Lyr Req: Sueño (Bill Staines)

Subject: Help Staines Song with Chorus en Espanol
From: JedMarum
Date: 13 Jun 02 - 05:10 PM

I have old tape of Bill Staines songs given to me by a friend and it has a song that is just beautiful that I need help sorting out. I believe Bill wrote it ... it tells the story of a man at his camp fire, remembering an old love, the chorus is in Spanish .... the first verse (in English) says,

By my dyin' fire tonight
I see your face withn the light
It smiles and fades
like fleeting shadows on the ground
and the river running near
brings back a song I used to hear
when we were one and danced the streets of Spanish Town.

Subject: RE: Help Staines Song with Chorus en Espanol
From: JedMarum
Date: 13 Jun 02 - 05:13 PM

Oh yeah; the help I need is: who wrote it? what are the Spanish lyrics and what do they mean? What album is the song from? What is the naem of the song?

Ever heard Bill talk about the song?

Subject: RE: Help Staines Song with Chorus en Espanol
From: SharonA
Date: 13 Jun 02 - 05:24 PM

Just a guess here, but is it "So Sang the River", track #7 from the 1998 album "One More River"? Guess it depends on how old the "old tape" is! *G*

Subject: RE: Help Staines Song with Chorus en Espanol
From: GUEST,Stone Cold Steve Austin
Date: 13 Jun 02 - 05:29 PM

Bill Staines wrote it.

I don't do transcriptions or speak Spanish. But from the words I can pick out, he's singing about singing songs in the moonlight by the banks of the Rio Grande.

The album is "Sandstone Cathedrals," released on Bill's Mineral River Records in 1982.

the song is called "Sueno."

And that's the bottom line, 'cause Stone Cold says so.

Subject: RE: Help Staines Song with Chorus en Espanol
From: GUEST,Stone Cold Steve Austin
Date: 13 Jun 02 - 05:32 PM

SharonA is wrong. I'm right.

And that's the bottom line, 'cause Stone Cold says so.

Subject: RE: Help Staines Song with Chorus en Espanol
From: Musicman
Date: 13 Jun 02 - 09:19 PM

ok.. from his book "music to me"

Bill Staines wrote the song (1981) the translations for the chorus reads:

Rio Grande, singing water,
In the night, I hear your song
My guitar sings with you,
A song of my heart.

musicman

Subject: RE: Help Staines Song with Chorus en Espanol
From: Musicman
Date: 13 Jun 02 - 09:23 PM

also... if you want to know more about the song.... you could always email bill at [e-mail] or check his website for gigs in your area.... Click here and ask him yourself!...

mm

Subject: RE: Help Staines Song with Chorus en Espanol
From: JedMarum
Date: 14 Jun 02 - 09:15 AM

Thanks y'all - Sueno is what appears to be handwritten on the tape I have. As luck would have it, I'll be going to see Bill Saturday night at a house concert in Dallas. Maybe I'll ask about it then.

Subject: RE: Help Staines Song with Chorus en Espanol
From: SharonA
Date: 14 Jun 02 - 10:17 AM

Hey, Stone Cold, I said it was just a guess! Bask in your glory whilst ye may.

Jed, have fun at the concert, you lucky dog! If you come across a printout of the Spanish lyrics themselves, could you please post them here? Thanks!

Subject: RE: Help Staines Song with Chorus en Espanol
From: GUEST,The Question Man
Date: 14 Jun 02 - 01:47 PM

This thread begs for several of questions.

For Jed Marum:

If you were going to be seeing Bill Staines in a few days, why didn't you just wait and ask him? Seems kind of silly to bring the question to Mudcat when you'll have access to the definitive authority on the subject.

For Stone Cold Steve Austin:

Don't you know that Mudcat is not about knowing the right answers? It's about silly repartee.

For SharonA:

What is the point of guessing when you don't know the answer? You just look like someone who can't keep her mouth shut, even when she should.

Subject: RE: Help Staines Song with Chorus en Espanol
From: JedMarum
Date: 14 Jun 02 - 02:22 PM

Bill Staines is a performer, he'll be working Sat night. While he is probably a congenial fella he didn;t com to Dallas TX to provide me details, lyrics and commentary on one of his songs ... but of course, should the opportunity present itself; I'll ask!

Subject: RE: Help Staines Song with Chorus en Espanol
From: Musicman
Date: 14 Jun 02 - 07:15 PM

hey jed.. give bill greetings from paul and rita in vancouver when you see him...... i'm looking forward to his visit this year.. he's with us for two days this time.. i've set up two differnt gigs for him... one in vancouver and one on the gulf islands (mayne island) had a great time with him last year especially after the concert playing music and harmonizing with him....

ask him if he's relearned Blue Eyed mountain maid yet....... :)

paul (musicman)

Subject: RE: Help Staines Song with Chorus en Espanol
From: GUEST,Annraoi
Date: 14 Jun 02 - 08:48 PM

Any chance of the lyrics of the whole song with the original Spanish?
Annraoi

Subject: RE: Help Staines Song with Chorus en Espanol
From: bbc
Date: 14 Jun 02 - 10:37 PM

I recently heard Bill perform in Hyde Park, NY, & enjoyed him as much as the many other times I've heard him. I bought a copy of his book,"The Songs of Bill Staines: Music to Me" partly because I saw it contained the lyrics to "Sueno." I had always thought it was beautiful & never quite got the Spanish chorus. It *is* just the chorus that is in Spanish. Since Bill makes his living from the music, I won't transcribe the whole song. The chorus goes:

Rio Grande, agua cantando
En la noche, oigo tu cancion
Mi guitarra canta contigo
Una cancion de mi corazon.

I hope you'll get the book or the recording, "Sandstone Cathedrals," that it's on.

best,

bbc

Subject: RE: Help Staines Song with Chorus en Espanol
From: JedMarum
Date: 15 Jun 02 - 09:33 AM

Thanks bbc - I'll get both, and I respect your comment about makin a living from the music. Paul - I'll pass on your comments.

We're looking forward to seeing him.

Subject: RE: Help Staines Song with Chorus en Espanol
From: GUEST,Annraoi
Date: 15 Jun 02 - 03:18 PM

bbc wrote:
"Since Bill makes his living from the music, I won't transcribe the whole song."
Why not? Everybody else helps out with lyrics and on occasions tunes as well. I've done it myself. Traditional / Folk Music is all about sharing. Or have I got it wrong all my life?
Annraoi

Subject: RE: Help Staines Song with Chorus en Espanol
From: GUEST,Stone Cold Steve Austin
Date: 15 Jun 02 - 03:40 PM

A song written by Bill Staines (or anyone else) within the past few decades might be in the style of traditional or folk music. But it is still someone's intellectual property.

Everytime someone doesn't buy a Bill Staines songbook because they can get the lyrics from Mudcat, Bill Staines loses money that should rightfully be his.

And that's the bottom line, 'cause Stone Cold says so.

Subject: Lyr Add: SUEÑO (Bill Staines)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 15 Jun 02 - 04:45 PM

I dunno. This question poses a perennial moral quandry for music sites. I don't feel guilty about posting lyrics because I would suppose that anybody who would want to know the lyrics of this song has paid to hear Bill Staines sing it, either in person or on CD. Some of Bill's CD's have printed lyrics, and some don't. I have a recording of this song on the First Million Miles CD, which does not have lyrics. I copied the lyrics from the Music to Me songbook.
-Joe Offer-

---

SUEÑO
(Bill Staines)

1. By my dying fire tonight, I see your face within the light
It smiles and fades like fleeting shadows on the ground.
And the river running near brings back the song I used to hear
When we were one and danced the streets of Spanish town.

CHORUS
Rio Grande, agua cantando
En la noche, oigo tu cancion
Mi guitarra canta contigo,
Una cancion de mi corazon

2. And so I hold you once again, it's just a dream I know but then,
Better a dream than never holding you to me.
Now in the fire's dying glow I feel your warmth and I remember
Oh so well, the way our loving used to be.

CHORUS

3. The ocotillo's flaming flower it grew as red as my heart's blood, the hour
You left me for the ways of San Antone.
and now beside the water's flow, my fire dies, the memories go
And once again the dream is gone and I'm alone.

CHORUS (Repeated)

Translation:
Rio Grande, singing water,
In the night, I hear your song.
My guitar sings with you,
A song of my heart.


©1981, Mineral River Music (BMI)

Subject: RE: Help Staines Song with Chorus en Espanol
From: Jeri
Date: 16 Jun 02 - 01:18 AM

I don't think anyone would buy a songbook for just one song. People buy them because they like a particular artist's songs and style. There are frequently dots for tunes, chords, and notes about the artist and the songs in songbooks.

Frankly, I think the whole "intellectual property" issue, when it comes to song lyrics, is about control and the profits of those who enforce those rights than an artist trying to make a living. I see words of a song or two I like, and it makes me want to buy their songbook. I'd love it if someone were able to do a study to see what the effect of freely exchanging lyrics of songs actually had on songbook sales.

I've learned the only two songs I know Linda Kelly wrote. She's freely put the lyrics up here. If she put out a songbook, I'd buy it in a heartbeat. I'd buy a Jed Marum songbook. I'd buy a Dan Schatz songbook, and I'd definitely buy a Mary Garvey songbook. I'm picking up speed in how fast I learn songs - I can learn them straight from the CDs so I don't really NEED the words. I buy the books because they're more than just the words to songs.

(And tonight I came home with Gordon Bok's latest songbook, complete with photos of his wonderful wood carvings, one of which features Kendall.)

Subject: RE: Help Staines Song with Chorus en Espanol
From: bbc
Date: 16 Jun 02 - 01:01 PM

I can see both sides of the argument. Frankly, I did buy the songbook because I saw that Sueno was in it. I've liked that song for years & never felt I was singing it correctly from just hearing the Spanish words. I never felt I had gotten a good translation of the Spanish, either. It was worth it, to me, to know that I would have it correctly, from the horse's mouth, so to speak. I admire Bill Staines enough that I want him to get the profit from my enjoyment of his music. At the same time, I ackowledge various reasons for sharing music. Maybe we each just need to think about why we do the things we do. For the record, I was responding to the request by the previous poster for the Spanish lyrics. Since it was just the chorus that is in Spanish, that was the part I posted.

best to all,

bbc

Subject: RE: Help Staines Song with Chorus en Espanol
From: JedMarum
Date: 16 Jun 02 - 02:20 PM

bbc - you did good! I was interested in the Spanish lyrics, and agree with you that if an author wishes to share his/her work for free that is his/her choice (I typically choose to do so) - but you and I should respect the copyright rules as they exist. I suspect Bill would have been just fine with you posting the Spanish lyric, as you did.

Just for the record, I spoke to him a bit last night; bought the book and a couple of CDs ... I plan to write a quick 'review' of the show in another thread.

Subject: RE: Help Staines Song with Chorus en Espanol
From: bbc
Date: 16 Jun 02 - 02:47 PM

Thanks, Jed. I bet you enjoyed the show. When we saw Bill recently, I picked up the book I mentioned & the cd that I think is the 2nd of his early Folk Legacy recordings-(Folk Legacy CD-66). I have most of his more recent music & enjoyed hearing the differences & similarities between what I knew & his earlier work. At Hyde Park, he did a great blend of his well-known tunes that we could sing along w/ & some more recent work. A couple of the songs on are "Lost Mine of the Chisos" & "Spanish is a Loving Tongue"--both of which I heard first by Jan Mara--beautiful songs!

bbc

Subject: RE: Help Staines Song with Chorus en Espanol
From: JedMarum
Date: 16 Jun 02 - 03:10 PM

Blicky to the review

Subject: RE: Help Staines Song with Chorus en Espanol
From: SharonA
Date: 17 Jun 02 - 12:53 PM

The Question Man GUEST asks: "What is the point of guessing when you don't know the answer?"

(a) It keeps the thread, with its original question, at or near the top of the thread list in the Forum, so that it is more likely to be noticed by someone else who knows the correct answer (in this case, Stone Cold Steve, who posted 5 minutes after I did).

(b) This forum is entitled the Mudcat Discussion Forum, and wrong guesses as well as "silly repartee" are a part of having a friendly discussion. If you were in your living room talking with friends, and one of them asked a question and another guessed at the answer and a third said the guesser was mistaken and gave the real answer, would you come down hard on the guesser and tell him he didn't know when to shut up? Of course not... or, at least, I should hope not!

(c) In this case, my mention of "So Sang the River" could lead to an interesting conversational segue (yet another part of having a friendly discussion) concerning the theme of "singing" rivers in Bill Staines's music. I'm wondering now just how much of a recurring theme it is! Has he any other songs using this metaphor besides "Sueño" and "So Sang the River"?

Subject: Lyr Add: SO SANG THE RIVER (Bill Staines)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 17 Jun 02 - 03:46 PM

Glad you mentioned the song, Sharon. I hadn't taken the time to listen closely to "So Sang the River." It's a great song. I live near the American River, where the 1849 gold rush started. Seems to me there ought to be more songs that mention this beautiful, historic river.
-Joe Offer-

---

SO SANG THE RIVER
(Bill Staines)

I am the Missouri and I travel on down,
Across the Dakotas by the midwestern towns.
Oh, I water your farms with my silvery hand,
And forever I'll travel in the heart of the land.

I am the Ohio and my water is wide.
By the banks of Kentucky, I travel with pride.
From the old Allegheny forever I'll run,
And I'll carry your people in the light of the sun.

So sang the river, as its waters glided low,
So sang the river, I've a long, long way to go.

I am the border, the old Rio Grande.
My waters they cut through the southwestern land.
From the deserts and the badlands through the canyons so deep,
I'll stretch my green ribbon and I never will sleep.
chorus

I am the American and I carry the gold.
In the hills of California my story was told,
Of how men with the fever fell on me like rain,
And dug for my treasure 'til nothing remained.
chorus

I am the Hudson, the Merrimac too,
The Snake and the Pecos, the Green and the Blue,
And my waters, they run just as sure as a song,
And forever I'll sing if you let me live on.
chorus

© Mineral River Music/BMI

From the 1998 Red House CD, One More River

Subject: RE: Help Staines Song with Chorus en Espanol
From: Genie
Date: 16 Jun 06 - 07:16 PM

Thanks for posting the lyrics, Joe.
And thanks for telling me which CD it's on.
I will either buy the CD or buy the song itself from iTunes (if it's available that way) along with some other Bill Staines songs.