Angus Fraser

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Angus Fraser

24 Nov 03 - 09:48 AM (#1059869)
Subject: Angus Fraser
From: JedMarum

The Rick Fielding song Angus Fraser seems to be a hit in Louisiana. I played a club in Shreveport a few months ago and someone in the audience asked for the song ... I wasn't too surprised since the song was included on one of my CDs and some of these folks had the CDs. But I was there last week, and not only was the song requested, but there were two tables of folks who sang along and knew all the words! I asked about it afterwards and found that one of the local bands is playing the song too.

I'll bet there's a Cajun version of the song, before too many generations!

24 Nov 03 - 09:58 AM (#1059874)
Subject: RE: Angus Fraser
From: Amos

Way to go!! :>)

A

24 Nov 03 - 10:00 AM (#1059876)
Subject: RE: Angus Fraser
From: Jeri

Jed, it's funny you should mention this. You've been back in my car stereo the last few days and Angus Fraser is my current favorite. Not just the song, but the singer, the mandolin player/harmony dude (who IS that guy?) and fiddler (McNeil still blows me away) really make the song shine.

24 Nov 03 - 10:27 AM (#1059892)
Subject: RE: Angus Fraser
From: JedMarum

I always get a really warm feeling when I see an audience singing along with my songs - I felt just as good when I saw them singing Rick's. This particualr club has a weekly session that is well attended by some talented music lovers. I gather the song is sung at that session pretty often, and as I said, it also performed by one of the local bands. The session gets a few Cajun musicians - hence my comment about suspecting that a Cajun version will one day emerge!

Nice folks out there. I'm glad I can play there on occacsion. And they obviously have refined tastes and high standards!

24 Nov 03 - 10:43 AM (#1059901)
Subject: RE: Angus Fraser
From: GUEST,MMario

I was just checking through the forum - Did the lyrics ever get posted? Could they be? Rick?

24 Nov 03 - 07:35 PM (#1060202)
Subject: RE: Angus Fraser
From: GUEST,Jon

He was a great England bowler. I really did admire his control and accuracy. Never knew there was a song about him! ;-)

24 Nov 03 - 10:19 PM (#1060318)
Subject: RE: Angus Fraser
From: Big Mick

No surprise to me. For me this is one of those songs that I listened to a number of times, but when you recorded it, I realized what a great song it is. I then went back and listened to Rick's Lifeline CD again, and heard this and a number of others a whole different way. I am going to record at least one of Rick's, mebbe more, on my solo CD. I am in planning for it now. Thanks Jed, for this thread.

Mick

One third of the Beef Brothers.

25 Nov 03 - 10:43 AM (#1060593)
Subject: RE: Angus Fraser
From: JedMarum

"One third of the Beef Brothers?"

Well now not if we're talkin' by weight!

;-)

25 Nov 03 - 01:54 PM (#1060705)
Subject: RE: Angus Fraser
From: Rick Fielding

Glad to hear it Jed. The Angus Fraser that I wrote the song about was a little old man who came into a late night restaurant and told me about his life.......don't think I changed it at all. Yer welcome to print any lyrics.

Cheers

Rick

25 Nov 03 - 02:28 PM (#1060730)
Subject: RE: Angus Fraser
From: Jeri

I have Rick's CD right here and can type it in, with chords. Just gimme a bit of time because I'm not that fast. Of course, if somebody has it done already...

25 Nov 03 - 03:07 PM (#1060752)
Subject: Lyr/Chords Add: ANGUS FRASER (Rick Fielding)
From: Jeri

ANGUS FRASER
©Rick Fielding, BMI

E A B7
My name is Angus Fraser, ninety summers I have seen.
A E B7
Born below decks on an immigrant ship sailing out of Aberdeen.
E A B7
To leave her land and kinfolk near to broke my mother's heart.
A E B7
For a newborn babe on a twelve-foot wave, hard times from the start.

Halifax was my first home, and I grew up hard and strong.
I watched my old man waste away from working so damned long.
At sixteen years, in a uniform, I crossed the seas again.
To defend this land, I shot a man. Those were hard times then.

F#m B7 E B7 E
Those were hard times then; not a dollar left to spend.
C#M G# A B7
We paid the cost for what we lost and faced it once again.
F#m B7 E B7 E
Hard times then; it seemed they'd never end,
A E B7 E
But we fought like hell and we lived to tell of the hard times once again.

I worked again until the crash sent prices tumbling down.
Hung on by my fingertips till the banker's men came 'round.
To throw a farmer's family out, that's the worst of any crimes.
It was called the Great Depression, but I called it more hard times.

Once again aboard a train, this time I rode alone.
In an empty boxcar, prarie winds can chill you to the bone.
I'd heard of work in the logging camps on B.C.'s northern coast.
By God, I missed my family. That's when hard times hurt the most.

And those were hard times then...

For seven years I swung an axe, cut down a million trees.
She sent love and I sent my pay, but in time we ceased to be.
The next war came and, once again, I answered when they called,
But the days and nights in a prison camp were the hardest times of all.

I worked the mills in Cornwall, fished in Newfoundland.
I love this country east to west, for I built it with my hands.
Twice more I got married, now my children number eight.
Oh, the hard times coming 'round again, guess that's to be their fate.

Those were hard times then...
Those were hard times then...

25 Nov 03 - 11:56 PM (#1061063)
Subject: RE: Angus Fraser
From: JedMarum

Rick - you told me the story about meeting Angus Fraser. Before I sang the song the other night, I told the story you told me about Angus. They chuckled when I told 'em I could picture you taking notes as Angus told you his story. But they connect with the immigrant tale, the tale of a long lived, working man ... it's a good story and a great song!

25 Nov 03 - 11:59 PM (#1061067)
Subject: RE: Angus Fraser
From: DonMeixner

Great song Rick and Jed. I'm not surprised when anything either of you do is well recieved.

Don

26 Nov 03 - 02:43 AM (#1061142)
Subject: RE: Angus Fraser
From: Big Mick

Whoa there, little brother. I might weigh less than you do now. And when the hell are we going to play together again. Where is halfway? St. Louis? Denver? Seems like we should meet somewhere, I'll do a set, you do a set, we get Rick and we will all do a set together.

We were singing this song tonight at rehearsal. I love a story well told.

All the best,

Mick

26 Nov 03 - 12:11 PM (#1061325)
Subject: RE: Angus Fraser
From: JedMarum

LOL Mick - I'd heard you shed a few lbs. Still, you were born a big fella (me too) so I can't imagine you're too small! I'm at 215 and holding.

As for metting somehwere in the middle; sounds great to me. Let's do it! I think Toronto is right in the middle, what do you think?

26 Nov 03 - 07:21 PM (#1061650)
Subject: RE: Angus Fraser
From: Big Mick

I was 306. I am now at 229, about 15 lbs to go until I get back to fighting weight. I have also started my physical training regimen again. Then we will really look like brothers.

It's a date, see you in Toronto, but let's not wait too long. I can't wait to wrap meself around some of your new music. Might have a few of my own by then. Angus Fraser inspires me to want to write about some of the fascinating and heroic characters I have met over the years. I need to sing their songs.

Talk to you soon my friend.

Mick

27 Nov 03 - 11:28 AM (#1062037)
Subject: RE: Angus Fraser
From: JedMarum

Jasus; You have dropped a few! I guess we will look even more like brothers now! I'll have to check with Dad about any wild oats he might have sewn out MI way!

As for Toronto - summer is a great time of year up there. Maybe we need to spend the Fourth of July week/weekend in 2004.