Isaac Lewis (Tom Russell's Wales song)

Subject: Tom Russell's Wales Song
From: fsharpdim7
Date: 29 Jul 03 - 04:52 PM

I just got Tom's Modern Art and was really surprised to hear "Issac Lewis." Here is his explanation:
"I'm not a sea-going man, but I heard the seed of this story in a bar in Northern Wales. Issac Lewis sails around the world and drowns aboard a clipper ship, then washes up on shore right outside his father's door. I doubted the old drunk who told me the story, then the next day he gave me a book called "The Golden Wreck." It was all true.
It's in the book. This may be one of the only songs I've written with a "message." The moral is: "tell your loved ones what they mean to you before it's too late." Eliza Gilkyson sings harmony and Elana Fremerman plays string parts. This song goes well with a Guinness. And two shots of Tullamore Dew. "

I'll drink to that - nice song. Is this the first time this story has been turned into a song? Is there any song in Welsh based on this incident? Any help greatly appreciated.
Tom's duets with Nanci G are really nice too. Hope he comes back to Fitzgerald's soon again.
Diolch yn fawr, Chris yn Chicago

Subject: RE: Tom Russell's Wales Song
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 30 Jul 03 - 04:11 AM

Listen to sample

Nigel

Subject: RE: Tom Russell's Wales Song
From: fsharpdim7
Date: 30 Jul 03 - 10:23 AM

I googled on "Isaac Lewis" AND "Wales" and found more info on the history behind the song. But are there any songs in Welsh regarding poor Isaac?
Chris

Subject: RE: Tom Russell's Wales Song
From: sian, west wales
Date: 30 Jul 03 - 02:30 PM

I'm not aware of any, although there may be some printed ballads somewhere. You'd need to check at the National Library. I'm not sure if there is an online index of them available ... Might help if we had a bit of info on where in North Wales. I suspect it would be either around Caernarfon or Porth Madog. Or a bit more info on the general date.

sian

Subject: RE: Tom Russell's Wales Song
From: fsharpdim7
Date: 30 Jul 03 - 02:50 PM

from the web -
Another song based on a real person is 'Isaac Lewis,' a Welsh sailor who died in the 1859 shipwreck of the 'Royal Charter' in the stormy waters near his home village of Moelfre. The ship had been to Australia and was 70 miles from Liverpool when it went down. The villagers of Moelfre, including Lewis' father, watched the tragedy unfold but couldn't get lifelines to the ship in time. When Lewis washed up on shore, it was beside his father's house. Tom has crafted Lewis' story into an epic narrative ballad that can stand tall beside such traditional masterpieces as 'Lord Franklin.'

I would have thought that a story like this would have spawned a song before Tom's.
Chris

Subject: RE: Tom Russell's Wales Song
From: sian, west wales
Date: 31 Jul 03 - 04:16 AM

I'll take the details to the Eisteddfod and, if I see Tecwyn Jones -who is the best authority on historical ballads - , I'll ask him. I think another web source which I found following my last posting says that there was a booklet or leaflet about the incident.

sian

Subject: RE: Tom Russell's Wales Song
From: fsharpdim7
Date: 31 Jul 03 - 10:15 AM

Sian, Thanks -
Always looking for new (for me) folk songs in Welsh.
Chris
P.S. I taped Siswn Fawr last week on Radio Cymru and Meic Stevens did a reggae version of Ar Hyd Y Nos with steel drums - what a hoot - hope to get there in a couple of years.

Subject: RE: Tom Russell's Wales Song
From: sian, west wales
Date: 31 Jul 03 - 10:39 AM

There's a high school in Cardiff which has a steel drum band and does a lot of Welsh folk music. An absolute hoot and joy to hear! They compete at the Urdd Eisteddfod and are a real breath of fresh air!

sian

Subject: RE: Tom Russell's Wales Song
From: Gareth
Date: 31 Jul 03 - 03:21 PM

historical snippet Click 'Ere

Gareth

Subject: RE: Tom Russell's Wales Song
From: sian, west wales
Date: 01 Aug 03 - 04:30 AM

Thanks for that, Gareth. I now realize that I've heard of the shipwreck - the details of the vicar writing so many letters, and the Dickens connection jogged my memory. I wouldn't be surprised that there's a ballad about the overall event, the type of thing that would have been written and printed in a local paper, but not necessarily sung or, if sung, not something which stuck in popular memory.

I'll take than info along to the Eisteddfod.

sian