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Info Req: Song for the Mira (A MacGillivray)

DigiTrad:
AWAY FROM THE ROLL OF THE SEA
COAL TOWN ROAD
SONG FOR THE MIRA


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(origins) Origins: Newfoundland song: Miro? Myro? (12)


GUEST,tom@boltonmetro.fsnet.co.uk 12 Oct 00 - 05:57 AM
Jon Freeman 12 Oct 00 - 06:33 AM
GUEST,Roger the skiffler 12 Oct 00 - 06:36 AM
Tiger 12 Oct 00 - 06:47 AM
kendall 12 Oct 00 - 08:03 AM
Dave (the ancient mariner) 12 Oct 00 - 08:13 AM
flattop 12 Oct 00 - 10:57 AM
pastorpest 13 Oct 00 - 08:03 AM
GUEST,John Leeder 13 Oct 00 - 10:45 AM
raredance 05 Mar 01 - 11:40 PM
Jon Freeman 05 Mar 01 - 11:50 PM
raredance 05 Mar 01 - 11:56 PM
George Seto - af221@chebucto.ns.ca 06 Mar 01 - 01:19 AM
Joe Offer 06 Mar 01 - 02:29 AM
raredance 06 Mar 01 - 09:53 PM
GUEST,Bradbob123 15 Jun 04 - 07:41 PM
Amergin 15 Jun 04 - 07:51 PM
karen k 16 Jun 04 - 02:24 AM
karen k 16 Jun 04 - 02:28 AM
karen k 16 Jun 04 - 02:30 AM
George Seto - af221@chebucto.ns.ca 16 Jun 04 - 05:31 PM
DonMeixner 17 Jun 04 - 12:25 AM
Musicman 17 Jun 04 - 10:56 PM
George Seto - af221@chebucto.ns.ca 18 Jun 04 - 03:04 PM
GUEST,sqdncrmn@adelphia.net 22 Apr 05 - 03:08 PM
George Seto - af221@chebucto.ns.ca 22 Apr 05 - 04:30 PM
Sandy Mc Lean 22 Apr 05 - 11:00 PM
GUEST,Dale 23 Apr 05 - 01:18 AM
Willie-O 23 Apr 05 - 11:06 AM
GUEST,lumin4 27 Nov 10 - 09:05 PM
michaelr 09 Dec 10 - 04:04 PM
michaelr 09 Dec 10 - 04:13 PM
Bob Landry 10 Dec 10 - 12:58 AM
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Subject: Song For The Mira
From: GUEST,tom@boltonmetro.fsnet.co.uk
Date: 12 Oct 00 - 05:57 AM

In the song for The Mira, could anyone please tell me -

1. Where is the Mira? 2. How does one fish ' with black line and spoon'? 3. What is 'old island gold'?

Thanks in anticipation, Tom.


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Subject: RE: Song For The Mira
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 12 Oct 00 - 06:33 AM

I think Dave (TAM) once told me that the Mira is a river in Cape Breton and that the Marion Bridge in the song was a wooden bridge that no longer exists. I have no idea on the others except to say that the DT version of the song has "Oak Island Gold" not old island.

Jon


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Subject: RE: Song For The Mira
From: GUEST,Roger the skiffler
Date: 12 Oct 00 - 06:36 AM

Presumably black line for invisibility in dark water (or at night) Spoon is a metal lure used, over here (UK), for pike fishing.
Rts ("Gone fishin', by a shady, wady pool: Shangri-la")


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Subject: RE: Song For The Mira
From: Tiger
Date: 12 Oct 00 - 06:47 AM

Marion Bridge is a town (and a bridge) on the Mira. My copy, by the Garrison Brothers, refers to Oak Island gold (local legend), but that line is sometimes substituted to match the singer's preference or current venue.


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Subject: RE: Song For The Mira
From: kendall
Date: 12 Oct 00 - 08:03 AM

Oak Island is famous for its mystery involving buried treasure. Fortunes have been spent in an attempt to get it.Six People have died trying, and the legend says that one more will die before it is found. Next?


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Subject: RE: Song For The Mira
From: Dave (the ancient mariner)
Date: 12 Oct 00 - 08:13 AM

Cape Breton Island, Marion Bridge is still there, but is now a modern road bridge. I promised Jon a photo of it. (have not forgotten Jon, just havent been up there this year)Oak Island is in Mahone bay between Lunenburg and Chester, just below Halifax on the chart. Damned pirates knew how to hide treasure mates.. Yours, Aye. Dave


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Subject: RE: Song For The Mira
From: flattop
Date: 12 Oct 00 - 10:57 AM

I lived on the Mira in Marion Bridge and went Marion Bridge (Consolidated?) School in grade 9. I'll write more about it when I have time, probably on the weekend.

I wrote about this song to a Cape Breton list server and started some controversy. I was shocked that something that I wrote started controversy. I've changed computers and hard drives several times since then but I'll search to see if I can find Cape Bretoners' takes on Song for the Mira.

You can find Marion Bridge by going to www.mapblast.com, selecting Canada and entering Marion Bridge. If you float up a couple of levels by clicking the enlarging green buttons, you can see where Marion Bridge fits in Cape Breton and North America. If you jump on the biggest button, you can even see Orillia (but they leave out Toronto.) Those American mapblasters really know how o draw a map!


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Subject: RE: Song For The Mira
From: pastorpest
Date: 13 Oct 00 - 08:03 AM

If you put the name of the song writer, Allister MacGillivary on a search engine you will be taken to his web site. There are books, CDs and info available there and links to other Cape Breton web sites. He is a great song writer!


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Subject: RE: Song For The Mira
From: GUEST,John Leeder
Date: 13 Oct 00 - 10:45 AM

A book I've read recently tells me that the Oak Island gold is the lost treasure of the Templars, including the Holy Grail. It reads like crackpot stuff, but interesting. "The Holy Grail Across the Atlantic". It's tied in with the "Holy Blood and the Holy Grail" complex of conspiracy theories.


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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: out on the Mira
From: raredance
Date: 05 Mar 01 - 11:40 PM

Another eerie coincidence. I just heard this song for the first time about an hour ago on a Gordon Bok recording and here's a thread on it. My question is, what is the "Mira"?

rich r


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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: out on the Mira
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 05 Mar 01 - 11:50 PM

Here's a little bit more for you rich

Jon


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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: out on the Mira
From: raredance
Date: 05 Mar 01 - 11:56 PM

Thanks Jon, I am in the process of planning a trip to NS for August, so I knew about Oak Island, but the NS tourism bureau hasn't sent me a decent map yet with the small towns and rivers and such.

rich r


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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: out on the Mira
From: George Seto - af221@chebucto.ns.ca
Date: 06 Mar 01 - 01:19 AM

Ok.

1 - The song is "Song For the Mira". Please, if you perform it, use Allister's name for it.

2 - The Mira is a river in the southern portion of Cape BReton, starting just outside of Sydney, stretching westward, for a good portion of the distance between there and midway across the island, the community of St. Peters..


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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: out on the Mira
From: Joe Offer
Date: 06 Mar 01 - 02:29 AM

I planned a four-day trip to Nova Scotia, and it just wasn't enough. It seems like such a small area, but there's so much to see. They told me it would take about three hours to drive from Yarmouth to Halifax, but it took me three days. I took the best picture I've ever taken in my life, on a narrow spit of land near Cape Sable - you can see it here (click). Give yourself plenty of time, Rich. You won't believe how beautiful it is.
-Joe Offer-


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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: out on the Mira
From: raredance
Date: 06 Mar 01 - 09:53 PM

Joe, Great picture. I knew a lobster like that once. AThe cove & dock at low tide is post card stuff.

rich r


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Subject: RE: Info Req: Song for the Mira (A MacGillivray)
From: GUEST,Bradbob123
Date: 15 Jun 04 - 07:41 PM

I sang this song for chourus just this past year and I had a solo, "Out on the mira the people are kind, they treat you....(ext..)"
and when I sang it it gave me a good feeling. Also when I sang it my chourus teacher (whom I miss and care about deaply)would look at me, cry and have a humongus, proud smile on her face. I love music and would like to know where I can get the sheet music for guitar and the c.d. Can you help me pleez!?!?!?!


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Subject: RE: Info Req: Song for the Mira (A MacGillivray)
From: Amergin
Date: 15 Jun 04 - 07:51 PM

Genie does a wonderful rendition of this song...


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Subject: RE: Info Req: Song for the Mira (A MacGillivray)
From: karen k
Date: 16 Jun 04 - 02:24 AM

Don't know about sheet music but Gordon Bok recorded the song on his Folk-Legacy recording called "Ensemble" which is CD-112. you can order it from Folk-Legacy: http://www.folklegacy.com


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Subject: RE: Info Req: Song for the Mira (A MacGillivray)
From: karen k
Date: 16 Jun 04 - 02:28 AM

Hope this link brings you directly to the order page for "Ensmeble".

http://www.folk-legacy.com/store/scripts/prodView.asp?idproduct=147

karen


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Subject: RE: Info Req: Song for the Mira (A MacGillivray)
From: karen k
Date: 16 Jun 04 - 02:30 AM

Oops! Let's try again.

http://www.folk-legacy.com/store/scripts/prodView.asp?idproduct=147


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Subject: RE: Info Req: Song for the Mira (A MacGillivray)
From: George Seto - af221@chebucto.ns.ca
Date: 16 Jun 04 - 05:31 PM

ACtually! It would be nice also to order it from the man who wrote it himself. His web-site, Sea-Cape Music has a book titled Songs From the Mira, which includes this song as well as many of his other songs. There are translations of the chorus into many different languages including Gaelic, French and Mi'k M'aq (Local First Nations Tribe) among others.

For a recording of many of the songs from the book, he has a CD titled (funnily enough) Songs From the Mira.

The CD is $20.00 and the book is $25.00 both in Cdn funds not including shipping.


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Subject: RE: Info Req: Song for the Mira (A MacGillivray)
From: DonMeixner
Date: 17 Jun 04 - 12:25 AM

I seem to recall Allister MacGillivray being on a Ryan's fancy LP L have had for years. Playing accordion perhaps? At least one of his songs are on it too. "Coal Town Road" which is a song I have like for years.

I first heard Foster and Allen do The Mira sometime ago. I grew up and lived on a river for many years. Small river towns I have lived in have this same feel.

Don


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Subject: RE: Info Req: Song for the Mira (A MacGillivray)
From: Musicman
Date: 17 Jun 04 - 10:56 PM

whenever we sing it in my band.. i'm always pleased with how many people know the lyrics and will sing along...

musicman..


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Subject: RE: Info Req: Song for the Mira (A MacGillivray)
From: George Seto - af221@chebucto.ns.ca
Date: 18 Jun 04 - 03:04 PM

It's one of those "instant trad" songs.

Allister played with Ryan's Fancy for a time, I believe.


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Subject: RE: Info Req: Song for the Mira (A MacGillivray)
From: GUEST,sqdncrmn@adelphia.net
Date: 22 Apr 05 - 03:08 PM

The most beautiful rendition of this song was done by Anne Murray. Unfortunately due to time and length restraints, some of the lyrics were omitted.


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Subject: RE: Info Req: Song for the Mira (A MacGillivray)
From: George Seto - af221@chebucto.ns.ca
Date: 22 Apr 05 - 04:30 PM

What?!!!!

As long as I've known the song, the lyrics as written by Allister are exactly what Anne Murray sang. In what instance do you mean lyrics were omitted? I have the original book from Allister, as well as the recent (3 years back) Songs From the Mira with a lot of newer songs included.

I'll have to ask Allister if the song is supposed to be longer than published in his books. Really strange!


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Subject: RE: Info Req: Song for the Mira (A MacGillivray)
From: Sandy Mc Lean
Date: 22 Apr 05 - 11:00 PM

Anne skipped one verse. ( The one about treating you to home brew , I believe)


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Subject: RE: Info Req: Song for the Mira (A MacGillivray)
From: GUEST,Dale
Date: 23 Apr 05 - 01:18 AM

One of my favorite movies that I have seen lately is one from Cape Breton, New Waterford Girl. I almost didn't watch it because while many of the movies that I have seen from Nova Scotia have good music, they also have oppressively downbeat stories, which I find unwatchable. (Sorry, George!)

ANYWAY, in the film there is a group of young people supposedly in the 70s singing Song For The Mira around the campfire. Even the young transplant from New York is affected by the singing, though she does not join in ~~ wouldn't know the words! Since it was written in 1973 (I thought it was later), that is not so much of an anachronism as I first thought. A check of Anne Murray's site shows that she did not record it until 1982, so they would have had to have gotten it from some other source.

Ashley MacIsaac does a nice turn as a rather scruffy looking fiddler in a bar, by the way.

As to whether Anne Murray sang all the verses or not, is it possible that she recorded it more than once, one long and one short version? Her site lists it on albums from 1982, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1994, and 2000 but naturally there is no indication as to whether the later recordings were identical except for the 2000 album which was listed as a re-release of the 1982 album. My guess is that there would be at least a couple of versions in there.

Also, sometimes producers put out an album version and a shorter single version, all the better to get radio play. Just thinking out loud there.


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Subject: RE: Info Req: Song for the Mira (A MacGillivray)
From: Willie-O
Date: 23 Apr 05 - 11:06 AM

I love that movie. Have wondered also if the use of the Mira song was anachronistic. The Ashley MacIsaac scene is, of course--he was a babe in diapers, and more important, the Celtic music revival was in the future. The grizzled guitar player beside Ashley is Matt Minglewood (uncredited in the movie for some reason) who was the biggest homegrown rock star in the Maritimes at that time--so that's a sly inclusion!

And Oak Island, as Dave points out, is at the other end of Nova Scotia from Cape Breton--but I guess the treasure legend is widespread.

W-O


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Subject: RE: Info Req: Song for the Mira (A MacGillivray)
From: GUEST,lumin4
Date: 27 Nov 10 - 09:05 PM

I just watched the film: "Marion Bridge" (2003)
in which the end title song is "Song For the Mira";
it's done with an ensemble of singers including Molly Parker;
very well done...


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Subject: RE: Info Req: Song for the Mira (A MacGillivray)
From: michaelr
Date: 09 Dec 10 - 04:04 PM

In fact it's sung by the three lead actresses who portray three sisters: Molly Parker, Rebecca jenkins and Stact Smith. Smith is also featured in the film singing "Amazing Grace".

It's a very moving film.


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Subject: RE: Info Req: Song for the Mira (A MacGillivray)
From: michaelr
Date: 09 Dec 10 - 04:13 PM

Sorry, that should be Stacy Smith.


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Subject: RE: Info Req: Song for the Mira (A MacGillivray)
From: Bob Landry
Date: 10 Dec 10 - 12:58 AM

The name "Mira" is an anglicization of the French name "Miré" by which the river was known prior to the second loss of Louisbourg in 1758.

The legend of the Oak Island treasure is widespread throughout Nova Scotia and has been the subject of conversation for over 200 years. I had the pleasure of touring the site in 1993 when the public was permitted on the island. It has since been sold and the last time I tried to go there, (2004, if I remember correctly) there was a "No Trespassing" sign on the gate.

Bob Landry (An Acadian and Cape Bretoner in exile.)


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