Messing around on 'Early Morning Rain'

Subject: Messing around on 'Early Morning Rain'
From: Will Fly
Date: 15 Jun 12 - 03:07 PM

I was fiddling around on the tenor guitar this morning and, without warning, Gordon Lightfoot's "Early Morning Rain" - a tune I've never played before - suddenly appeared on the frets. So I grabbed the 6-string, laid down a few backing choruses, and played a bit of the impromptu lead fiddling.

We've had quite a bit of early morning - and late morning - rain down here in Sussex over the last few days, so it seemed appropriate...

Early Morning Rain

Subject: RE: Messing around on 'Early Morning Rain'
From: maeve
Date: 15 Jun 12 - 03:10 PM

Lovely, Will. Thank you.

Subject: RE: Messing around on 'Early Morning Rain'
From: michaelr
Date: 15 Jun 12 - 09:54 PM

Nice work, Will! What is the tuning on the tenor?

Subject: RE: Messing around on 'Early Morning Rain'
From: Micca
Date: 16 Jun 12 - 03:09 AM

Very nice Will, I am very much enjoying your works, Thank you

Subject: RE: Messing around on 'Early Morning Rain'
From: Will Fly
Date: 16 Jun 12 - 03:09 AM

"Standard" tuning - CGDA - like a viola. Makes it handy when switching from mandolin to tenor and back, because both fingering patterns are based on the same sort of intervals.

Subject: RE: Messing around on 'Early Morning Rain'
From: GUEST,alex s (no cookie)
Date: 16 Jun 12 - 07:42 AM

Nice one, Will.
Any chance of you coming to Burnley Folk Club when next you are visiting your Northern relations?

Subject: RE: Messing around on 'Early Morning Rain'
From: Will Fly
Date: 16 Jun 12 - 12:28 PM

I'd love to - I'm not sure when I'll next be in the area, but I'll let you know when I do and we can check dates.

Subject: Origins: Early Morning Rain (Lightfoot)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 30 May 17 - 03:39 AM

For the record, here are the lyrics we have in the Digital Tradition. Any corrections?

---

IN THE EARLY MORNING RAIN
(Gordon Lightfoot)

In the early morning rain, with a dollar in my hand
With an aching in my heart and my pockets full of sand
I'm a long way from home, and I miss my loved one so
In the early morning rain with no place to go

Out on runway number nine, big 707 set to go
But I'm stuck here on the ground where the cold winds blow
Well the liquor tasted good and the women were all fast
There she goes my friend, o she's rolling now at last

Here the mighty engines roar, see the silver bird on high
She's away and westward bound, high above the clouds she'll fly
Where the early rain don't fall and the sun always shines
She'll be flying o'er my home in about three hours time

This old airport's got me down, it's no earthly use to me
Cause I'm stuck here on the ground, cold and drunk as I might be
You can't jump a jet plane like you can a freight train
So I'd best be on my way in the early morning rain

Recorded by Ian & Sylvia - Early Morning Rain, Collins Fifth
Copyright Warner Brothers Music Publishing Co.
@airplane
filename[ EARLRAIN
TUNE FILE: EARLRAIN
CLICK TO PLAY
SOF

Subject: RE: Messing around on 'Early Morning Rain'
From: leeneia
Date: 30 May 17 - 11:39 AM

Excellent playing, Will. I'm impressed with the number of things you do with a simple line of music.

Subject: RE: Messing around on 'Early Morning Rain'
From: Will Fly
Date: 30 May 17 - 11:49 AM

Thanks, leeneia - I'd almost forgotten I'd recorded this one!

The tuning of the tenor guitar - in 5ths, unlike the conventional 6-string guitar - somehow allows a more lyrical kind of playing and improvisation. I think less in chords and more in melody lines. That's why I love playing it so much.

Subject: RE: Messing around on 'Early Morning Rain'
From: GUEST,LynnH
Date: 31 May 17 - 03:27 AM

I could imagine a marching band backing the song!