ADD: Susquehanna (Martyn Wyndham-Read)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req/Add: Susquehanna (Martyn Wyndham-Read)
From: GUEST,Elizabeth Block
Date: 28 Jun 22 - 03:24 PM

There seems to be some confusion about "lotus." It's a reference to the lotus-eaters, from the Odyssey, and later from Alfred Tennyson. They lie at peace and sleep and dream and forget about the cares of the world. So "I have breathed too long, too deep, the lotus in the air" means the place made him very, very happy.

Subject: ADD: Susquehanna (Martyn Wyndham-Read)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 27 Feb 21 - 03:13 PM

So, putting all that together and adding my two cents, here's what I come up with. I'm sure Reinhard is right about "wander," but it's clear in the recording that Martyn sings "travel."

SUSQUEHANNA
(words by Robert Louis Stevenson, adapted by Martyn Wyndham-Read)

Of late as I did travel my heart filled with despair
I came upon a wondrous sight which drove away my care
Where glittering waters glide and magic filled the air
Beside the Susquehanna and along the Delaware

Of where and how I do not know and why I do not care
From now until forevermore my soul will wander there
By flood and field and sunlit hill by wood and meadow fair
Beside the Susquehanna and along the Delaware

I think and hope and dream no more the dreams of otherwhere
Of things that were and might have been this man has ceased to care
For I have breathed too long, too deep, the lotus in the air
Beside the Susquehanna and along the Delaware


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3JI5m_d8WW8&list=RDMM

Martyn Wyndham-Read sings SUSQUEHANNA on his album "Sunlit Plains," Fellside, FECD102, 1995.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req/Add: Susquehanna (Martyn Wyndham-Read)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 27 Feb 21 - 03:01 PM

It's always important to name the source of anything you copy-paste. It makes checking and correcting so much easier. And sources are of varying quality - some are not worth bothering with.
It's my job to proofread and regularize format, but it does help if I have the original source to refer to. That being said, this is an ideal Mudcat thread, a cooperative effort to come up with a pretty good approximation of accurate lyrics - and the addition of the original poetry by Stevenson was wonderful.

Thanks.

-Joe-

Subject: RE: Lyr Req/Add: Susquehanna (Martyn Wyndham-Read)
From: leeneia
Date: 26 Feb 21 - 01:30 PM

Thanks, Reinhard. It's good to know I didn't make a foolish mistake.
================
When I was a fifth-grader, ten years old, I studied American geography in school. Somehow the names of Pennsylvania's rivers caught my attention. Who can forget that in Pittsburgh, the Allegheny and the Monongehela join the Ohio? Just upstream is one I never heard of, the Youghiogheny. (I don't even know how to pronounce that.)

The Susquehanna is to the east of these, in the central and eastern part of the state. Don't ask me why the West Branch, which is plenty big, doesn't have a name of it's own. The Susquehanna is an odd-shaped river. The closest it comes to the Delaware is about 40 miles, so don't let the song make you think those rivers connect.

Just for fun, here's a list of PA rivers:

Allegheny River, Beaver River, Clarion River, Conemaugh River, Conewago Creek, Conodoguinet Creek, Delaware River, French Creek, Juniata River, Lackawanna River, Lackawaxen River, Lehigh River, Loyalsock Creek, Mahoning Creek, Monongahela River, Ohio River, Penns Creek, Pine Creek, Raystown Branch Juniata River, Redbank Creek, Schuylkill River, Susquehanna River, Swatara Creek, West Branch Susquehanna River and Youghiogheny River.

The Appalachians (the Valley and Ridge) are an important feature in Pennsylvania.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req/Add: Susquehanna (Martyn Wyndham-Read)
From: GUEST,#
Date: 25 Feb 21 - 01:07 PM

Thanks, Reinhard.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req/Add: Susquehanna (Martyn Wyndham-Read)
From: Reinhard
Date: 25 Feb 21 - 11:27 AM

A bit technical: The Wikisource original has in the beginning of the indented lines a UTF character 'WORD JOINER' (UTF code U+2060) that isn't shown on the displayed Wikisource page but still gets copied with Copy&Paste. Mudcat doesn't recognise this character and thus displays it as '?'.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req/Add: Susquehanna (Martyn Wyndham-Read)
From: GUEST,#
Date: 25 Feb 21 - 10:57 AM

Oops, it did. I expect it's something to do with how Mudcat 'reads' the post. Joe might be the person to ask.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req/Add: Susquehanna (Martyn Wyndham-Read)
From: GUEST,#
Date: 25 Feb 21 - 10:54 AM

leeneia, the page you copy/pasted from has indents where the question marks are in your post. I don't know why that happens. I'll c/p one stanza and see if the same thing happens.

OF where or how, I nothing know;
?And why, I do not care;
?Enough if, even so,
?My travelling eyes, my travelling mind can go
By flood and field and hill, by wood and meadow fair,
Beside the Susquehanna and along the Delaware.

Well, it didn't. Beats me why that happened in your post.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req/Add: Susquehanna (Martyn Wyndham-Read)
From: leeneia
Date: 25 Feb 21 - 10:47 AM

Does anybody know where the question marks came from in the poem above? They weren't in the original, which I merely pasted and copied.

Subject: ADD: Susquehanna (Robert Louis Stevenson)
From: leeneia
Date: 23 Feb 21 - 12:37 PM

Here are the words of Robert Louis Stevenson. We owe Martin thanks for making this so singable.

THE SUSQUEHANNA AND THE DELAWARE
(Robert Louis Stevenson)

TO SIDNEY COLVIN

Of where or how, I nothing know;
And why, I do not care;
Enough if, even so,
My travelling eyes, my travelling mind can go
By flood and field and hill, by wood and meadow fair,
Beside the Susquehanna and along the Delaware.

I think, I hope, I dream no more
The dreams of otherwhere,
The cherished thoughts of yore;
I have been changed from what I was before;
And drunk too deep perchance the lotus of the air,
Beside the Susquehanna and along the Delaware.

Unweary, God me yet shall bring
To lands of brighter air,
Where I, now half a king,
Shall with enfranchised spirit loudlier sing,
And wear a bolder front than that which now I wear
Beside the Susquehanna and along the Delaware.

August, 1879.

---

https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Page:The_Works_of_Robert_Louis_Stevenson,_Vailima_Edition,_Volume_8,_1922.djvu/479

Corrected by Joe Offer according to the original printed source.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req/Add: Susquehanna (Martyn Wyndham-Read)
From: leeneia
Date: 23 Feb 21 - 10:13 AM

Thanks for the link, Georgian Silver. I believe I'll make the sheet music for that.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req/Add: Susquehanna (Martyn Wyndham-Read)
From: GUEST,#
Date: 22 Feb 21 - 06:06 PM

We're cool, Reinhard. I'm a fan of your site and I appreciate that you check stuff. I expect that Martyn sings it differently at different times, so having other people check work is a good thing. I sometimes mess up and I'd hate to do that without being called on it. Many thanks.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req/Add: Susquehanna (Martyn Wyndham-Read)
From: Reinhard
Date: 22 Feb 21 - 05:36 PM

That doesn't mean that any of us is wrong. I have many albums with subtle differences between the printed lyrics and what's actually sung.
I just wanted to acknowledge in my last post how well your transcription is so that there are just minor differences to the printed version.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req/Add: Susquehanna (Martyn Wyndham-Read)
From: GUEST,#
Date: 22 Feb 21 - 04:46 PM

Good eye, Reinhard. (I still hear had, not has. However, I defer tou you and Martyn.) :-)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req/Add: Susquehanna (Martyn Wyndham-Read)
From: Reinhard
Date: 22 Feb 21 - 03:25 PM

The Susquehanna lyrics in Martyn's book "Tunes to Poems to Songs" differ from #'s verses in two places:

First line: Of late as I did wander
Last verse: has ceased to care

Subject: RE: Lyr Req/Add: Susquehanna (Martyn Wyndham-Read)
From: GUEST,#
Date: 22 Feb 21 - 02:58 PM

I have listened to MWR's take of the song and it has some differences when compared to GUEST,Badger's lyrics @ 29 Nov 04 - 09:55 AM.

Here's what I hear (changes capitalized)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3JI5m_d8WW8&list=RDMM


Susquehanna

Of late as I did travel my heart filled with despair
I came upon a wondrous sight WHICH drove away my care
Where glittering waters glide and magic filled the air
BESIDE the Susquehanna and ALONG the Delaware

Of where and how I do not know and why I do not care
From now until forever more my soul WILL wander there
By flood and field and sunlit hill by wood and meadow fair
BESIDE the Susquehanna and ALONG the Delaware

I think and hope and dream no more the dreams of other where
Of things that were and might have been this man HAD ceased to care
For I have BREATHED too long [omit and] too deep the lotus in the air
BESIDE the Susquehanna and ALONG the Delaware

END

Subject: RE: Lyr Req/Add: Susquehanna (Martyn Wyndham-Read)
From: Georgiansilver
Date: 22 Feb 21 - 07:20 AM

Someone mentioned Bill Whaley and Dave Fletcher.... two of Lincolnshires finest.... Here they are singing 'Susquehanna'. Worth a listen.... https://youtu.be/hETiHZE49xI

Subject: RE: Lyr Req/Add: Susquehanna (Martyn Wyndham-Read)
From: The Doctor
Date: 22 Feb 21 - 05:24 AM

In 2016 Martyn and Danni published a book called 'Tunes to Poems to Songs', containing the words and music of 26 songs that Martyn sings, including Susquehanna. I assume it is still available from him, though I don't remember what I paid for it, but not a huge amount. Whatever, it is worth every penny.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req/Add: Susquehanna (Martyn Wyndham-Read)
From: GUEST
Date: 21 Feb 21 - 09:56 PM

Last verse: For I have BREATHED too long, too deep the lotus in the air

(Posted by Elizabeth Block)

Subject: Lyr Add: Susquehanna
From: GUEST,badger
Date: 29 Nov 04 - 09:55 AM

I asked for help in finding some of the lyrics for this and one of the people who helped asked would I post them when I got them all so .... here they are!!Gorgeous song.


Susquehanna

Of late as I did travel my heart filled with despair
I came upon a wondrous sight that drove away my care
Where glittering waters glide and magic filled the air
Down by the Susquehanna and the longer Delaware

Of where and how I do not know and why I do not care
From now until forever more my soul shall wander there
By flood and field and sunlit hill by wood and meadow fair
Down by the Susquehanna and the longer Delaware

I think and hope and dream no more the dreams of other where
Of things that were and might have been this man has ceased to care
For I have grieved (breathed?) too long and too deep the lotus in the air
Down by the Susquehanna and the longer Delaware

Of late as I did travel my heart filled with despair
I came upon a wondrous sight that drove away my care
Where glittering waters glide and magic filled the air
Down by the Susquehanna and the longer Delaware
Yes down by the Susquehanna and the longer Delaware

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Martyn Wyndham-Read's 'Susquehanna'
From: GUEST
Date: 22 Nov 04 - 02:20 PM

From the horses mouth- (Lotus breather, 2,30, Kempton Park)- It's breathed.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Martyn Wyndham-Read's 'Susquehanna'
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 20 Nov 04 - 08:55 PM

Strollin' Johnny: If it's a mistake, then it's a common mistake, and perhaps Martyn Wyndham-Read confused them, too.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Martyn Wyndham-Read's 'Susquehanna'
From: Strollin' Johnny
Date: 20 Nov 04 - 03:56 PM

Jim, that was 'lotos', not 'lotus'. Not the same thing (or so I was informed by my English Master when we were studying the poem 'The Lotos-Eaters).

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Martyn Wyndham-Read's 'Susquehanna'
From: GUEST
Date: 20 Nov 04 - 02:51 PM

Jim- All will be revealed on Tuesday

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Martin Wyndham Reads Susquehana
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 19 Nov 04 - 06:35 PM

By the way, Martyn Wyndham-Read sings SUSQUEHANNA on his album "Sunlit Plains," Fellside, FECD102, 1995.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Martin Wyndham Reads Susquehana
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 19 Nov 04 - 06:20 PM

Well, because the lotus is an aromatic flower, so when he says, "the lotus in the air" I assume he means "the scent of lotus in the air." That's something you really can inhale, or breathe. Also, in Greek legend, the lotus was supposed to "make strangers who ate of it forget their native country, or lose all desire to return to it." That would fit with the theme of traveling.

On the other hand, I can't imagine how you would grieve a lotus, or why the lotus would be in the air if he wasn't talking about scent.

I suppose it would be more clear if we had all the lyrics.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Martin Wyndham Reads Susquehana
From: GUEST
Date: 19 Nov 04 - 11:36 AM

Why?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Martin Wyndham Reads Susquehana
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 19 Nov 04 - 09:29 AM

Are you sure it isn't "For I have breathed too long, too deep, the lotus in the air"? That would make a bit more sense.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Martin Wyndham Reads Susquehana
From: Banjo-Flower
Date: 17 Nov 04 - 08:04 PM

Bill Whaley &Dave Fletcher's C D "Less Sprightly"
Buy it ASAP a great C D from two of Lincolnshires finest

Gerry

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Martin Wyndham Reads Susquehana
From: Anglo
Date: 17 Nov 04 - 10:50 AM

Which CD might that be then? Some of us haven't learned his complete discography yet.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Martin Wyndham Reads Susquehana
From: GUEST
Date: 16 Nov 04 - 01:38 PM

Words selected by Martyn from Robert Louis Stevenson's writings on his travels in the USA. Tune by Martyn. It's all in the CD booklet!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Martin Wyndham Reads Susquehana
From: GUEST,same one as 'different one'....*G*
Date: 16 Nov 04 - 09:05 AM

Yeah, gorgeous.....as is 'Green & Gold', another fave....even though in UK too, dont really feel like I can 'relate' (as such) to either, if that makes sense.....

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Martin Wyndham Reads Susquehana
From: Strollin' Johnny
Date: 16 Nov 04 - 08:40 AM

I know. I just shot a coupla names in there in the forlorn hope it would jog my aged and feeble memory. Brilliant song though (quoth he, visibly brightening up!)
S:0)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Martin Wyndham Reads Susquehana
From: GUEST,[different one]
Date: 16 Nov 04 - 08:31 AM

Have a feeling youre on righ lines there, Strollin', but 99% sure it wasnt Kipling.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Martin Wyndham Reads Susquehana
From: Strollin' Johnny
Date: 16 Nov 04 - 08:14 AM

Weren't the words a poem written by Wordsworth or Rudyard Kipling or some such? I'm sure Dave Fletcher's said that. Can't remember which poet exactly, but the guy wrote it on his travels, when he'd been going through a bout of depression and found himself at the junction of those two rivers. He was so gobsmacked by the sight, he immediately put pen to paper. The tune was added by Martyn, I believe?

Someone will tell me if I've got meself arse-about-face.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Martin Wyndham Reads Susquehana
From: Joe Offer
Date: 16 Nov 04 - 03:30 AM

Can you post what lyrics you have, so the rest of us can see it? It would be interesting to read Martin's take on the U.S.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Martin Wyndham Reads Susquehana
From: GUEST
Date: 15 Nov 04 - 09:09 AM

Thanks for the lyrics - cd player is fine, guess it's new 'lugs'!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Martin Wyndham Reads Susquehana
From: GUEST
Date: 15 Nov 04 - 08:35 AM

For I have greived too long, too deep, the lotus in the air.
Crystal clear diction. New CD player or new ears needed.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Martin Wyndham Reads Susquehana
From: GUEST,badgeruk
Date: 15 Nov 04 - 06:27 AM

Yes it is. I cant get the rest of this line 'for I have grieved too long and too deep the .....? is in the air etc'

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Martin Wyndham Reads Susquehana
From: YorkshireYankee
Date: 15 Nov 04 - 04:30 AM

If all else fails, you could check out Martyn's website. It doesn't have the words, but it does have his contact details...

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Martin Wyndham Reads Susquehana
From: Strollin' Johnny
Date: 14 Nov 04 - 04:33 PM

Is this 'Down By The Susquehanna And Along The Delaware'?

Subject: Lyr Req: Martin Wyndham Reads Susquehana
From: GUEST
Date: 14 Nov 04 - 12:13 PM

Anyone help please, can't get last verse particularly!