Want a copy of Marion's tape?

Subject: RE: Want a copy of Marion's tape?
From: harpgirl
Date: 17 Jan 05 - 07:35 PM

Great idea, Marion... but I plan on converting my tape to CD on my own if I can find the right cords to "line in" on my computer.

Subject: RE: Want a copy of Marion's tape?
From: Marion
Date: 17 Jan 05 - 07:23 PM

refreshing... anybody else want one?

Mudcatter Wilbyhillbilly has been so kind as to convert my tape to CD, and is offering them to Catters who prefer that option. Whatever his burning method is, the result plays on my finicky CDman, so odds are it'll play on yours. You can PM Wilbyhillbilly directly to request one; while he hasn't requested this, I would appreciate it if you would send him a pound or two to cover his expenses, if you can. His studio uses Paypal, so money can be sent in your colourful local currency by email and it will be converted into his colourful local currency. Thanks again WHB!

Cheers, Marion

Subject: RE: Want a copy of Marion's tape?
From: Marion
Date: 26 Oct 04 - 11:54 AM

Hi gang. Public service announcement: almost all of the tapes I've distributed up till now have an out of date phone number on them (if yours says 416-826-2099, that's the wrong number). I don't want to post my current number, but the email is still good so write me for it if you want.

No worries, Sorcha.

Clinton, why didn't you just put a tape recorder in your bridal registry, silly?

INOBU, I just found your review thread. Thanks for starting that; I'm sorry I didn't notice it before.

Marion

Subject: RE: Want a copy of Marion's tape?
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 22 Oct 04 - 05:29 AM

My copy of the tape has arrived... I just haven't found anything to play this ancient format on yet...

:-)

Subject: RE: Want a copy of Marion's tape?
From: InOBU
Date: 21 Oct 04 - 06:47 PM

Hi Marion... there is another thread I started about your tape a while back... hopefully someone with more savey than I can link this thread to that one. Cheers and thanks again, Larry

Subject: RE: Want a copy of Marion's tape?
From: Sorcha
Date: 21 Oct 04 - 02:03 PM

I have been remiss in not letting you know my tape did arrive also. Apologies, Marion.

Subject: RE: Want a copy of Marion's tape?
From: Marion
Date: 21 Oct 04 - 01:52 PM

Hi Harpgirl, and sorry I missed this thread earlier. I'm glad the tape got to you OK and that you like it. It's always interesting - and often surprising - to hear which songs are favourites.

I don't have chords to that song on the website because I'm not really satisfied with the melody and I keep thinking that I'm about to change it, or just call it a poem. But if you want chords for how I sang it on the tape, let me know.

Cheers, Marion

Subject: RE: Want a copy of Marion's tape?
From: harpgirl
Date: 15 Oct 04 - 09:11 PM

Daughter, You Must Never Say

Lyrics and music © 2003 Marion Parsons

Your grandpa, when he was around, he did the best he could
Drank up many a job and home until he left for good
Your grandma sewed and kept her store and worked for every dime
Anxious for the six of us, and old before her time.
I helped to raise the little ones until I was fourteen
Then off to London I did go to cook and serve and clean
I wrote my mother every week and sent her most my pay
I'll tell you, Grace, what she told me the day I went away:



Daughter, you must never say what you will not do
You cannot know what bitter things the Lord may ask of you.
The years unborn, the rose and thorn, are hidden in God's hand
The dreams you chase, the love you waste, are swept away like sand.

My first love was a vicar, for a time I wore his ring
But soon enough I was to learn the changes time will bring
The next was Walter Parsons, working on the railroad
I married him all on the quick before my belly showed.
And when men came from Canada to sign up engineers
Your father turned his vision west and brushed aside my fears
Took you and Lil and Doddy from the home I gave you birth
And left your sister Olive in the hallowed Bristol earth.


Daughter, you must never say where you will not go
You might not sleep where you awoke, or harvest what you sow
The years unborn, the rose and thorn, are hidden in God's hand
The dreams you chase, the love you waste, are swept away like sand.


The winters and the highways were far longer than I dreamed
And working on the Grand Trunk wasn't all that it had seemed
He fed the engine fire on his breath and blood and arm
At last he had to give it up, and turned his hand to farm.
With Jack and Ena babies yet, we hoped for a new start
But that first cropping season took the last strength of his heart
I know that you remember, Grace, that dry September day
I sent you children to the barn and watched him where he lay.


Daughter, you must never say what you cannot bear
The good Lord counts your every tear, and each lock of your hair
The years unborn, the rose and thorn, are hidden in God's hand
The dreams you chase, the love you waste, are swept away like sand.


The Belleville ladies told me that I must do what I can
"Put those children in a home, and find another man."
My sister too was widowed by the bloody fields of France
She brought her child to join us and to find another chance.
The lawyers and the merchants would not hear a mother's woes
We were living on Welsh Rabbit, and salvaging old clothes
I took in travelling preachers and I rented out the soil
And I held this house together with my daily prayers and toil.


Daughter, you must never say what you will not do
You cannot know what bitter things the Lord may ask of you
The years unborn, the rose and thorn, are hidden in God's hand
The dreams you chase, the love you waste, are swept away like sand.


This is in the voice of my grandmother, Marion Parsons nee Uetze, speaking to her daughter my Aunt Grace; Jack in verse 3 was my father. In Grace's memoirs, (untitled, 1992), she passes on what her mother said about her childhood, emigration in 1914, and widowhood, and concludes by saying:

"She told me years later never to say I would not do something because she said you never know what is before you and what you may be called to do."


Hi Marion,
Your songs and music are incredible. I am blown away by your talent. I especially like this song. It moved me to shivers. It is such a universal song about women. My maternal grandmother put my mother "in a home" when she divorced my grandfather. She was British to her dying day and had married an American man. She remarried and fetched my mother. My stepgrandad was a jewel who lived with us until his death. My grandmother died in our home on my 13th birthday. This song reminded me of my own family. Thank you for your incredible gift!

love, harpgirl

Subject: RE: Want a copy of Marion's tape?
From: Marion
Date: 03 Oct 04 - 02:26 PM

Will do, b.w.. I've just sent you an email.

Hi Willbyhillbilly, thanks for your post. That sounds wonderful. I'll go and take a look at your site.

Cheers, Marion

Subject: RE: Want a copy of Marion's tape?
From: black walnut
Date: 01 Oct 04 - 06:26 PM

I'll trade you my CD for your tape, Marion. At a song circle?

~b.w.

Subject: RE: Want a copy of Marion's tape?
From: wilbyhillbilly
Date: 01 Oct 04 - 01:37 PM

I shall be away from my 'puter until 9th/10 Oct

Subject: RE: Want a copy of Marion's tape?
From: wilbyhillbilly
Date: 28 Sep 04 - 12:28 AM

Subject: RE: Want a copy of Marion's tape?
From: wilbyhillbilly
Date: 27 Sep 04 - 02:38 PM

Marion,

When I get the tape, if it is OK with you I will clean it up (de-hiss etc) and put it on CD for you to see what you think. Then if you wish I'll send you half a dozen to do what you like with. Please accept this as payment for the tape.

I've done some for other mudcatters who seemed to be satisfied with the results, (see my guestbook on www.vinyltransfer.me.uk).

Looking forward to receiving the tape.

whb

Subject: RE: Want a copy of Marion's tape?
From: GUEST,Marion
Date: 27 Sep 04 - 12:23 PM

OK, I've gotten tapes sent off to everyone who PMed me. Any more orders?

Marion

Subject: RE: Want a copy of Marion's tape?
From: Marion
Date: 15 Sep 04 - 04:07 PM

t... tta... ttaaaa..... ttttaaaaaaape?

I know, I know. But I don't have a computer to record and burn on, and I can't afford to hire someone to record or duplicate CDs in the immediate future. But I could afford to buy a used four-track and dub copies on my ghettoblaster, and since I wanted something to pass out now, that's what I did.

But the next one will be a CD, and once you've heard the free sample on tape, you'll want to buy a copy! Who says you can't learn anything from your drug dealer?

Marion

Subject: RE: Want a copy of Marion's tape?
From: InOBU
Date: 15 Sep 04 - 02:46 PM

I expect great things of this tape, having heard Marion in Toronto, great.
Cheers
Larry

Subject: RE: Want a copy of Marion's tape?
From: harpgirl
Date: 15 Sep 04 - 02:45 PM

Yes Yes, Marion. I want one. Address in PM I'll send you a little tape and feedback in return. Can't wait to hear Catnip Blues!!!!!

Subject: RE: Want a copy of Marion's tape?
From: greg stephens
Date: 15 Sep 04 - 02:43 PM

I'll swap a tape for a CD in Toronto in a month.

Subject: RE: Want a copy of Marion's tape?
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 15 Sep 04 - 02:42 PM

t... tta... ttaaaa..... ttttaaaaaaape?

What's that?

Subject: RE: Want a copy of Marion's tape?
From: Marion
Date: 15 Sep 04 - 02:40 PM

Will do, Teresa.

Marion

Subject: RE: Want a copy of Marion's tape?
From: Teresa
Date: 13 Sep 04 - 05:04 PM

Sure ... I'd love a copy. I'll pm you.   :)

T

Subject: Want a copy of Marion's tape?
From: Marion
Date: 13 Sep 04 - 04:56 PM

Hello gang. I've recently made a home recording (cassette) of several of my original songs - thirteen of the ones I wrote while on my North American tour, and my three most popular songs from before that.

I'm almost finished mailing them off to the Mudcatters and other people that I met along the way, but thought I should also offer them here to anyone else who may be interested. So if you want a copy, PM me your mailing address, or if you're not a Mudcat member, you can email me at [e-mail]

My goal in making the tape was to get these songs out into the world so people could learn to sing them, and get an idea of what kind of writing I'm doing. The recording is quick and dirty, and most of the arrangements are quite minimalist, but most folkies seem to like the songs themselves - a lot of historical themes, traditional tunes, some novelty songs, and absolutely no singer/songwhining.   See my website for lyrics.

Given that the tapes are pretty crudely produced, I'm giving them away instead of selling them. Having said that, I would accept voluntary payment in either of the following currencies:

1. Send me your tape or CD.

2. Send me your critique of the song collection. I don't care how long it takes to do this, or if it's in public or private, but I do want to hear more than "it rocks" or "it sucks". I need to know why I rock or suck (or more likely, when I rock and when I suck).

Contents:
Lily of the South
Isaac Forman's Regrets
Lear Green's Hope Chest
St. Anne's Reel (With an E)
Cecilia Delory
The Girl at Pape and Danforth
Daughter, You Must Never Say
American Pilgrim
What He Could Give
Catnip Blues
Newfoundland Sealing Disaster
My Washington Home
River's Lullaby
As In Our Younger Days, George
Frederick Shortt's Lament
The Home Waltz

Cheers, Marion