25 Apr 04 - 03:30 AM (#1170242) Subject: Lyr Add: Far-Off Shore (Kate Wolf) From: Joe Offer My friend Carlos Espinosa died a couple of weeks ago, and we had his memorial service today. His daughter-in-law sang an unattributed song called "Far-Off Shore," and I kept wondering where I'd heard it. Kate Wolf came to mind, but it sounded too much like gospel to be Kate Wolf. Lo and behold, it WAS written by Kate. However, it sounds so much like a gospel song that I'm wondering if it's taken from a gospel song. Anyboy know anything more about the origins of this lovely song? -Joe Offer- Far-Off Shore (Kate Wolf) Watching the sea 'till his days' work is done, the boatman rows to the setting sun. Catching his oars in the silver sea, he leans on the wind as you lean on me.
turns from blue to green There's a far-off shore that we've never seen. When the moon comes up in your sea-green eyes and we sail away in the deep dark night I can't tell where you leave off and I begin Love is just a way of breathing out and in. Chorus: So cast away and both shall row there's no telling how long or where we will go Rock on the water, race with the sun Follow your stars as they shine one by one. Chorus: © 1981 Another Sundown Publishing Co. (BMI) Click to playCarlos was a remarkable person, and I'd like you all to know a bit about him. Here's his obituary.
Born: Sept. 8, 1930 Died: April 6, 2004 By Edgar Sanchez -- Sacramento Bee Staff Writer - (Published April 21, 2004) Carlos A. Espinosa, who contracted polio 50 years ago, drew on his experience to design parks and campgrounds that allowed the disabled to enjoy the state's great outdoors. Mr. Espinosa, who was a junior landscape architect and retired from the state Department of Parks and Recreation in 1987 after 24 years, died in a Sacramento hospital on April 6. He was 73. The cause was respiratory failure, his family said. Married five times, Mr. Espinosa wed his current wife, Gail Ryall, March 13 in the hospital where he spent his last few weeks. "Carlos had an extraordinary ability to relate to people," Ryall said Tuesday. "He was able to interact with anybody. If people asked his help in anything, he was immediately ready to try and help." A peace activist, Mr. Espinosa made friends everywhere, including in Cuba and other nations he visited, his son, Paul Espinosa, said. "He was a man with charisma," Espinosa said. "Everybody liked him." Carlos Anselmo Espinosa was born in Los Angeles in 1930 to a father from Colorado and a mother from Arizona. When he was a teenager, his family moved to Huron, Fresno County (California). After returning from a stint in the Navy, Mr. Espinosa contracted polio in January 1954. A doctor in Huron told him he had the flu. But within hours, Mr. Espinosa couldn't walk. That same day, Mr. Espinosa heard a radio report about a polio epidemic in San Francisco. Believing he had the same disease, he requested help from his first wife, Kathy Pugh. She drove him to a Fresno hospital, where he was diagnosed with polio. Within an hour, he was in an iron lung, a device that helped him breathe. Soon afterward, Mr. Espinosa lapsed into a weeklong coma. When he awakened, he could move only a couple of fingers, his neck and mouth. Released from the iron lung after five months, he was transferred to a San Francisco rehab center, where he stayed a year. Afterward, Mr. Espinosa went door-to-door in his wheelchair, selling magazines. Within a few years, he was strong enough to walk with the use of crutches. During that time he received an associate's degree in drafting from San Francisco City College. Mr. Espinosa began his career with the Department of Parks and Recreation in 1963, in Eureka. In 1964 he became a junior landscape architect. He moved to Sacramento in 1968 and soon after worked on pioneering projects that made the state parks more accessible to the disabled. Among these were specially designed restrooms, public phones and smooth trails. "Carlos worked tirelessly ... in the early days of accessibility requirements, before the (1990) Americans with Disabilities Act was passed," said HolLynn D'Lil, a local advocate for the rights of people with disabilities. "At the time, I worked in the state Department of Rehabilitation as an accessibility consultant," she said. "I provided information to Carlos on federal and state accessibility codes." In the 1980s, Mr. Espinosa began using a power wheelchair after his body weakened further. "To him, polio was like an inconvenience," his son said. "It would be wrong to say that he 'battled' the disease." Mr. Espinosa remained on good terms with all his ex-wives. He was a member of the Sacramento Song Circle, a group of people who meet to sing folk songs. Since 1992, he had visited Cuba 20 times, usually staying with friends he had made there. In 1993, Mr. Espinosa began publishing "Cubaletter," a newsletter that became a hit among fellow peace activists. "His newsletter told the real-life stories of people he knew in Cuba," said Daniel Bacher, a loyal reader. "Carlos spoke honestly about the good things - as well as the problems - of Cuban life." I wish all of you could have known Carlos. -Joe Offer- |
25 Apr 04 - 03:50 AM (#1170246) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Far-Off Shore (Kate Wolf) From: Miken Thanks, Joe,for contributing this , I would feel honored to have a friend like Carlos. Your comment about his favorite song made me laugh, which was unfortunate due to new sutures!! But thanks anyway! Mike |
25 Apr 04 - 09:56 AM (#1170389) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Far-Off Shore (Kate Wolf) From: Charley Noble And thanks for posting this Kate Wolk song. It's not one I've run across before. Wonder what the tune is like? Charley Noble |
25 Apr 04 - 05:20 PM (#1170666) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Far-Off Shore (Kate Wolf) From: Joe Offer Glad you asked that, Charlie. Take a listen - doesn't it sound like gospel? This was a Unitarian service, so traditional gospel might be out of place. This one fits just about everybody, I think. I wouldn't hesitate to do it at a Catholic funeral. It's just downright beautiful. Easy to sing, too. -Joe Offer- Click to play |
25 Apr 04 - 07:33 PM (#1170752) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Far-Off Shore (Kate Wolf) From: Charley Noble How could I miss the "Click to play"? Nice tune, of course! Charley Noble
-Joe- |
25 Apr 04 - 09:02 PM (#1170798) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Far-Off Shore (Kate Wolf) From: wysiwyg Carlos sounds wonderful. Joe, the tune is not one I recognize at all from the zillion gospel tunes I have heard, and I have a good tune memory. It sounds like a great singalong piece, too. ~Susan |
26 Apr 04 - 05:49 PM (#1171674) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Far-Off Shore (Kate Wolf) From: Q (Frank Staplin) One of those "simple" tunes that convince you that you have heard it before- little pieces suggested a couple of cowboy songs to me, "A Border Affair" being one of them. Really not the same, it's just how my mind reacted. A fine tune! |
26 Apr 04 - 10:36 PM (#1171860) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Far-Off Shore (Kate Wolf) From: karen k I knew Kate for years and never heard this one. Thanks for posting it Joe. I'm sorry for the loss of your friend. k |
20 Mar 13 - 04:40 PM (#3492741) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Far-Off Shore (Kate Wolf) From: GUEST This lovely song appears on Kate's "Give Yourself To Love" Live In-Concert CD, Vol. 2 (Rhino Records) and always makes time stop for me, such a lovely tune and the lyrics are simple and direct to my heart. Thanks for all above and Thanks Kate. Gloria Burton, Olympia, WA. |