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17 Nov 06 - 04:26 PM (#1887110) Subject: An Irish Story From: JedMarum Uncle Joe had a story And a way with the truth Every day, I try to tell his story 'cross the wide fields and the Shannon Ran the days of his youth Childhood days, glory days, adventure All alone on the ferry sent out on the bay Too soon the child comes of age The whole world before him to make his own way Every day, I try to tell his story ________ In the cold heart of the city His new life began Every day, I try to tell his story Along the wild streets and the Mersey He would grow to a man Lonely days, hungry days, hard times With a pick and a shovel and family to raise Liverpool labor was hard Still he found love and laughter In those early days Every day, I try to tell his story ________ Now the miles and the memories Paint the lines on his face Every day, I try to tell his story Still he tells you of the hard times With a smile on his face All the years, all the tears and laughter Kindness was not what he found in this world But it was what he tried to give Uncle Joe had a kind heart And story to tell Every day, I try to tell his story |
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17 Nov 06 - 04:31 PM (#1887120) Subject: RE: An Irish Story From: JedMarum This is a true story about one of my favorite people ... he came and went quickly through my life. I was a young man, and he was old. A couple of weeks together on his first and only trip the the States. He'd come with his daughter and her family for a vacation - but he prefered to go to work with me, digging trenches, laying pipe, paving roadways. We shared lots of tales - and I came away with a set of stories and a new look at life. |
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17 Nov 06 - 04:51 PM (#1887131) Subject: RE: An Irish Story From: jeffp Very nice, Jed. |
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18 Nov 06 - 04:41 AM (#1887453) Subject: RE: An Irish Story From: Megan L It is a blessed person who meets someone who's ship has golden sails. |
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18 Nov 06 - 12:23 PM (#1887706) Subject: RE: An Irish Story From: GUEST,michaelr Shouldn't there be a "Lyr. Add" heading to help with searches? Nice song, Jed. Cheers, Michael |
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24 Nov 06 - 10:40 AM (#1892488) Subject: RE: An Irish Story From: Big Mick I love this for what it represents, as much as for what it is. I will explain. What it is, is another fine lyric from my dear friend. We have come to expect this from Jed. What it represents, IMO, is another step in the evolution of Jed Marum the storyteller and bard. His songwriting is progressive, yet introspective. He spends his time thinking of the events that give his life meaning, or others who affected him, and then gives them life in song. If I leave behind our friendship and focus just on his music, I see a gifted bard, committed to telling not just the stories of his people, but also his stories, in a very personal way. We all have "Uncle Joe" in our lives. The untold numbers of folks that came in, impacted us, and flitted back out. They create a unique recipe, that creates an individual. Like a snowflake, they are completely unique, no two are alike. Thanks for sharing this story, Jed. All the best, Mick |
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28 Nov 06 - 11:30 AM (#1894683) Subject: RE: An Irish Story From: JedMarum Sometimes I feel strongly driven to write a song, even when the song is pushing itself ahead of my understanding of how to tell the story. This is one of those cases. I stumbled onto glimpses of what would become the melody one night at home, when I playing music with my son Jaime - he on his brand new Octave Mando and me in one of the open tunings I've come to enjoy so much. Pieces of the melody bean to pop out, in between songs we were playing, and that's not unusual, but I began to chase them down while he was sitting there picking counter melodies to mine. That was unusual. Before long I latched onto a melodic theme I really wanted to develop, and did so. I recorded just in case it disappeared from my old brain after I slept ... but the next day I finished the fine touches on the melody. I seriously considered using it for an instumental, but I soon realized that I'd developed the melody to tell a story. As I played it over and over that second day, Uncle Joe kept coming into my thoughts ... loud an clear. I didn't have an outline, or a clear path ... I wanted just the fewest "brushstrokes" to tell his story. I took long walks for a couple of days. Each day I walked several miles thinking about him and the essence of the tale I wanted to tell, and as the words started coming, I couldn't see how they'd get me there - I'd never tried the odd repitition of sounds and the end of verse, in lieu of ryhmes - a practice common in ancient Irish language and other poetry. In deed it does not scan well but it works well when sung ... So - the Uncle Joe song comes from Uncle Joe himself, whispering across the years, telling me how to retell his story. Thanks for the comments y'all. I'll get a good recording to publish one day, and revive the thread. There is a last verse: I remember the time when He entered my life {instrument plays the "every day I try to tell ..." line} I was a young man on a journey With a child and wife {instrument plays line} Uncle Joe I remember as a white haired old man With laughter and light I his eye We'd a cheerful acquaintance And a tearful goodbye Every day, I try to tell his story |
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28 Nov 06 - 12:37 PM (#1894746) Subject: RE: An Irish Story From: Amos Ach, it is shaping up beautifully, Jed!! When do we get to hear it? A |
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28 Nov 06 - 07:57 PM (#1895141) Subject: RE: An Irish Story From: JedMarum Amos - I have an MP3 of the draft, if you have a high speed link. PM me with yer email and I'll send it. |
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28 Nov 06 - 08:06 PM (#1895143) Subject: RE: An Irish Story From: Amos Yayyy!! Done. A |
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28 Nov 06 - 08:32 PM (#1895159) Subject: RE: An Irish Story From: Big Mick It is a lovely song, my brother. I got it earlier today, and I am on my third listen. I really like this one. Mick |
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29 Nov 06 - 02:15 PM (#1895787) Subject: RE: An Irish Story From: GUEST,McGinty's Goat Jayz, this song is the biggest load of bollix I've seen in many a long tiime! |
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30 Nov 06 - 08:24 AM (#1896443) Subject: RE: An Irish Story From: MMario Sorry goat, gotta agree with Mick - I find the song VERY enjoyable, both for the music and the story. |
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30 Nov 06 - 02:12 PM (#1896702) Subject: RE: An Irish Story From: GUEST,McGinty's Goat MMario, it's a pile of hackneyed shite! |
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30 Nov 06 - 03:11 PM (#1896768) Subject: RE: An Irish Story From: jeffp Care to share some of yours? |
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30 Nov 06 - 07:18 PM (#1896994) Subject: RE: An Irish Story From: JedMarum This is one of the best reasons I can think of for Cabrito! I always wondered who was the guy that couldn't just wipe his butt when he finished using the public toilet - he had to smear sh*t on the walls too. Sound familiar, McGinty's Goat? Or do you think everyone does that? ... anyway, I love the song and am looking forward to recording it soon. |
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30 Nov 06 - 07:56 PM (#1897037) Subject: RE: An Irish Story From: Beer Simple, visual and moving. Something like what John Prine would write. Beautiful. Beer |
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30 Nov 06 - 08:37 PM (#1897067) Subject: RE: An Irish Story From: Big Mick Normally I would ask the critic to honestly critique the song, listing their criticisms. But not going to do that with worthless asshole. This person has a long history, is not a decent musician, and has added no value to the Mudcat. When we go to members only posting, this miscreant will once again have to be a member and take the heat for their opinions. I doubt that the courage of conviction will exist in this jerk to do that. Jed, this is a fine song, but you don't need me to tell you that. And when this bog jumping horses patoot has even one song that could be considered successful, then maybe anyone would give the time of day. Hey, McGinty's Goat, go ndéanfar sconna de do thóin fút |
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30 Nov 06 - 10:04 PM (#1897122) Subject: RE: An Irish Story From: Amos Well, I ain't never screwed no goat, but I yam tempted sore jes' now. I like that song a whole lot and think it has power and legs too. A |
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01 Dec 06 - 02:25 PM (#1897692) Subject: RE: An Irish Story From: GUEST,McGinty's Goat Big Mick, whatever you say, the song's still shite. I'd happily state exactly the same if I was a Mudcat member, but I'm not so, just stuff your opinions up your nearest available orifice. Is that the best Gaelic insult you can come up with? |
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10 Aug 12 - 01:36 PM (#3388407) Subject: RE: An Irish Story From: JedMarum Here's a link to this song on Soundcloud ... it's a streaming MP3 play. The full story behind the song is attached to the notes on Soundcloud too. Please let me know if you are a Soundcloud user/member - and please let me know what you think of the service. There are other services that can help musicians make their music available to the world, for sale, for free or for promotion. I use a few of them, but I would like to know what people think of the services; both as user/listeners and as musician posters. It's a lot of work to check out and maintain a presence on all of these "music play engines." A little feedback from folk lovers who use them would be appreciated. |
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10 Aug 12 - 01:39 PM (#3388408) Subject: RE: An Irish Story From: JedMarum The song is also up at Reverbnation. You can hear it here. Same question about this service. Do you use it? As a listener and/or as a Musician? Do you like the service? |
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10 Aug 12 - 01:46 PM (#3388411) Subject: RE: An Irish Story From: JedMarum I forgot that I got McGinty's Goat in this thread. I probably should have started a new one about Reverbnation and Soundcloud ... but I wanted to update the Uncle Joe story. |
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11 Aug 12 - 05:49 AM (#3388650) Subject: RE: An Irish Story From: GUEST,Beachcomber 'Morning Jed, I opened that site and listened to most of your songs. I like your style, and your sound and your lyrics. Contrary to what McGinty thinks I hear a lot of originality in them. Of course some of the ideas have been cliched, but so what ? Everyone is entitled to set out their own ideas on matters that have affected so many people down the years. Keep it up. My problem is , while seeing your name often in Mudcat, how come I have never heard your songs or singing previously ? I hear echoes of Gordon Lightfoot in your singing and, a distinctly 'subversive' Federalist bias in some of your lyrics ? ? :) |
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12 Aug 12 - 03:54 PM (#3389249) Subject: RE: An Irish Story From: JedMarum Thank Beachcomber. Some might say 'subversive' and Federalist bias is an oxymoron! ;-) |