Well, I, bein' new 'round here, haven't heard too many of 'Catter's original songs yet, but I will chime in with praise for "White Snow of the Springtime," award or no award. It's a beautiful, well-written song, and of course it doesn't hurt to be introduced to it by Áine and Layne's lovely rendition.

I brought home words and chords to this song Friday night after first hearing it on the most recent Mudcat Radio, and sang if for my wife (my home connection is too old and slow to support streaming audio very well). It's one of a handful of song's I've found difficult to learn until I "desensitize" myself to them a little, because at first their emotional impact is such that my eyes start to tear up and my throat tightens, pitch control goes, and if I'm not careful I'm soon a gibbering, bawling wreck: There Were Roses, The Dutchman, The Band Played Waltzing Matilda, Christmas in the Trenches, No Man's Land (Willie McBride), Long Long Time, and a few others.

Add "White Snow" to that list. My wife fell in love with it immediately (once I was able to sing it without my voice breaking up), and suggested that I sing it right after "There Were Roses" as a sort of hopeful followup.

Where else but the 'Cat can ya pick up a new original song from halfway around the globe so quickly and easily? I'll sing it in good company right next to any of the songs I mentioned. It's a hell of a song you've written, McGrath.

Shad