Lyr Add: the Lost Asylum Seeker

Subject: Lyr Add: THE LOST ASYLUM SEEKER
From: InOBU
Date: 27 Mar 03 - 07:56 AM

The Lost Asylum Seeker
Words Lorcan Otway tune Traditional (Davie Colsen?)

I feared for my life so I did flee I did flee
I feared for my life so I did flee I did flee
I flew far across the sea, to the land of the free
I did flee I did flee

I came to the USA, I asked to stay, asked to stay
I came to the USA, I asked to stay, asked to stay
In chains I was led away, for what crime they did not say
did not say, did not say

I was alone and scared in that jail, in that jail
I was alone and scared in that jail,
No friends face did I er'e see, in the land of the free
they jailed me, they jailed me

I lost all track of time and of days and of days
I lost all track of time and of days
I almost longed to go, to that hell I used to know
I longed to die longed to die

They say many were sent back, were sent back were sent back
they say many were sent back were sent back
Sent back to their former foe for what cause we do not know
do not know do not know

I longed to see that statue with the light, with the light
I longed to see that statue with the light
But now I long to see the sun, before my oppressor's gun
back at home back at home.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: the Lost Asylum Seeker
From: InOBU
Date: 27 Mar 03 - 08:09 AM

Whoops...
I feared for my life so I did flee I did flee
I feared for my life so I did flee
I flew far across the sea, to the land of the free
I did flee I did flee

I came to the USA, I asked to stay, asked to stay
I came to the USA, I asked to stay,
In chains I was led away, for what crime they did not say
did not say, did not say

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: the Lost Asylum Seeker
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 27 Mar 03 - 08:18 AM

InObu

Replace the word USA with Australia & the statue with a bridge & you're telling the story of refugees here in sunny Oz.

It's a great song.

sandra

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: the Lost Asylum Seeker
From: Amos
Date: 27 Mar 03 - 08:24 AM

Ach, Larry, it's a heart-string pull for sure!

A

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: the Lost Asylum Seeker
From: Bobert
Date: 27 Mar 03 - 08:30 AM

Yeah, great song, Larry. Welcome to Bush/Ashcroft/Cheney/Wolfowitz/Perle/et al's America.

Give us you tired and yopur poor. Yeah right, but if you don't look Hispanic and speak Spainish, you're outta here.

Sad commentary on what these folks in power have done to the American dream.

Peace

Bobert

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: the Lost Asylum Seeker
From: greg stephens
Date: 27 Mar 03 - 08:32 AM

Well, Larry, you're lucky having a famous statue with a light. Here in Stoke asylum-seekers have the same problems, but all we've got is a statue of Stanley Matthews (famous local footballl player), and a concrete Spitfire (famous local fighter plane) laid out on a hill side. And I cant seem to work them naturally into the song!

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: the Lost Asylum Seeker
From: InOBU
Date: 27 Mar 03 - 09:22 AM

Greg and Sandra, feel free to substitue local landmarks and sing truth to power and banality! Cheers Larry

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: the Lost Asylum Seeker
From: InOBU
Date: 27 Mar 03 - 11:56 AM

After recording and subsiquent tweeking...
The Lost Asylum Seeker
Words Lorcan Otway tune Traditional (Davie Colsen?)

I feared for my life so I did flee I did flee
I feared for my life so I did flee
I flew far across the sea, to the land of the free
I did flee I did flee

I came to the USA, I asked to stay, let me stay
I came to the USA, please let me stay
In chains I was led away, for what crime they did not say
did not say, did not say

I was alone and scared in that jail, in that jail
I was alone and scared in that jail,
No friends face did I er'e see, in the land of the free
they jailed me, they jailed me

I lost all track of time months and days months and days
I lost all track of time months and days
I almost longed to go, to that hell I used to know
I longed to die longed to die

They say many were sent back, were sent back were sent back
they say many were sent back were sent back
Sent back to their former foe for what cause we do not know
do not know do not know

I longed to see that statue with the light, with the light
I longed to see that statue with the light
But now I long to see the sun, before my oppressor's gun
back at home back at home.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: the Lost Asylum Seeker
From: GUEST
Date: 27 Mar 03 - 12:02 PM

i thought this was gonna be about the fellow who was stuck in the airport for ten years.....

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: the Lost Asylum Seeker
From: alanabit
Date: 27 Mar 03 - 01:55 PM

I look forward to hearing it. I always find it hard to tell a good song from a bad one on paper. It has to sound right when you are singing it. If the first Sorcha Dorcha album is anything to go by - it will!

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: the Lost Asylum Seeker
From: InOBU
Date: 27 Mar 03 - 03:35 PM

Alanabit... PM me a number, and I will play it over the phone for you. it is a peach... Cheers Larry

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: the Lost Asylum Seeker
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 27 Mar 03 - 05:58 PM

There's the Angel of the North (I know Gateshead is a fair trudeg from Stoke, but it's nearer than the Statue of Liberty.)

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: the Lost Asylum Seeker
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 30 Mar 03 - 08:30 AM

Thanks Larry - I have shown a few friends & will spread it further around.

By-the-by the song is Davy Lowson (click), a traditional New Zealand song, unfortunately it's not in the DT (phooey, I don't have the words) & only mentioned once in the Forum (as Davey Lowston). For those not in the know, it's a song about the sealing trade in the early? mid? 19th century & is one of my favourites. One of my friends sings it & I'd love to hear him sing your song.

sandra

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: the Lost Asylum Seeker
From: Billy the Bus
Date: 06 Aug 03 - 02:11 AM

Good one, Larry! In a way it's reminiscent of Davy Lowston, the inhumanity of the 'Powers that be'. For those who miss the link to the music in the thread Susan pointed you to, it's this page on the NZ Folk Song site. There's Midi amd MP3 samples, as well as the 'fly spts on paper'.

Cheers - Sam