Lyr Add: Past Caring / Past Carin' (Henry Lawson)

Subject: Lyr Req: past caring
From: GUEST,brooko
Date: 08 Feb 10 - 11:56 AM

does anybody have the lyrics to "past caring by jackie oates

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Video here (click)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: past caring
From: GUEST,JM
Date: 08 Feb 10 - 12:20 PM

The words are a poem by Henry Lawson. Jackie got the song from Martyn Wyndham-Read's show "Down The Lawson Track" that she was involved in with Shirley Collins.

The poem can be found here - http://www.poemhunter.com/best-poems/henry-lawson/past-carin/

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: past caring
From: open mike
Date: 08 Feb 10 - 11:08 PM

what a life! and what a quick (and complete) answer.

Henry Lawson seems to do a good job of speaking from the Women's
point of view...i often do his "When the Children Come Home"
about a woman who is holding down the ranch all alone.

Subject: Lyr Add: PAST CARIN' (Henry Lawson)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 10 Feb 10 - 12:37 PM

PAST CARIN'
(Henry Lawson)

Now up and down the siding brown
The great black crows are flyin',
And down below the spur, I know,
Another 'milker's' dyin';
The crops have withered from the ground,
The tank's clay bed is glarin',
But from my heart no tear nor sound,
For I have gone past carin'–
Past worryin' or carin',
Past feelin' aught or carin';
But from my heart no tear nor sound,
For I have gone past carin'.

Through Death and Trouble, turn about,
Through hopeless desolation,
Through flood and fever, fire and drought,
And slavery and starvation;
Through childbirth, sickness, hurt, and blight,
And nervousness an' scarin',
Through bein' left alone at night,
I've got to be past carin'.
Past botherin' or carin',
Past feelin' and past carin';
Through city cheats and neighbours' spite,
I've come to be past carin'.

Our first child took, in days like these,
A cruel week in dyin',
All day upon her father's knees,
Or on my poor breast lyin';
The tears we shed–the prayers we said
Were awful, wild–despairin'!
I've pulled three through, and buried two
Since then–and I'm past carin'.
I've grown to be past carin',
Past worryin' and wearin';
I've pulled three through and buried two
Since then, and I'm past carin'.

'Twas ten years first, then came the worst,
All for a dusty clearin',
I thought, I thought my heart would burst
When first my man went shearin';
He's drovin' in the great North-west,
I don't know how he's farin';
For I, the one that loved him best,
Have grown to be past carin'.
I've grown to be past carin'
Past lookin' for or carin';
The girl that waited long ago,
Has lived to be past carin'.

My eyes are dry, I cannot cry,
I've got no heart for breakin',
But where it was in days gone by,
A dull and empty achin'.
My last boy ran away from me,
I know my temper's wearin',
But now I only wish to be
Beyond all signs of carin'.
Past wearyin' or carin',
Past feelin' and despairin';
And now I only wish to be
Beyond all signs of carin'.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: past caring
From: GUEST,Ian Gill
Date: 10 Feb 10 - 03:41 PM

Mara Kiek [of Mara!] used to sing this in concerts in the 80's/early 90's. Not sure whether she recorded it - have to check the vinyls in the loft - but it was an absolute show stopper, thanks for jogging the memory.

Subject: ADD: Past Caring (Henry Lawson/Phyl Lobl)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 10 Feb 10 - 04:20 PM

The sung version has a number of differences. These lyrics are from the CD booklet of the Bok-Muir-Trickett recording, And So Will We Yet (Folk-Legacy Records #CD-116, 1990)

PAST CARING
(Words: Henry Lawson; Melody: Phyl Lobl)

Up and down the sidling brown,
A great black crow is flying;
Just below a spur I know,
Another milker's dying.
Crops have withered to the ground;
Red day tank is glaring.
And in my heart no tear or sound,
For I have grown past caring.

Through death and trouble, turn about,
Through hopeless desolation,
Through flood and fever, fire and drought,
Through slavery and starvation,
Through childbirth, sickness, hot and blight,
Through loneliness and scaring,
Through being left alone at night,
I've grown to be past caring.

My first child took, on days like these,
A cruel week in dying,
All day upon her father's knees
Or on my breast a-lying.
The tears we shed, the prayers we said,
Were awful, wild, despairing.
I pulled three through and buried two
Since then, and I am past caring.

Twas ten years first, then came the worst,
All for a barren clearing.
I thought, I thought my heart would burst
When first my man went shearing.
He's droving in the great Northwest;
I don't know how he's faring,
And I, the girl who loved him best,
Have grown to be past caring.

My eyes are dry, I cannot cry,
I have no heart for breaking.
Where it was, in days gone by,
It's empty, dull and aching.
My last boy ran away from me;
I know my temper's wearing.
Now I only wish to be
Beyond all signs of caring.

    Past bothering, past caring,
    Past feeling and despairing;
    Now I only wish to be
    Beyond all signs of caring.


Melody ©1980, Phyl Lobl

Notes:
This Henry Lawson poem, put to music by Australian singer / songwriter Phyl Lobl, came to me through Martyn Wyndham-Read. I heard him sing it unaccompanied at Marmaduke's Pub in Annapolis, Maryland, a couple of years ago. Kathy Westra Hickerson sent me a living-room tape of him singing the song shortly after. The poem itself is a bitter statement about the loneliness of a woman's life in the sparsely populated parts of Australia. Ann worked hard to create a musical arrangement that complements its stark and bitter tone. [Ed Trickett]

The only hope I could discover in this song was in believing that, if the woman could speak about the despair in her heart, it was a first step toward acceptance and, in time, healing. [Ann Mayo Muir]


(note the Mudcatter involvement in this - Kathy Westra has been a vehicle for a lot of good songs)

Subject: ADD: Past Caring (Henry Lawson/Phyl Lobl)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 10 Feb 10 - 04:29 PM

Phyl Lobl has her recording of this song available for free at http://www.phyllobl.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=122&Itemid=135. It's absolutely beautiful. Here are the lyrics from her Website:

PAST CARIN'
(Words: Henry Lawson & Music: Phyl Lobl)

Now up and down the sidling brown the great black crows are flying.
And down below the spur I know another milker's dying.
The crops have withered from the ground the tank's clay bed is glarin',
And from my heart no tear nor sound for I have got Past Carin'.

Past botherin' or carin', past weepin' or despairin'
From my heart no tear nor sound for I have got Past Carin'.

Through death and trouble turn about through hopeless desolation,
Through flood and fever, fire and drought and slavery and starvation,
Through child-birth, sickness, hurt and blight, and nervousness and scarin'
Through being left alone at night, I've come to be Past Carin’

Past botherin' or carin', past weepin' or despairin'
Through being left alone at night I've come to be Past Carin'.

T'was ten years first then came the worst all for a barren clearin'
I swear I thought my heart would burst when first my man went shearin'
He's drovin' in the great North West, I don't know how he's farin'
I the one that loved him best have grown to be Past Carin'.

Past botherin' or carin', past weepin' or despairin'
I the one that loved him best have grown to be Past Carin'.

My eyes are dry, I cannot cry, I've got no heart for breakin'
For where it was in days gone by a dull and empty achin'
My last boy ran away from me I know my temper's wearin'
But now I only wish to be beyond all signs of carin'.

Past botherin' or carin', past weepin' or despairin'
Now I only wish to be beyond all signs of carin'.

Words: Henry Lawson.

Notes:

I put the tune to these words circa 1967/8. I first sang it at a folk concert in the Melbourne Town Hall. Lawson uses a different lines in each 'refrain' pair of lines, but I used one repeatedly as a first line in order to make a partial chorus which repeats the last line of each verse.

I also emit one verse. There have been several recordings made using the tune. Several of my tunes for Lawson verses can be found in the 'The Henry Lawson Song Book' compiled by Chris Kempster. I have presented many folk docos titled 'Henry Lawson the Songwriter Without a Guitar' and another called 'Henry & Louisa'.

---

Martin and Jessica Simpson have a different tune for these lyrics - their haunting recording is on their 2009 True Dare or Promise album.

-Joe-

Subject: RE: req/ADD: Past Caring / Past Carin' (Henry Laws
From: Charley Noble
Date: 10 Feb 10 - 10:38 PM

That's an amazing amount of information with regard to an uncommon song, pulled together in two days. It used to take us months, sometimes years to do this!

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: req/ADD: Past Caring / Past Carin' (Henry Laws
From: GUEST,Gerry
Date: 10 Feb 10 - 11:29 PM

Not an uncommon song here, I have recordings by Priscilla Herdman, Mara, Phyl Lobl, Touchwood, probably a couple of others that aren't coming to mind. But, yes, it is an impressive accumulation of information in a short time.

Subject: RE: req/ADD: Past Caring / Past Carin' (Henry Lawson)
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 11 Feb 10 - 12:49 AM

Gerry, one of the others is Chloe Roweth - on 'Feet in the dirt ... head in the clouds'

sandra

Subject: RE: req/ADD: Past Caring / Past Carin' (Henry Lawson)
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 11 Feb 10 - 12:55 AM

G'day all,

The varying choruses of Henry's original words always struck me as beautiful poetry. Phyl Lobl told me she doesn't try to do all the different choruses ... because they are just too hard to memorise!

I'm afraid she is right ... but still regret the loss of that aspect of skilled poetry by Henry Lawson ...

Regard(les)s,

Bob

Subject: RE: req/ADD: Past Caring / Past Carin' (Henry Lawson)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 11 Feb 10 - 01:21 AM

I can't find the Priscilla Herdman recording. What album is it on, Gerry? I thought I had all of hers.

-Joe-

Subject: RE: req/ADD: Past Caring / Past Carin' (Henry Lawson)
From: RoyH (Burl)
Date: 11 Feb 10 - 07:38 AM

BOB BOLTON. How nice to see your name back on the Mudcat. How are you doing? Burl

Subject: RE: req/ADD: Past Caring / Past Carin' (Henry Laws
From: GUEST,Gerry
Date: 11 Feb 10 - 05:26 PM

My apologies, Joe, I was sure she had it on Water Lily, but I was mistaken. Sandra, I don't have that Chloe Roweth CD, but I'll look out for it.

Subject: RE: req/ADD: Past Caring / Past Carin' (Henry Lawson)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 12 Feb 10 - 12:49 AM

Hi, Gerry - yeah, Water Lily is where I looked first. It's Priscilla Herdman's wonderful recording of Henry Lawson poems set to music - but it doesn't have "Past Carin."
Good album, though.

-Joe-

Subject: RE: req/ADD: Past Caring / Past Carin' (Henry Lawson)
From: Allen in Oz
Date: 12 Feb 10 - 02:13 AM

Joe

I understand that when Henry Lawson gave his first poem to JF Archibald at " The Bulletin" magazine, Archibald said :
" Whatever you write , we will buy "


Allen in OZ

Subject: Lyr Add: PAST CARIN' (Henry Lawson)
From: Bruce D
Date: 12 Feb 10 - 03:23 AM

PAST CARIN'
Henry Lawson

Now up and down the sidling brown
    The great black crows are flyin',
And down below the spur, I know,
    Another 'milker's' dyin';
The crops have withered from the ground,
    The tanks' clay bed is glarin',
And from my heart no tear nor sound,
    For I have got past carin'—
        Past worryin' or carin',
        Past feelin' aught or carin';
        But from my heart no tear nor sound,
        For I have got past carin'.

Through Death and Trouble, turn about,
    Through hopeless desolation,
Through flood and fever, fire and drought,
    And slavery and starvation;
Through childbirth, sickness, hurt, and blight,
    And nervousness an' scarin',
Through bein' left alone at night,
    I've come to be past carin'
        Past botherin' or carin',
        Past feelin' and past carin';
        Through city cheats and neighbours' spite,
        I've come to be past carin'.

Our first child took, in days like these,
    A cruel week in dyin',
All day upon her father's knees,
    Or on my poor breast lyin';
The tears we shed—the prayers we said
    Were awful, wild—despairin' !
I've pulled three through, and buried two
    Since then—and I'm past carin'.
        I've grown to be past carin',
        Past worryin' and wearin';
        I've pulled three through, and buried two
        Since then, and I'm past carin'.

'Twas ten years first, then came the worst,
    All for a barren clearin',
I thought, I thought my heart would burst
    When first my man went shearin';
He's drovin' in the great North-west,
    I don't know how he's farin';
For I, the one that loved him best,
    Have grown to be past carin'.
        I've grown to be past carin'
        Past waitin' and past wearin';
        The girl that waited long ago
        Has lived to be past carin'.

My eyes are dry, I cannot cry,
    I've got no heart for breakin',
For where it was in days gone by,
    A dull and empty achin',
My last boy ran away from me,
    I know my temper's wearin',
But now I only wish to be
    Beyond all signs of carin'.
        Past wearyin' or carin',
        Past feelin' and despairin';
        And now I only wish to be
        Beyond all signs of carin'.


First published in the Australian Magazine, Sydney 30th May 1899

There were some editing 1917, with some minor word changes and two complete line changes,
Line 34 was changed from "Past worryin' and wearin';" to "Past lookin' up or carin' " in 1917 and Line 46 "Past waitin' and past wearin';" to "Past lookin' for or carin' " in the 1899-1900 versions.

ref: Henry Lawson Collected Verse Volume One 1885-1900 edited by Colin Roderick

Subject: RE: req/ADD: Past Caring / Past Carin' (Henry Laws
From: Boho
Date: 12 Feb 10 - 11:42 PM

"Mara Kiek [of Mara!] used to sing this in concerts in the 80's/early 90's. Not sure whether she recorded it - have to check the vinyls in the loft - but it was an absolute show stopper, thanks for jogging the memory."

I have it on a tape someone made for me, it appears to be on an album called Images. Lovely version, different tune from the one in the OP.

Subject: RE: req/ADD: Past Caring / Past Carin' (Henry Laws
From: GUEST,Gerry
Date: 13 Feb 10 - 05:55 PM

Mara! recorded it on the Ruino Vino album. The tune is Steve Ashley's.

Subject: RE: req/ADD: Past Caring / Past Carin' (Henry Laws
From: Rowan
Date: 13 Feb 10 - 09:46 PM

Roderick is (was?) definitely "the man" for studying Lawson, as I found out when researching some of Lawson's material that had got into the oral tradition.

Cheers, Rowan

Subject: RE: req/ADD: Past Caring / Past Carin' (Henry Lawson)
From: rich-joy
Date: 14 Feb 10 - 02:53 AM

I always loved Mara's version ...... though some have said that Steve's tune and her singing made it rather a lament of despair, as opposed to a numbed "past caring" - but no matter - I still love the Mara performance best of all!!

Cheers, R-J

Subject: RE: ADD: Past Caring / Past Carin' (Henry Lawson)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 28 Oct 11 - 02:59 PM

Somebody is looking for a recording of "Past Caring" by Martyn Wyndham-Read. Anybody know how to get hold of one?
I did find a very moving recording by Martin Simpson, with vocals by Jessica Simpson. I'm sure some won't like the vocals, but I do.

-Joe-

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Past Caring / Past Carin' (Henry Lawson)
From: Reinhard
Date: 28 Oct 11 - 07:21 PM

Past Carin' is on Martyn Wyndham-Read's newest CD, Back to You.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Past Caring / Past Carin' (Henry Lawson)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 29 Oct 11 - 03:42 AM

Thanks to you, Reinhard, I found it. It's a beautiful recording of the song.
-Joe-

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Past Caring / Past Carin' (Henry Lawson)
From: freda underhill
Date: 29 Oct 11 - 03:50 AM

Jackie Oates' version (linked from Martin W-R's CD playlist) is absolutely beautiful.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Past Caring / Past Carin' (Henry Lawson)
From: GUEST,Don Wise
Date: 29 Oct 11 - 09:32 AM

Mara!-'Images': Side 2, track 2