The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #134979   Message #3079840
Posted By: GUEST,Larry Saidman
22-Jan-11 - 01:28 AM
Thread Name: Mickey Newbury a Genius Songwriter
Subject: RE: Mickey Newbury a Genius Songwriter
Yes Tom, please keep those Mickey Newbury stories coming. I've been a fan since I first saw his name as a songwriter in the Don Gibson 45 of "Good Morning Dear". Have all his albums and cd's---including the great posthumous recording (Blue to This Day).

Here are the lyrics to one of his greatest songs, Saint Cecilia--this version off his "Nights When I Am Sane" cd.

Saint CeCelia is in her garden,
Pickin' paper violets.
For all the wide-eyed children,
Sadly clingin' to her dress.
Singing, "Blessed be the heavenly,
To hell with all the rest."
Her salvation is her virtue,
But her sins, her emptiness.

Cryin', "I'm unfeeling,"
She crawled into her shell.
I said, "How can I be like Jesus,
When I've just begun, myself?
To find my own way back, at times,
I think I know me well.
Then at other times a stranger's,
Standin' where my body fell."

"Save the children, save the children,"
Cried the captain to the crew.
For there can be salvation only,
For a precious few.
Who would leave this sinkin' ship,
And build a balsa-wood canoe,
And sail with me,
Across this mighty water?

Saint CeCelia's in her garden,
Singin', "Come into the fold."
But all her little children now,
Would rather rock and roll.
Singin', "Blessed be what you used to be,
Away with all that's old."
Oh, the silence is golden,
But the lonliness is so cold.