Lyr Req: Miner's Lullaby (Utah Phillips)

Subject: Wings of Morphine
From: kendall
Date: 04 Mar 00 - 09:09 AM

Can someone steer me toward a song about miners which goes ..carried away on the wings of morphine, homeward far over the sea..

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Wings of Morphine
From: Midchuck
Date: 04 Mar 00 - 09:50 AM

"Miner's Lullaby" Words by Utah Phillips, Music by Jody Stecher and Kate Brislin; appears on the Stecher/Brislin album, "Heart Songs" (all Utah P. compositions).

Peter.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Wings of Morphine
From: kendall
Date: 04 Mar 00 - 08:24 PM

Thanks a lot.. didnt know the name of it. great song.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Wings of Morphine
From: kendall
Date: 04 Mar 00 - 08:30 PM

Thanks a lot.. didnt know the name of it. great song.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Wings of Morphine
From: Stewie
Date: 04 Mar 00 - 09:02 PM

The note that Phillip's wrote about the song for the CD booklet - and his notes to the other songs - is marvellous reading too.

--Stewie.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Wings of Morphine
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 05 Mar 00 - 05:12 AM

I thought it was the wings of Morpheus or is it a play on words?

LTS

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Wings of Morphine
From: Stewie
Date: 05 Mar 00 - 06:14 PM

Liz

It is morphine. The genesis for the song was that Phillips found one of the little tins in which miners in Utah carried morphine underground so that their death could be peaceful should they become hopelessly trapped or in danger of being burned or slowly suffocated. He says that many of the miners were European immigrants and catholics for whom suicide was a mortal sin - hence the practice was secret and few were willing to talk to him about it.

--Stewie.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Wings of Morphine
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 06 Mar 00 - 08:48 PM

Ah, makes me kind of wish I hadn't asked now.....

LTS

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Wings of Morphine
From:
Date: 11 Jul 01 - 07:07 PM

It looks like no one steered you toward the version of Miner's Lullaby that was recorded by Clandestine on their CD, To Anybody At All, on the Candletime label. Incidentally, Phillip's lyrics differed somewhat, and actually said "in the arms of morphine."

Debra

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Wings of Morphine
From: kendall
Date: 11 Jul 01 - 07:13 PM

Liz, the line you refer to is from another song of his, Wild Irish Rose. ...we'll sleep entwined with Morpheus in the painless arms of wine. I believe Morpheus is the god of sleep, and, it is the origin of morphine.

Subject: Lyr Add: MINER'S LULLABY (Bruce 'Utah' Phillips)
From: Stewie
Date: 21 Nov 01 - 11:56 PM

I don't believe the lyrics have actually been posted to the forum. Here they are:

MINER'S LULLABY
(Bruce 'Utah' Phillips)

Once, long ago, he was handsome and tall
And fit to be called to the war
We left our village, family and all
To never return any more

Now he takes his coat, his bucket and lamp
And whistles away to the cage
Where men young and old from all over the camp
Gather in search of a wage

Chorus:
Husband, sleep, lay your head back and dream
A slow fallen leaf borne down to the stream
Then carried away on the wings of morphine
Homeward far over the sea

My husband and I are Roman in faith
And we have a secret to keep
If ever his life is taken away
Then gentle and long will he sleep

Now some men pass with family around
And linens and blankets so clean
But seldom a miner goes underground
Without his tin of morphine

Chorus

And now here's a word, an explosion is heard
The miners are trapped far below
If any survived down there alive
I'm certain we never will know

Although our families have vainly appealed
No rescue attempt can be seen
Our hope for loved ones in the dark earth sealed
Now lies in a tin of morphine

Chorus

Words and music by Bruce 'Utah' Phillips. On Strike Music BMI.

Source: Jody Stecher and Kate Brislin 'Heart Songs: The Old Time Country Songs of Utah Phillips' Rounder CD 0424.

--Stewie.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Wings of Morphine
From: GUEST,.gargoyle
Date: 22 Nov 01 - 12:36 AM

Life is hard and cruel

Lisp the Squeak

Speak or Squeak

Are ye a man or a mouse?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Wings of Morphine
From: Barry Finn
Date: 22 Nov 01 - 08:44 AM

Who else has made a recording of this? It's been a while since I've heard it (& only twice) but it hit so hard I figurred it's well worth chasing. Thanks Barry

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Miner's Lullaby (Utah Phillips)
From: Janie
Date: 15 Jan 11 - 02:39 PM

Just listened to Anke Summerhill and Kate MacLeod perform this on Long Gone.

Lovely version.

This song carries special meaning to me. My grandfather died from morphine shock on the way to the hospital after a coal mine roof collapsed on him in 1938. From what the family was told, it was a mercy.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Miner's Lullaby (Utah Phillips)
From: GUEST,kendall
Date: 06 Mar 11 - 09:14 PM

The latest version I know of is on the Tribute to Utah called Singing through the hard times. It was sung by Jacqui Morse.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Miner's Lullaby (Utah Phillips)
From: Dan Schatz
Date: 06 Mar 11 - 09:46 PM

Kendall, you really need a copy of Long Gone. It's a fine piece of work, very different from Singing through the Hard Times, and no less a fitting tribute.

Warmly,
Dan

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Miner's Lullaby (Utah Phillips)
From: Janie
Date: 06 Mar 11 - 10:37 PM

Being the ignorant, uneducated git that I am, the first time I ever heard the song, Kendall, was in Dani's kitchen. This was before Utah died. You and Jacqui were down for a visit and we were sitting around after one of Dani's fine suppers. It moved me then, and it moves me now. You and Jacqui do a fine job, as do Summerhill and MacLeod.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Miner's Lullaby (Utah Phillips)
From: Janie
Date: 06 Mar 11 - 11:29 PM

I must also say that Jacqui's English accent adds a special poignancy.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Miner's Lullaby (Utah Phillips)
From: kendall
Date: 07 Mar 11 - 09:25 AM

Dan, I have that CD

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Miner's Lullaby (Utah Phillips)
From: Dan Schatz
Date: 07 Mar 11 - 12:15 PM

Both versions are wonderful, and I'm not just saying that because I sing harmony on one. Jacqui's is so real and heartfelt; you could believe she is a miner's wife. The All Music Guide highlighted her rendition as an "AMG pick" one of five tracks on the CD so honored. That's a big deal.

Dan

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Miner's Lullaby (Utah Phillips)
From: kendall
Date: 07 Mar 11 - 02:06 PM

I'll bet she doesn't know that, but she will.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Miner's Lullaby (Utah Phillips)
From: jacqui.c
Date: 07 Mar 11 - 07:21 PM

Thank you Janie and Dan - I love the song.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Miner's Lullaby (Utah Phillips)
From: kendall
Date: 07 Mar 11 - 07:23 PM

She's quite embarrassed and believe it or not, speechless. The silence is deafening.