Lyr Add: Ashes on the Sea (Utah Phillips)

Subject: Ashes on the sea^^^
From: kendall
Date: 13 Oct 00 - 08:49 AM

ASHES ON THE SEA by Utah Phillips

What is this tune I hear repeating
Sprung from the careless seed you've sown
Our songs will come and go like seasons
And bloom or fade all on their own.
refrain
Now, I know I will not find you
You'r gone from all but memory
For I am told that one who loves you
Has strewn your ashes on the sea.

I stepped outside for just a moment
To turn around and look on my own face
Who was that shadow just behind me
That old man I reach out to embrace

repeat refrain

It's one thing to look upon a picture
Another still to read the pages through
Perhaps to search along the wayside
Hoping I might find a trace of you.

re. ref.

Your dust cloud still drifts across the foot prints
Your best friend still standing there alone
You boxcars still keep the lovers parted
Your little boys still run away from home.

rep. ref.

What is this tune you hear repeating
Sprung from the careless seed I've sown
Our songs will come and go like seasons
And bloom or fade all on their own

repeat refrain ^^^

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Ashes on the sea
From: kendall
Date: 13 Oct 00 - 12:43 PM

did you get this Dick? It's slip sliding away...

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Ashes on the sea
From: GUEST
Date: 13 Oct 00 - 01:20 PM

kendall - I'm sure Joe will see it sooner or later....

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Ashes on the sea
From: kendall
Date: 13 Oct 00 - 01:38 PM

I posted it for Dick Greenhaus, anyway, I hope he gets it before it slides off the edge of the world.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Ashes on the sea
From: GUEST,MMario
Date: 13 Oct 00 - 01:48 PM

Kendall - since it has "lyr Add" Joe offer should spot it in his routine searches and send it on to Dick.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Ashes on the sea
From: Joe Offer
Date: 14 Oct 00 - 05:04 AM

Already posted and harvested in this thread (click), Kendall. I sure like your recording of the song. I had a good singing buddy who died in December, 1997; and I helped spread his ashes in the sea the following Easter. Your recording made me think of him.
Gee, he was a good guy. Rest in peace, Bob Kirkpatrick.
-Joe-

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Ashes on the sea
From: kendall
Date: 14 Oct 00 - 08:14 AM

It was shortly after we lost Marshall Dodge that I heard this song for the first time. I always sing it for him. Thank you for your kind words. I wish more people had your good taste in songs!

Subject: "i get the blues when it rains"-lyrics
From: GUEST
Date: 25 Jun 05 - 01:20 PM

Subject: Lyr Req: 'strewed' his ashes on the sea
From: open mike
Date: 18 Aug 06 - 11:54 AM

and chords request..
i think this is about
Woody Guthrie..or Joe Hill
i have heard Utah Phillips sing it.

Subject: Lyr Add: ASHES ON THE SEA (Utah Phillips)
From: Stewart
Date: 18 Aug 06 - 12:02 PM

Here it is...a beautiful song and one of my favorites.

ASHES ON THE SEA ? Bruce Phillips
A song in remembrance of Woody Guthrie. He was cremated and his ashes scattered on the sea off Coney Island. Tune similar to Lorena (recorded by Rosalie Sorrels "Miscellaneous Abstract Record No. 1")

What is this song I hear repeating
Sprung from the careless seeds you've sown
Our songs will come and go like seasons
To bloom and fade all on their own.

And now I know I cannot find you
You're gone from all but memories
And I am told that one who loves you
Has strewed your ashes on the sea

I stepped outside for just a moment
To turn and look on my own face
What is that shadow just behind me
Why it's the old one I reach out to embrace

It's one thing to look upon a picture
It's another thing to read the pages through
Or perhaps to linger by the wayside
Hoping I might find a trace of you

Your dust clouds still blow across your footprints
Your best friend still stands there all alone
Your box cars still keep the lovers parted
Your little boys still run away from home

Cheers, S. in Seattle

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'strewed' his ashes on the sea
From: Stewart
Date: 18 Aug 06 - 12:30 PM

Laurel, come to Sunny Camp again and I'll sing it for you.

Cheers, S. in Seattle

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Ashes on the Sea (Utah Phillips)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 18 Aug 06 - 12:36 PM

There's a great recording of this song on Starlight on the Rails, the 4-CD Utah Phillips songbook. The singer on the CD is none other than [drum roll] Kendall Morse!
Good recording, too.
-Joe Offer-

Can anybody help with open mike's request for chords?

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Ashes on the Sea (Utah Phillips)
From: Amos
Date: 18 Aug 06 - 12:52 PM

It is a straight forward triad song--C, F, and G with a second-seventh (D7) on the "gone from all but memory", I believe.

A

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Ashes on the Sea (Utah Phillips)
From: open mike
Date: 18 Aug 06 - 02:27 PM

thanks y'all the search engine did not bring it up for me..
when is sunny camp? october? i may take you up on that...

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Ashes on the Sea (Utah Phillips)
From: open mike
Date: 18 Aug 06 - 02:34 PM

i have a friend whose brother is in hospice now
and the family is making plans for his ashes
when the time comes...thank you..

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Ashes on the Sea (Utah Phillips)
From: Stewart
Date: 18 Aug 06 - 02:42 PM

Sunny Camp - Sept. 29-Oct.1
Long Beach, Washington

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Ashes on the Sea (Utah Phillips)
From: GUEST,Art Thieme
Date: 18 Aug 06 - 08:05 PM

I am reminded of Steve Goodman who wrote "The Dying Cub Fan's Last Request" -- a song that many of us from Chicago love. A portion of Steve's ashes are now well worked into the soil at the base of the center-left field wall at Wrigley Field. A songwriter from town knew a fellow to talk to on the grounds crew, and he was "allowed" entrance one day/night to put some of Stevie into the field there where the ivy that covers the walls is rooted. The Cubs don't take much notice of that good old song, but it, like the dismal record of the team through the many years, combined with the Chicago White Sox winning the World Series in '05, remains as an excruciating thorn in the various sides of the Chicago Cubs. Is this thread creep? No, not really I don't think!

Art

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Ashes on the Sea (Utah Phillips)
From: jacqui.c
Date: 19 Aug 06 - 03:31 AM

Utah tells the story of this song on 'Starlight On The Rails'.

He and Kate Wolfe were touring and, during one concert, she sang a song about the burial of Woody Guthrie. Someone came up to her afterwards and told her the song was wrong, Guthrie was cremated and 'his ashes were strewn on the sea'.

Kate and Utah both agreed that there was a song waiting to be written and the next day, as they were setting off for another gig, Kate handed Utah a pad of paper and a pencil, sat him in the back of the car, and gave him instructions that he was to write the song and perform it that night at their next gig. He did as he was told and the song was born.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Ashes on the Sea (Utah Phillips)
From: Mark Ross
Date: 19 Aug 06 - 10:36 AM

Jacqui, it was Logan English who told the story to Bruce and Kate.

Mark Ross

Subject: Kendall - Ashes on the Sea
From: olddude
Date: 06 Sep 09 - 10:19 PM

For me probably one of the best songs of the sea ever done

ashes on the sea

Subject: RE: Kendall - Ashes on the Sea
From: Deckman
Date: 06 Sep 09 - 10:38 PM

Damned fine! Bob(deckman)Nelson

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Ashes on the sea
From: open mike
Date: 07 Sep 09 - 04:07 AM

who was that on dobro or pedal steel guitar on that recording, kendall?
i hope to include this in my woody guthrie radio special on saturday!

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Ashes on the sea
From: kendall
Date: 07 Sep 09 - 07:47 PM

That was my friend, Evens Fitch who passed away a few years ago. It was a Dobro.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Ashes on the sea
From: kendall
Date: 07 Sep 09 - 07:52 PM

Dan, thanks for the review. One cant go wrong with a Utah song.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Ashes on the sea
From: kendall
Date: 08 Sep 09 - 12:17 PM

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Ashes on the sea
From: olddude
Date: 08 Sep 09 - 01:08 PM

Well Kendall my friend, Utah has to be smiling from ear to ear because no one ever did this song better. It is one of your masterpieces for sure.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Ashes on the sea
From: kendall
Date: 08 Sep 09 - 03:01 PM

You have excellent taste in music my friend. LOL

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Ashes on the Sea (Utah Phillips)
From: GUEST,iancarterb
Date: 30 Jul 16 - 06:14 PM

Had virtual keyboard troubles with first try at thanks for the maintenance of the archive in many years.
Thanks. :)
Carter

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Ashes on the Sea (Utah Phillips)
From: Tiger
Date: 30 Jul 16 - 07:27 PM

What a wonderful song, with a brilliant rendition by Kendall. Check YouTube - search on Kendall, Utah and Ashes for the whole story and the song.

I first heard this song five years ago, and said at the time that I'd never be able to play it through without breaking down.

Time has proven me correct.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Ashes on the Sea (Utah Phillips)
From: GUEST,Hootenanny
Date: 31 Jul 16 - 06:46 AM

A great song beautifully performed and a nice story plus Bruce chose to use a beautiful old melody making just a slight change. One that is destined to last.