Great songs from the neighbourhood

Subject: Great songs from the neighbourhood
From: GUEST,Tunesmith
Date: 28 Jun 03 - 02:28 PM

Over the years, a number of local folkie type musician in my neighbourhood have written some fine ( maybe great ) songs, but, for one reason or the other, their songs have never really travelled far and never made it on to a cd/LP. Other than home-produced efforts for friends and family. I bet there's lots of similar tales out there.

Subject: RE: Great songs from the neighbourhood
From: catspaw49
Date: 28 Jun 03 - 02:34 PM

Could it be because they ain't really all that great?

Yeah, really there are a lot of fine writers and all out there but lightning doesn't always strike and for many they are very happy it doesn't!!!

Spaw

Subject: RE: Great songs from the neighbourhood
From: GUEST,Tunesmith
Date: 28 Jun 03 - 02:40 PM

catspaw49. Well now, that raises an interesting point; you see, you won't hear what I hear... ever!

Subject: RE: Great songs from the neighbourhood
From: Joe Offer
Date: 28 Jun 03 - 04:02 PM

In many ways, those unpublished neighborhood songs are the purest songs around. They may not make any money, but they mean a lot to those who sing them and hear them. I think most of us have made up lyrics or a tune for our kids or our friends - that's something wonderful about that, even if it doesn't sell.
My kids always griped about the songs I made up for them - but now they're in their twenties, and they're still talking about "Dad's crazy songs."
Castpaw, you're a damn capitalistic cynic.
But I love you like a brother.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Great songs from the neighbourhood
From: GUEST,Tunesmith
Date: 28 Jun 03 - 04:22 PM

I, sort of , owe Castspaw an apology, but the cynical, negative attitude that pervades this forum is unhealthy. Right, now has anyone out there got an outstanding " local" song that they think is good enough for the world to hear!

Subject: Lyr.Add.:You Can't Just Take Our Homes Away
From: Charley Noble
Date: 28 Jun 03 - 05:10 PM

Tunesmith-

You're on to something. There are a lot of good songs out there in the neighborhood, and some of the best ones will be lost if no one collects them. I've been collecting some for years as part of my draft Housing Song Book. Here's one that I think resonates:

YOU CAN'T JUST TAKE OUR HOMES AWAY

(Original words by Tony Heriza © 1979
Further adapted by Charles Ipcar in 1981
Tune: "Mountain Song" by Holly Near, © 1978 Hereford Music (ASCAP) Recorded on We Won't Move, Folkways Records FS 5287 as sung by Karrie Potter)


The involuntary displacement of the elderly, minorities and other low-income people from existing housing became a major organizing issue in the late 1970's. This song describes the strong attachment people have for their neighborhoods, the planners and speculators who threaten the residents, and the people's determination to fight back. The original composer of this song, Tony Heriza, was a housing organizer in Cincinnati's Over the Rhine Neighborhood at the time and his song was featured in a housing slide show We Will Not Be Moved produced by Community Media Productions.

I have lived in this city,
As my mother did before me,
And you can't just take my home away,
Without me fighting,
No, you can't just take my home away!

Well, you make your city plans,
Try your damnedest to ignore us,
But you can't just take our homes away,
Without us fighting,
No, you can't just take our homes away!

These old buildings raised our children,
And 'tho it's true they need repairing,
You can't just take our homes away. (As above)

We have lived in this city,
Through hard times we've helped each other,
And you can't just take our homes away. (As above)

You drive a big Mercedes car,
You have a fancy education,
But you can't just take our homes away. (As above)

And if you think you can displace us,
Then you haven't seen our faces,
No, you can't just take our homes away. (As above)

We have lived in this city,
Ties are deep and they are many,
And you can't just take our homes away,
Without us fighting,
No you can't just take our homes away,
Not with us watching,
No, you can't just take our homes away!

Cordially,
Landlady's Daughter

Subject: RE: Great songs from the neighbourhood
From: GUEST,Tunesmith
Date: 28 Jun 03 - 05:34 PM

Charley: Thanks for that. Love the song. There's a song with a similar theme sung by an elderly lady ( probably 80ish ) at a Liverpool folkclub. The song is beautifully put together, and concerns the demolition of inner-city houses in a north of England city, and the forced relocation of the inhabitants to dreadful multi-story flats back in the 60s and 70s. The whole relocation exercise was a disaster, and destroyed whole communities.

Subject: RE: Great songs from the neighbourhood
From: Charley Noble
Date: 28 Jun 03 - 08:15 PM

Tunesmith-

And, yes, I'd certainly welcome the lyrics and any additional notes about the song.

I do have several songs in my collection from the UK including "They're Going to Build a Motorway," "Skyscraper Weans," "The Squatters' Rant," "The Barnsley Anthem" and the Music Hall classic "If It Wasn't for the 'Ouses in Between."

Landlady's Daughter