Subject: Hello Friend From: GUEST,LindsayInWales Date: 14 May 08 - 02:59 PM anyone got lyrics and a title, for the song with the following verse? Hello friend, I see you're a stranger Where do you come from? Hello friend Something in your smile reminds me of the sun But the northern light is dim, against the darkness of your skin Hello friend, I'm glad that you could come Still also looking for lyrics to Mechanical Blackbird |
Subject: Lyr Add: HELLO FRIEND (Peggy Seeger) From: Jim Carroll Date: 14 May 08 - 04:43 PM Hello Friend Peggy Seeger 1992 Hello friend, I see you're a stranger. Where do you come from? Hello friend, something in your face reminds me of the sun: But the northern light is thin against the darkness of your skin. Hello friend. I'm glad that you could come. When you talk, I hear the echo of the places you have been; When you walk, colours all around you fluttering in the wind; When I listen to your song, I feel you really do belong; Am I the stranger, the one who's just come in? I think I know what made you come here but what made you want to stay? Will you go if the weather and the welcome seem too cold and grey ? Do you feel you'll never find all the warmth you left behind? Never mind—I hope you want to stay. Did you find new friends to help you? Can you earn a living here? Do you mind the smoke and grime around you and the warning loud and clear? Or did your troubles just begin with the colour of your skin? Never mind—I'm glad to see you here. Did you come to climb a mountain and end up in a hole? Have you won [he right to join our people signing on the dole? Can you be happy here amid suspicion and the fear. Or will you run, and never more return? Hello friend, all of us are strangers in this green and pleasant land. Once again battle ranks are forming and we need a friendly hand. Yours the fear and ours the shame, but our goal is just the same, In the end this will be OUR native land. In the old days of the Critics Group, when we were travelling on long journeys we used to mess around with song titles and words to pass the journey - we got The Dowie Dens of Marrow, The Unquiet Gravy, Hang Down Your Head Tandoori, The Grey Cocq' au Vin, and many, many more. Unfortunately this wonderful song became 'Hello Fiend, I See you're a Strangler' - shame on us! Jim Carroll |
Subject: RE: Hello Friend From: Bernard Date: 14 May 08 - 07:27 PM There was a thread about this ages ago where I pointed out that Peggy had written it long before 1992, because I have an old Jacqui and Bridie album of the same name with that song on it - and the album dates back to the 1970s! I'll do a Forum search and get back to you! |
Subject: RE: Hello Friend From: Bernard Date: 14 May 08 - 07:30 PM Here ye go! |
Subject: Lyr Add: MECHANICAL BLACKBIRD (Hoida / Doyle) From: Peace Date: 14 May 08 - 07:34 PM Subject: Lyr Add: MECHANICAL BLACKBIRD (Spinners - UK) From: Susanne (skw) Date: 08 May 08 - 06:09 PM Lindsay, disregard the trolling. Effsee is usually a well-behaved youngster :-). Here you are: MECHANICAL BLACKBIRD (Hoida / Doyle) Chorus: To my tweedle-i-eedle-i-eedle-i-a My tweedle-i-eedle-i-e I heard the sweet voice of a blackbird Through a microphone up in a tree As I walked out across Piccadilly One evening before it was spring As the layabouts slept on the benches A sweet blackbird started to sing If I was a mechanical blackbird I wouldn't build my nest out to see (?) With a microphone heart in my bosom And my feet welded firmly to a tree Now the starlings fly out every morning The pigeons find food where they please Me and my mechanical blackbird We are stuck in our own little trees Now both of us work in the City He can't even rest after five Though the sounds that we make can be pretty It isn't like being alive As you can see, there's one line I'm not quite sure about. Some notes: [1967:] When they refurbished Piccadilly Gardens in the centre of Manchester, one of the 'new improvements' was (you're not going to believe it) tape recordings of the song of the blackbirds - all-purpose, all-plastic and weatherproof. (Notes 'Spotlight On The Spinners') |
Subject: RE: lyr req: Hello Friend From: Jim Carroll Date: 15 May 08 - 02:10 AM Hello Friend was written some time in the early seventies (I was at the Singers Club at its first performance); her songbook gives the copyright date as 1992. Jim Carroll |
Subject: RE: lyr req: Hello Friend From: Dave Sutherland Date: 15 May 08 - 03:05 AM Googling "New City Songster" it gives the edition in which it was published as September 1969. I remember buying that copy after seeing MacColl and Seeger (singing "Hello Friend" and others from that edition)in the early months of 1970 |
Subject: RE: lyr req: Hello Friend From: Jim Carroll Date: 15 May 08 - 03:41 AM DaveS Thanks for that, should have checked though my NCS set. Hadn't realised it was as early as that (the year I moved to London) Jim Carroll |
Subject: RE: lyr req: Hello Friend From: Bugsy Date: 15 May 08 - 08:09 AM Whenever I hear this song it brings back fond memories of my dear, now departed friend, Val Hastings. She used to do a wonderful version of this song Cheers Bugsy |
Subject: RE: lyr req: Hello Friend From: GUEST Date: 15 May 08 - 11:58 AM Thanks for the lyrics to Hello Friend. I've often wondered if such a "friend" wouldn't find this song just a little bit patronising? Regarding Mechanical Blackbird, I think the line is "I wouldn't build my nest out at sea" (as in, perhaps, a crow's nest?) I've only ever heard the Spinners version of this. I never did think that Piccadilly referred to London. Thanks everyone |
Subject: RE: lyr req: Hello Friend From: GUEST,Ray Date: 15 May 08 - 12:33 PM "Hello Friend" must be VERY early 70's if not 1960's - The Johnstons (lead vocal by Paul Brady) recorded it on "Colours of the Dawn" in 1971. Ray |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Hello Friend (Peggy Seeger) From: GUEST Date: 26 Jun 20 - 04:28 PM I have that Johnstons album "Colours of the Dawn" 1971 and I think it's the best version - not many versions out there on YouTube etc. |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Hello Friend (Peggy Seeger) From: Jim McLean Date: 27 Jun 20 - 06:42 AM I produced an LP by Jaquie and Bridie called "Hello Friend" in 1973. The credits give Peggy as the writer. |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Hello Friend (Peggy Seeger) From: GUEST,Ray Date: 27 Jun 20 - 08:51 AM So does “Colours of the Dawn”. |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Hello Friend (Peggy Seeger) From: Jim McLean Date: 28 Jun 20 - 04:40 PM I stayed with them once in Loverpool. The walls were curved with concave doors! |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Hello Friend (Peggy Seeger) From: Jim McLean Date: 28 Jun 20 - 04:41 PM oops sorry, "Liverpool" |
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