Subject: ADD: Easter Lillies (McTell) From: Sooz Date: 28 Aug 06 - 07:22 AM I've just discovered this song which is on Ralph's Red Sky CD. I wondered if anyone had heard him perform it live and perhaps tell the story behind it. EASTER LILIES (Ralph McTell) For a long time she stood at the flower shop window The daffodils dearest at this time of year Inside she emptied her purse on the counter "I want to buy all of the daffodils here" By her eyes it was plain to see she'd been crying As she tucked back a strand of loose hair from her face "I want to spend all of my money on flowers And I need every daffodil here in this place" Clutching her harvest, a corn sheaf of flowers She clambered aboard the late rush hour tram And by Schweigaardsgate, a small pool of water Had formed on the floor as if wrung from her hands It just seemed to add to the lost look about her 'As the gray rattling city went grumbling:past She sat like a small child testing for butter Her face lit in yellow from the lowers tightly clasped Once in her apartment she lay down the blooms And divided them up into glasses and jars Till daffodils filled every space in the room Then she lit every candle she found in the house She bathed and she dressed and corked open champagne Which made pigeons fly from her window sills Closing the curtains on birds in the rain She stood among flickering daffodils Surrounded and centered she pondered her feelings Sofa'd and cushioned on feathers she lay Holding on to the pillows lest she float to the ceiling And just like the cigarette smoke drift away She wondered just what the wind might deliver An unwritten letter a torn envelope Though candlelight warmed her she suddenly shivered And the yellow flowers shimmered with brightness and hope |
Subject: RE: Easter Lillies (McTell) From: Mr Fox Date: 28 Aug 06 - 10:50 AM Well, Schweigaardsgate is in Oslo, if that helps. |
Subject: RE: Easter Lillies (McTell) From: Strollin' Johnny Date: 28 Aug 06 - 01:55 PM Sooz, he did it the last time he was at the TAC (when he played two-and-a-half hours with no interval! That's value!). I'm sure you were there. He did give the story behind the song but I can't remember it all - I think it's a Norwegian poem originally, which he adapted to make a song. Don't quote me on that, I could very easily have it wrong. I've been trying to learn it ever since I bought Red Sky when it first came out a couple of years ago, but there are far too many words! I pick it up and put it down. Duh! S:0) |
Subject: RE: Easter Lillies (McTell) From: Sooz Date: 28 Aug 06 - 02:59 PM Thanks Mr Fox - that much is on the CD insert though. SJ - I was there, but you should know about my memory by now! |
Subject: RE: Easter Lillies (McTell) From: GUEST,Jack Campin Date: 28 Aug 06 - 04:11 PM A friend of mine developed a fascinating misconception about Easter lilies by having too much of the wrong kind of information. She was an American academic political scientist and had never visited Scotland at Easter before. "Why are there so many Sinn Fein supporters here and why are so many of them old ladies?" She knew about lilies as a symbol of the Easter Rising but not about daffodils as a fundraiser for the Macmillan cancer nursing charity. So let's theorize that McTell's song is either about Irish Republicanism or the heroine is a cancer widow. Pass it on. |
Subject: RE: Easter Lillies (McTell) From: Strollin' Johnny Date: 29 Aug 06 - 05:55 AM Sooz, Ralphie's on at Sleaford Playhouse on 15/9 and Worksop Regal on 11/11. Might we go to one of them, if he doesn't do the song we could always ask him the story? S:0) PS - Will Stitherum be adding it to their repertoire? Let me know, if not Jane and I might work on it. Your choice........ S:0) |
Subject: RE: Easter Lillies (McTell) From: Sooz Date: 29 Aug 06 - 06:58 AM Worksop sounds good to me! I'll let you know when we've decided. |
Subject: RE: Easter Lillies (Ralph McTell) From: breezy Date: 12 Apr 20 - 09:08 AM So what happened next? |
Subject: RE: Easter Lillies (Ralph McTell) From: GUEST,Starship Date: 12 Apr 20 - 09:20 AM Here's McTell singing the song. Beautiful melody. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_LZQFd9apPE |
Subject: RE: Easter Lillies (Ralph McTell) From: GUEST,Tim Rowe Date: 15 Aug 22 - 10:44 PM I saw Ralph a few weeks ago in S. London, and he did this song because it was the 90th birthday of the woman in the song. It’s based on a true story of a relative of Ralph’s, and as of a few weeks ago she was still alive and well. |
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