ADD: North by North (John Paul O'Connor)

Subject: RE: ADD: North by North (John Paul O'Connor)
From: DebC
Date: 10 Apr 16 - 09:31 PM

John is a dear friend of mine and also one of the founders of AFM Local 1000. In the last few years he served as Recording VP at AFM Local 802 (NYC) He is now retired from Union organizing and is focusing on his poetry writing. I have recorded two of his songs "Carpal Tunnel" and "A Cold Day in November".

Shay's Rebellion was based in Seattle and along with John, also had Janet Stecher and Susan Lewis (who are now a duo called rebel Voices) and there was a fourth member, but I can't recall his name.

And another bit of trivia: Lou Killen is singing in the chorus of John's song "The Yankee"

Debra Cowan

Subject: RE: 'North by North' author
From: GUEST,Chuck Hutton
Date: 10 Apr 16 - 01:10 AM

https://johnpauloconnor.com/music/songs-for-our-times/north-by-north/

You'll be happy to hear the version on his website. It's from Daniel Shay's Highway (Shays Rebellion), a late 80's Flying Fish release.

Chuck

Subject: RE: 'North by North' author
From: Susanne (skw)
Date: 21 Jul 03 - 05:47 PM

Also recorded by Glasgow's Arthur Johnstone on album of same name, which carries the note:
[1989:] The Canadian band 'Shay's Rebellion' gave me the words of this song, which tells how American people had to move to try and find work when traditional industries closed down. It could easily be applied to thousands of people all over Britain today. (Notes Arthur Johnstone, 'North By North')
Great song, but who is J. O'Connor? Any info?

Subject: RE: 'North by North' author
From: GUEST,theballadeer
Date: 21 Jul 03 - 02:22 PM

The group may actually have been the Fureys, as this song appears on their album title "Winds of Change".

Nick

Subject: RE: 'North by North' author
From: GUEST,cordleycoit
Date: 21 Jul 03 - 01:01 AM

The group's name is Winds of Change they played it tonight on KRCC Colorado Springs they did not have it on the playlist. Good song

Subject: RE: 'North by North' author
From:
Date: 17 Jan 01 - 02:45 PM

'North by North' was written by J. O'Connor.

Subject: ADD: 'North by North' - author???
From:
Date: 17 Jan 01 - 12:22 PM

Who wrote this song?

"North by North"

They travel the long miles, those women and men
Who only want a chance to start over again
So easy to give up, so hard to get by
They leave all their families and home far behind

Away from the North eastern factory towns
Oh, to find just a warm place to lay your body down
So far from where they started, so little in hand
Oh, where did we go wrong in this fruitful land?

CHORUS:
North by north we travel, south by south
For money in your pocket and food in your mouth
Counting the pennies and biding your time
West to the ocean, the end of the line

They all used to work in the auto and steel
Till the rug was pulled out, tell me how do they feel
Toward the men who had held all their dreams in their hand
Then ran with the money and left them with sand

I handed some change to a man yesterday
Who stood on the corner and to me he did say
"I worked hard all my life, and I never asked why,
Now the system ain't working, and neither am I."