Lyr Req: Last Letter Home (McDade, Brown)

Subject: LYR REQ: Last Letter Home - Sam Bush
From: Roger in Baltimore
Date: 27 Jun 99 - 02:45 PM

Just heard this song on the radio. I know it is not folk, it is "bluegrass", but I'm hoping the broad experience of the Mudcatters will allow a response.

It seemed to be relating to the Civil War. The chorus goes:

I picture you in a Spainish Garden,
There I place the rose in your hair.
And if I ever get back on my feet, I will,
I will run all the way just to meet you there.

Since I've only heard it once, help with a tune and or chords will help.

I did check the DT and the COWPIE with no luck.

Thanking you in advance.

Roger in Baltimore

Subject: RE: LYR REQ: Last Letter Home - Sam Bush
From: folk1234
Date: 27 Jun 99 - 03:07 PM

Dear RiB: Great song! My favorite interpretation is by the Folk Legacy gang on "For All The Good People: A Golden Ring Reunion". They perform it as a medley doing 'Richmond' first, then flowing into 'Last Letter'. Their version is not bluegrass, but rather of the Civil War ballad genre. Friends of mine here in OK, Loose Strings, add a bluegrass flavor by starting briefly with Red Haired Boy doing Richmond, breaking back into RHB between the two songs, doing Letter, then going back to RHB at the end - A very haunting and beautiful arrangement. I don't know the chords.

Subject: RE: LYR REQ: Last Letter Home - Sam Bush
From: Roger in Baltimore
Date: 28 Jun 99 - 06:09 AM

Refresh.

If it is on Folk-Legacy than I don't have to apologize for asking on the Mudcat. Lyrics? Chords? Anyone?

Roger in Baltimore

Subject: RE: LYR REQ: Last Letter Home - Sam Bush
From: harpgirl
Date: 28 Jun 99 - 09:28 AM

hey roger,
I went through my entire record collection yesterday because I thought for sure I had that on some album. Alas no luck...harpgirl

Subject: RE: LYR REQ: Last Letter Home - Sam Bush
From: Roger in Baltimore
Date: 28 Jun 99 - 10:44 AM

Harpgirl,

Thanks for trying. I was kinda hoping Folk1234 was gonna give me some lyrics since he is so familiar with the song. Keeping my fingers crossed.

Roger in Baltimore

Subject: Lyr Add: RICHMOND + LAST LETTER HOME
From: folk1234
Date: 28 Jun 99 - 12:32 PM

Dear RiB: I was getting ready to leave to go out of town when I responded to your the other day. However, I also thought that all of us 'catters had EVERYTHING done by Folk Legacy (Just a little plug for a deserving publisher.) Here's the lyrics for both Richmond and Last Letter.

On the album, the lead vocal and guitar was done by Harry Tuft, with Ed Trickett and Dave Para doing backup guitar and vocal harmony.


RICHMOND (Traditional)
As recorded by Harry Tuft, Ed Trickett & Dave Para on “For All the Good People: A Golden Ring Reunion” (1992)

'Twas on the 4th and 9th of May,
In spite of all that we could say,
In spite of all that we could say,
We stood in front of Richmond.

'Twas all night lying n the ground,
Not a tent or shelter could be found,
And it rained so hard we damn near drowned
That day in front of Richmond.

So, early next morning the sun did rise,
And East and North across the skies,
And Jackson rides the lines and cries,
"It'll be hard work at Richmond."

God bless the children in their homes,
God bless the women all alone.
God bless the men who never failed
That day in front of Richmond.


LAST LETTER HOME (David H. McDade/J.H. Brown, ASCAP)
As recorded by Harry Tuft, Ed Trickett & Dave Para on “For All the Good People: A Golden Ring Reunion” (1992)

I have heard the cannons thundering all night,
And I cannot help but wonder, why's the Rebel Cause so right?
And the morphine seems to do no good at all.
I would run away if I would not fall.

Well I joined the Southern cavalry for fun.
Must have rode a thousand horses; always had a way with a gun.
Now I'm among the horseless riders lying still.
Swallowed up by the Cause on the Widow's Hill.

(chorus)
And I dreamed of a rose in a Spanish garden,
And I kissed you and placed it in your hair.
And, if I'm ever on my feet again, I will,
I will run all the way just to meet you there.

(repeat chorus)


Great song, please enjoy! When you figure out the chords, please share them with me. I'd also like to do this song. Maybe we can team up at some 'cat-gathering.

Phil ^^

Subject: RE: LYR REQ: Last Letter Home - Sam Bush
From: TonyK
Date: 28 Jun 99 - 01:11 PM

I was just about to start a thread about this song when I saw yours, Roger. I've played it many times in the past and was very surprised to hear Sam Bush sing it on Prarie Home Companion this weekend, especially since he sang a verse I hadn't heard before. I'm familiar with the verses that Folk 1234 listed and am looking for the new one that mentions the broken Southern soldiers laying about the field like trampled Georgia peaches. A web search revealec it to be on Sam's album 'Late as Usual' and I may have to get it unless I get lucky. I learned it from the Amazing Rhythm Aces back in the 70's. The chords are simple enough: C---,F---,C---,--G-G7-(2 extra beats in the measure),C---,F---,G---,C---, (repeat) Then the chorus: Am---,Em---,Am---,Em-G-,C---,F---,G---,C---. I'm hoping someone may have taped the program. I intended to but company came over and I forgot.> Here with fingers crossed.>TonyK

Subject: RE: LYR REQ: Last Letter Home - Sam Bush
From: folk1234
Date: 28 Jun 99 - 02:01 PM

TonyK: Thanks. I just played it using your chords and it sounds fine. (I took a vacation day off today, so I'm playing mudcat and getting my music ready for this month's song swap topic, "Happy Times/Good Ole Times". Unfortunately this song doesn't qualify, but I'll use it another time.)If you can find that additional verse, please post it. Both RiB and I will happy.

Subject: RE: LYR REQ: Last Letter Home - Sam Bush
From: TonyK
Date: 28 Jun 99 - 09:56 PM

The public radio station here in NE Pa plays requests on Friday nights and has an excellent collection of folk and bluegrass. If he (George Graham) has it, I'll send it along.

Subject: RE: LYR REQ: Last Letter Home - Sam Bush
From: Roger in Baltimore
Date: 29 Jun 99 - 09:48 PM

Phil,

Thanks for the words.

Tony K.,

I, too, heard it on PHC. Fortunately they have an archive. I wasn't sure how quickly they would archive last weekend's show. It's at http://phc.mpr.org/.

I transcribed that "lost verse" from the site.

Through the day I watched those Southern boys go down.
And they lay like Georgia peaches bruised and broken on the ground.
Through the night I wondered if it was worth the pain,
And I cried out not revenge, but I called your name.

I think I'm gonna learn this one.

Thanks, again, everyone.

Big RiB

Subject: RE: LYR REQ: Last Letter Home - Sam Bush
From: TonyK
Date: 29 Jun 99 - 10:09 PM

Roger, thanks a million for the verse and the link. Thank you too, folk1234.

Subject: RE: LYR REQ: Last Letter Home - Sam Bush
From: Terry Hayden
Date: 07 Sep 99 - 04:25 PM

If anyone is interested - There is a group from the Santa Barbara, Ca. area called "Rincon Ramblers" that has this number on thier latest CD. The lead singer, John Wilcox, perfromed it at the Strawberry Music Festival this past weekend.

Subject: RE: LYR REQ: Last Letter Home - Sam Bush
From: kendall morse
Date: 07 Sep 99 - 04:35 PM

the Gibson brothers, a fine bluegrass group also recorded it. I was told that one of that group wrote that added verse.

Subject: RE: LYR REQ: Last Letter Home - Sam Bush
From: GUEST,abc, salt lake city
Date: 20 Mar 06 - 07:51 AM

I saw a local bluegrass musician play the song in the key of D with a B minor in the chorus, pretty strait forward, but a haunting melody, good song. not much help with the chords.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Last Letter Home (McDade, Brown)
From: GUEST
Date: 22 Nov 13 - 06:27 PM

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Last Letter Home (McDade, Brown)
From: GUEST,kendall
Date: 22 Nov 13 - 07:27 PM

I liked this one enough to record it.
The refrain is just lovely with harmony.

I did it in G with Em and Am in the refrain.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Last Letter Home (McDade, Brown)
From: SINSULL
Date: 22 Nov 13 - 08:23 PM

I wish Jed Marum would sing this one. It is perfect for him
SINS

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Last Letter Home (McDade, Brown)
From: kendall
Date: 23 Nov 13 - 06:46 PM

hrrrumph