I've finally got around to recording this song that came to me as I was flying home from my recent revisit to Ethiopia. Here's a link to my journal of that trip with some photos in the final posts: click here for report

Here's the slightly revised lyrics to the song (copy and paste into WORD/TIMES/12 to line up chords):

Words and music by Charles Ipcar, © 3-14-09
Tune inspired by traditional "Sail Away, Ladies, Sail Away"
Key: D (2/C)

Evening Shadows Fall


C--------G----C----C---C---------G---C
Evening shad-ows fall, evening shad-ows fall;
C--------G----C----C---C---------G----C
Evening shad-ows fall, evening shad-ows fall;
C--------------------F--------------------C
See the moon rise through the trees, feel the chill of a timeless breeze;
C--------------------F--------------------C
See the moon rise through the trees, feel the chill of a timeless breeze;
C--------G----C----C---C---------G----C
Evening shad-ows fall, evening shad-ows fall;
C--------G----C----C---C---------G----C
Evening shad-ows fall, evening shad-ows fall.

Build the fire bright, build the fire bright;
Build the fire bright, build the fire bright;
Watch the embers dart and fly, join the stars up in the sky;
Watch the embers dart and fly, join the stars up in the sky.
Build the fire bright, build the fire bright;
Build the fire bright, build the fire bright.

Raise your horn cups high; raise your horn cups high;
Raise your horn cups high; raise your horn cups high;
Praise the Mistress of the Stars, may her wisdom guide us far;
Praise the Mistress of the Stars, may her wisdom guide us far.
Raise your horn cups high; raise your horn cups high.
Raise your horn cups high; raise your horn cups high.

Hear the drum beats sound; hear the drum beats sound;
Hear the drum beats sound; hear the drum beats sound;
Dance and sing the night away; welcome in the break of day;
Dance and sing the night away; welcome in the break of day.
Hear the drum beats sound; hear the drum beats sound
Hear the drum beats sound; hear the drum beats sound.

See the sun rise, see the sun rise;
See the sun rise, see the sun rise.

Notes-

This song came to me on the plane trip home from a revisit to Ethiopia where I taught geography as a Peace Corps teacher in the 1960's. The images are from memories of traditional gatherings in the Gurage country in which homage is paid to the Old Gods. We built our own fire this time around, sharing wine and memories with old and new friends. The constellation Orion was directly overhead.

Here's a link to my website where you can hear a MP3 sample of the first verse with its refrains:Click here for lyrics and MP3 Sample!

Besalam,
Charley Noble