Lyr Add: The Song Goes On (Mick Ryan)

Subject: Lyr Add: The Song Goes On (Mick Ryan)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 03 Feb 16 - 03:22 AM

Every year, my monthly song circle votes for a song that we'll sing at the end of every session - usually a good parting song that we'd all like to learn. This year, the runner-up was "The Song Goes On," by Mick Ryan. I didn't see it posted, so I thought I'd post it here.

The Song Goes On

Words & Music by Mick Ryan
(Recorded by POLES APART on The Song Goes On)

There are singers that we love as we sing our lives away,
And though we all fall silent in the end,
They will sing with us forever they'll be singing every day,
 When we sing the songs they sang.

Chorus:
For the song goes on, in the songs we sing,
And when one song ends, then another song begins,
So the singers who are gone, will be singing once again,
When we sing the songs they sang.

Some are heard by many and some are heard by few,
And though we all fall silent in the end,
Someone will remember both the song you sing and you,
When they sing the songs you sang.

Refrain:
Sing the chorus, sing the song,
And the singers gone before us will be singing right along.
Sing the chorus and refrain,
And the singers gone before us will be singing once again.

We can drive away the silence of the grave that we all fear,
And though we all fall silent in the end,
Sing and you'll be singing with the singers you hold dear,
When you sing the songs they sang.

So if you sing along you bring along the singers who are gone,
Though we all fall silent in the end.
Sing and you'll be singing both the singer and the song,
When you sing the songs they sang.

These lyrics are from the Website of Tom Lewis, http://www.tomlewis.net/lyrics/song_goes_on.htm

Anybody know the story behind this song? Seems like there's some tie to Cyril Tawney.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R_4UHDXYFdY&list=PLhNvh_q275uzZD7hpPtzjizp3tOYoZcgR&index=33

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Song Goes On (Mick Ryan)
From: MoorleyMan
Date: 04 Feb 16 - 06:37 AM

The story is that it was written by Mick Ryan for Cyril Tawney, who died in April 2005. Dedicated to his memory, it was performed at the Sidmouth Festival Tribute Concert in 2005.

But hey - only the runner-up, Joe? Should've won hands-down, I say!

By the way, the concert recording mentioned is the final track on the excellent Cyril Tawney compilation of the same name (ADA Recordings, 2007).
Mick had recorded it himself earlier (with Pete Harris), on his cd The Island Of Apples (WildGoose, 2006).

It's a great song - but quite a challenge!!

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Song Goes On (Mick Ryan)
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 04 Feb 16 - 12:06 PM

That's a great song, Joe. Thanks.

The tune for the chorus reminds me of "Rally Round the Flag, Boys."

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Song Goes On (Mick Ryan)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 04 Feb 16 - 03:48 PM

The general feeling was that "The Song Goes On" was too complicated for a group to sing. I disagreed, but the group voted to use Johnsmith's "Safe Home" as a closing song for the next year. It's also a very nice, very singable song.
Another contender was Bob Gibson's I Come For To Sing. Last year, we had Davy Steele's Just One More Chorus. Another year, we had Singer's Request by Nic Jones.
-Joe-

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Song Goes On (Mick Ryan)
From: Joe_F
Date: 04 Feb 16 - 04:12 PM

The link for "Safe Home" won't let me in.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Song Goes On (Mick Ryan)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 04 Feb 16 - 04:20 PM

Fixed it, Joe. Thanks for pointing that out. What to you think of "Safe Home," and what does anyone know of johnsmith?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VWrpFP1WBeY&feature=youtu.be
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Song Goes On (Mick Ryan)
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 05 Feb 16 - 10:14 AM

I think 'Safe Home' is a fine song and good choice by your group. Don't know anything about johnsmith.

Subject: Lyr Add: The Song Goes On
From: Barbara
Date: 23 Aug 16 - 11:58 PM

I just went looking for this, couldn't find it and so am adding it. If I just missed it, feel free to delete this thread. It's a great celebration of life song. I first heard it done by Tom Lewis and Poles Apart.
Here's the link to Mick Ryan singing it
The Song Goes On

Blessings
Barbara

The Song Goes On
Words & Music by Mick Ryan


There are singers that we love as we sing our lives away,
And though we all fall silent in the end,
They will sing with us forever they'll be singing every day,
When we sing the songs they sang.

Chorus:
For the song goes on, in the songs we sing,
And when one song ends, then another song begins,
So the singers who are gone, will be singing once again,
When we sing the songs they sang.

Some are heard by many and some are heard by few,
And though we all fall silent in the end,
Someone will remember both the song you sing and you,
When they sing the songs you sang.

Refrain:
Sing the chorus, sing the song,
And the singers gone before us will be singing right along.
Sing the chorus and refrain,
And the singers gone before us will be singing once again.

We can drive away the silence of the grave that we all fear,
And though we all fall silent in the end,
Sing and you'll be singing with the singers you hold dear,
When you sing the songs they sang.

So if you sing along you bring along the singers who are gone,
Though we all fall silent in the end.
Sing and you'll be singing both the singer and the song,
When you sing the songs they sang.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Song Goes On (Mick Ryan)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 24 Aug 16 - 01:31 AM

Hi, Barbara -
The song turns up in the Old Forum Search and the Filter, but not in our "supersearch." I compared the lyrics, and your version and mine are the same. I got mine from the Tom Lewis Website. Where'd you get yours?
Great song, insn't it?

-Joe-

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Song Goes On (Mick Ryan)
From: leeneia
Date: 24 Aug 16 - 09:43 AM

I just listened to 'The Song Goes On' on YouTube, sung by Mick Ryan. YouTube provided the following information:

Provided to YouTube by The Orchard Enterprises

The Song Goes On · Mick Ryan

The Song Goes On

℗ 2014 Talking Elephant

Released on: 2014-08-11

Music Publisher: Wildgoose Records
==============
I find it interesting that he pronounces 'sang' as 'sahn.'