Song for NYC Firefighters...

Subject: Song for NYC Firefighters...
From: InOBU
Date: 20 Sep 01 - 11:07 AM

Remember their passing…<
Lorcan Otway
to the tune of Lough Hospital (streets of larado also... same tune I think...)

Flashing lights and no sirens, all emergencies over
The motorcade passes, with the heroes who fell
And all on the streets stop, and in silence bear witness

Such sorrow and thanks, no mere words can tell

Who ever can forget the gray ash covered engines
coming back from the alarm like no other before
Such pain for survivors, to embrace all the families
Of comrades so loved, now on that distant shore

Chief Downey, Father Mike, First deputy Bill Feehan
Peter Ganci and many too many to tell
Your memories we'll honor we n'er will forget you
You brought hope to the horror when the two towers fell.

Remember Tim Stakcpole, how he prayed in the wreckage
In that terrible fire that took two of his friends
So horribly injured he fought to recover
To return to his ladder and to die with his men

So tell all your children to tell all their children
never pass a firehouse without a brief pause
And thank all the heroes who work on those engines
Each day they risk all in humanities cause

Subject: RE: Song for NYC Firefighters...
From: Marymac90
Date: 20 Sep 01 - 12:00 PM

Another good one, Larry.

Marymac

Subject: RE: Song for NYC Firefighters...
From: Wesley S
Date: 20 Sep 01 - 02:05 PM

Larry - I was telling some friends the other night that a lot of bad songs are going to be written about 9/11/01. Well this ISN'T one of them. Good job. My favorite line is "Tell all your children to tell all their children".

Subject: RE: Song for NYC Firefighters...
From:
Date: 20 Sep 01 - 03:42 PM

Well done, Larry, a good tribute.

Subject: RE: Song for NYC Firefighters...
From: InOBU
Date: 20 Sep 01 - 03:58 PM

Corrections (and thanks for the comments) and two new verses. I found I was uncomfortable about the fact that all the names were of officers, though truely exemplery fellows, there was not a mention of the rank and file firefighter. So, I walked over to my local company, who lost a quarter of their company. So these two verses go before the last. Also, the name is Tim Stackpole... sorry for the misspelling.

So now to acknowelge, just one of the many
Engine 33, ladder company 9,
there's 10 empty places around their table
10 fallen brothers who fell on the line.

Remember Ken Phiefer, Mike Boyle and Kieth Maynard
Jeff Walz, Brian Bilcher, Robert King, Dave Arce
Gerod Baptiste, Robert Evans, John Tierney, Remember
10 lost out of 40 from one company

I'll check the spelling of names and make correcitons. Larry

Subject: RE: Song for NYC Firefighters...
From: InOBU
Date: 20 Sep 01 - 06:31 PM

Hi guys... add one more before the last verce...

And though we mourn them, they're still on the job
Though they have fallen, they're still standing tall
Their spirit will bolster their sisters and brothers
Their unseen presence will answer each call

Subject: RE: Song for NYC Firefighters...
From: catspaw49
Date: 20 Sep 01 - 06:54 PM

Its another good piece Larry.....Sevveral tunes fit, but I'm sure you have one.

Tim Stackpole, for those who may not know, was on a rescue in a fire about three years ago and the floor collapsed, pinning him in the flaming rubble. He managed to get out with help but was badly burned, about 30% third degree. At the time he had 17 years in and could have retired with a large disability. Instead, he went through the surgeries and rehab to come back and do the job once again. He was early on the scene and as a Lieutenant led a search and rescue into the tower.......and lost his life along with so many others. He had 5 kids. His wife said he loved helping and "lived for forgiveness."

Just a brief note on one of the names Larry mentioned.

Spaw

Subject: RE: Song for NYC Firefighters...
From: Jeri
Date: 20 Sep 01 - 07:14 PM

It would go well to Lough Hospital/Streets of Laredo, I think. ;-)

Larry, this is a wonderful tribute. I hope you have a chance to sing it for the firefighters.

Subject: RE: Song for NYC Firefighters...
From: SINSULL
Date: 20 Sep 01 - 07:19 PM

There is a small shop in my neighborhood called "Inner Peace". Today I passed it and found it strewn with flowers and candles. The owner is a very young woman, a girl in her twenties and amazingly beautiful. The flowers are for her husband, a NYC firefighter missing in the WTC.

Well done Larry. Their names are critical to keeping this real rather than a faceless, nameless mass of destruction.

Subject: RE: Song for NYC Firefighters...
From: InOBU
Date: 20 Sep 01 - 07:53 PM

Hi Jeri... those are the names of the tunes I wrote it to, though I spell them wrong on the heading!!! Cheers and thanks to all. Genie and I are off to the firehouse now to check the spelling of the names. A few small changes and I will post the finished song in a little bit. Larry

Subject: RE: Song for NYC Firefighters...
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 20 Sep 01 - 08:24 PM

Here's what I put in a Personal Message to InOBU about this song:

In the whole of the tragedy it's been the firefighters that have really hit the spot most for me. The notion of whole crews of comrades wiped out as they rushed to the rescue, Father Mike getting killed buy a woman falling from the sky as he was giving the last rites to a dead fireman. And that shot of a young fireman walking up the stairs while people were escaping down.

I suppose it's the difference between just being a totally innocent victim, and being killed going up against the evil - but not as soldiers.

So I'm glad that's the song you wrote.

Subject: RE: Song for NYC Firefighters...
From: InOBU
Date: 20 Sep 01 - 09:27 PM

Final version...
Remember They're With Us…

Lorcan Otway

Flashing lights and no sirens, all emergencies over

The motorcade passes, with the heroes who fell

And all on the streets stop, and in silence bear witness

Such sorrow and thanks, no mere words can tell

Who ever can forget the gray ash covered engines

coming back from the alarm like no other before

Such pain for survivors, to embrace all the families

Of comrades so loved, now on that distant shore

Chief Downey, Father Mike, First Deputy Feehan

Peter Ganci and many too many to tell

Your memories we'll honor we n'er will forget you

You brought hope to the horror when the two towers fell.

Remember Tim Stackpole, how he prayed in the wreckage

In that terrible fire that took two of his friends

So horribly injured he fought to recover

To return to his ladder and to die with his men

So now to acknowledge, just one of the many

Engine 33 ladder company 9

There's 10 empty spaces around their table

10 fallen brothers who fell on the line

Remember Ken Pfiefer, Mike Boyle and Kieth Maynard

Jeff Walz, Brian Bilcher, Robert King Dave Arce

Gerarde Baptiste Robert Evens John Tierney,

10 lost out of 40 from one company

And though we mourn them, they're still on the job

Though they have fallen, they're still standing tall

Their spirit will bolster their sisters and brothers

Their unseen presence will answer each call

So tell all your children to tell all their children

never pass a firehouse without a brief pause

And thank all the heroes who work on those engines

Each day they risk all in humanity's cause

Note David Arce's last name is pronounced R.C. Goodnight, Larry

Subject: RE: Song for NYC Firefighters...
From: catspaw49
Date: 20 Sep 01 - 09:29 PM

Ashoken Farewell works too.

Well done Larry.

Spaw

Subject: RE: Song for NYC Firefighters...
From: Jeri
Date: 20 Sep 01 - 09:33 PM

Sorry Larry, I posted the tunes you already had mentioned as a cheap shot at Spaw. You may not spell very well, but you can sure communicate, and that's what matters.

McGraw, I agree completely. Firefighters risk death to save lives. They don't ever have to kill, and their risks are probably more sure and more frequent than soldiers' risks. I think of all the times someone's told me they were a firefighter, and I've said something inane like "oh, that's nice." I don't think I'll ever look at them the same again. I think maybe next time, I'll just say "thank you."

I haven't heard many names. I hadn't heard the story of Tim Stackpole. I never would have, if it hadn't been for your song and Spaw's reply. Thanks.

Subject: RE: Song for NYC Firefighters...
From: InOBU
Date: 20 Sep 01 - 09:56 PM

Thanks Jeri, and I hope everyone remembers that there are three hundred more. You can just stop at any firehouse at random and find sometime in their history, a Tim Stackpole, not to take away from him, but to say he comes from the finest kind. Bless them all. Cheers Larry

Subject: RE: Song for NYC Firefighters...
From: InOBU
Date: 21 Sep 01 - 07:14 AM

Hi Folkies, for thouse of you who can get Joel Landy's show tonight, I am singing this and another song about Sept 11, tonight. So far, without the band. Cheers Larry

Subject: RE: Song for NYC Firefighters...
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 21 Sep 01 - 08:26 AM

The tune Larry uses is essentially the same as the one also used for Bold Robert Emmett. And other songs. It's a good choice.

Subject: RE: Song for NYC Firefighters...
From: Charley Noble
Date: 21 Sep 01 - 10:04 AM

Good luck singing this one, Larry. It will be hard getting through it, I'm sure, but that will be all right too.

Subject: RE: Song for NYC Firefighters...
From: GUEST,PeteBoom (at work)
Date: 21 Sep 01 - 10:38 AM

Well done.

Subject: RE: Song for NYC Firefighters...
From: Dani
Date: 21 Sep 01 - 01:11 PM

Larry, this is an amazing song. Thank you.

I'll be singing it when our song circle next meets, and here all day. Since I don't know those other tunes, can I use "Deportee"?

Dani

Subject: RE: Song for NYC Firefighters...
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 21 Sep 01 - 01:40 PM

Midis of the tune are in the DT with all those the songs. (Well it's Locke Hospital not Lough - I think it really should be Lock.) You'll probably find you know the tune when you hear it, Dani.

Subject: RE: Song for NYC Firefighters...
From: InOBU
Date: 22 Sep 01 - 08:43 AM

Hi Guys... a few images from the last few days.
By the way Deportee is very like Lough Hospital, which is also Bold Robert Emmitt, and Beat the Drum Slowly and Play the Pipes Lowly, and Streets of Lorado.
Well, I did a rough cut of the CD of the song and brought it over to the fire house. They played it loud in front of the firehouse and were very touched by it. I got a call from a friend of Tim Stackpole's who wants a copy for Tim's family. This is why we sing, to tell the stories of our times, from when our heroes where the guys who hunted Mamoth so we could all live, to being able to say thank you to these guys who are the definition of brave.
I just have to say, one of the guys of Engine 33, PJ, told my wife and I what it was like, up high in the trade center, when they finally got the call to abandon the building. For a time the building was twisting and rocking so violently that file cabinents, think of that, file cabinents where toppling over and florescent lights where falling out of the cielineg. What I can't emainge that up there, above where helicopters fly, they stayed at their posts in that bucking hell until they were told to leave. PJ got about half a block away and the building came down. As it says in the song, 10 out of his 40 man fire house did not. Remember these guys forever, there never were any born like firemen.
Larry

Subject: RE: Song for NYC Firefighters...
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 22 Sep 01 - 10:03 AM

I've just been singing it in the house alone, and I kept having to stop. I don't know how I'll be able to get through it in public - and for you Larry it must be lot harder than that.

I was remembering newsreels of the Blitz, with the fireman holding on to the hoses as the walls came down upon them. And there was a film called Fires were started, a fictionalised documentary about the Blitz, and I remember the scene where one of the characters, played by a comedian of the time Tommy Trinder, dies with his mates as a building collapses, joking all the way.

Firefighters are special. They are always the first to raise money for any disaster - and the strongest in solidarity in any industrial strike. And I remember in CND time the banners of the Firemen's Union was always there on the anti-bomb marches.

Subject: RE: Song for NYC Firefighters...
From: Big Mick
Date: 22 Sep 01 - 11:18 AM

I have said many times that we are the bards of our era. It is a heavy responsibility, and one shouldered mightily by our friend, Lorcan. One can sing mindlessly, and that is OK. But to live up to the legacy means to write songs, and tell the tales as you have done here, Larry. Good man. Job well done. The journey continues.

All the best,

Mick

Subject: RE: Song for NYC Firefighters...
From: GUEST,Blackcatter
Date: 22 Sep 01 - 11:45 AM

Thank you.

I will sing this tonight at a gathering at my church (if I can).

pax yall

Subject: RE: Song for NYC Firefighters...
From: Jeri
Date: 23 Sep 01 - 09:57 AM

Larry, I'm just now catching up on this thread. Thanks for the post about you playing the song for the fireman of Engine 33. Something in me needed to know that they'd heard it. I hope they knew there was a multitude of us singing along...

Subject: RE: Song for NYC Firefighters...
From: InOBU
Date: 23 Sep 01 - 10:33 PM

I will tell the guys that, Jen. I told them of the other bands, like Morning Star now doing the song, and it was played on WFUV today, got a nice call about that. I told them about the audience reaction when I was asked up from the audience at Tir na og to sing the song, and told them that I wished they could hear the reaction, because it was for them not the song or me. So, sing it at sessions everywhere and remember there are over three hundred firemen I could not name in the song. All the best, Larry

Subject: RE: Song for NYC Firefighters...
From: catspaw49
Date: 23 Sep 01 - 11:44 PM

Larry, I ran a copy of this great song off today with the intent of giving it to an ex-firefighter friend of mine. As it happened, just before we left home, an old student of mine stopped by and as ut happens, he is a fire Lieutenant now at a local Air Base. The kid (well, he's 28 now) teared up right away and took that copy with him to share (everybody knows "Streets of Laredo") and is taking it to work tomorrow. BTW, he's going to NYC the second week of October. Evidently they are doing a better job now on coordinating getting the help in for the next few months.

Larry my friend, this one is absolutely GREAT! I still like it to Ashokan Farewell, but who cares...it's the words man, it's the words......very powerful.........The absolute BEST!

Spaw

Subject: RE: Song for NYC Firefighters...
From: InOBU
Date: 24 Sep 01 - 08:09 AM

I like it to ashokan fairwell as well, but then it gets complicated with having to find Jay Unger etc... drop me a personal note with your address again and I will send you a few CD singles of the song to give you firefighter friends. I am carrying around a bunch, so that when I pass a firehouse I can give a few as a thankyou. Cheers Larry

Subject: RE: Song for NYC Firefighters...
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 24 Sep 01 - 09:31 AM

I've found that when I try singing it I get so wrapped up in the words that the tune shifts around a bit, and half way through I realise I'm using a different one. . Doesn't really matter maybe. The words are what count.

Subject: RE: Song for NYC Firefighters...
From: Dani
Date: 24 Sep 01 - 09:56 AM

Everybody knows "Streets of Laredo".... except me, 'Spaw!! I always TRY the tune thingy on the DT, but the tinny nyingnyingnying just drives me nuts and I can't get it.

Will you come to the Getaway and sing it to me?

But like McGrath said, it's the words that count.

Dani

Subject: RE: Song for NYC Firefighters...
From: InOBU
Date: 24 Sep 01 - 10:07 AM

Hi Dany, it is also the Lough Hospital, beat the dum slowly and sound the fifes lowly, or Bold Robert Emmitt... cheers larry

Subject: RE: Song for NYC Firefighters...
From: Wilfried Schaum
Date: 24 Sep 01 - 10:56 AM

Dear Larry,

I was deeply moved by your song and are not ashamed of the tears I shod.
Some companions of our local Volunteer Fire Department had been visiting the NYFD some years ago and knew Father Mike ...
At our yearly General Meeting I have to drum the death roll during the remembrance of the dead; next year I'll motion to play the Locke Hospital with my trumpet instead.
Special for the final stanza ...

Wilfried, Germany

Subject: RE: Song for NYC Firefighters...
From: Wilfried Schaum
Date: 24 Sep 01 - 10:58 AM

Dear Larry,

corrections: and AM not ashamed; special THANKS for ...

Wilfried

Subject: RE: Song for NYC Firefighters...
From: InOBU
Date: 25 Sep 01 - 06:54 AM

Dear Wilfred: Drop me your address by Email, [e-mail] and I will send you a CD of the song which I have been giving to our firemen here. My best to firefighters everywhere, Larry

Subject: RE: Song for NYC Firefighters...
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 27 Sep 01 - 02:20 PM

One of the tabloid papers in England ran a supplement with pictures of all 343 firefighters who were killed. Lke a war memorial, but with pictures. It appears that there were sveral sets of brothers who died. At least they had the same name and looked similar - Michael Brennan and Peter Brennan, and Jeffrey Giordano and John Giordano, for example.

I looked through the list for the ones from Engine 33, to put faces to the names. Strange feeling, because for the last few days I've been trying to drum the names into my head, so they jumped out of the page as familiar, ad I saw them for the first time.

Incidentally the list had them as: Kevin (not Ken) Pfeifer, Michael Boyle, Keithroy Maynard, Jeffrey Walz, Brian Bilcher, Robert King Jr, David Arce, Gerard Baptiste, Robert Evans, and Jophn Tierney. So I'll sing it as Kev Pfeifer, which still scans. (Unless the paper's got it wrong of course.)

I find it seesm to work putting in the last verse twice, as a sort of chorus, once after the verse about Tim Catchpole, and again after the verse about them still going on the calls. Then maybe end with the first verse again, and the "chorus" verse once more.

Subject: RE: Song for NYC Firefighters...
From: InOBU
Date: 27 Sep 01 - 04:43 PM

Hi Kev: I will check with the guys if it is Kev or Ken Pfiefer. I play the first verse again at the end, then go into Will Ye No Come Back Again, on the CD, that being the tune the pipers usualy play at the funerals of NYFD members. It turns out, Sean Tierney, teaches Irish with a close friend of mine, and the same friend had Father Mike as a confessor. As to the mode of death of Father Mike, the story of the falling woman is a myth that came out of the event, he actually died of a heart attack giving last rights to the fallen, very much in harms way.
All the best,
Larry

Subject: RE: Song for NYC Firefighters...
From: InOBU
Date: 27 Sep 01 - 04:46 PM

PS I am sure it was a typo, it is Tim Stackpole. all the best, Larry

Subject: RE: Song for NYC Firefighters...
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 27 Sep 01 - 05:44 PM

They had Tim Stackpole, with a big picture on the front, as a representative for the whole 343.

I was driving past our fire station today. I doubt if I'll ever pass it without thinking about this.

Subject: RE: Song for NYC Firefighters...
From: InOBU
Date: 27 Sep 01 - 10:53 PM

From what I hear of him, Tim Stackpole would be a good representative for the best of humanity, let alone fire fighters. All the best, Larry

Subject: RE: Song for NYC Firefighters...
From: Wolfgang
Date: 09 Oct 01 - 07:03 AM

I just found this at Les Barker's website.

Wolfgang

WHO ARE YOUR HEROES?
(Les Barker)

Tell me now who are your heroes?
Tell me which have stirred your heart,
How they live and breathe and function;
Tell me what sets them apart.

Tell me; are they brave and handsome?
Are they in the public eye
Or common folk, and merely mortal?
Tell me do they fear to die?

Tell me now who are your heroes?
Some, I know, would canonise
Those whose deeds entangle others
In their own self sacrifice;

Those who meet their fates believing
Human lives are not so dear,
Meeting death with pride and purpose,
Seeking out what others fear.

Tell me now, are these your heroes?
Those who fear and yet still dare;
When we all would flee to safety
Here's the one who climbs the stair;

Here's the one who meets the danger,
Facing death for workman's wage;
Facing death for friend or stranger,
Unremarked by history's page.

Tell me now, are these your heroes?
Decent working folk who fought
And died in fire and dust and debris,
Whatever hell some fool has wrought.

Brave beyond romance or beauty;
Brave whatever brings the day;
Time to live or die for duty,
Do the job and go away.

Subject: RE: Song for NYC Firefighters...
From: InOBU
Date: 10 Oct 01 - 05:48 AM

Wow! Great song Wolfgang... Larry

Subject: RE: Song for NYC Firefighters...
From: twister
Date: 11 Oct 01 - 03:42 AM

I cried. I sat at the computer at 12:42 at night and cried. It seems I've been doing a lot of crying lately. Every time I hear "Riding With Private Malone", everytime I turn on the TV and there is another hero story, and I alomst started crying in my history class today when our teacher said that above one of the Fire stations there's a sign that reads "We Love You. Because When Everybody Else Ran Out, You Ran In."

Subject: RE: Song for NYC Firefighters...
From: Amergin
Date: 20 Dec 01 - 07:23 PM

I have had the distinct privilege of hearing this wonderful song....the whole thing brings the tears to my eyes...and then at the ending when they switch to Will Ye No Come Back Again....makes them flow...

Thanks, Larry.

Subject: RE: Song for NYC Firefighters...
From: tremodt
Date: 20 Dec 01 - 07:47 PM

I was in Ireland shortly after the WTC attack and in every pub that I visited the one comment you heard the most "Most Of THem Were Paddys" and every pub was collecting money for the cause

ron

Subject: RE: Song for NYC Firefighters...
From: GUEST,lanfranc
Date: 21 Dec 01 - 05:47 AM

First there was Paxton's "The Bravest", now we have InOBU's song and Les Barker's poem, which will be a song soon if it isn't already.

I don't think any of us look at firemen in the same way any more.

Here's the one who meets the danger,
Facing death for workman's wage;
Facing death for friend or stranger,
Unremarked by history's page.

Only this time they provided some of the most vivid visual impressions of the disaster, and inspired many of us by their courage and selflessness.

God protect their weeping widows, and raise up each weary head
Be a father unto the orphans, let them never cry for bread
Death will pay us all a visit, they have only gone before
And we'll meet up with those noble firemen where explosions are no more

(The Trimdon Grange Explosion, with appropriate updating)

Alan

Subject: RE: Song for NYC Firefighters...
From: Cappuccino
Date: 21 Dec 01 - 03:30 PM

Absolutely fascinating news item on Channel 5 news, British TV, tonight - an interview with a guy in a pipe band who has spent the last 26 days doing nothing but playing firefighters' funerals, sometimes three or four a day.

The remarkable thing, of course, is that he * has * to play something like Amazing Grace, four times a day, but cannot relax like we do in parts of at a normal show. He has to play every single one with absolutely the right feeling and respect.

A level of professionalism I never have to achieve.

- Ian B

Subject: RE: Song for NYC Firefighters...
From: Cobble
Date: 22 Dec 01 - 08:23 AM

The tears that were in my eyes, that day the towers fell are back again reading this thread. A brilliant song, and has has been said a song of the times, to brave and caring people. God bless them and the familys they left behind, even here across the pond we still feel for those HERO'S.

Brian (Cobble)