Lyr ADD: O Galena (Jim Post)

Subject: Lyr Req: Oh Galena by Jim Post
From: GUEST,eileen
Date: 03 Apr 04 - 01:14 PM

Looking for the lyrics to this song. Living in Ireland and no longer have the CD that the song is on. Thanks

Subject: Lyr Add: GREEN HILLS OF GALENA (Gayla Drake)
From: Sorcha
Date: 03 Apr 04 - 01:21 PM

Is this the same one? It's by Gayla Drake. It's all I found, really.

The Green Hills Of Galena
DADGAD Capo III

REFRAIN
The Green Hills of Galena call me,
They're callin' me again
The Green Hills Of Galena call me
They're callin' me

There are people that I love
Lovely people, kindred souls
Living in Galena town
By the river
REFRAIN

Walking by the water side
With a friend I love so dear
I feel time stand still
In the sacred land
REFRAIN

BRIDGE
Hear the whisper from the East
(Oh Galena, sacred land)
There is power in the rocky ground
(Galena, sacred land)
And I could lay me down to sleep
(In Galena, sacred land)
Hear the whisper from the East

Standing on the highest point
Looking over all the town
My heart sweels and leaps for joy
Of Galena
REFRAIN

http://www.skep.com/gdpaul/1GaylaDrakePaul.htm#10Galena

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Oh Galena by Jim Post
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 03 Apr 04 - 01:49 PM

Sorcha, may not be the song requested by eileen, but thanks for one I haven't heard before. It reminds me of Galena, Illinois, an historic and attractive little town close by the Mississippi River, and in a valley that used to be connected to the Mississippi by a lock.
One may climb up a stairway linking the lower part of the town with the old miners homes on streets along the valley side. Ulysses Grant lived there, and Jefferson Davies was stationed there before the Civil War. I haven't been there for many years, and the song brings back memories.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Oh Galena by Jim Post
From: wysiwyg
Date: 03 Apr 04 - 01:54 PM

Nope. Different song.

Jiom Post wrote it for his one-man (or sometimes full-cast) stage show, which I believe was titled Galena Rose. This song is sung by a little slave boy about his family's life and hopes.

BTW, "Galena Rose" is a term for lead, which was mined near Galena Illinois. Post himself setled there eventually.

CHO:

Oh, Galena, Oh! Galena!
You're such a pretty little riverboat town...
How I wish I could spend more time on the levee,
Watching the river boats come to town.

Snatches remembered from the verses:

Now a man's only worth what his back can carry,
So I guess my daddy's worth about half of the world,

And if someday we gets our freedom,
That's gonna be a dancin' day.

~Susan

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Oh Galena by Jim Post
From: wysiwyg
Date: 03 Apr 04 - 02:05 PM

See CD description at JIM POST'S WEBSITE. Perhaps you can order it and transcribe it. It's one of the best matches between lyric and tune I've ever heard or sung, feels wonderful in the throat and the vowel shapes to sing it correctly are lovely. Very pretty tune.

~S~

More remembered lyric:

My papa is a xxx on the Fever River,
Works like a xxx for the little he got.

????? Or is that second line from some other song.

The first verse, I believe, is about the father's work, the lead being smelted and loaded for market.

One verse is about the parents overheard by the boy, about how hard he (the boy) will be fated to work. As opposed to the more fortunate sister who will work indoors in the "nice warm kitchen," the boy will work like a "sweat like a mule in the falling snow," and presumably barefoot at that.

Another (the freedom fragment one above) is about slavery being illegal in Illinois. Yet this is a slave family, and slaving did apparently occur routinely in Galena because another song in the project is about a slave who buys hius freedom but forgets to get the deal in writing, so the vast fortune he has made on his own time by hios owner's permission, digging hios own share of the lead, is taken in payment. Without a receipt, he is is reinslaved and has to buy himself all over again, but friends step in to intervene.

~Susan

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Oh Galena by Jim Post
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 03 Apr 04 - 02:12 PM

Thanks wysiwyg. The right town if not the right song. Galena is the mineral name for lead sulfide, a principal ore of lead.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Oh Galena by Jim Post
From: wysiwyg
Date: 03 Apr 04 - 10:02 PM

More coming back.... gotta get it down before it fades... wish Joe Offer would post-- he seems to have every album I ever had!

My papa is a slave on the Fever River,
Works all day in the burning sun,
Loading the lead [rock???] in the red hot smelter,
He's so tired when the day is done.
When the lead start to flow into the ladle,
He scrape off the pig, let the lead cool down.
[2 lines about loading it up in the wagon and heading for town???]

Now slavery's not legal in Illinois--
That's what I heard Reverend Cartwright say.
And if some day we get our freedom,
That's gonna be a dancin' day.
We'll buy us a house on the Fever River,
xxx xxx xxx [we'll stake our claim????] and we'll dig for lead.
And when we hit it-- WE'll be rich folks!
And we'll sleep in a feather bed.

~S~

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Oh Galena by Jim Post
From: wysiwyg
Date: 03 Apr 04 - 11:59 PM

I emailed Jim Post. His current one-man show is Mark Twain (see Post's website), and his schedule looks pretty full. I hope he will help us out. I've also asked him if I may do a MIDI for "Oh Galena" to post here.

~Susan

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Oh Galena by Jim Post
From: GUEST,eileen
Date: 04 Apr 04 - 05:03 AM

You're all wonderful...it's all coming together and it's a powerful song about the times in the midwest. Thank you ...your help is much appreciated and will bring you many blessings.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Oh Galena by Jim Post
From: wysiwyg
Date: 04 Apr 04 - 10:07 AM

Thanks, eileen, and I hope you stick around!

RE:
Now a man's only worth what his back can carry,
So I guess my daddy's worth about half of the world,

Wrong!

S/be:
Now a slave is only worth....

~Susan

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Oh Galena by Jim Post
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 04 Apr 04 - 01:55 PM

Just noticed (a little slow these days) that Jim Post's cd has both songs, "O Galena" (track 9) and "Galena Rose" (track 1) Looks like an interesting cd.
It may only be available from his site nationally; Amazon doesn't have it.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Oh Galena by Jim Post
From: wysiwyg
Date: 04 Apr 04 - 07:18 PM

The "Galena Rose" CD is, essentially, the stage show, caught on tape or CD.... I don't mean it's a live CD, just that the show goes from song to song with minimal introductory narration, and the songs ARE the stories. Like Spoon River in song, minus the graveyard. I highly recommend it. There are no bad songs on it-- all wonderful, all capturing the people of the time period. Some of the songs are quite funny, too.

~Susan

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Oh Galena by Jim Post
From: wysiwyg
Date: 04 Apr 04 - 07:32 PM

Galena Rose
Post distills the history of Galena into melodic, original folk songs with fanciful, captivating lyrics. From tunes about the merits of whiskey, to tender love songs about wedding dresses; from hammer down river- boats to a mournful, haunting, Indian chant, this is an unforgettable collection of songs from the acclaimed, award-winning show; Galena Rose: How Whiskey Won the West. Those who saw the performance of Galena Rose had this to say:

"This elfin troubador, in whom are married Irish tenor, revival sermonist, and hillbilly bluesman a la Jimmie Rogers, works upon his audience like a preacher, and is able to control the energy in the room without lapse for the entire duration of the performance."

1. Galena Rose introduces the show, in song, about Galena as a boom town and about the lead.
2. This Is My New Home is a newly-arrived wife's response to the rough, wild country she finds herself in, and the spirit with which she undertakes her part in the couple's dreams for the future.
3. The Man from the Moon.... Hm, I THINK this is the evocative Indian chant about the white incursion into the sacred ground.
4. Enough of Nothing Ever lived poor? REAL poor, and no stores within your travel reach? Takes a sense of humor.
5. White Dress The humble and loving husband is going into town to get his sweet, brave wife that new, white dress she's been longing for. There's a twist of tragic realism in this song.
6. Thank God for Whiskey Well, yeah!
7. Riverboat Man The young can be so full of themselves, and of fine likker too.
8. James Duncan I believe this is the slave I described above, trying to buy his freedom, and how good people save the day.
9. O Galena As described above.
10. Run Indians The whites THINK they are going to catch the Indians out...
11. Sir Reginald Can't recall this one.
12. Riverboat Honeymoon Or this one either.

Jim's site has an audio link for O Galena, but it's not working. Rats!

~Susan

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Oh Galena by Jim Post
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 04 Apr 04 - 09:20 PM

Sorry,
I thought this was a Heavy Metal thread....

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Oh Galena by Jim Post
From: wysiwyg
Date: 18 May 04 - 02:10 PM

Received today:

Susan;

This morning, while cleaning out e-mail I ran into you[r message]. I'll send you the CD of Galena Rose. I was amazed to see the interest and will be happy to clear up the confusion. In my historical writings I try to write a song that is not only informative but a song that will stand on its own.

Sept. 25 I will perform for the first time, Barefoot Memoir, a play from the book of the same name. [It's] about my very young childhood, so I'm home most of the summer finishing both.

Jim Post

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Oh Galena by Jim Post
From: Chris in Wheaton
Date: 18 May 04 - 03:43 PM

My recommendation is to get the Jim Post and Friends cd - it has the Galena song and some really, really great stuff with Jim and Anne Hills - it's one of my favorites.
I hope that Jim is performing his new show in Chicago - he is a great talent.
For those in Chicago, get on the mailing list for the Friendship series in Mount Prospect - the series is going again and Jim usually comes once a year. Not exactly like Troubles - but then we can't stay out that late anymore either!!
Chris in Wheaton

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Oh Galena by Jim Post
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 22 May 04 - 04:29 PM

I've heard of pig iron before (It's mentioned in ROCK ISLAND LINE) but never pig lead. I thought he was saying "piglet" until I realized he was singing about smelting lead ore, not slaughtering hogs. Anyway, these are the words I transcribed from a short sound sample at Barnes & Noble:

...scrape off the top and let the pig cool down,
Load the pig lead into the master's wagon,
Down Stagecoach Trail to Galena town.

Oh, Galena, oh, Galena,
You're such a pretty little riverboat town,
But I wish we could spend more...

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Oh Galena by Jim Post
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 22 May 04 - 04:40 PM

In the facility where I once worked, lead pigs were used in some way. When that facility closed, they tossed out the pigs (stupid, salvage pays well for them). I copped several, still used by my son to add weight to the rear end of his pickup in snow-ice conditions. These pigs weigh some 70 pounds (not sure of exact weight, too long ago). They take much less room than bags of sand.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Oh Galena by Jim Post
From: wysiwyg
Date: 22 May 04 - 05:10 PM

How big is pig lead?

Thanks Jim!

CD should be on its way so I can check the rest. I think I can do chords too, and maybe a simple MIDI.

~Susan

Subject: Lyr Add: O GALENA (Jim Post)
From: Melani
Date: 23 May 04 - 04:08 PM

O GALENA
(Jim Post)

My papa is a slave on the Fever River,
Works all day in the burnin' sun.
Loadin' the wood in the red-hot smelter;
He's so tired when thd day is done.
When the lead starts to run inside the ladle,
Scrape off the top and let the pig cool down.
Load the pig lead in the master's wagon,
Down Stagecoach Trail to Galena town.

CHORUS: O Galena, O Galena,
    You're such a pretty little riverboat town;
    But I wish we could spend more time on the levee,
    Watchin' the riverboats come to town.

A slave's only worth what his back can carry;
Guess my papa's worth about half the world;
Heard him say to mama after supper,
"Wish that boy was lucky, like the girls.
Girls get to work in a nice warm kitchen,
Cuttin' up the food and mendin' clothes.
When the rocks freeze to the ground in winter,
That boy'll sweat like a mule in the fallin' snow."

Cho:

Slavery's not legal in Illinois;
That's what I heard Reverend Cartwright say.
If someday we get our freedom,
That's gonna be a dancin' day.
We'll build us a cabin on the Fever River,
File a claim and we'll dig for lead.
When we hit it, then we'll be rich folks,
And we'll sleep in a feather bed.

Cho:

By the way, does anybody know if there is a Fever River, or is it possibly a nickname for the Mississippi? I have checked maps with no result.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AIP516qI7KQ

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Oh Galena by Jim Post
From: wysiwyg
Date: 23 May 04 - 04:27 PM

Expedia shows Fever River near Galena, as well as Stagecoach Trail if you zoom in.

~Susan

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Oh Galena by Jim Post
From: wysiwyg
Date: 23 May 04 - 04:40 PM

Article about the Fever River AKA Galena River:

CLICK!

Susan

Subject: TITLE CORRECTION
From: GUEST,999
Date: 27 Dec 09 - 02:35 PM

Further to

Subject: Lyr Add: OH GALENA (Jim Post)
From: Melani
Date: 23 May 04 - 04:08 PM

The correct title is "O Galena".

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: O Galena (Jim Post)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 31 Dec 09 - 12:34 PM

The Getty Thesaurus of Geographic Names (the best gazetteer I can find on the Internet) gives Fever River as an alternate (probably old) name for both the Galena River and the town of Galena.

Names:

Galena (preferred,C,V,N)
Fever River (H,V,N) - named after early settler, the French trader Le Fèvre
La Pointe (H,V,N)

Galena River (preferred,C,V,N)
Apea Sepee (C,V,N)
Febure River (C,V,N)
Febvre River (C,V,N)
Fever River (C,V,N)
Fevre River (C,V,N)
LaRiviere River (C,V,N)
River of Mines (C,V,N)
Riviere de la Fievre (C,V,N)