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Lyr Add: the Lost Asylum Seeker

27 Mar 03 - 07:56 AM (#919494)
Subject: Lyr Add: THE LOST ASYLUM SEEKER
From: InOBU

The Lost Asylum Seeker
Words Lorcan Otway tune Traditional (Davie Colsen?)

I feared for my life so I did flee I did flee
I feared for my life so I did flee I did flee
I flew far across the sea, to the land of the free
I did flee I did flee

I came to the USA, I asked to stay, asked to stay
I came to the USA, I asked to stay, asked to stay
In chains I was led away, for what crime they did not say
did not say, did not say

I was alone and scared in that jail, in that jail
I was alone and scared in that jail,
No friends face did I er'e see, in the land of the free
they jailed me, they jailed me

I lost all track of time and of days and of days
I lost all track of time and of days
I almost longed to go, to that hell I used to know
I longed to die longed to die

They say many were sent back, were sent back were sent back
they say many were sent back were sent back
Sent back to their former foe for what cause we do not know
do not know do not know

I longed to see that statue with the light, with the light
I longed to see that statue with the light
But now I long to see the sun, before my oppressor's gun
back at home back at home.


27 Mar 03 - 08:09 AM (#919504)
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: the Lost Asylum Seeker
From: InOBU

Whoops...
I feared for my life so I did flee I did flee
I feared for my life so I did flee
I flew far across the sea, to the land of the free
I did flee I did flee

I came to the USA, I asked to stay, asked to stay
I came to the USA, I asked to stay,
In chains I was led away, for what crime they did not say
did not say, did not say


27 Mar 03 - 08:18 AM (#919516)
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: the Lost Asylum Seeker
From: Sandra in Sydney

InObu

Replace the word USA with Australia & the statue with a bridge & you're telling the story of refugees here in sunny Oz.

It's a great song.

sandra


27 Mar 03 - 08:24 AM (#919527)
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: the Lost Asylum Seeker
From: Amos

Ach, Larry, it's a heart-string pull for sure!

A


27 Mar 03 - 08:30 AM (#919534)
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: the Lost Asylum Seeker
From: Bobert

Yeah, great song, Larry. Welcome to Bush/Ashcroft/Cheney/Wolfowitz/Perle/et al's America.

Give us you tired and yopur poor. Yeah right, but if you don't look Hispanic and speak Spainish, you're outta here.

Sad commentary on what these folks in power have done to the American dream.

Peace

Bobert


27 Mar 03 - 08:32 AM (#919535)
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: the Lost Asylum Seeker
From: greg stephens

Well, Larry, you're lucky having a famous statue with a light. Here in Stoke asylum-seekers have the same problems, but all we've got is a statue of Stanley Matthews (famous local footballl player), and a concrete Spitfire (famous local fighter plane) laid out on a hill side. And I cant seem to work them naturally into the song!


27 Mar 03 - 09:22 AM (#919583)
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: the Lost Asylum Seeker
From: InOBU

Greg and Sandra, feel free to substitue local landmarks and sing truth to power and banality! Cheers Larry


27 Mar 03 - 11:56 AM (#919737)
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: the Lost Asylum Seeker
From: InOBU

After recording and subsiquent tweeking...
The Lost Asylum Seeker
Words Lorcan Otway tune Traditional (Davie Colsen?)

I feared for my life so I did flee I did flee
I feared for my life so I did flee
I flew far across the sea, to the land of the free
I did flee I did flee

I came to the USA, I asked to stay, let me stay
I came to the USA, please let me stay
In chains I was led away, for what crime they did not say
did not say, did not say

I was alone and scared in that jail, in that jail
I was alone and scared in that jail,
No friends face did I er'e see, in the land of the free
they jailed me, they jailed me

I lost all track of time months and days months and days
I lost all track of time months and days
I almost longed to go, to that hell I used to know
I longed to die longed to die

They say many were sent back, were sent back were sent back
they say many were sent back were sent back
Sent back to their former foe for what cause we do not know
do not know do not know

I longed to see that statue with the light, with the light
I longed to see that statue with the light
But now I long to see the sun, before my oppressor's gun
back at home back at home.


27 Mar 03 - 12:02 PM (#919745)
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: the Lost Asylum Seeker
From: GUEST

i thought this was gonna be about the fellow who was stuck in the airport for ten years.....


27 Mar 03 - 01:55 PM (#919884)
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: the Lost Asylum Seeker
From: alanabit

I look forward to hearing it. I always find it hard to tell a good song from a bad one on paper. It has to sound right when you are singing it. If the first Sorcha Dorcha album is anything to go by - it will!


27 Mar 03 - 03:35 PM (#919962)
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: the Lost Asylum Seeker
From: InOBU

Alanabit... PM me a number, and I will play it over the phone for you. it is a peach... Cheers Larry


27 Mar 03 - 05:58 PM (#920056)
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: the Lost Asylum Seeker
From: McGrath of Harlow

There's the Angel of the North (I know Gateshead is a fair trudeg from Stoke, but it's nearer than the Statue of Liberty.)


30 Mar 03 - 08:30 AM (#921677)
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: the Lost Asylum Seeker
From: Sandra in Sydney

Thanks Larry - I have shown a few friends & will spread it further around.

By-the-by the song is Davy Lowson (click), a traditional New Zealand song, unfortunately it's not in the DT (phooey, I don't have the words) & only mentioned once in the Forum (as Davey Lowston). For those not in the know, it's a song about the sealing trade in the early? mid? 19th century & is one of my favourites. One of my friends sings it & I'd love to hear him sing your song.

sandra


06 Aug 03 - 02:11 AM (#997680)
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: the Lost Asylum Seeker
From: Billy the Bus

Good one, Larry! In a way it's reminiscent of Davy Lowston, the inhumanity of the 'Powers that be'. For those who miss the link to the music in the thread Susan pointed you to, it's this page on the NZ Folk Song site. There's Midi amd MP3 samples, as well as the 'fly spts on paper'.

Cheers - Sam