Can anyone tell me about Mudcat?

Subject: RE: Can anyone tell me about Mudcat?
From: MystMoonstruck
Date: 08 Sep 07 - 08:19 PM

Maker's Mark! A friend who is sort of hooked on freebies for folks, signed me up as an MM Ambassador, and I even have one of the barrels named for me though I don't recall what I did with that particular certificate, though it might include Cyn and/or Semele, Cyn being from Cynthia and Semele being my event name. Considering I'm a teetotalling lady of Irish/American Indian descent, it's rather odd to be connected with hard liquor. But, they're very generous, sending me address labels, business cards, and all sorts of gifties.

I enjoyed the story of course. It's one of those that, if I heard it at an event, would have had me clapping both hands over my mouth as I giggled and turned bright red. Yes, I'm rather a goof. Double nickels and I still blush far too much and giggle often. I'm certain people say, "Oh, it's the silly redhead again!" *SIGH* Oh to be one of those poised, oh-so-serious ladies in their perfect period attire. I've never managed to do that.

And when will we hear the rest of the story--as we're heading for the holiday seasons?

Moonie... I like that!

Subject: RE: Can anyone tell me about Mudcat?
From: MystMoonstruck
Date: 08 Sep 07 - 10:45 PM

Mudcat is about gathering information I see, and I've read and reread to figure out how I should go about listing a song that I have had no luck at finding, having only one recording of it. It is difficult to interpret because it doesn't sound like a professional-level recording, rather echoey, as if recorded in an auditorium or other large event area with no musical accompaniment, only the thumb of feet keeping the beat. It's a sea chantey-type song and is absolutely mesmerizing; half is sung in English, the rest in Gaelic I believe. It's on one of those compilation CDs that are on sale for St. Patrick's Day.

Please, can someone explain how I go about placing a request for this or another song not in the listings here or, as far as I know, anywhere else? No one at any event has recognized it. Hmmm... I don't think my playing is that bad.

The title is "Fiollegean". Do I start a thread just for this song?

I considered where I could beg for help. Is there an official begging-for-help thread? I need to mark it then!

Subject: RE: Can anyone tell me about Mudcat?
From: catspaw49
Date: 08 Sep 07 - 11:11 PM

Is this just a tune or does it have words? Go to the Start a Thread blue clicky and start a thread using the appropriate prefix which are on the drop down. Put the title in the thread name. Give as much info as you can in your first post.........Not hard at all! Go do it.

Spaw

Subject: RE: Can anyone tell me about Mudcat?
From: GUEST,MystMoonstruck
Date: 09 Sep 07 - 06:09 AM

Thanks, I shall do that as soon as I try catching some of the lyrics to give others a start. This one has been a puzzle for everyone I've posed it to. When I start listening to it, I'd love to have a Repeat on the Media Player, but I haven't gotten it to mind me yet, so I keep hitting Previous. I am seriously hooked on this song~have been since I first heard it. The singers aren't credited, so it's a puzzlement, that's for certain.

Yes, it has words, but they're rather hard to hear because it sounds as if they're in a large hall, not a recording studio. Also, they keep "work time" by stamping their feet, which led me to view it as a chanty. It's a mystery I'd love to solve; just knowing all of the lyrics and getting to the meaning will be wonderful.

It's obviously about a man named "Fiollegean" who seems to have his undoing through liquor.

Subject: RE: Can anyone tell me about Mudcat?
From:
Date: 10 Sep 07 - 09:21 AM

Myst, is there a web-link to the file on the internet?

Subject: RE: Can anyone tell me about Mudcat?
From:
Date: 10 Sep 07 - 09:32 AM

Couldn't find anything on the net under the name you gave, Fiollegean

Subject: RE: Can anyone tell me about Mudcat?
From: MystMoonstruck
Date: 11 Sep 07 - 01:40 AM

Sorry. I haven't been back here to check on things. I'm not sure what you mean about "web-link to the file on the internet". I've not caught on to all the jargon; it will take me awhile.

The song is on a CD, but I don't know how to get it from there onto the Net. That would be a great help, wouldn't it? I don't have any way of letting someone hear it unless I can track down the original CD. Then, I could relate the item number--if the CD is still available. I've purchased a number of those St. Paddy's Day specials, but this song appears on only one, which is unusual since most seem to interchange, as with the triple set I bought at Wal-Mart; it rounds up a scattering of songs I have elsewhere and gives these names: Spailpin, Column MacOirea. On other CDs and cassettes, these songs appear with no credit for the performer(s).

I've tried so many spellings, just to see what comes up, but the mystery continues. I am positive it's a seafaring song; that's about all I'm certain of. There's a line in there: "He could grow kale and cabbages"; it's so difficult to decipher.

GAH! I just spent some time going through cassettes and CDs trying to find it! When I do, perhaps I can decipher some of it because more clues always make for better searches, true? I've been finding out with a lot of searching. I did find an amazing site that plays hundreds of melodies, some of which I saved to a favorites folder just in case I couldn't find my way back.

Thank you for searching. I have been trying mainly by talking to musicians and, more recently, hours on the Net focused just on this song. I'd be so proud to have it added to Mudcat's library.

Subject: RE: Can anyone tell me about Mudcat?
From: autolycus
Date: 11 Sep 07 - 03:11 AM

Welcome Moonie, from a relative newbie, circa '05 (they don't seem to hold it against me)

you said you were a Capricorn. Careful. Some of us are astrology buffs. Also, not in USA but UK.

There are full lists of 'smilies' which can be googled via 'smiley'. So no need to reinvent the wheel. Some genius will give you links before you can read War and Peace Woody Allen-style in 7 minutes ("it's about Russia").



    Ivor (a Cancerian :-) the only one I seem to use)

Subject: RE: Can anyone tell me about Mudcat?
From:
Date: 11 Sep 07 - 07:43 PM

Myst, Sorry, I had assumed it had been a song you found on the web. Since it was on a CD, yes, it would help to have further clues. When you get some clues together, start up a new thread, put the Lyr Req: at the start so we know what kind of thread it is. Since you have a title, put that in after that, and in the 1st message of the thread, but as many of the clues together that you have, snippets of lyrics, singer's name if possible.

Subject: RE: Can anyone tell me about Mudcat?
From: MystMoonstruck
Date: 12 Sep 07 - 12:05 AM

Thank you for the simple outline in setting up a thread. Simple is best for me. Actually, it's absolutely necessary! I know I recorded this song several times on tapes that go to events with me. If I can't find the CD, I'll surely find one of the tapes. Then, I can transcribe words and finally start that thread--now that I know how.

But, how do I bold Lyr Req:? I tried bold commands, and that didn't work. If it's not bolded, is that OK? I can't figure out how to do bold and italic. Help!

Yes, I'm a Capricorn, a born-on-the-cusp one. For many years, they argued about when the sign started. For a very long time, Dec. 22 was not considered the start; the 23rd was. At last, they settled the debate. Strangely, if a read a bit of both, they seem to suit me.

You're a newbie from 2005?! Oh dear! I'm going to be the newbie for a very long time I suppose. I haven't been here very long, and I've learned soooo much! By September 2009... WOW! I might even find "Fiollegean" by then! Last night, I spent three solid hours looking through various sites, including one of those virtual books~which is really cool! I searched with every possible spelling I could come up with, and I used the snippet I remembered. I got one hit! Well... It turned out to be my own forum entries here! Woah! I searched and found ME! Talk about a mindbending experience!

Subject: RE: Can anyone tell me about Mudcat?
From: katlaughing
Date: 12 Sep 07 - 12:37 AM

Myst...when you start a new thread, there is a Drop Down Menu which allows you to choose an appropriate prefix for your thread. When you click on Start A New Thread, it will take you to a new page. At the top, left there are two blank boxes. One says "prefix (optional) and has a small arrow pointing downward. Click on that arrow and choose your prefix. In the case of the song you'd like to find, you would want to choose "LYR REQ" which means "lyrics request." The box just to the right of the prefix choice box is where you will put the title of your thread. Be as specific as possible. Then, click where it says "Create Thread & Compose a New Message." Just follow from there and you should be okay!

You've got our curiosity up, now, wondering about that song!

kat

Subject: RE: Can anyone tell me about Mudcat?
From: MystMoonstruck
Date: 12 Sep 07 - 03:42 AM

Thank you for the details. They will help greatly when it's time to create the thread. It seems each site is a bit different, so I'm always fearful of doing something wrong. I can say this: Since discovering The Mudcat Cafe, my desire to pick up the bowed psaltery again has grown. Since I haven't been able to go to an event for a couple of years due to illness, I haven't played much and feared that I might have forgotten many of the melodies I knew. But, with my curiosity engaged now, I've been collecting new songs to try; this place certainly has helped me launch searches.

I shall be thrilled if I can bring a "new" song to everyone's attention as we solve the mystery that is "Fiollegean". I wish there was someway for it to be heard since that might bring recognition. It might be known by an entirely different name.

I still haven't found out about the first half of Daddy Claude's version of "Davy Crockett". Where on Earth DO those opening stanzas come from?! Well, that's what this site is all about, right? I wasn't certain if I should start a thread among the DC ones for my granddaddy's version. The last half obviously is inspired by "Pompey Smash" (I think it is), but the opening... I'm purely puzzled by that.

All of you have encouraged me to put on my garb and go to the next event, where I certainly plan to play a lot of songs. Thanks for the inspiration! I'll tell 'em Mudcat sent me! *giggle*