Lyr Add: The Mother's Kiss (Donald R. Meixner)

Subject: Lyr Add: THE MOTHER'S KISS (Donald R. Meixner)
From: DonMeixner
Date: 28 Dec 99 - 11:46 PM

A mother and child were found laying in a ditch in the shade of a tree. Cheeks sunken and hollow and lips stained green from trying to ear enough grass to sustain them.

The Mother's Kiss,

words are copyrighted by: Donald R. Meixner
Music is traditional: Tramps and Hawkers

1) I met a woman along the road,A baby on her arm,
She wore a shawl to wrap them both but it could not keep them warm,
When she brought forth her bowl to beg, to feed her yet unborn,
A tale she told of the ancient cold indiference and scorn.

2) And green was the mother's kiss upon the babies head,
That lay upon the withered breast that mother England bled,
And the green that stains the cotton cloth will surely stain the skin,
And the green can't feed the child with out or the one that sleeps with in.

3) Ascended lords came to the north andtook away our lands,
With foreign steel and foreign law and foreign force of hands,
They drove us from our ancient homes in serfdoms chains once more,
And while Saxons fed on Irish bread, we starved outside the door.

4) What they took would have feed us both, feed us all and then,
If what were left had been cut by half, it would have feed us twice again.
But England sent our bounty south, our cattle sheep and corn,
And left what grew in blighted soil to feed the native born.

repeat (2)

And green was the mother's kiss........

5) I pray the day will never come when famine times draw nigh,
When a father's tears fall to the ground as his children fail and die,
I pray the lord will guide us and keep us safe and warm,
And in the autumn of the year, bring forth the golden corn.

My comment on the starvation of the Irish people. I wrote this about 8 years ago and have sung it out only once. Help yourselves and sing it if you like. Just tell people where it came from and if you record it and make mint of it, send me some money too. :-)))

(fixed by a Joe clone)

Subject: RE: The Mother's Kiss
From: MMario
Date: 28 Dec 99 - 11:54 PM

dammit Don.....now I have to go and learn the tune for this.....

and I add another gut-twister to my repetoire.

y'know, I wish I could learn/do the happy bouncy stuff but somehow I always seem to be attracted to the depressing/morbid/heart-wrenchers

Subject: RE: The Mother's Kiss
From: catspaw49
Date: 29 Dec 99 - 12:01 AM

Well Geeziz Don.............just fockin GREAT!!!! If not you, then SOMEBODY NEEDS to DO THIS!!!!

simply fantastic......

Spaw

Subject: RE: The Mother's Kiss
From: DonMeixner
Date: 29 Dec 99 - 12:25 AM

Thanks Pat.

Subject: RE: The Mother's Kiss
From: katlaughing
Date: 29 Dec 99 - 09:01 AM

Beautiful, Don, thank you for letting us *hear* it; brought tears to my eyes.

luvyaKat

Subject: RE: The Mother's Kiss
From: Neil Lowe
Date: 29 Dec 99 - 10:47 AM

....only vaguely related - but your lyrics brought back imagery of Kerouac's description of finding an aborted baby lying in a ditch.

Neil

Subject: RE: The Mother's Kiss
From: Susan A-R
Date: 29 Dec 99 - 10:03 PM

YES! So where is the tune?? I can sing happy songs, but I too tend to be drawn toward the stronger stuff.

Subject: RE: The Mother's Kiss
From: DonMeixner
Date: 29 Dec 99 - 11:28 PM

Hi Susan,

The tune I used here is Tramps and Hawkers, a piece I believe to be in public domain. Its a well used melody. The Battlefiels Band sings Tramps and Hawkers as do the Corries.

Don

Subject: RE: The Mother's Kiss
From: alison
Date: 30 Dec 99 - 10:37 PM

Tune , if I remember rightly is also known as "the Homes of Donegal" it's probably in the database if not I'll add it.......

Great song don....

slainte

alison

Subject: RE: The Mother's Kiss
From: alison
Date: 30 Dec 99 - 11:16 PM

It was in the database TRAMPS AND HAWKERS

slainte

alison

Subject: RE: The Mother's Kiss
From: DonMeixner
Date: 30 Dec 99 - 11:31 PM

Thanks Alison, I lack the skill with musical notation.

I noticed that in the Mudcat SongBook that the line

"I pray the day will never come when famine times draw nigh" The word nigh is left off. If that can be fixed by someone I'd appreciate it.

Don

Subject: RE: The Mother's Kiss
From: Big Mick
Date: 31 Dec 99 - 11:26 AM

My God, Don. What a powerful song. I am working on it as you read this. Excellent lyric. Between this and one that Ed Trickett is sending me, I have found two very powerful songs that are not done by everyone. Thanks. If I make a ton, so will you. Fat chance in our biz, eh? Thanks for a marvellous song.

Big Mick

Subject: RE: The Mother's Kiss
From: DonMeixner
Date: 31 Dec 99 - 01:39 PM

Enjoy it Mick, Its ain't done by anyone, including me just yet. You can be the first.

Don

Subject: RE: The Mother's Kiss
From: Big Mick
Date: 31 Dec 99 - 07:48 PM

I have set it to two different tunes so far, I am going to try it with Tramps and Hawkers next. I canna wait to perform it. Thanks again for a wonderful lyric.

Mick

Subject: RE: The Mother's Kiss
From: Davey
Date: 31 Dec 99 - 07:59 PM

Don, looks like you've got a winner there... I think I'll see what I can do with it as well. I'm not familiar with Tramps and Hawkers, but I'm ceetain I can find someone who is. Or, like Mick, I'll make up a tune for it.

When I have time to breathe, that is. Here I sit at work with just 4 hours to go until midnight. We, like many in the computer field, are doing our Y2K watch, not voluntarily, I might add. We haven't a lot to do, so I'll be checking in here from time to time..

Davey... (:>)

Subject: RE: The Mother's Kiss
From: DonMeixner
Date: 31 Dec 99 - 08:03 PM

Mick,

When I wrote it against the Tramps and Hawkers tune I used th Corries version which as I recall is a waltz. I wrote it between Syracuse and Albany on the NYState Thruway as i drove along and alone and i wrote it in my milage log in the company car. The Battlefield Band also has what I think is odds on the best version of Tramps and hawkers ever done. It may fit that version as well.

This may help you somewhat. When I have done this tune for friends or about the house I have used the first verse as a recitation which adds some drama to the song.

Good luck and keep on touch.

Don

Subject: RE: The Mother's Kiss
From: Big Mick
Date: 31 Dec 99 - 09:16 PM

I will, Don. I will send you a tape when I settle on a version.

Mick

Subject: RE: The Mother's Kiss
From: alison
Date: 31 Dec 99 - 10:18 PM

Tramps and Hawkers tune is also known as "Paddy West" if that makes it any more recognisable to people...

slainte

alison

Subject: RE: The Mother's Kiss
From: Big Mick
Date: 31 Dec 99 - 11:57 PM

Hey FAIR ONE, I have an offer for you. I saw software yesterday that allows people on different computers to share tracks and make recordings from different locations as long as they have the same software. I will spring for the software and we will do an arrangement of this and send it to Max? I will send you the software. Deal?

Mick

Subject: RE: The Mother's Kiss
From: alison
Date: 01 Jan 00 - 09:02 AM

You're on Mick.......

then can we get down to all those soppy sentimental ballads too...... "alison and Big Mick's CD of Mudcatter's songs and assorted soppy mush"...... maybe I need to think of a snappier title.... hahahaha.....

count me in....

slainte

alison

Subject: RE: The Mother's Kiss
From: Big Mick
Date: 01 Jan 00 - 09:27 AM

I think that is a wonderful title.......hahahahaha.....this will be fun. I will go back and check out the software next week.

Mick

Subject: RE: The Mother's Kiss
From: catspaw49
Date: 01 Jan 00 - 10:10 AM

Whatever, but I'm glad this thread is being noticed. As I said before, this is perhaps the best thing I've seen written by a 'Catter......Powerful, strong, touching.........Truth rings through.

Thank You again Don.

Spaw