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05 Jan 09 - 12:52 AM (#2531806) Subject: A Moving Video: The Dying Californian From: Lonesome EJ This has the eery impact of something that was composed and filmed in the 19th century. |
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05 Jan 09 - 04:39 PM (#2532340) Subject: RE: A Moving Video: The Dying Californian From: VirginiaTam wow... that was powerful. thanks for sharing |
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08 Jan 09 - 02:38 AM (#2534801) Subject: RE: A Moving Video: The Dying Californian From: VirginiaTam refresh.... because this is worth it. Peeps have a look. |
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08 Jan 09 - 03:33 AM (#2534825) Subject: RE: A Moving Video: The Dying Californian From: Joe Offer This is an interesting song - reminds me of Peter Emberly in a way, except the dying person doesn't seem as dysfunctional as Emberly. There hasn't been anything posted on it, so I think we need to get to work on it. The lyrics in the Digital Tradition are quite different from those on the Tim Eriksen recording. The Traditional Ballad Index has two entries on this song: Dying Californian (I), TheDESCRIPTION: The singer tells a comrade he is dying. He confesses to a firm belief in God. He sends messages to his father and mother. He wishes his wife to know that he thought of her while dying, and bids her care for his childrenAUTHOR: unknown EARLIEST DATE: 1850 KEYWORDS: dying farewell religious FOUND IN: US(Ap,MA,MW,Ro,So) Canada(Mar,Newf) REFERENCES (13 citations): Belden, pp. 350-351, "The Dying Californian" (1 text) Randolph 183, "The Dying Californian" (1 text, 1 tune) Randolph/Cohen, pp. 179-182, "The Dying Californian" (1 text, 1 tune -- Randolph's 183) Eddy 126, "The Dying Californian" (1 text, 1 tune) Hudson 92, pp. 221-222, "The Dying Californian" (1 text) Greenleaf/Mansfield 177, "Californian Brothers" (1 text) FSCatskills 86, "The Dying Californian" (1 text, 1 tune) Scott-BoA, pp. 187-189, "The Dying Californian" (1 text, 1 tune) Fife-Cowboy/West 15, "The California Brothers" (1 text, 1 tune) LPound-ABS, 90, pp. 191-193, "The Dying Californian" (1 text) JHCox 49, "The Dying Californian" (1 text) cf. Gardner/Chickering, p. 478, "The Dying Californian" (source notes only) DT, DYINGCAL Roud #2283 BROADSIDES: LOCSheet, sm1855 580660, "Dying Californian" or "The Brother's Request" ("Lie up nearer, brother, nearer"), Oliver Ditson (Boston), 1855 (tune) LOCSinging, sb10096b, "The Dying Californian" ("Lay up nearer, brother, nearer, for my limbs are growing cold"), J. Andrews (New York), 1853-1859; also as103250, as10325a, "The Dying Californian" CROSS-REFERENCES: cf. "The Dying Mine Brakeman (The True and Trembling Brakeman)" [Laws G11] (lyrics) cf. "The Dying Californian (II)" (theme) SAME TUNE: The Dying Fifer (File: BrII227) (per broadside Bodleian Harding B 31(29)) Notes: This appears, under its own name, in the Sacred Harp, credited to "Ball and Drinkard 1859." - RBW Broadside LOCSheet sm1855 580660 has the cover sheet attribution "Poetry from the New England Diadem Music by A.L. Lee" Broadside LOCSinging sb10096b: J. Andrews dating per Studying Nineteenth-Century Popular Song by Paul Charosh in American Music, Winter 1997, Vol 15.4, Table 1, available at FindArticles site. Broadside LOCSheet, sm1857 620570, "Prayer of the Dying Californian," Oliver Ditson (Boston), 1857 (tune) shares lines with "The Dying Californian." The cover sheet attribution is "Arranged from the Spanish of Marechio by E. Williams Denison." - BS File: R183
Dying Californian (II), TheDESCRIPTION: "Comrades come gather round me for I am dying now." He has messages for father and mother. He sends his ring back to Mary but keeps "a token, she gave it me, from which I cannot part ... I must slumber here alone on San Francisco shore"AUTHOR: unknown EARLIEST DATE: 1960 (Creighton-SNewBrunswick) KEYWORDS: dying request father mother wife separation FOUND IN: Canada(Mar) REFERENCES (1 citation): Creighton-SNewBrunswick 58, "The Dying Californian" (1 text, 1 tune) Roud #2283 CROSS-REFERENCES: cf. "The Dying Californian (I)" (theme) Notes: Roud does not distinguish this song (which seems to have been known only in Canada) from the much more popular "Dying Californian (I)." - RBW File: CrSNB058 Go to the Ballad Search form The Ballad Index Copyright 2007 by Robert B. Waltz and David G. Engle. |
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26 Mar 13 - 12:32 AM (#3494934) Subject: Lyr Add: THE DYING CALIFORNIAN From: Jim Dixon From The Knickerbocker: Or, New-York Monthly Magazine (New York: Samuel Hueston, Oct., 1852), page 335. THE DYING CALIFORNIAN. On the shores of the Pacific, in a wild sequestered vale, Lay a miner, faint and weary, with a visage wan and pale; The deep blue vault of heaven alone was o'er him spread, The green turf of the valley was the dying sufferer's bed. At his feet, a mountain river over golden sands was rolled, For a thousand eager miners washing out the glittering gold: Men had left a fellow-mortal, far from friends, to die alone, For the love of gold had hardened human sympathies to stone. The sufferer, pale and languid, turned his dull and glazing eye To the fleecy clouds of whiteness that flecked the western sky. The scene was passing lovely: Nevada's peaks of snow Reflecting the rich sun-light on the sleeping vales below: The mountains in the distance flung aloft their summits bleak, In calm and silent grandeur, peak rising over peak, Until their shadowy outlines were lost unto the view, And the splintered, snow-capped pinnacles were bathed in heavenly blue. But that wan and pallid sufferer, as restlessly he lay, Marked not those scenes of beauty, for his thoughts were far away; Far away to loved New-England, where a happy, joyous band Had welcomed him in gladness to his rugged mountain strand. He dies, that youthful dreamer; but his wild and fevered brain Was roving in the pleasant scenes of his early home again: A mother's face bent o'er him as he drew his latest breath, And a smile played o'er his features when his eye grew dim in death. As the sun was slowly sinking 'neath the broad Pacific's wave, The heartless hands of strangers laid the dreamer in his grave. No prayer was breathed, no tear was shed, no shroud enclosed his breast, But with cold, unfeeling mockery they laid him to his rest Hoarsely broke the solemn surges on Atlantic's rock-bound shore; Their deep tones were the requiem of him whose life was o'er: And a wail came from New-England, a wail for the departed, From a father, brother, sister, and a mother broken-hearted. To that western El Dorado, that gorgeous land of gold, The tide of emigration its mighty waves hath rolled; And thousands that were toiling for the gold which millions crave Have died alone and friendless, and found a stranger's grave. In Nevada's mountain gorges, in every golden glen In Sacramento's valley, repose New-England men: Along each gliding rivulet, with music in its flow, Full many a hopeful dreamer is sleeping lone and low. California hath her treasures, whose value is untold, But her soil holds treasures dearer, more priceless far than gold: For many noble spirits in her bosom are at rest, And the gold sands of her valleys shroud many a manly breast. Pittsfield, (N. H.) J. S. |
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26 Mar 13 - 01:32 AM (#3494943) Subject: Lyr Add: THE DYING CALIFORNIAN / BROTHER'S REQUEST From: Jim Dixon From the sheet music at Duke University: THE DYING CALIFORNIAN, OR THE BROTHER'S REQUEST Poetry from The New England Diadem; music by A. L. Lee. Boston: Oliver Ditson, 1855. 1. Lie up nearer, brother, nearer, For my limbs are growing cold, And thy presence seemeth dearer When thy arms around me fold. I am dying, brother, dying. Soon you'll miss me in your berth, For my form will soon be lying 'Neath the ocean's briny surf. 2. Hearken to me, brother; hearken: I have something I would say Ere the vale my vision darken And I go from home away. I am going, surely going, But my hope in God is strong. I am willing, brother, knowing That He doeth nothing wrong. 3. Tell my father when you greet him That in death I prayed for him, Prayed that I may one day meet him In a world that's free from sin. Tell my mother (God assist her, Now that she is growing old), Tell her child would glad have kissed her When his lips grew pale and cold. 4. Listen, brother; catch each whisper. 'Tis my wife I'd speak of now. Tell, oh, tell her how I missed her When the fever burned my brow. Tell her, brother—closely listen; Don't forget a single word— That in death my eyes did glisten When the tears her mem'ry stirred. 5. Tell her she must kiss my children Like the kiss I last impressed. Hold them as when last I held them Folded closely to my breast. Give them early to their Maker, Putting all her trust in God, And He never will forsake her, For He said so in His word. 6. O my children, Heaven bless them. They recall my life to me. Would I could once more caress them Ere I sink beneath the sea! 'Twas for them I crossed the ocean. What my hopes were I'll not tell, But I've gained an orphan's portion, Yet He doeth all things well. 7. Tell my sister I remember Ev'ry kindly parting word, And my heart has been kept tender By the thoughts their mem'ry stirred. Tell I never reached the haven Where I sought the precious dust, But I have gained a port called Heaven Where the gold will never rust. 8. Urge them to secure an entrance For they'll find their brother there. Faith in Jesus and repentance Will secure for each a share. Hark! I hear my Savior speaking. 'Tis His voice I know so well. When I'm gone, oh, don't be weeping. Brother, here's my last farewell. |
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26 Mar 13 - 01:33 AM (#3494945) Subject: RE: A Moving Video: The Dying Californian From: michaelr Jeez - talk about turgid... |
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26 Mar 13 - 09:16 AM (#3495046) Subject: RE: A Moving Video: The Dying Californian From: Jim Dixon The New England Diadem and Rhode-Island Temperance Pledge was a periodical published in Providence 1848-1851?. |
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26 Mar 13 - 10:06 AM (#3495064) Subject: RE: A Moving Video: The Dying Californian From: Jack Campin Meanwhile the original video has been removed for copyright infringement. |
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26 Mar 13 - 03:12 PM (#3495168) Subject: RE: A Moving Video: The Dying Californian From: Q (Frank Staplin) Seems like this ballad wss very popular. American Memory has three song sheets, The first line in all three has "Lay up nearer" rather than "Lie ...." A version from Beadle's Dime Song Books, 1859 differs slightly in a few lines: Verse 4 Hearken to me, catch each whisper, 'Tis my wife I speak of now, Tell, oh tell her how I missed her When the fever burned my brow. (Reproduced in Fife and Fife, "Cowboy and Western Songs," with the title "The California Brothers.") The melody given in Fife and Fife is from the singing of Effie Carmack, Fife Mormon Collection. The piece was first printed without music, 1850, see Greenleaf and Mansfield, pp. 359-260. Greenleaf, E. B., Mansfield, Grace Y., "Ballads and Sea Songs of Newfoundland." Cambridge, Harvard University Press, 1933. Two short versions, differing from the original, were printed in Lester A. Hubbard, 1961, Ballads and Songs from Utah, pp. 217-219. |
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27 Mar 13 - 12:39 PM (#3495533) Subject: RE: A Moving Video: The Dying Californian From: Q (Frank Staplin) Lyric Add: Dying California (sic) Heark and listen, brothers, listen, Don't forget a single word, How in death my eyes did glisten With the thoughts that memory stirred. 2 Oh, my children, heaven bless them, They are all my life to me; Would I could once more caress them, Hold them fondly on my knee. 'Twas for them I crossed the ocean. What my hopes were I'll not tell, But they've gained an orphan's portion In the courts where all is well. 3 Oh, my mother, heaven bless her Now that she is growing old; Tell her how I longed to kiss her When my lips were growing cold. Tell her to caress my children, As I did when last did see, Tell her fondly to embrace them, Hold them fondly on her knee. 4 Hark and listen, brothers, listen, 'Tis my wife I speak of now; Tell her how I longed to kiss her When the fever burnt my brow. Tell her I'll meet her in heaven, Putting all in God her trust, And we'll gain the port called heaven, Where the gold will never rust. 5 Hark, I hear my Jesus speaking, 'Tis his voice I love so well. I am dying, brother, dying, Brother, that's my last farewell. Sung by Mrs. Salley A Hubbard, Salt Lake City, Utah, musical score provided. Lester A. Hubbard, Ed., 1961, "Ballads and Songs from Utah," The University of Utah Press. No. 117, pp. 217-218. |
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27 Mar 13 - 02:17 PM (#3495589) Subject: RE: A Moving Video: The Dying Californian From: Q (Frank Staplin) Lyr. Add: The Dying Californian 1 Come, brothers, gather round my bed, for I am dying now. The last bright gleam of hope has fled and calm, calm is my brow. While reason yet retains her throne, come list to what I say And bear this message to my home, my home, far, far away. 2 Go tell my father not to blame his wayward, daring child, But kindly speak of his poor name on which in youth he smiled. Go tell my mother, poor but fair, that my last act shall be To breathe that well remembered prayer I heard beside her knee. 3 When I am dead take off this ring and bear it to that shore; Tell Mary it is an offering of one who wakes no more. Go tell her in the courts above I'll think on that blest hour When first to me she pledged her love 'neath that dear shady bower. 4 Brothers, you soon must close my eyes and make my last cold bed, For ere tomorrow's sun does rise I shall be cold and dead. Brothers, farewell. Dear, happy home, I ne'er shall see you more, For I must slumber here alone on San Francisco's shore. No. 118, p. 219. No musical score. "Sung by James Jepson of Hurricane, [Utah].... He learned it in Virgin City from Andrew J. Workman, a soldier who had been in the Mormon Battalion and who had brought it from California. Mrs. Susie S. Barlow of Salt Lake City sang, with few textual differences, another version entitled "The Dying Cowboy," which she learned in Richville." Lester a. Hubbard, ed., 1961, "Ballads and Songs from Utah," University of Utah Press. The most distinctive of several versions of the song that I have seen. |
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28 Mar 13 - 04:27 AM (#3495830) Subject: RE: A Moving Video: The Dying Californian From: open mike when following the link posted above, I got this message unfortunately the video has been taken down...is there any other place to find this song online?? "Tim Eriksen / Cordelia's Da..." The YouTube account associated with this video has been terminated due to multiple third-party notifications of copyright infringement. |
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29 Mar 13 - 01:55 PM (#3496427) Subject: RE: A Moving Video: The Dying Californian From: open mike o.k. found one of Time Eriksen playing fiddle and singing this by the golden gate bridge...he was there to perform at the Freight and Salvage http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6DiHM8c37sk and here is a clip of some folks jamming after that performance http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7qX0DJYsAEg and here is the Northern Roots Music Collective singing the Dying Californian from the Sacred Harp at a Wesleyan Contra Dance http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uupgm3eCGso one of the comments on you tube says this about the song.. #410 in the Sacred Harp, words by Kate Harris, tune by Ball & Drinkard |
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29 Mar 13 - 02:03 PM (#3496432) Subject: RE: A Moving Video: The Dying Californian From: Artful Codger A simple YouTube search on the song title turns the video up again here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6DiHM8c37sk Posted by Tim's YouTube account (batfancy), so I trust this clip will remain unburdened by infringement claims. (It strains credulity that other stalwarts above didn't think of this simple expedient. Must be something in the water today.) |
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29 Mar 13 - 03:04 PM (#3496452) Subject: RE: A Moving Video: The Dying Californian From: Q (Frank Staplin) Poem by Kate Harris, 1850, of Pascoag, RI, in "New England Diadem and Rhode Island Temperance Pledge." "Suggested on hearing read an extract of a letter from Captain Chase, containing the dying words of Brown Owen, who recently died on his passage to California." www.mcsr.olemiss.edu/~mudws/texts/DyingCalifornian.txt The music by Ball and Drinkard, see open mike, above. |
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12 May 14 - 03:57 PM (#3625512) Subject: RE: A Moving Video: The Dying Californian From: Q (Frank Staplin) In the website of texasfasola.org Lyr. Add: The Dying Californian 398b Tune: R. f. Ball and Drinkard, 1859 Alto: Wilson Marion Cooper, 1902 Lyrics: Kate Harris, 1850 Meter: 8s, 7s (8,7,8,7) Lay up nearer, brother, neared, For my limbs are growing cold, And my presence seemeth nearer When thine arms around me fold. I am dying, brother, dying, Soon you'll miss me in your berth, For my form will soon be lying 'Neath the ocean's briny surf. I am going, surely going, But my hope in God is strong; I am willing, brother, knowing That He doeth nothing wrong. Supposedly inspired by the story of Brown Owen, who died on his passage to California, as told by the captain of the ship. http://texasfasola.org/resources/index/poetry/398b.html |
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22 Jun 22 - 10:47 PM (#4145117) Subject: RE: Origins: The Dying Californian From: Joe Offer Joe- needs work |