The words are hatched, I'm still sitting

Subject: The words are hatched, I'm still sitting
From: Spider Tom
Date: 16 Apr 00 - 08:14 AM

Max and Bert, I'm writing a bit of a song for the radio show
Heres the words i'll send it all when I find the tune and a way.

Radio Song.

Mudcat radio, there you go,
You'll grow to love it, don't ya' know,
Just tune in, to the show.
Listen through the rain and snow.

Mudcat, Mudcat's, where it's at
Rideing high, never flat,
And it will never scare your kat.
Keeps you sitting where you're sat.

Mudcat Radio, I'm alert,
Seen 'em sitting, Max and Bert,
Playing songs, and mixing dirt.
The camera, was feeling hurt.

Mudcat Radio, speed and haste,
Make my world, a smaller place,
Nothing so good goes to waste.
Tell me how to cut and paste.

Subject: RE: The words are hatched, I'm still sitting
From: Áine
Date: 16 Apr 00 - 11:16 AM

Dear Spider Tom,

I don't know what Max and Bert are gonna think -- but I love it! I hope that you'll let me put this song on the Mudcat Songbook. I'm looking forward to hearing it on MCR, too. Well done!

-- Áine

Subject: RE: The words are hatched, I'm still sitting
From: Spider Tom
Date: 17 Apr 00 - 12:29 AM

Hello Aine,
Thanks for the encouragement,I have hatched a tune also, a little blues for that one.
I've a tune for Fruita Roosta, Parson Time and The birdsong(shorter title for a novice typist).I will sing them sometime.
Till then or, whenever? Ken.

Subject: RE: The words are hatched, I'm still sitting
From: Irish sergeant
Date: 17 Apr 00 - 09:51 PM

Ken; those are bloody great Lyrics! Press on with it One last charge for the glory of queen and regiment. Aine I do enjoy reading your messages! I pop on almost every night and never fail to learn something. I've been siiting on some lyrics of my own just working up the nerve to send them out. A Soldier's Lament Neil K. MacMillan It was only Starvation that drove me from our land, When famine visited dear old Erin's shore. And Nary a sould would help me of offer up a hand, 'Til they needed Erin's sons to fight their war. And dear Mary how I miss you as the bugles fill the air and the morning sun is reaching for the sky. How I long to run my fingers through your long and silken hair, and hear the curlews sing as day goes by. But it's 18 years this summer I've been upon this shore. and a soldier's life's the only one I know. Still I sit among my comrades and I listen to their snores, And I wonder is there any place to go. And my darling wife I miss you on this humid summer night And I wonder if I've ever loved you more. A thousand men lie broken after today's fight, and I'm praying for the end of this damned war. My face is stained with powder and my eyes are filled with tears, And the bitter gall of warfare fills my heart. I buried our dear boy today and I'm feeling all my years, And i'll never still the anguish in my heart. And dear MAry, how I miss you as the bugles fill the air, And the morning sun is reaching for the sky. How I long to run my fingers through your long and silken hair, and hear the curlews sing as days go by. And I'm praying no more soldiers have to die.

I don't write music but I would be willing to let some one see what they could do with this if they wish. contact me at [e-mail]. And Aine, I am interested in your opinion. Neil

Subject: RE: The words are hatched, I'm still sitting
From: Áine
Date: 18 Apr 00 - 09:17 AM

Ken -- I hope we don't have to wait too long for all your great songs -- go on now, get busy! *BG* May I please put the words to Radio Song in the Songbook?

Neil -- Well, you probably know how I love the sad ones -- and this is a beautiful song. Very evocative of the soldier's loneliness, whatever war or side. You've definitely got a winner there, and I fervently hope that someone can write a tune equal to your words. Three suggested folks to ask would be McGrath of Harlow, Amos and The Shambles -- but there are dozens of wonderful tunemasters here on the 'Cat, so you should be able to find someone. Great good luck to you with this lovely piece, and be sure and let us all hear it when everything comes together, OK? And while we're waiting, may I please put your lyrics in the Songbook?

All the best to you both, Áine

Subject: Lyr Add: A SOLDIER'S LAMENT (Neil K. MacMillan)
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 18 Apr 00 - 06:50 PM

A SOLDIER'S LAMENT
Neil K. MacMillan

It was only Starvation that drove me from our land,
When famine visited dear old Erin's shore.
And Nary a soul would help me or offer up a hand,
'Til they needed Erin's sons to fight their war.

And dear Mary how I miss you as the bugles fill the air
and the morning sun is reaching for the sky.
How I long to run my fingers through your long and silken hair,
and hear the curlews sing as day goes by.

But it's 18 years this summer I've been upon this shore.
and a soldier's life's the only one I know.
Still I sit among my comrades and I listen to their snores,
And I wonder is there any place to go.

And my darling wife I miss you on this humid summer night
And I wonder if I've ever loved you more.
A thousand men lie broken after today's fight,
and I'm praying for the end of this damned war.

My face is stained with powder and my eyes are filled with tears,
And the bitter gall of warfare fills my heart.
I buried our dear boy today and I'm feeling all my years,
And I'll never still the anguish in my heart.

And dear Mary, how I miss you as the bugles fill the air,
And the morning sun is reaching for the sky.
How I long to run my fingers through your long and silken hair,
and hear the curlews sing as days go by.
And I'm praying no more soldiers have to die.

I put the line breaks in to make it easier to see how the song works. And it works well!

Subject: RE: The words are hatched, I'm still sitting
From: Irish sergeant
Date: 18 Apr 00 - 07:48 PM

Aine; Please by all means put the words in the song book and to be honest I like the sad ones myself. Sometimes I think it's an Irish thing. I like the way you spaced it. I guess it didn't space even though I tried to do so last night when I posted this. So McGrath of Harlow, would you like to take a crack at comeing up with a suitable tune?

Subject: RE: The words are hatched, I'm still sitting
From: Spider Tom
Date: 18 Apr 00 - 10:52 PM

Aine, you can put my words wherever you like,
Just be gentle,(I'm sentimentel)
*BG*

Subject: RE: The words are hatched, I'm still sitting
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 19 Apr 00 - 02:43 PM

Right, you're on, Neil - I've a tune in mind, and I'll send you an email with a file of me singing it, when I can get to make one (and when the cough cough and cold rthat's just got me will let me sing it) - I'd need your email address for that, so maybe you could send it in a Personal Message.

Kevin

Subject: RE: The words are hatched, I'm still sitting
From: Irish sergeant
Date: 19 Apr 00 - 07:10 PM

Kevin: My e-mail address is [e-mail]. My computer is rather old but hopefully the whole file comes through. Ray Frank also wants to take a crack at it, so this could be interesting. The bizarre truth is, I literally dreamed those lyrics. I've written poetry before but these were the first lyrics , poetry or prose I've written that didn't require editing. It's great when the muse works. Neil

Subject: RE: The words are hatched, I'm still sitting
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 20 Apr 00 - 04:39 PM

I'm not surprised - they feel very "authentic" to the Civil War to me. I know that there was tremendous resentment among many Irish immigrants at being dragged into a war that wasn't of their making, as cannon fodder , after being sneered at and told "No Irish Need Apply" for years. Dragged in on both sides, according to where they had ended up in the New World.

I really feel sometimes that with some songs, and the best, we almost seem to tune into them ready-made rather than make them up.

Subject: RE: The words are hatched, I'm still sitting
From: Irish sergeant
Date: 20 Apr 00 - 05:51 PM

Kevin; Stated most eloquently. Spider Tom, My apologies for turning the thread A bit askew. Hopefully I didn't step on you toes doing so. Greeting and halucinations Aine. How's life treating you? Neil

Subject: RE: The words are hatched, I'm still sitting
From: Áine
Date: 20 Apr 00 - 06:19 PM

Spider Tom, Irish sergeant, and Kevin,

If you'll check out Part V - Additions to the Mudcat Songbook, you'll see that I've added your songs to the Songbook. (And two of you should be checking out the Song Challenge! Part 23 thread too in a minute!).

Thanks to you all for the wonderful new additions to our great Mudcat Classic Collection!

Keep writing, playing, and singing, Áine

Subject: RE: The words are hatched, I'm still sitting
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 20 Apr 00 - 07:34 PM

Right Neil, it should be in your email any time now, since I've just sent it off. The attached file is about 350kb, which shouldn't take too long. I could get it down smaller, but the quality would suffer (and it's rough enough as it is...)

Happy Easter everybody here.

Subject: RE: The words are hatched, I'm still sitting
From: Irish sergeant
Date: 20 Apr 00 - 08:11 PM

Kevin: The old trollop doesn't want to take attachments tonight. (The computer is like 15 years old) Sometimes she's a gem . Anyway I guess we'll have to figure something else out. I tried getting the attachments through web mail and that didn't work either. I guess i have to delete and get it from you via snail mail. Dislexia can be so much fun!! By the way: Birthday Lyrics below. The Birthday Song (Sung to the tune of Silver Threads Among the Gold) Neil K. MacMillan Darling you are growing ancient, Rocks don't live as long as you. You're not quite as old as God is, But you're older than primordial stew. Yes, oh Darling you will be, will be, Older that the rocks and trees. Yes My darling you will be, Older than the rocks and trees.

Anyway Kevin, Send me another e-mail so you can get my snail address and we'll try it that way. Neil PS Happy Easter, Passover etc.

Subject: RE: The words are hatched, I'm still sitting
From: Crowhugger
Date: 21 Apr 00 - 03:29 PM

Neil,

[Warning: Serious, even depressing, post] That last one, Birthday Song, I'll find delightful about 20 generations from now, roughly how long it'll take (if we're lucky) for mental & physical spousal abuse actually to be treated as a crime.

With luck I'll be around and so will you and we'll sing it as a schmaltzy duet on a quaint, geezerly folk festival stage somewhere.

Crooning and hobbling, CH

Subject: RE: The words are hatched, I'm still sitting
From: Irish sergeant
Date: 21 Apr 00 - 06:00 PM

Crowhugger; Either that or if you see me at a Civil War reenactment, we can do it there. I developed it on the spur as i do with most of my good parody's for our C.O.'s birthday a few years back. Have a great holiday, Neil