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16 Mar 07 - 02:29 PM (#1998833) Subject: Lyr Req: Song for Gale (Larry Kaplan) From: Charley Noble Yes, I know this song is in the DT but my question is whether the lyrics are what Kaplan composed. Here's what's in the DT: SONG FOR GALE (Words and music by Larry Kaplan Written for E. Gale Huntington of Martha's Vineyard Copyright Larry Kaplan 1988, BMI) Blue skies, south wind, fish jumpin' in your hand What a day to be working old Nantucket Sound From the islands into the mainland; Worn out, smelling of bait, You'd come home by the end of the day And the sun over West Chop, Those warm summer breezes Made you think it would never change. Chorus: Get me my fiddle we'll sing all the old songs Now you take the high notes, and I'll sing the low Good times and hard times, they're worth all the telling – It won't matter to me if you sing 'em that well. I remember the time when you worked for a living Pulling hard just to get back to shore When you busted your back or you just wouldn't eat They don't talk much of that anymore; When you sat with the old folks, fell asleep from their stories, Stayed awake with the howling winds; Sang your songs till the children were all tucked away warm, And the night tides come rollin' back in. (repeat first verse) Here is how I'm transcribed Bob Zentz singing this song, which has some major changes which may be part of my confusion: SONG FOR GAYLE (Sic) (Words and music by Larry Kaplan Written for E. Gale Huntington of Martha's Vineyard Copyright Larry Kaplan 1988, BMI As sung by Bob Zentz on BOB ZENTZ: Hove-to and Drifting, © 1999) Blue skies, south wind, fish jumpin' into your hand What a time to be working old Nantucket Sound, From the island into the mainland; Worn out, smelling of bait, You'd come in when the wind drove you home, And the sun over West Chop, Those warm summer breezes, Made you think that it never could change. Chorus: So get me my fiddle, we'll sing all the old songs You take the high notes, and I'll sing the low Good times and hard times, they're all worth the telling – It don't matter to me if you sing 'em that well. Oh, I remember the days when you worked for a living, Pulling hard just to get back to shore And you busted your back till you just couldn't eat They don't talk much of that anymore. (CHO) I stayed awake with the old folks, fell asleep to their stories, Sang songs in the howlering wind; Told stories till the children were all tucked away warm, And the night tide came rollin' back in. (CHO) I'm thinking of singing this song at a memorial service and I'd appreciate any feedback on Kaplan's original version. Charley Noble |
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16 Mar 07 - 03:05 PM (#1998876) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Song for Gale (Larry Kaplan) From: Peace Song For Gale ......... v.34#1 ......... p.76 Larry Kaplan The above is regarding SingOut Magazine. That might settle it. |
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16 Mar 07 - 03:43 PM (#1998918) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Song for Gale (Larry Kaplan) From: Rabbi-Sol In Cindy Kallet's version the fist stanza is split in 2 with another chorus added after "mainland". That is how it has usually been performed at Mystic and that is how I sing it. SOL ZELLER |
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16 Mar 07 - 03:55 PM (#1998928) Subject: DT Correction: SONG FOR GALE (Larry Kaplan) From: Joe Offer Hi, Charley- Here are the notes and lyrics from the CD booklet from Larry Kaplan's delightful Worth All the Telling collection, Folk-Legacy CD-122 1. SONG FOR GALE (Kaplan, © 1988, BMI) Larry: guitar, 2nd guitar, vocal • Frank: fiddle This was written for E. Gale Huntington of the island of Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts. Gale is an author, historian, farmer, fisherman, sailor, teacher, fiddle player, song collector, and a close friend who, in his 90 years, has brought so many wonderful songs to so many people. During one of his recklessly slow drives "up island," Gale recalled for me how quickly so much has changed there. Song For Gale (Larry Kaplan, 1988) Blue skies, South wind, Fish jumping into your hand. What a time to be working Old Nantucket Sound From the islands into the mainland. Worn out, Smelling of bait, You'd come home by the end of the day. And the sun over West Chop, Those warm summer breezes, Made you think it would never change. CHORUS Get me my fiddle, We'll sing all the old songs. Now you take the high notes And I'll sing the low. Good times and hard times, They're worth all the telling; It won't matter to me If you sing 'em that well. I remember the time When you worked for a living, Pushing hard just to get back to shore. When you busted your back Or you just wouldn't eat. They don't talk much of that anymore. When you sat with the old folks, Fell asleep from their stories, Stayed awake with the howling winds, Sang your songs till the children Were all tucked away warm, And the night tides come rolling back in. Get me my fiddle... Blue skies, South wind, Fish jumping into your hand. What a time to be working Old Nantucket Sound From the islands into the mainland. Get me my fiddle... Now, here's what I hear on the recording: Blue skies, South wind, Fish jumping into your hand. What a time to be working Old Nantucket Sound From the island into the mainland. Worn out, Smelling of bait, You'd come home at the end of the day. And the sun over West Chop, Those warm summer breezes, Made you think it would never change. CHORUS Get me my fiddle, We'll sing all the old songs. Now you take the high notes And I'll sing the low. Good times and hard times, They're worth all the telling; It won't matter to me If you sing 'em that well. I remember the time When you worked for a living, Pushing hard just to get back to shore. When you busted your back Or you just wouldn't eat. They don't talk much of that anymore. (no chorus here) When you sat with the old folks, Fell asleep from their stories, Stayed awake with the howling wind, Sang your songs till the children Were all tucked away warm, And the night tides come rolling back in. Get me my fiddle... Blue skies, South wind, Fish jumping into your hand. What a time to be working Old Nantucket Sound From the islands into the mainland. Get me my fiddle... From the CD bookled:
Sol, what Cindy Kallett album is it on? Anybody know of other recordings of this song? I swear I've heard it from other singers, besides Kaplan and Zentz. |
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16 Mar 07 - 04:22 PM (#1998954) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Song for Gale (Larry Kaplan) From: Charley Noble Joe- Thanks so much! That was just what I was after and it makes a better starting point for learning. I hope you enjoyed listening to Larry sing this one again! It's a fine song. Cheerily, Charley Noble |
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16 Mar 07 - 04:37 PM (#1998968) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Song for Gale (Larry Kaplan) From: Joe Offer Be sure to look at the Bowdoin thread, which has a post from Larry himself. This is what Celtaddict says about him in that thread:
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26 Jun 11 - 05:45 PM (#3176867) Subject: Lyr Add: SONG FOR GALE (Larry Kaplan) From: GUEST,Larry Kaplan Well, here's how I wrote "Song For Gale" and here's how I sing it in performance. It was/is common for open boat fishermen to sit facing forward and push the oars forward to row, so that phrase was intentional. Thanks! LK SONG FOR GALE (Larry Kaplan) Blue skies, south wind Fish jumpin' into your hand What a time to be working old Nantucket Sound From the Island into the Mainland Worn out, smellin' of bait You'd come home at the end of the day And the sun over West Chop Those warm summer breezes Made you think it would never change CHORUS: Get me my fiddle We'll sing all the old songs Now you take the high notes And I'll sing the low Good times and hard times They're worth all the tellin It won't matter to me If you sing em that well I remember the time when you worked for a living Pushing hard just to get back to shore When you busted your back or you just wouldn't eat They don't talk much of that anymore When you sat with the old folks Fell asleep from their stories Stayed awake with the howling winds Sang your songs till the children were all tucked away warm And the night tides come rolling back in CHORUS Blue skies, south wind Fish jumpin into your hand What a time to be working old Nantucket Sound From the Island into the Mainland CHORUS Larry Kaplan c, 1988, Hannah Lane Music |
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24 Nov 11 - 11:16 PM (#3263070) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Song for Gale (Larry Kaplan) From: GUEST,hg Anyone know how Larry Kaplan can be contacted? love, harpgirl |
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25 Nov 11 - 02:59 AM (#3263115) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Song for Gale (Larry Kaplan) From: Joe Offer Hi, Harpgirl- Maybe it would be an idea to call Caroline Paton at Folk-Legacy Records, 1-800-836-0901 She keeps track of many of the people who have recorded on the Folk-Legacy label, and you'll love talking to Caroline. Buy a few CDs from her - I'm sure she'll appreciate the business. Do you have all the Golden Ring recordings? They're my favorites. -Joe- |
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25 Nov 11 - 08:47 AM (#3263230) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Song for Gale (Larry Kaplan) From: GUEST,hg thanks, joe...it's for someone else who wants to see if Larry will do a concert... love, hg |
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27 May 13 - 01:49 PM (#3519713) Subject: Origins: 'Song For Gale' by Larry Kaplan From: Larry Kaplan Hi, I have been posting some songs on YouTube and thought this recording of 'Song For Gale' might be of interest. Thanks Larry Kaplan 'Song For Gale' by Larry Kaplan |
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27 May 13 - 05:17 PM (#3519798) Subject: RE: Song for Gale (Larry Kaplan) From: Charley Noble Thanks, Larry. Charley Noble |