Lyr Req: How Are Things in Glocca Morra? (Harburg)

Subject: How are things in Glockamarra?
From: GUEST,Yum Yum
Date: 04 Oct 00 - 03:32 AM

A friend in work has asked me the spelling of 'Glockamarra', as in the film and is there such a place? If so, where? Can any Mudcatters help? thanks YumYum.

Subject: ADD: How Are Things in Glocca Morra?
From: Joe Offer
Date: 04 Oct 00 - 03:57 AM

Well, you didn't ask for them, but let me post the lyrics "Glocca" and "Morra" were Gaelic words combined by songwriter Harburg to name an imaginary place. Click here for more information.
-Joe Offer-

---

How Are Things in Glocca Morra
(words by E.Y. Harburg; music by Burton Lane, 1946)

- From "Finian's Rainbow"

I hear a bird, Londonderry bird,
It well may be he's bringing me a cheering word.
I hear a breeze, a River Shannon breeze,
It well may be it's followed me across the seas.
Then tell me please:
How are things in Glocca Morra?
Is that little brook still leaping there?
Does it still run down to Donny cove?
Through Killybegs, Kilkerry and Kildare?
How are things in Glocca Mora?
Is that willow tree still weeping there?
Does that lassie with the twinklin' eye
Come smilin' by and does she walk away,
Sad and dreamy there not to see me there?
So I ask each weepin' willow and each brook along the way,
And each lass that comes a-sighin' Too ra lay
How are things in Glocca Morra this fine day?

---

This deeply flawed rendition stolen from Lyrics World. Ferrara posted the correct lyrics below.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: Glocca Morra
From: Joe Offer
Date: 04 Oct 00 - 04:02 AM

Here's the text from that link I posted above.
-Joe Offer-

---

FINIAN’S RAINBOW
Goodspeed Opera House, East Haddam, CT
50th Anniversary Production: April 2 - July 4, 1997

Program Notes

---

Always a Rainbow

by John Pike

Aggressive, sweet, intellectual, whimsical, antiestablishment, skeptic, true-believer. A rainbow of seemingly contradictory words have been used over the years to describe E.Y. Harburg and his work. His quixotic nature earned him the nickname Yip, short for yipsl, the Yiddish term for squirrel.

Harburg grew up on the Lower East Side of Manhattan at the turn of the century where Italian, Irish, Russian, and Jewish families lived and worked, bound together by their poverty. Never dreaming that this would be a macrocosm of Rainbow Valley, the mythical site of his most famous stage musical, Harburg, at an early age, took note of the various verbal idiosyncrasies of his immigrant neighbors.

It was this same environment that engendered in him a love of all kinds of music. Harburg claimed to have a parody for every popular song of his youth. He often tried his hand at poetry, inspired by the satiric light verse of W.S. Gilbert.

The proximity of the letters “G” to “H” in the alphabet was auspicious for Harburg, who found himself seated next to the future lyricist Ira Gershwin in school. When Gershwin introduced Harburg to the crisp melodies of Arthur Sullivan, Harburg was astonished that there was music that fit the marvelous words of his idol Gilbert. At that moment, he happily realized that his two passions, lyric satire and good music, were not mutually exclusive.

Though Harburg was known for his unique imagery, he never found lyric writing less than “nerve-racking and brain-racking.” Often, however, pure inspiration took over. For FINIAN’S RAINBOW’s most famous song, Harburg was researching Irish poetry when he stumbled upon two Gaelic names, “Glocca” and “Morra.” Although they had little meaning on their own, when Harburg combined the two words, they sounded like a lucky name and seemed to reflect the optimistic spirit of the musical he envisioned.

Harburg’s intuitive side manifested itself musically as well. Composer Burton Lane wrote melody after melody for “How are Things in Glocca Morra?,” struggling with each version to reach the proper blend of Irish authenticity and theatrical appeal. When a despondent Lane played Harburg his first melody, an impish smile came across Harburg’s face as he commanded the composer to look no further.

Although he enjoyed writing about love, Harburg knew that songs could also help implement social change. He delighted in attacking sacred cows but usually concealed the “subversive” side of his writing within the safety of munchkins, genies, witches, and leprechauns. He claimed he could “tackle any problem that had profundity, depth and real danger ... by destroying it with laughter.”

In later years he would muse that science had unraveled many of the natural wonders that had inspired both poets and lyricists for so long. The moon and the stars were no longer the awe-inspiring mysteries they once were. But, ever the optimist, Harburg believed that every generation would find their own rainbows to write about.

For the record, FINIAN’S RAINBOW opened January 10, 1947, at the 46th Street Theatre in New York, running 725 performances after an engagement in Philadelphia. The cast included Albert Sharpe (Finian), Ella Logan (Sharon), and David Wayne (Og). The production was directed by Bretaigne Windust and choreographed by Michael Kidd.

 

“The magic in song only happens when the words give destination and meaning to the music and the music gives wings to the words. Together as a song they go places you’ve never been before. The reason is obvious: words make you think thoughts. Music makes you feel a feeling. But a song makes you feel a thought. Songs are the pulse of a nation’s heart. A fever chart of its health. Are we at peace? Are we in trouble? Are we floundering? Do we feel beautiful? Do we feel ugly? ... listen to our songs ... The lyricist, like any artist, cannot be neutral. He should be committed to the side of humanity.”

-E.Y. Harburg
Lyrics and Lyricist, 1970

 

Copyright © 1996 - 2000 Goodspeed Opera House Foundation, Inc.

Subject: RE: Help: How are things in Glockamarra?
From: Robby
Date: 04 Oct 00 - 07:45 AM

Joe,

I'm always willing to stand corrected and learn something new, but I always thought that Line 3 of the song began:
"I feel a breeze..."

At least, that's how I learned it. But then I never had the actual score to read from.

Subject: Lyr Add: HOW ARE THINGS IN GLOCCA MORRA? (Harburg)
From: Ferrara
Date: 04 Oct 00 - 11:19 AM

When I wanted to sing it on St Patrick's Day, a friend read it to me over the phone from the sheet music... She read "I feel a breeze...". Lots of times lyrics are posted from memory or from a not quite accurate source.

Well, you know this one ain't quite authentic, because as far as I know, it was sung by the female lead and all the sighing lassies were whistling laddies. One or two other differences from the version I learned as well, but who's countin'?

... Actually, the more I go back and study the version Joe found, the more it bothers me. Small things but for me they make a difference. Here's the song as I remember it. (actually, I hunted around til I found a site where the words are the way I remember! - you can find ANYTHING on the Web, as my husband is always telling me...)

How Are Things In Glocca Morra?

Patter:

I hear a bird, a Londonderry bird,
It well may be he's bringing me a cheering word.
I feel a breeze, a River Shannon breeze,
It well may be it's followed me across the seas.
Then tell me please:

Chorus:

How are things in Glocca Morra?
Is that little brook still leaping there?
Does it still run down to Donny-cove?
Through Killy-begs, Kilkerry and Kildare?

How are things in Glocca Morra?
Is that willow tree still weeping there?
Does that laddie with the twinklin' eye
Come whistlin' by and does he walk away,
Sad and dreamy there not to see me there?

So I ask each weepin' willow
And each brook along the way,
And each lad that comes a whistlin'
Too-ra-lay
How are things in Glocca Morra
This fine day?

---

(words by E.Y. Harburg; music by Burton Lane, 1946)
© 1946 by The Players Music Corp
From the Broadway Musical, "Finian's Rainbow"

Subject: RE: Help: How are things in Glockamarra?
From: Bert
Date: 04 Oct 00 - 12:07 PM

How are things in guacamole!

Subject: RE: Help: How are things in Glockamarra?
From: mousethief
Date: 04 Oct 00 - 12:14 PM

Green.

Alex
O..O
=o=

Subject: RE: Help: How are things in Glockamarra?
From: Robby
Date: 04 Oct 00 - 01:51 PM

Ferrara,

Your version is closer to the words as I remember them. And yes, How Are Things In Glocca Morra is sung by the female lead in Finian's Rainbow.

Subject: RE: Help: How are things in Glockamarra?
From: Joe Offer
Date: 04 Oct 00 - 03:02 PM

I checked in Hal Leonard's Broadway Fake Book. Ferrara transcribed the lyrics exactly. I cheated and copied a badly flawed set of lyrics from Lyrics World. I gotta admit, I'm glad I got caught.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Help: How are things in Glockamarra?
From: GUEST,Yum Yum
Date: 04 Oct 00 - 06:05 PM

Either way, all the information you have given to me has satisfied my friend. The only thing now is, I will have to listen to him sing it every minute of the day. Good thing is, he is now converted to being a mudcatter. Thanks again.

Yum Yum.

Subject: RE: Help: How are things in Glockamarra?
From: Mary in Kentucky
Date: 04 Oct 00 - 09:13 PM

... ahem...I have the sheet music, purchased many, many years ago (probably in the early 60's).

The sheet music says "I hear a breeze..."

Also, it has choices for laddie or lassie words. The laddie is a whistlin' and the lassie is smilin' and later a-sighin'." It looks like Joe's words are for the lassie and Ferrara's for the laddie.

The sheet music also spells Shannon, "Shanon."

...so much for the official sheet music.

Mary

Subject: RE: Help: How are things in Glockamarra?
From: beachcomber
Date: 05 Oct 00 - 03:22 PM

Mary from Kentucky you may be able to help me also. Perhaps you also have sheet music for "Look to the Rainbow" also from Finian's Rainbow ? You see I've been searching withoput success for many months for the music (preferably a chord pattern for guitar) for that song. I already have a few versions of the lyrics. Sorry for the divergence of thread but I must take the opportunity.

Subject: RE: Help: How are things in Glockamarra?
From: Mary in Kentucky
Date: 05 Oct 00 - 08:42 PM

Hi beachcomber - I just saw your post. I remember your post in the Broadway thread here in which Joe Offer also provided this link to a midi for Look to the Rainbow. But since JOE OFFER MADE A MISTAKE, and the link didn't work, I did the view/source trick and found it, downloaded the midi, AND WILL WRITE OUT THE CHORDS FOR YOU! Give me just a little time - I have to get dressed for Mbo's concert now.

Mary

Subject: RE: Help: How are things in Glockamarra?
From: Joe Offer
Date: 05 Oct 00 - 08:51 PM

Oh, Mary, you're such a brat, but I'll love you forever....
-Joe-

Subject: RE: Help: How are things in Glockamarra?
From: Joe Offer
Date: 05 Oct 00 - 08:59 PM

Here's Old Devil Moon, which I didn't realize was from the same musical. I'm still having a hard time picturing Petula Clark in this show.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Help: How are things in Glockamarra?
From: Susan A-R
Date: 05 Oct 00 - 10:50 PM

There are lots of great ones in Finian's. My favorite is When the Idle Poor Become the Idle Rich. I've always thought that Old Devil Moon was lovely.

I'm with you Joe. Can't imagine Petula in that lead.

(I was one of the "Tobaco girls" in this one some twenty mumble mumble years ago.)

Subject: RE: Help: How are things in Glockamarra?
From:
Date: 06 Oct 00 - 06:16 AM

That song title always reminds me of a skit in a Jack Benny radio program. Jack wants to catch a train and for various reasons he arrives at the station later than planned and he is in a hurry.

The man ahead of him in the ticket line comes up to the window and asks for a ticked to Glokammara. While he is waiting for the ticket he asks the ticket vendor,"How are things in Glokammara?" The ticket vendor answers, "Just fine." The ticket purchacer asks, "Is that willow tree still weeping there?" "Yes it is," answers the vendor...and so on until Benny gets impatient and says one of his standard lines, "Now cut that out!" At which point he begrudgingly sold the tickets he needs.

Doesn't contribute to the facts about the song; but it is part of its history, I guess.

Murray

Subject: RE: Help: How are things in Glockamarra?
From: Robby
Date: 06 Oct 00 - 07:18 AM

For Sharon, I'm carin'
But it's Susan I'm choosin',...
'Cause, when I'm not near
The girl that I love
I Love The Girl I'm Near.

Subject: RE: Help: How are things in Glockamarra?
From: Fiolar
Date: 07 Oct 00 - 05:13 AM

A stream that runs through "Killybegs" which is in County Donegal and Kildare which is obviously in County Kildare needs something more than a song to rationalise it. Have a look at the map of Ireland.

Subject: RE: Help: How are things in Glockamarra?
From: beachcomber
Date: 07 Oct 00 - 03:33 PM

Oh Mary, you're anything but ' conthrarie'.

After all these months, my gratitude knows no bounds, if I can ever do you a favour, just try me. I await your promised message eagerly.

beachcomber

P>S> you have restored my belief in the comradeship of the Mud Cat, many thanks

Subject: RE: Help: How are things in Glockamarra?
From: Mary in Kentucky
Date: 07 Oct 00 - 06:24 PM

...hmmm...I sent you the chords to the chorus in a PM last night. Let me know if you didn't get it. Do you need the intro and the verse? They appear to be a bit easier. Also, name the key...Db was just the key of the midi. And you can tell Joe I'm really not a brat. Seriously, I'm certainly not a musician, but this was fun. Some of the chords were a bit exotic, but they can be left out. This really is a pretty song, and the chord progressions are very nice.

Scary Mary (getting ready for Halloween)

Subject: RE: Help: How are things in Glockamarra?
From: Mary in Kentucky
Date: 07 Oct 00 - 06:29 PM

oops! I just looked at my sent message, and it was hard to read where the chord changes should be. I forgot that the PM's use HTML, so none of the spacing was correct! I'll send another with ---------- inbetween all the chord symbols.

Mary

Subject: RE: Help: How are things in Glockamarra?
From: Mary in Kentucky
Date: 09 Oct 00 - 06:53 AM

refresh...let me know what you think, beachcomber. I had a quiet weekend (and got some housework done) while the Mudcat was down.

Subject: RE: Help: How are things in Glockamarra?
From: beachcomber
Date: 09 Oct 00 - 06:25 PM

Mary,

Yes, I finally overcame some (I was advised) technical problem and I've downloaded your message. The key and chord progression are lovely. Yes , if you will, please send the pattern for the verse and chorus. You really are a most helpful person and I do hope I can return the favour some time. I work in the home mostly, nowadays , perhaps I can help with yours, even a little morale boosting chat now and again. I'm too far removed to do the vacuuming or laundry though. Thanks again Mary.

beachcomber