Wow! The Band Played Waltzing Matilda, The Streets of London, and The Dutchman never fail to get to me. Another one that chokes me up some when life gets a bit te'jus for either me or a friend is Gordon Bok's Turning Toward the Morning.

One song in particular immediately popped into mind, but when I started to type this up, I can't' remember what it was. Repressed it, I guess. I suspect it's something that really gets to me.

Other than folk songs, I sometimes have a hard time listening to music from La Bohème without getting a lump in the throat. Lush, emotional stuff, especially if you know the story (bunch of young folks living in a garret in Paris, passionate young love, Mimi, who has been frail all along, dies).

A few years back, when it was evident that Walt Robertson had only a few weeks to live, Bob Nelson, Nancy Quensé, a couple other people and myself got together at George Austin's house to do a tape that Walt asked us to do. Each of us had a song or two that Walt especially wanted to hear us sing. We went through the list that Walt requested, then George recorded one that Walt especially wanted. Before They Close the Minstrel Show. Some time later, George sang it again at the very end of the memorial Song Circle meeting for John Dwyer, who died suddenly and unexpectedly. I love the way George Austin sings that song, but now whenever he sings it, I (and several other people, I suspect) can't help but puddle up a bit.

Don Firth