Lyr Req: Them Stars + Endless Chain

Subject: Words to Them Stars and Endless Chain
From:
Date: 28 Mar 99 - 10:09 PM

Hi,

I'm looking for the words to these two songs that are on Margaret McArthurs CD--Them Stars. I believe that she wrote the song -- Them Stars from part of a cowboy poem. I'm not sure if she wrote Endless Chain. I think someone else wrote that one. It uses the names of quilts in the song.

Thank you for your help.

Subject: RE: Words to Them Stars and Endless Chain
From: Lorraine
Date: 29 Mar 99 - 03:17 PM

Them Stars Margaret set to a poem that she found in the Colorado University library but no author is listed. I'll see if I can write up the words next time I get near the computer -lots of competion for time on this beast. Lorraine

Subject: Lyr Add: ENDLESS CHAIN (Pete Sutherland)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 24 Mar 05 - 09:17 AM

THEM STARS is now in the DT. (It wasn't there when this question was asked.)

Lyrics below copied from Margaret MacArthur's website:

ENDLESS CHAIN
Pete Sutherland

Outside the window, I saw the clothesline, full of old quilts, no two the same.
Flapping and flying in the wind, they were talking like women working on a quilting frame.
A midsummer circus of crazy colors, their strange old names I can hear them call:
Jacob's Ladder, Drunkard's Path, Robbing Peter to Pay Paul,
Dusty Miller, Ducks and Ducklings, Woods in Autumn, Wild Geese Flying,

Crazy Jane and Old Log Cabin—puzzling patterns from a simpler time,
Bits and pieces from bolts and boxes, laid out straighter than a schoolbook rhyme,
Strips cut out from a new-made template, scissors gleaming in the oil lamplight,
Patient fingers, tiny stitches in the stillness of a snowy night.
Honeycomb, Harvest Home, Maple Leaf, Memory Wreath.

A stitch in time, an apple a day, a penny saved is a penny earned,
Make it do or do without it—these are the lessons that our old folk learned.
Store 'em away for a long cold winter, till the season for growing comes round once more.
Hands learn work from these old tools. Our feet hear music in the old wood floor.
Eight Hands Round, Swing on the Corner, Texas Star, Bucksaw.

One more dance with your favorite partner, one more chorus from the fiddler's bow,
Follow the plow or ply the needle for one more year and down one more row:
Tree of Life, Hand of Friendship, Stepping Stones to an Endless Chain.
Cut the strings that make you dance. You'll still be dancing just the same.
Bachelor's Puzzle, Old Maid's Dream, Hour Glass, Moss Rose.

Rose in Bud, Carolina Rose, Rose o' Sharon, Dixie Rose, Love Rose,
Stars Within Stars, Morning Star, Shooting Star, Evening Star, Compass Star,
Wonder of the World, Wandering Foot, Wonder of the Sky, Wanderer's Path,
Tree of Life, Hand of Friendship, Stepping Stones, Endless Chain.

[Pete Sutherland is a member of Metamora (with Malcolm Dalglish and Grey Larsen). Metamora recorded this on their album "Metamora" in 1985. Margaret MacArthur also recorded it on her album "Them Stars."]

[I haven't heard this whole song, only a short sound sample. Each verse (except the last one) seems to have an extra line that doesn't rhyme. The entire last verse doesn't rhyme. I have italicized these parts. They all seem to be names of quilt patterns. Are these lines sung as a chorus? Or spoken?]

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Them Stars' and 'Endless Chain'
From: GUEST
Date: 16 Feb 11 - 02:24 PM

Thanks for the lyrics!
The italic parts are overdubbed on the song, sung as if the quilts themselves were calling out their own names on the wind.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Them Stars + Endless Chain
From: GUEST
Date: 23 Sep 16 - 12:25 PM

I've always loved this song. They've put it online so you can hear it here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pKAF-kbIPbQ

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Them Stars + Endless Chain
From: GUEST,anon
Date: 24 May 24 - 04:00 AM

Metamora - Endless Chain

outside the window   i saw the clothesline
full of old quilts   and no two the same
flopping and flying   in the wind in the wind they were talking like
women a working   round a quilting frame

a midsummer circus of crazy colors
their strange old names i could hear them call
jacobs ladder   drunkards path   robbing peter to pay paul
dusty miller   ducks and ducklings   woods in autumn   wild geese flying

crazy ann and old log cabin   puzzling patterns from a simpler time
bits and pieces   from bolts and boxes   laid out straighter than a schoolbook rhyme
strips cut out with a new made template   scissors gleaming in the oil lamplight
patient fingers   taking tiny stitches   in the stillness of a snowy night
honeycomb   harvest home   maple leaf   memory wreath

a stitch in time   an apple a day   a penny saved is a penny earned
make it do or do without it   these were the lessons that our old folks learned
stored em away through a long hard winter   but a season for growins come around once more
our hands learn work   their old tools teach us   our feet hear music in their old wood floor
eight hands round   swing in the center   texas star   bucksaw

one more dance with your favorite partner   one more chorus from the fiddlers bow
follow the plow   the pen   the needle for one more year and down one more row
the tree of life   the hand of friendship   stepping stones in an endless chain
cut the strings   that make you dance   you will still be dancing just the same

save all   mill wheel
harvest sun   crescent moon
crosses and losses
grandmothers flower garden
forbidden fruit trees
four little birds   storm at sea   pine tree
barn raising   horn of plenty
hovering hawks   cox comb
home   game of hearts   hearts
reel   rose wreath   oak tree
temperance tree   legacy   lost ship
babys blocks   childrens delight
cupids arrow   lovers knot
bachelors puzzle   old maid dream   hour glass
moss rose   rose in bud   carolina rose
prairie rose   rose of sharon
rose of dixie   love rose
stars within stars   morning star
shooting star   evening star   compass star
wonder of the world   wandering foot
wonder of the sky   wanderers path
tree of life   hand of friendship
stepping stones
endless chain

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Them Stars + Endless Chain
From: GUEST
Date: 02 Nov 24 - 12:32 AM

Here's Margaret's haunting rendition. A masterclass on adapting a song.

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/qqccj8ttsqvufw7u52bt8/7-Endless-Chain.aiff?rlkey=k7yuygfcrmnc3wbvsf0fv60tq&st=tsj0ci7a&dl=0