberly, Texas. (P. O. Box 1482, Wimberly, TX 78676, 512-847-5162).

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Maria Consuela Arroyo
From: Tannywheeler
Date: 08 Aug 05 - 02:36 PM

Tim Henderson has written a wide range of marvelous songs. This is one of the toughest to listen to. I cry. Every time. He's a delightful, interesting person, too. Not a native Texan, but we're always glad to accept a fella who tells a great story. He lives here now, but he's originally (I think) from West Virginia. He describes the Panhandle by saying you can gaze out into the countryside for miles and miles and miles with NOTHING to interrupt the eye--or (in West Texas) with NOTHING to see but miles and miles and miles.... He's been there, so he knows.
In Mexico and Cent. Amer. the "curandero" was/is the local medical practitioner--usually folk medicine.
This is a very sad song. Warn folks, pass out hankies.    Tw

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Maria Consuela Arroyo
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 08 Aug 05 - 03:17 PM

The song rings true to all of us who have grown old; a great poem.

The curandero was important to the Hispanics in the southwestern states long ago and a few old-timers may still be living.

Get his book before it disappears. www.hillcountrysun.com/books.html is the net address.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Maria Consuelo Arroyo
From: GUEST,Gerry
Date: 08 Aug 05 - 07:21 PM

I think this song was also recorded ny Allen Damron
on an album he called Sweeping Up Dreams,
the same album as had The Gringo Pistolero
that someone asked about a few weeks back.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Maria Consuelo Arroyo
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 08 Aug 05 - 07:39 PM

Allen Damron's recordings were mentioned in another thread recently. He has recorded Tim Henderson's "Bleach Blondes and Broncos" and "Gringo Pistolero" on the cd "Cowboy Poetry...." His "Sweeping Up Dreams," 1985, is unavailable currently. I don't know if it had "Maria...."

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Maria Consuelo Arroyo
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 08 Aug 05 - 08:07 PM

Damron did record "Maria...." on "Sweeping Up Dreams" and on "Border Trash."
Tim Henderson's book has a discography.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Maria Consuelo Arroyo
From: bbc
Date: 08 Aug 05 - 08:20 PM

What a nice reminder. I love Jan's singing & that song.

bbc

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Maria Consuelo Arroyo (from Jan Marra)
From: GUEST,Marian
Date: 03 Oct 05 - 12:12 AM

Tim Henderson sings his beautiful "Maria Consuelo" on his own CD, called THE WIND KNOWS MY NAME. The CD was released in 1999. It is a compilation of 17 of Tim's songs, written over the past 25 years. It's available from Canadian River Music. The email address is: [e-mail].

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Maria Consuelo Arroyo (from Jan Marra)
From: GUEST,dalesulliv
Date: 22 Jan 06 - 04:40 PM

It was also recorded beautifully by the Glaser Brothers in the early `80s album, "I Sill Love you (After All These Years)" which was
reissued a week or so ago with their other `80s lp, "Loving Her Was Easier" on one cd by www.CollectersChoiceMusic.com. You can preview it on Amazon.com.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Maria Consuelo Arroyo (from Jan Marra)
From: GUEST,Art Thieme
Date: 22 Jan 06 - 05:37 PM

I didn't realize that long ago post from "J" was actually Jan Marra sayin' "hi" to me.

Jan, I do hope you are well and good---and that you look into this now old thread once more!! This fine song's thread, like the cream, does rise to the top every few years...

And Mr. Damron has joined Maria Consuelo Arroyo over yonder---whatever!

Art

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Maria Consuela Arroyo
From: GUEST,Tim Henderson
Date: 07 Nov 07 - 09:31 PM

Unfortunately, my brother Allen Damron DID pass away a little over a year ago. Fortunately, however, rumors of MY death are greatly exaggerated (to quote Mark Twain). I am alive and well and still performing and living in Austin, Texas. You can reach me at; [e-mail].

And it's true that Jan Marra is the only person whose hat size is as large as mine. I wonder if the pill-bug-eaten cowboy hat I gave her in 1981 still fits?

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Maria Consuelo Arroyo
From: GUEST,JDM
Date: 01 Dec 07 - 02:29 AM

Have this song by Tompall & The Glaser Brothers-the more you hear it, the more you like it! Great song,great job by the Glaser Brothers too.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Maria Consuelo Arroyo (Tim Henderson)
From: GUEST,Guest, JEM
Date: 14 Jun 08 - 10:40 AM

If you have heard and enjoyed this song as performed by Tompall Glaser and the Glaser brothers, check out the the double album "Lovin Her was Easier/After All These Years" available from Amazon.com.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Maria Consuelo Arroyo (Tim Henderson)
From: GUEST,Chuck Hawthorne
Date: 14 Jul 08 - 09:56 PM

Stewie,

A bit odd responding to a thread originating in 2001, but if you're still out there...the distributer for Tim Henderson's music is Canadian River Music out of Amarillo, Tx. The link is below.

http://www.angelfire.com/folk/canadianriver/

Tim has recently recorded new music (and resurrected recordings from the 1970s) on CDs available at Waterloo Music in Austin. I'm not sure if they still sell music on line.

Tim Henerson is a phenomenal songwriter who counts among his fans Tom Paxton, Peter Yarrow, and the late, great Townes Van Zandt. I'm a sucker for his serious ballads, Maria Consuela Arroyo among them. The Gringo Pistolero, Morgan, Miss Amelia Harris Spinster, Wind Don't Blow in San Antone...I could go on and on. He is simply an American treasure.

Allen Wayne Damron's "Sweeping Up Dreams" is an album of Tim Henderson covers. The phrase is taken from Tim's song, "Dust." "Josalita go slow, You're sweeping up dreams from the Edwards Plateau."

Chuck

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Maria Consuelo Arroyo (Tim Henderson)
From: GUEST,canadian lady - lock stock n barrel, austin
Date: 22 Jul 08 - 01:52 PM

I just learned of Allen's passing. I'll never forget him and the impact he and his music had on me. I was a Saturday night regular at the LSnB in north Austin in the late 70s. Allen was performing with Miss Vicki, and frequently Tim showed up, as well as a posse of other characters ... That was my socialization as a transplanted Texan. Eventually I learned to say shiiiiiiiiiiiiiiit in six syllables - earned my boots


I was usually in the company of one sports trainer and his buddy, a local cop.

Tim, I need these songs.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Maria Consuelo Arroyo (Tim Henderson)
From: GUEST,grampa
Date: 17 Nov 08 - 03:14 PM

Does anyone have the sheet music for this? Or at least the chord changes?

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Maria Consuelo Arroyo (Tim Henderson)
From: GUEST,Guest:: Tim Henderson
Date: 06 Jan 09 - 09:47 PM

I play Maria in the key of G, despite the fact that it is a b-tch to sing in that key. If you will email me at:
[e-mail]
I will send you the lyrics and an mp3 of the song. I could write the chords necessary to play it in the key of G over the lyrics, but the true accompaniment is done with a series of walk up/walk downs that lead from chord to chord.

Huh?

Who said?

You can't believe him!

Tim Henderson

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Maria Consuelo Arroyo (Tim Henderson)
From: GUEST,JB
Date: 05 Jul 09 - 05:46 AM

This is a gorgeous song that I've heard by Tompall Glaser and the Glaser Brothers. I have the CD and also there is a video of it on YouTube. The YouTube version is shorter and is a live performance. I love both versions. It is an emotional song... wonderful. Tompall calls it Maria Consuela Arroyo.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Maria Consuelo Arroyo (Tim Henderson)
From: GUEST,the old world
Date: 04 Sep 09 - 10:07 PM

Glad i found this :) looked long for "time is a black angel"
That line pounded me brain for years .
So simple song with so much truth in it great.

So i am happy   thank you Tim .

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Maria Consuelo Arroyo (Tim Henderson)
From: GUEST
Date: 20 Jan 10 - 01:54 PM

tabs and chords for this song!

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Maria Consuelo Arroyo (Tim Henderson)
From: GUEST
Date: 02 Feb 10 - 02:51 PM

Andrew      tabs for maria consuelo arroyo

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Maria Consuelo Arroyo (Tim Henderson)
From: GUEST
Date: 02 Nov 10 - 09:23 PM

this song was also performed by TomPaul and the Glasier bros. beautiful harmony's see it on you-tube

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Maria Consuelo Arroyo (Tim Henderson)
From: GUEST,julia L
Date: 14 Nov 10 - 03:44 PM

hello- I recently met an elderly (80+) woman in St Augustine who remembered these lines from "an old Spanish song"

There's no wrinkled crone, in her dry skin and bones,
Who is not a young girl in her heart.

Could there be an older song with these words? I'm fairly certain this lady would not have heard the song discussed here

Thanks for your help

julia

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Maria Consuelo Arroyo (Tim Henderson)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 17 Nov 10 - 12:30 PM

According to the song index at the Sing Out! web site, MARIA CONSUELA ARROYO, by Tim Henderson, appears in Volume 31, Issue 3, page 24 of the magazine. That would be 1985.

Google Books gives only 398 hits on "Maria Consuela" and 22,000 hits on "Maria Consuelo." (Of course, these references are mostly not to the song, but to various people with that name.)

Now, to these non-Hispanic ears, "Consuela" sounds like it ought to be feminine and "Consuelo" masculine. Can anyone explain why so many Marias are named Consuelo?

Here's a guess: "Consuelo Arroyo" is the family name. I've heard that in Spanish-speaking countries, they do not use hyphens, even when they have surnames that, according to American or British usage, would be hyphenated. Am I on the right track here?

*

Julia L.: I searched, but the oldest instance I could find in Google Books of those lines you quoted was in Sing Out! (1985), where it is clearly a quote from the song we have been discussing here.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Maria Consuelo Arroyo (Tim Henderson)
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 17 Nov 10 - 06:20 PM

Tim Henderson sings Maria Consuela Arroyo on YouTube

Tompall Glaser "Maria Consuela"

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Maria Consuelo Arroyo (Tim Henderson)
From: GUEST
Date: 28 Mar 11 - 05:05 PM

Consuelo comes from Our lady of good Counsel. many girls are named after Mary the mother of Jesus

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Maria Consuelo Arroyo (Tim Henderson)
From: GUEST,C. Crowley
Date: 01 Nov 11 - 05:35 PM

Tim Henderson just passed away, Nov. 1, 2011. He is survived by his wife, Marian, two children, Katie and Scott, and several grandchildren.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Maria Consuelo Arroyo (Tim Henderson)
From: GUEST,Gerry
Date: 02 Nov 11 - 04:45 AM

RIP. Never met him, but I love some of the songs he wrote.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Maria Consuelo Arroyo (Tim Henderson)
From: Dan Schatz
Date: 02 Nov 11 - 06:12 PM

Tim was a great guy. I knew him in Austin when I was a college student there - I think Lindsay Haisley introduced us. You never met a friendlier, funnier, more hospitable guy, and his songs were some of the best.

I'm sad to hear this news.

Dan

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Maria Consuelo Arroyo (Tim Henderson)
From: GUEST
Date: 06 Nov 11 - 05:02 PM

Tim WAS a great guy, and I think this song is one of his best, if not his very best. It is so true to life as it describes time first as a lover; then as a traitor, a villain, and the black angel; and finally as a lover again. And as a person past 70, these words speak so profoundly: And there's no wrinkled crone, in her dry skin and bones, who is not a young girl in her heart." And it's not just the words -- the music is GORGEOUS!

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Maria Consuelo Arroyo (Tim Henderson)
From: GUEST,Art Eatman
Date: 09 Jun 13 - 11:07 PM

My understanding is that Marian is trying to get all Tim's albums set up for CDs. As of early 2013, anyway.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Maria Consuelo Arroyo (Tim Henderson)
From: GUEST
Date: 21 Nov 14 - 03:29 AM

Maybe Tim sang certain lines differently over the years. I recall, and always sang the line, "her man fell in battle across the dark seas."

A curandero is a mexican indian shaman, like a medicine man.

He was my best friend. Probably never knew it.

Kurt Van Sickle

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Maria Consuelo Arroyo (Tim Henderson)
From: GUEST,guest
Date: 03 Sep 17 - 11:43 PM

An amazing brilliant 6 CD Legacy collection of Tim Henderson songs, including the great "Maria Consuelo" is now available. Go to timhenderson.com for more information. Thanks!!

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Maria Consuelo Arroyo (Tim Henderson)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 04 Sep 17 - 01:02 AM

Many of the Tim Henderson Legacy Collection recordings are available at YouTube, although probably not playable in the UK.

-Joe-
Maria Consuelo Arroyo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UnxEKx87eeo

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Maria Consuelo Arroyo (Tim Henderson)
From: Monique
Date: 04 Sep 17 - 03:47 AM

The name Consuelo doesn't come from "Our Lady of Good Counsel", it comes from "Nuestra Señora del Consuelo" = "Our Lady of Consolation" though both refer to Virgin Mary. Our Lady of Good Counsel = Nuestra Señora del Buen Consejo

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Maria Consuelo Arroyo (Tim Henderson)
From: GUEST
Date: 08 Mar 18 - 04:42 PM

I know this post is old as this hills but thank you for letting be known what a Curandero is. I saw some post explaining in my eyes what was wrong. My great grandmother was one in Mexico. She lived to be in 100's. Some people had no money for doctors so they only Curandera. Especially the indigenous.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Maria Consuelo Arroyo (Tim Henderson)
From: GUEST,Guest
Date: 18 Jul 18 - 12:21 AM

Tim Henderson’ s brilliant 6 CD Legacy Collection is available on Amazon or CD Baby... either as individual CDs or as the box set. All the songs are also available digitally at CdBaby or Amazon as well. “Maria Consuelo” is on volume one.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Maria Consuelo Arroyo (Tim Henderson)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 18 Jul 18 - 01:32 AM

It's not Lady of Good Counsel? Gee, I shoulda known that, but I've made that mistake a number of times. It sure sounds like it should be "Good Counsel." Good thing Monique didn't catch me..... ;-)



OK, OK, I'll repeat it ten times: Our Lady of Consolation. The study of the titles of Mary is an aspect of "Mariology" can be kind of interesting; although I'm sure it seems weird to some people. Lots of history, art, tradition, and folklore connected to all that.



-Joe-

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Maria Consuelo Arroyo (Tim Henderson)
From: GUEST,Texchanchan
Date: 04 Apr 23 - 11:23 AM

I shared a cubicle with Tim Henderson when he was a tech writer at TI and can confirm that it's Consuelo, not Consuela. Also that he wrote many many equally good songs but this is the one that became famous.