Lyr Add: Witch Hazel (Tom Gala)

Subject: Lyr Add: Witch Hazel (Tom Gala)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 03 Aug 20 - 06:30 PM

WITCH HAZEL
(Tom Gala)

I am looking at a witch hazel blooming in a garden
the bright yellow flowers in the middle of wintertime
and I tell heart be strong like the witch hazel flower
and you will not be injured by this dark and troubled time.

I take myself along to a place I know in winter
and I look at that south sloping bank covered with ice
and I tell my heart it all will melt and run down to the ocean
and you will not be injured by this dark and troubled time.

I am looking at a witch hazel blooming in a garden
the bright yellow flowers in the middle of wintertime
and I tell my heart be strong like the witch hazel flower
and you will not be injured by this dark and troubled time.

We must say good-bye to the one we love, we must say good-bye to many
We must say good-bye, in way too short a time,
and I tell my heart be strong like the witch hazel flower
and you will not be injured by this dark and troubled time.

©2001 copyright Tom Gala, publisher: Tom Gala
if you want to record song, contact Tom Gala at [e-mail]

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Witch Hazel (Tom Gala)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 21 Dec 20 - 08:42 PM

from Elizabeth Block, a rewritten verse and a new verse.

I also rewrote Tom Gala's last verse:

We must say goodbye to the ones we love, we must say goodbye to many,
And we must say goodbye in far too short a time
But I tell my heart be thankful for the time we had together
And you will not be injured in this dark and troubled time

The times are full of menace, of danger we rightly fear,
Hatred turns to violence far away and near,
If we look out for our neighbour, protect and defend each other
Then we shall not be injured by this dark and troubled time

EB

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Witch Hazel (Tom Gala)
From: GUEST,cnd
Date: 22 Dec 20 - 08:58 AM

Not particularly related to the song, but witch hazel is a plant that grows in most of the eastern half of the US. I don't know much about the botanical side of it so I'll just say it looks kinda bushy until it blooms; when it blooms, the leaves get a spicky yellow look and smell kind like fragrant spices instead of a plant's usual sweet smell.

I've also found that witch hazel water is the perhaps the only reliable way to deal with chiggers

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Witch Hazel (Tom Gala)
From: GUEST,Julia L
Date: 22 Dec 20 - 10:20 AM

Where can we find the tune to this lovely lyric?

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Witch Hazel (Tom Gala)
From: cnd
Date: 23 Dec 20 - 10:35 AM

Here is Tom's recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7VJMA5jnSOc

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Witch Hazel (Tom Gala)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 23 Dec 20 - 01:51 PM

I knew this song only from the Priscilla Herdman recording. We put the song in the Rise Again songbook, and it has has a good response.
Here's the reference page we have on the song. I keep it updated with links to recordings and other information.

https://www.riseupandsing.org/songs/witch-hazel

I had the job of getting the copyright license so we could print this song. We didn't know who Tom Gala was or how to contact him, but we had heard he was somewhere in New England. I googled Tom Galas in New England. There weren't many, so I started contacting them. One had a tree trimming service - didn't really sound like an author of profound songs, but I called. Tom's wife answered, and we had a nice chat. And yes, Tom the tree trimmer was the author of the song, and they were very pleased to have the song included in the book.
-Joe-