Origins: Jimmy Clay (Patrick Sky)

Subject: Origins: Jimmy Clay
From: GUEST,forty two
Date: 18 Oct 02 - 06:25 AM

Years ago Ali Bain recorded an album with Mike Whellans on which was a song I have always been very fond of called Jimmy Clay.   In the song is the mention of Alice Fay, actress and singer who died at the end of the 90s.

But who is was Jimmy Clay? Can anyone help?
Chris

Subject: RE: Origins: Jimmy Clay
From: GUEST,Moleskin Joe
Date: 18 Oct 02 - 06:48 AM

The song was written by Patrick Sky.

Subject: RE: Origins: Jimmy Clay
From: nickp
Date: 18 Oct 02 - 06:51 AM

I've always assumed he was 'Everyman' - a bit like John Doe - being made of clay etc. Good song, glad you reminded me of it.

Subject: RE: Origins: Jimmy Clay
From: GUEST,forty two
Date: 18 Oct 02 - 08:46 AM

Yup Nickp - I originally thought that he was 'Everyman' as you put it but why bring in Alice Fay who was real?

Subject: RE: Origins: Jimmy Clay
From: GUEST,jack barthel
Date: 21 Oct 08 - 09:10 AM

Jimmy Clay is one of the best, and least known, anti-war songs.....I saw patrick Sky playing backup to Tommy Makem and Liam Clancy years ago.

Subject: RE: Origins: Jimmy Clay
From: Joe Offer
Date: 21 Oct 08 - 01:01 PM

I was going to ask if anybody could post the lyrics, but I see they're already in the Digital Tradition.
-Joe-

Subject: RE: Origins: Jimmy Clay (Patrick Sky)
From: Bugsy
Date: 14 Sep 09 - 06:18 AM

This song really interests me, and I wondered too about the reference to Alice Faye. Someone once told me that it was a song about the American Civil War, but that then begs the question, "Where does Alice Faye fit in?"

I prefer to think of this as an anti war song of the 20th Century, be it WWI, WWII, Korea, Vietnam.......... take your pick, I think it fits them all.

Great song.

Cheers

Bugsy

Subject: RE: Origins: Jimmy Clay (Patrick Sky)
From: bobad
Date: 14 Sep 09 - 07:13 AM

I don't believe Pat is referring to the actress Alice Faye, the spelling of the name is different, Fay vs. Faye, and in the context of the song, she is an old girlfriend or perhaps a hooker;
She'd been through life at least ten times around
And when she said she loved you, well she meant it, boy"

Subject: RE: Origins: Jimmy Clay (Patrick Sky)
From: GUEST,Jonathan Hoffman
Date: 30 May 11 - 01:43 PM

In my opinion, Jimmy Clay was the best antiwar song written during the Vietnam War, and perhaps ever. I'm hoping to record it for my next album, juxtaposed with a song I wrote recently called "Memorial Day." But it's going to take awhile to do the CD.

Subject: RE: Origins: Jimmy Clay (Patrick Sky)
From: GUEST,Dylan Johnson
Date: 22 Sep 15 - 11:54 AM

Woo, Pat Sky still my favourite folk hero. Jimmy Clay is the best antiwar song. Guess it's about Vietnam. And I don't think that he mean the actress Alice Faye. Maybe girlfriend. Jimmy Clay and Alice Fay is just a random names I guess.