A Songwriter Tale to Tell

Subject: A Songwriter Tale to Tell
From: JedMarum
Date: 30 Nov 02 - 02:06 PM

I've got to tell this tale.

I came across a moving story of am Irish immigrant family. They moved to South Texas around 1840 when Thomas McGuill inherited property his uncle left when he died. Thomas and his wife Mary had two children in Ireland, so Thomas came over to try to figure out if/how the family might make a living. It took nearly four years, but he was finally able to send for his family. Once reuinted, they prospered. They built a church on their property. They expanded Thomas trade goods business to a general store and eventually the town of Blancoville Texas. They had another 8 kids - and became a true example of what many immigrants to the US could become. Deep faith, love, hard work - they prosered.

I wrote a song about these folks, imagining young Thomas on the beach the night before he is reunited with his family - singing to Mary, and "forseeing" the things would happen. I played the song at a festival in Austin Texas a few weeks ago, and when my set was finished an excited woman came up to the stage and said, "you're not going to believe this, but Mary McGuill was my great great grandmother - and my name is also Mary McGuill!" After I picked myself up off the floor, we compared notes, and sure enough, she was a direct descendent of the family in the song. She brought a couple of CDs with the song to her grandfather, who was the son of Thomas.

Today I got a wonderful email from her explaining how she unfolded the whole story to the extended family at the Thanksgiving dinner table ... her son read the liner notes to the folks sitting at the table, and then her husband played the song for the family on CD. Then Mary says, "There were surprised looks and gasps, then misty eyes and hugs, and by the time your song was finished, great big smiles and then the stories started."

What a marvelous gift for a songwriter. It brought tears to my eyes.

Subject: RE: A Songwriter Tale to Tell
From: Deckman
Date: 30 Nov 02 - 02:21 PM

What an incredible story! Bob

Subject: RE: A Songwriter Tale to Tell
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 30 Nov 02 - 02:32 PM

That's the BEST!

Congrats Jed

;-)

Subject: RE: A Songwriter Tale to Tell
From: Micca
Date: 30 Nov 02 - 02:34 PM

Brill, Jed, that is Songwriting success in my book!!!

Subject: RE: A Songwriter Tale to Tell
From: katlaughing
Date: 30 Nov 02 - 02:50 PM

Wonderful! Wow!

Subject: RE: A Songwriter Tale to Tell
From: Seamus
Date: 30 Nov 02 - 04:46 PM

Brillant! There's nothing better than a song coming full circle. Slainte.

Subject: RE: A Songwriter Tale to Tell
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 30 Nov 02 - 04:54 PM

BLOODY HELL JED!! MARVELLOUS!

Now if they wanna know who Angus Fraser was, point 'em my way!

Rick

Subject: RE: A Songwriter Tale to Tell
From: Jeri
Date: 30 Nov 02 - 05:01 PM

Brought tears to my eyes too. I sort of expected she was going to tell you she was related to the person in the song, but then the story of sharing it with the whole family on Thanksgiving was just ...it was just right. I guess it must've been really something when she first heard it and to know a long-gone relative was remembered in song by a stranger. Thanks for telling us.

Subject: RE: A Songwriter Tale to Tell
From: Amos
Date: 30 Nov 02 - 06:32 PM

Aw, Jed, ya purelyy have srtuck gold on this one!! Well done!

A

Subject: RE: A Songwriter Tale to Tell
From:
Date: 30 Nov 02 - 07:48 PM

That's awesome. Congratulations, Jed! Keep up the good work!

Subject: RE: A Songwriter Tale to Tell
From: JedMarum
Date: 02 Dec 02 - 10:25 AM

It's funny Rick; she'd heard Angus Fraser too, that day. I'd played it before I played Mary McGuill.

Subject: RE: A Songwriter Tale to Tell
From: Big Mick
Date: 02 Dec 02 - 10:48 AM

Doesn't surprise me in the least, and I might add with a great deal of pride, THAT'S MY BROTHER!

This is what happens when one is caring enough in the crafting of their tales to get the facts, make it correct, and then let their big heart and knowledge of the human condition into the song. Jed is a bard of the truest form. It was bound to happen sooner or later that one of the stories that Jed found and lent his caring hand to, would find its way into the hands of the families of these people. Congratulations, my friend.

Want more examples? Either of Jed's CD's will provide plenty. On his newest one, have a listen to BANKS OF THE MOBILE. He treats the story of this real life angel with grace and beauty, as well as historical accuracy, and a profound sense of the heroic nature of those astounding women who treat the battlefield wounded. The first time I heard DESOLATION ISLAND I was amazed at Jed's grasp of why a sloop would lose it's speed advantage in heavy seas to a Dutchman, as well as his use of appropriate to the era terms. Want a glimpse into the love in this man's heart? Listen to SOUL OF A WANDERER in the new CD, which he wrote for his darling Louisa. Or his tribute to his co-worker Sarah, which is titled SARAH'S MOUNTAIN TIME. She was a young women who died much to soon. On his first CD, have a listen to PRAYER FROM LITTLE ROUND TOP which is based on actual soldiers whose letters Jed read and combined into the story. Or FIGHTING TIGER OF IRELAND. Same story.

Keep the same integrity, my friend. It will serve you well. And be prepared for more of these experiences as long as you continue to put that enormous heart of yours into the music.

All the best,

Mick
Very proud to be the other half of The Beef Brothers

Subject: RE: A Songwriter Tale to Tell
From: Tinker
Date: 02 Dec 02 - 11:04 AM

Some gifts really do come back to us shining.... wonderful tale, well told.

Kathy

Subject: RE: A Songwriter Tale to Tell
From: EBarnacle1
Date: 02 Dec 02 - 11:15 AM

Well done, it's good to reach the people you write for.

Subject: RE: A Songwriter Tale to Tell
From: Strupag
Date: 02 Dec 02 - 11:41 AM

Well done Ged But!!!
How about printing us out the words right here in Mudcat!
Slainte

Andy

Subject: RE: A Songwriter Tale to Tell
From: JedMarum
Date: 04 Dec 02 - 09:59 AM

well, this on slipped by without me seeing all the comments. I will post the lyrics, Andy - along with a bit of the history.

And thank you Mick fo the gracious and thoughful words. They are much appreciated.

Subject: RE: A Songwriter Tale to Tell
From: GUEST,Richard Bridge
Date: 04 Dec 02 - 12:16 PM

Pint and Dale do a song about a tall ship being moved up a river adn a seaman trying to fend the bridge off by hand and breaking his arm. One night a man came up and said "that was me!"