10 Oct 01 - 08:49 AM (#568867) Subject: new Tom Paxton song: The Bravest From: Mike Regenstreif Tomorrow (Thursday Oct. 11) on Folk Roots/Folk Branches, I'll be playing "The Bravest," a brand new, unreleased song by Tom Paxton. Tom wrote the song on September 24 in tribute to the heroic firefighters in New York City. It's sung from the perspective of a survivor of the September 11 terrorist attack that destroyed the World Trade Centre. Folk Roots/Folk Branches is heard Thursday mornings at 9:00 (Eastern) on CKUT, 90.3 FM in Montreal, or in RealAudio from the Folk Roots/Folk Branches website. Mike Regenstreif |
10 Oct 01 - 10:11 AM (#568938) Subject: RE: new Tom Paxton song: The Bravest From: SharonA What a great, powerful song! I heard it last Sunday on WXPN-FM, Philadelphia, PA on Gene Shay's folk show. I also highly recommend John Flynn's "I Will Not Fear". In this song, each verse is from a different person's perspective: firefighter, grandmother about to board a plane after the tragedy, Arab child being taunted at school, etc. I'm less impressed with Julie Gold's "The Love Would Not Fall Down" (I'm not sure if that's the proper title, but it is the refrain); however, I'm sure others will be touched by it. Gold watched the WTC towers burn and fall from her Grennwich Village home. She's also the songwriter of "From a Distance". |
10 Oct 01 - 10:28 AM (#568951) Subject: RE: new Tom Paxton song: The Bravest From: SharonA Oops! Typo! Sorry; it should've read: "Greenwich Village". |
10 Oct 01 - 04:05 PM (#569218) Subject: RE: new Tom Paxton song: The Bravest From: GUEST,Ned Ludd If anyone can do it right Tom can! Hope he is singing it at concerts as I'll be seeing him soon. |
11 Oct 01 - 02:36 PM (#569917) Subject: RE: new Tom Paxton song: The Bravest From: Tedham Porterhouse Mike, Thanks so much for sharing Tom Paxton's new song this morning. I was very moved by it and by the songs you followed it with. Altogether another great show. I'm really enjoying being within radio range of Montreal and getting your show over the air each week. Thnaks again. |
15 Oct 01 - 04:26 AM (#572267) Subject: Lyr Add: THE BRAVEST (Tom Paxton) From: Genie THE BRAVEST (Tom Paxton) Sung by Garrison Keillor (On PHC 10/14/01) The first plane hit the other tower, right after I came in. It left a gaping, fiery hole where offices had been. We'd stood and watched in horror, as we saw the first ones fall, Then someone yelled "Get out, get out! They're trying to kill us all!" I grabbed the pictures from my desk and joined the flight for life. With every step I called the names of my children and my wife, And then we heard them coming, from several floors below, A crowd of firefighters with their heavy gear in tow Chorus: Now every time I try to sleep, I'm haunted by the sound Of firemen pounding up the stairs, while we were running down. When we met them on the stairs, they said we were too slow. "Get out, get out!" they yelled at us, "The whole thing's gonna go!" They didn't have to tell us twice, we'd seen the world on fire. We kept on running down the stairs, while they kept climbing higher. Chorus Thank God we made it to the street; we ran through ash and smoke. I did not know which way to run; I thought that I would choke. A fireman took me by the arm and pointed me uptown, Then "Christ!" I heard him whisper, as the tower came pounding down. Chorus So now I go to funerals for men I never knew; The pipers play "Amazing Grace", as the coffins come in view. They must have seen it coming when they turned to face the fire. They sent us down to safety, then they kept on climbing higher. Chorus, (repeat last line) |
15 Oct 01 - 09:05 AM (#572387) Subject: RE: new Tom Paxton song: The Bravest From: GUEST,Greg F. I was fortunate to hear Tom Paxton perform this live yesterday evening- and he hasn't lost a bit of his touch. Truly a great evening- and a great talent! Best, Greg |
15 Oct 01 - 05:40 PM (#572798) Subject: RE: new Tom Paxton song: The Bravest From: Lanfranc Is this streamed anywhere? - tried Mike Regenstreif's CKUT site, but couldn't find it. If ever a song deserved the widest currency, it's this. Paxton has long been one of my heroes, this shows he has lost none of his genius. Alan |
15 Oct 01 - 05:59 PM (#572811) Subject: RE: new Tom Paxton song: The Bravest From: Mike Regenstreif Lanfranc, Unfortunately, the RealAudio feed on my website is available in real time only. That's why I gave more than 24 hours notice when I knew I'd be playing the song. Mike Regenstreif |
15 Oct 01 - 06:04 PM (#572819) Subject: RE: new Tom Paxton song: The Bravest From: Charlie Baum Garrison Keillor's version is available as a RealAudio stream. Click here. --Charlie Baum |
15 Oct 01 - 06:06 PM (#572820) Subject: RE: new Tom Paxton song: The Bravest From: CamiSu I heard it on PHC on Saturday night. My youngest came by and asked "Why is thee crying?" He said it so well! I was not at all surprised at who had written it... CamiSu |
15 Oct 01 - 07:09 PM (#572879) Subject: RE: new Tom Paxton song: The Bravest From: BH It is a wonderful piece that I hope we will be able to air on our program on (TRADITIONS) on WFDU (www.wfdu.fm). May I recommend two other truly moving pieces: Follow The Light by John McCutcheon/Tom Chapin/Michael Mark There Are No Words by Kitty Donahoe Sad events produce moving songs it seems. Sadly. Bill Hahn
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15 Oct 01 - 07:43 PM (#572900) Subject: RE: new Tom Paxton song: The Bravest From: ray bucknell Two of those firemen were friends of mine. I just knew that Paxton would have a song to honor them. He hasn't lost a step in over 35 years. Way to go, Tom! Ray |
15 Oct 01 - 07:46 PM (#572902) Subject: RE: new Tom Paxton song: The Bravest From: Amergin I hope I will have the honour of hearing him play it live in February...when he comes into town.. |
15 Oct 01 - 09:07 PM (#572974) Subject: RE: new Tom Paxton song: The Bravest From: AllisonA(Animaterra) Charlie, thanks so much for that link. What a song. |
16 Oct 01 - 11:57 AM (#573410) Subject: RE: new Tom Paxton song: The Bravest From: Lanfranc Thanks for the link. Song duly learned. Alan |
16 Oct 01 - 05:45 PM (#573676) Subject: RE: new Tom Paxton song: The Bravest From: McGrath of Harlow Thanks for that. Another one that it'll be difficult getting through.
(And thanks for reminding me to bookmark Garrison Keillor again. I'd lost him one time my computer crashed.) |
16 Oct 01 - 10:25 PM (#573889) Subject: RE: new Tom Paxton song: The Bravest From: 53 that sounds like a great song, and i'm sure he'll be doing it in all of his concerts. man that's great. |
23 Oct 01 - 07:31 PM (#578360) Subject: RE: new Tom Paxton song: The Bravest From: Tattie Bogle Got my ticket for Edinburgh, the Pleasance (not the Pleasants!) on Nov 3rd. First heard Tom Paxton around 1968 when one of my flatmates went to Chicago and brought me back an LP: been a fan ever since! Tattie B |
31 Oct 01 - 08:11 PM (#583530) Subject: The Bravest From: tremodt i would like the midi for the song by tom paxton The Bravest bout the fire men at the WTC thanks ron |
02 Nov 01 - 10:18 PM (#585147) Subject: RE: new Tom Paxton song: The Bravest From: tremodt can some one please tell me how to save the link for the bravest |
02 Nov 01 - 10:28 PM (#585151) Subject: RE: new Tom Paxton song: The Bravest From: Amergin click on the link that says "Add Thread To Tracer" and it will be added to your personal page.... |
14 Nov 01 - 09:31 PM (#592898) Subject: The Bravest From: tremodt any one yet made a recording of Tom Paxtons song The Bravest and where may it be purchased from is it possibe to list it in the song database thanks ro1sin |
15 Nov 01 - 09:22 AM (#593144) Subject: RE: new Tom Paxton song: The Bravest From: Charlie Baum From the Washington Post.. of Tuesday, November 13, 2001. The Birchmere is the local folk music nightclub in Alexandria, Virginia (just across the river from Washington, DC).
Tom Paxton Pays Tribute to 'The Bravest'
Famous folksinger Tom Paxton Ð who created such popular standards as "Ramblin' Boy," "The Last Thing On My Mind" and "Bottle of Wine" Ð didn't want to write a song about Sept. 11. "I'm sure you'll believe me when I say I really didn't want to," the 64-year-old Paxton told us this morning from his home in Alexandria. "When I was watching that horror, the furthest thing from my mind was to write anything about it. The first time the thought occurred to me to write something as I was going through my responses, I said to myself, 'No way! This is way over my head. It's too huge and awful. . . . I wouldn't know where to begin.' So I decided not to. But this same phrase kept going through my head, and I gave up resisting. I thought I'd better try." That phrase ultimately became the refrain of "The Bravest," Paxton's tribute to the firefighters who gave their lives to save the victims of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center: Now, every time I try to sleep Paxton Ð who five years ago moved from East Hampton, N.Y., to Alexandria to escape the barbarian glitzoid invaders ("It's like Beverly Hills East," he complains) and to be close to two daughters and two grandsons who live in the Washington area Ð will perform "The Bravest" this Saturday at the Birchmere. He said the song received its debut a few weeks ago from Garrison Keillor, after Paxton sent a demo tape to Keillor's public radio show, "A Prairie Home Companion." Paxton was away on tour in England when Keillor's musical director phoned to ask permission to perform the song at a slower tempo. His wife, Midge Paxton, gave the okay, saying: "I think 38 years of marriage gives me the right." In fact, Paxton said he prefers the slower Keillor rendition of "The Bravest," and has adopted it as his own. He plans to record it for his next CD, due out sometime in 2002. In the meantime, Paxton finds himself in the strange position of being a typically left-leaning folk singer who now not only plays a passionate game of golf Ð the sport of presidents, notably his old nemesis Richard Nixon Ð but also supports the American military action in Afghanistan. "I think to be against it is very difficult for me," he said. "The outrage was so stupendous, the atrocity was so enormous and undeserved, I don't see how we have any choice." A longtime critic of U.S. foreign policy, especially during the Vietnam era, Paxton gave a surprising response when a German journalist asked during a recent interview: "What do you think of America's war?" Paxton said he replied: "I don't think it's America's war. I think it's Osama's war."
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03 Dec 01 - 10:04 AM (#602657) Subject: RE: new Tom Paxton song: The Bravest From: Mike Regenstreif Tom has made "The Bravest" available as a free MP3 download. You can find it by clicking here. Mike Regenstreif |
29 Dec 01 - 06:05 PM (#618264) Subject: RE: new Tom Paxton song: The Bravest From: tremodt the best song yet |
30 Dec 01 - 08:37 AM (#618470) Subject: RE: new Tom Paxton song: The Bravest From: Gillie Amazing song, thanks Mike |
01 Jan 02 - 10:36 AM (#619423) Subject: RE: new Tom Paxton song: The Bravest From: raredance Words and music to the "Bravest" can be found in the new issue of SingOut! that just arrived. A recording of it is also on the SingOut! CD for this issue. rich r |
16 Jan 02 - 09:53 PM (#629407) Subject: RE: new Tom Paxton song: The Bravest From: GUEST,Scorpio If I recall correctly, the current "Sing Out" also has: Follow The Light ( John McCutcheon/Tom Chapin/Michael Mark) and There Are No Words ( Kitty Donahoe) It has several songs related to 9-11. Scorpio |
17 Jan 02 - 07:38 PM (#630074) Subject: RE: new Tom Paxton song: The Bravest From: Amergin i get to see him perform this in a couple of weeks... |
20 Jan 02 - 11:23 AM (#631613) Subject: RE: new Tom Paxton song: The Bravest From: GUEST,Unicorn I'd like to sing Tom's new song at my local folk club. Anyone know the chords Tom uses? I'd rather play the "right" ones if possible! |
20 Jan 02 - 11:47 AM (#631626) Subject: RE: new Tom Paxton song: The Bravest From: bflat Guest,Unicorn: You can find the chords and melody in the current Sing Out Magazine. Ellen |
20 Jan 02 - 11:58 AM (#631632) Subject: RE: new Tom Paxton song: The Bravest From: GUEST,Unicorn Thanks Ellen - I'll try to get one. I don't have a retailer near me who sells the magazine. Does anyone know a retailer in England that sells "Sing Out" magazine that will post it to me? |
20 Jan 02 - 06:23 PM (#631821) Subject: RE: new Tom Paxton song: The Bravest From: mzkitty I have a recording of Tom Paxton singing this song at The Bitter End Nov 25th for the Dave Van Ronk Fundraiser...it's a live recording with Tom's intro expressing his thoughts on the whole matter.... I'll be glad to send it to Mudcat to let everyone have a listen ....let me know... |
10 Feb 02 - 05:21 PM (#646762) Subject: RE: new Tom Paxton song: The Bravest From: GUEST,muskrat Breaking news (Feb. 10) from the Associated Press (note that this thread started last Fall!) Paxton Honors Firefighters With Song Email this Story 02/10/2002 4:40 PM EST CARSON CITY, Nev. (AP) - Add Tom Paxton to the long list of artists who have written a tribute to the firefighters who answered the call at the World Trade Center. "I didn't want to write a song about it," the folk singer-songwriter-author said. "I thought, 'No way. This is over my head.' And then I kept thinking about those firemen trapped in the towers and a phrase kept running through my head. I decided I could handle it and the phrase in my head became the chorus of 'The Bravest.'" He performed it during a concert Saturday night. "They must have seen it coming as they turned to face the fire/They sent us down to safety then they kept on climbing higher. Now every time I try to sleep I'm haunted by the sound/Of firemen bounding up the stairs while we were running down." Paxton's songs include "The Marvelous Toy,""I Can't Help but Wonder Where I'm Bound,""The Last Thing on My Mind," and "Ramblin' Boy." |
10 Feb 02 - 09:53 PM (#646985) Subject: RE: new Tom Paxton song: The Bravest From: Lane I would love to get the recording of Tom doing the song that was mentioned earlier.... where might I find it? I just saw him last week in Portland, Or... .wonderful concert, even better than I expected. He did The Bravest, which, as a fire chief, stuck me close to the heart..... He did all of my other favorites, of course... what a wonderful evening.... Lane |
18 Apr 02 - 10:22 AM (#692815) Subject: RE: new Tom Paxton song: The Bravest From: GUEST,karldallas@blueyonder.co.uk You can also download an MP3 from http://www.efolkmusic.com/sounds/paxton_bravest.mp3 |
18 Apr 02 - 11:50 AM (#692902) Subject: RE: new Tom Paxton song: The Bravest From: Stephen L. Rich Wow!! That is an AMAZING song!!! |
18 Apr 02 - 12:02 PM (#692914) Subject: RE: new Tom Paxton song: The Bravest From: Amergin Boy...I just saw that Lane was at the same show I was...wonderful show it was too....not sure if it was recorded onto an album yet....(save for the sampler Sing Out sends out)....does anyone else have any information when it may be released? |
18 Apr 02 - 01:23 PM (#692979) Subject: RE: new Tom Paxton song: The Bravest From: GUEST,aesop The song was published in Sing Out! last month or the month before, and if you have a subscription you get a CD with all the songs in the issue. I agree, its a good song. |
18 Apr 02 - 01:53 PM (#692994) Subject: RE: new Tom Paxton song: The Bravest From: Bennet Zurofsky Sing Out's web page is www.singout.org. The issue with this song is available for sale there, and you can also become a member. If you become a member you will receive a cd for each issue with every song in the issue recorded on it. The Sing Out cd was the first published recording of this song. I don't believe the cd for the issue is still available, but it might be. |
29 Jul 02 - 11:14 AM (#756392) Subject: RE: new Tom Paxton song: The Bravest From: GUEST,Kelly Clear Hello, I heard Garrison Keillor perform this song back in October of last year, and I just heard Tom Paxton perform it via the MP3 file download. I was wondering if anyone has the Chording worked out for this song. It would be a great song to do for a September 11th, one year memorial. If anyone can help me out that would be great! Kelly Clear keclea@netscape.net |
29 Jul 02 - 05:03 PM (#756570) Subject: RE: new Tom Paxton song: The Bravest From: Genie The issue of "Sing Out" magazine that contained this song printed the sheet music, not just the lyrics. If you don't subscribe to Sing Out, you can get a sample issue free from their website, and you can order back issues there, too. Genie |
07 Sep 02 - 03:14 AM (#778502) Subject: RE: new Tom Paxton song: The Bravest From: Genie Did anyone ever post the chords to this song along with the lyrics? Messages from multiple threads combined (below).
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07 Sep 02 - 04:26 PM (#778776) Subject: Lyr/Chords Add: THE BRAVEST (Tom Paxton) From: Genie Someone had asked for the chords to this song in an earlier thread. I arrived at this chord progression by playing along with the MP3 of the song that Tom Paxton was so generous as to share with everyone on the internet. Let me know if you think there is any error in my "hearing" of the chords. Genie THE BRAVEST (Tom Paxton ©2001) G Em C D G Em C D Chorus: G Em C D Chorus G Em C D Chorus G Em C D Chorus: * The lyrics previously posted here say "gaping, fiery hole," but Paxton sings "fiery, gaping hole." Previously posted lyrics also say "pounding" down. On Tom Paxton's MP3 of the song, he seems to be saying "roaming down," or "rolling down," but it's not real clear, and "rolling down" makes more sense. |
07 Sep 02 - 04:29 PM (#778777) Subject: RE: new Tom Paxton song: The Bravest From: Genie I posted the (corrected*) lyrics with chords above, from listening and playing along with the MP3 of Tom Paxton doing the song. Genie |
07 Sep 02 - 05:11 PM (#778794) Subject: RE: Tune Req: The Bravest From: Amergin i had the privilge of watching him sing this live.....last february...very emotional...keep hoping for a cd to come out with it on it.... |
09 Sep 02 - 06:29 PM (#780042) Subject: RE: new Tom Paxton song: The Bravest From: Tattie Bogle Heard him do it in Edinburgh last November, and again in Linlithgow in May. Got the words from here, and sat at the first concert putting notes down: confirmed the tune from the MP3. Have sung it twice this week. Tattie B |
11 Sep 02 - 03:17 PM (#781452) Subject: RE: new Tom Paxton song: The Bravest From: SharonA *refresh, for a Guest asking about the song* |
11 Sep 02 - 03:32 PM (#781457) Subject: RE: new Tom Paxton song: The Bravest From: SharonA Amergin: According to this page – http://www.cduniverse.com/productinfo.asp?pid=5040858&cart=126345271&style=music – Paxton will have a CD coming out on October 22, 2002 entitled "Looking for the Moon", and "The Bravest" is listed as being on the CD. Happy birthday! |
05 Jan 03 - 01:34 PM (#859255) Subject: Lyric Correction: Tom Paxton song: The Bravest From: Genie There is an error in the lyrics I posted above. The last line of the 4th verse should read: [boldface added] G Em C D The line has been widely misprinted on the web as "...as the tower came pounding down." I believe that error is even at Paxton's own website. I just looked up the song in my "Sing Out" magazine issue that was published not long after 9-11-01, and the line is printed there as "...roaring," just as it sounds on Tom's MP3. Genie |
10 Oct 04 - 10:21 AM (#1293778) Subject: RE: new Tom Paxton song: The Bravest From: John in Brisbane Refresh so I can produce an ABC version with the chords and lyrics. Regards, John |
11 Oct 04 - 09:14 PM (#1294790) Subject: RE: new Tom Paxton song: The Bravest From: mack/misophist The download doesn't work for me. If you have trouble too, I suggest 'copy link to clipboard' then go to the site and search for Paxton or Bravest. There's no free download but there is a Realplayer stream. |
20 Dec 08 - 07:41 AM (#2520521) Subject: Chords Add: THE BRAVEST(Tom Paxton) From: GUEST This is what I hear. Tom has a way of making you believe he will change chords, and then he doesn´t. Jan The Bravest Tom Paxton The (G)first plane hit the other tower, right (C)after I came (G)in, It left a fiery, gaping hole where (D)offices had been. We (C)stood and watched in (G)horror as we (C)saw the first ones (G)fall, Then (C)someone yelled, "Get (G)out, get out! They're trying to (A7short)kill us (D)all!" I (G)grabbed the pictures from my desk and (C)joined the flight for (G)life, With every step I called the names of my (D)children and my wife. And (C)then we heard them (G)coming up, from (C)several floors be(G)low, A (C)crowd of fire(G)fighters with their heavy (A7short)gear in (D)tow. Now (C)every time I (G)try to sleep, I'm (C)haunted by the (G)sound Of firemen pounding up the stairs, while (D)we were running (G)down. (D) And (G)when we met them on the stairs, they (C)said we were too (G)slow. "Get out, get out!" they yelled at us, "The (D)whole thing's gonna go!" They (C)didn't have to (G)tell us twice, we'd (C)seen the world on (G)fire, We (C)kept on running (G)down the stairs, while they kept (A7short)climbing (D)higher. Now (C)every time I (G)try to sleep, I'm (C)haunted by the (G)sound Of firemen pounding up the stairs, while (D)we were running (G)down. (D) Thank (G)God we made it to the street, we (C)ran through ash and (G)smoke. I did not know which way to run, I (D)thought that I would choke. A (C)fireman took me (G)by the arm and he (C)pointed me up(G)town, Then, (C)"Christ!" I heard him (G)whisper, as the tower came (A7short)roaring (D)down. So (G)now I go to funerals for (C)men I never (G)knew, The pipers play "Amazing Grace", as the (D)coffins come in view. They (C)must have seen it (G)coming when they (C)turned to face the (G)fire, They (C)sent us down to (G)safety, then they kept on (A7short)climbing (D)higher. Now (C)every time I (G)try to sleep, I'm (C)haunted by the (G)sound Of firemen pounding up the stairs, while (D)we were running (G)down, Of firemen pounding up the stairs, while (D)we were running (G)down. © Tom Paxton, All Rights Reserved janhauenstein@gmx.de |
12 Sep 14 - 10:55 AM (#3659657) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Bravest (Tom Paxton) From: Rex I was thinking about Tom Paxton and this powerful song yesterday. So I posting something about it on his facebook page along with a link to an audio file of him singing it from his website. It still gets to me. It seems worth recalling here. Rex |