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01 Dec 09 - 10:18 AM (#2777540) Subject: Lyr Req: Sewing a Name-- AIDS Quilt Song From: Cuilionn Hello, Folks-- It's World AIDS Day. I'm thinking about the AIDS orphans in Africa and all those who suffer from this disease and the ignorance that surrounds it. May they all be touched by healing and compassion. May the work of education, community care and justice-seeking continue with renewed energy and shared resources. I'm trying to piece together the words of "Sewing a Name," a beautiful song written (by Cathy Fink?) about the NAMES Project quilt and all the dear people whose lives were cut short by AIDS. My hope is to regather the words so I can sing it to myself through the day. Can't seem to track down my old cassette of Claudia Schmidt singing this, and it's been too long for me to fully recall. Can anyone help refresh my memory? I think it starts, "I'm sewing a name for the world to see, sewing a name to reassure me..." Moran Taing / Muckle Thanks, --Cuilionn |
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02 Dec 09 - 03:26 PM (#2778840) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sewing a Name-- AIDS Quilt Song From: Jim Dixon Allmusic.com says Cathy Fink wrote SEWING A NAME, and Claudia Schmidt & Sally Rogers recorded it on their album "While We Live" (Red House Records RHR45, 1991). It's still available, according to Red House Records. I wasn't able to identify any other recordings. I was able to transcribe this much from some samples: I'm saving this name like a book from the past. It has tattered edges and a spirit that will last; I'm saving this name for the world to see That the life you lived is now part of me. We're joined in (or "joining"?) a family of others who sew, And watching a beautiful artwork grow, And trying to see that the world won't ignore The rights and the loves we've been fighting for. |
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02 Dec 09 - 04:19 PM (#2778881) Subject: ADD: Sewing a Name (Cathy Fink) From: Joe Offer What a nice song! The CD doesn't have a lyrics sheet and I can't find the lyrics on the Web. Here is my by-ear transcription, incorporating Jim's transcription. I couldn't find a Cathy Fink recording. Seems to me there was an AIDS quilt CD - I wonder if Cathy Fink and Marcy Marxer did a recording of the song for that CD. SEWING A NAME (Cathy Fink, 1987) I'm sewing a name for the world to see, I'm sewing a name to reassure me One life is never lived in vain, One man's pleasure, not another man's pain. CHORUS I'm saving this name like a book from the past, It has tattered edges and a spirit that will last; I'm saving this name for the world to see That the life you lived is now part of me. We're joining a family of others who sew, And watching a beautiful artwork grow, And trying to see that the world won't ignore The rights and the loves we've been fighting for. CHORUS, then instrumental break Well, it doesn't matter what stitch I use, Your favorite colors are the ones I choose; And I couldn't leave off your sparkly blue tie, You wore the day I caught your eye. CHORUS I'm sewing a name for the world to see, I'm sewing a name to reassure me One life is never lived in vain, One man's pleasure, not another man's pain. CHORUS Source: by-ear transcription from Claudia Schmidt & Sally Rogers album "While We Live" (Red House Records RHR45, 1991). |
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07 Dec 09 - 05:18 PM (#2783259) Subject: RE: req/ADD: Sewing a Name-- AIDS Quilt Song From: Susanne (skw) This seems to be a different song: NAMES (Cathy Fink) Chorus: And I know, my name could be there And I feel, the pain and the fear And this human love and passion Do not make us all the same We are counted not as numbers but as names A patchwork of thousands of precious names There must be someone there you know Woven together in a quilted frame The names the loved ones won't let go We grieve for the lovers and the families And I pray they'll meet again some day But until that time I will carry the flame As their numbers grow we'll not forget the names A lover, a carpenter, a father, a friend A sister, a minister, a man Each quilted piece holds a memory Each memory helps us to go on as sung by Roy Bailey on 'Never Leave A Story Unsung' (1991) [1991:] Written for the Names Quilt, a memorial to victims of AIDS. The project began in San Francisco. It has rapidly become a major work of folk art that is a moving memorial to and celebration of, the lives of those who have died. Each name is on a patch six feet by three feet. There are now 13,000 pieces in the quilt. In July 1989 I was invited to sing this song at the opening of an exhibition of part of the quilt at the Vancouver Art Gallery. It was a privilege to be invited and it was the most moving event I have ever been involved with. (Notes Roy Bailey, 'Never Leave A Story Unsung') |