Lyr Req: Swallow Song (Richard Farina)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Swallow Song (Richard Farina)
From: GUEST,esther hausammann switzerland
Date: 12 Feb 11 - 02:24 PM

I just had the pleasure to hear the song with the melody of "A Swallow Song" by Mimi and Dick Fariña in a Swiss radio channel.
You, dear Mark Cohen, once asked for the title of the original hebrew-spanish song in Yiddish in Fada style. Here are the musicians and the title of the original: Sarband: Sepharad – Songs of the Spanish Jews in the Mediterranean and the Ottoman Empire.
 CD: Deutsche Harmonia, Track 7: La Rosa Enflorese. Esther Hausammann Switzerlang

Subject: Richard Farina's 'Swallow Song' / Los Bilbilicos
From: Genie
Date: 04 Jan 10 - 09:14 PM

You can hear the original Sephardic (Ladino) song here:

Los Bilbilicos

Medody sung w less embellishment, slightly different Ladino lyrics

Classical guitar instrumental: Los Bilbilicos

LOS BILBILICOS (THE NIGHTINGALES)

Los bilbilicos cantan con sospiros de amor.
(The nightingales sing with sighs of love.)
Mi neshama, mi ventura estan en tu poder.
(My soul, my fate are in your power.)

La rosa enflorese en el mes de mai.
(The rose blooms in the month of May.)
Mi neshama s'escurese, sufriendo del amor
(My soul aches, suffering for love.)

Mas presto ven palomba, mas presto ven con mi.
(Come more quickly, dove, come more quickly to me.)
Mas presto ven querida, corre y salvame.
(Come more quickly, beloved, run and save me.)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Richard Farina's 'Swallow Song'
From: GUEST,bird lover
Date: 04 Jan 10 - 07:25 PM

I know the thread is ancient, but look at the context.

a hundred thousand VOICES.

Have you seen and heard a huge flock like this? I have.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Richard Farina's 'Swallow Song'
From: GUEST,Lotusland Liz
Date: 23 Jan 07 - 02:32 PM

The Sephardic Song that Farina used as the tune for "A Swallow Song" is "Los Biblicos," [the nightingales], which can be found in the Theo Bikel songbook and on *So Bravely Dream: The Songs of Jan Harmon, Volume 1*
To order, contact the Quasimodal Chorus, PO Box 996
Rockport, ME 04856

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Richard Farina's 'Swallow Song'
From: GUEST,Lotusland Liz
Date: 23 Jan 07 - 02:21 PM

The line should read:

Do you hear the calling of a hundred thousand boys?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Richard Farina's 'Swallow Song'
From: Mark Cohen
Date: 06 Sep 02 - 01:32 AM

I suspect your version is correct, Alan--that's why there was a caveat in my post. Which is not a complaint--RUS is quite useful, and a hell of a lot better than anything I could ever do--just a reminder that the "Blue Book" sometimes has boo-boos.

Aloha,
Mark

Subject: Lyr Add: THE SWALLOW SONG (Richard Farina)
From: Lanfranc
Date: 05 Sep 02 - 07:22 PM

The way I have always sung this is much the same as Mark gives, except for the words in caps.

Come wander quietly and listen to the wind
Come NEAR and listen to the sky
Come walking high above the rolling of the sea
And watch the swallows as they fly

There is no sorrow like the murmur of their wings
There is no choir like their song
There is no power like the freedom of their flight
While the swallows roam alone

Do you hear the calling of a hundred thousand, BOYS
Hear the echo in THE stone
Do you hear the angry bells ringing in the night
Do you hear the swallows when they've flown?

And will the breezes blow the petals from your hand
And will some loving ease your pain
And will the silence DRIVE confusion from your soul
And will the swallows come again?
Alan

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Richard Farina'a 'Swallow Song'
From: GUEST,turtle dove
Date: 05 Sep 02 - 04:58 PM

Got it. Thanks masato and mark!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Richard Farina'a 'Swallow Song'
From: Mark Cohen
Date: 05 Sep 02 - 04:22 AM

Oops. Well, yes, I could have used the Forum Search. But why do things the easy way? Especially when I posted to the original thread! Thanks, Masato--on the ball, as always.

Aloha,
Mark

Subject: Lyr Add: THE SWALLOW SONG (Richard Farina)
From: Mark Cohen
Date: 05 Sep 02 - 04:18 AM

Well, it doesn't seem to be in the Digital Tradition. Here are the words as given in "Rise Up Singing" -- which means someone should check them with the record just to be sure.

THE SWALLOW SONG
By Richard Farina, (c) 1964 Warner Bros., Inc.

Come wander quietly and listen to the wind
Come here and listen to the sky
Come walking high above the rolling of the sea
And watch the swallows as they fly

There is no sorrow like the murmur of their wings
There is no choir-like their song
There is no power like the freedom of their flight
While the swallows roam alone

Do you hear the calling of a hundred thousand voice [?]
Hear the echo in a stone
Do you hear the angry bells ringing in the night
Do you hear the swallows when they've flown?

And will the breezes blow the petals from your hand
And will some loving ease your pain
And will the silence strike confusion from your soul
And will the swallows come again?

I've heard what I believe is the original song with that tune, which is in Ladino (a Hebrew/Spanish mix similar to Yiddish--which is a Hebrew/German mix--spoken by Jews in Spain and around the Mediterranean in the Middle Ages and after). I don't know the name of that song, or if the author is known. Any additional info would be welcome.

Aloha,
Mark

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Richard Farina'a 'Swallow Song'
From: masato sakurai
Date: 05 Sep 02 - 04:08 AM

Click here (thread: Swallow Song).

~Masato

Subject: R. Farina's 'Swallow Song'
From: GUEST,turtledove
Date: 05 Sep 02 - 03:35 AM

Hello fellow folk nerds and nerdettes, Can anyone supply me with the lyrics to R. Farina's beautiful "Swallow Song"? I gotta have it! Mush lub to you all, T. Dove

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