S O U N D B Y T E S
Real Player required
Stronger
than you Know
This song is dedicated to the lost wives and parents of convicts sent
to Australia. Most never returned to till the soil of Ireland but I feel
certain the families remained stronger than we knew.
Ceildhs
on Sunday
I grew up listening to The Dubliners, The Clancey Brothers and a lot of
visitors who did what we referred to as "Their turn". Usually
a song, or a dance, playing the bottle then drinking it! This usually
happened on a Sunday. I got the inspiration for this song at a concert
I did on York Peninsula, South Australia. An old chap told me about his
Irish ancestry and asked if I did any of the old songs. His words were
close to what I had heard all those years ago. "Don't forget the
old songs, when I'm dead and gone".
Kiss
the Child
Travelling through Tasmania I was reading Tom Keneally's book
"The Great Shame". For me this book filled in the gaps of Irish
history in Australia. I was moved by a description of wives being
permitted to raise infants to convict fathers, for one last kiss.
Marie's
Wedding / Planxty George Brabizon
Instrumental
We
Must Away
The last song on the Stronger Than you Know album has a very difinitive
message, more a prayer than anything else. Even! A blessing for after
a session when we all have to say good-bye.
Waltzing
the Green and Gold
The passion of coming back to Australia and
wanting to say this my home, inspired this song. And as the song says,
"The Swagman will always be Dinkum to me", which is one of the
best Australianisms I know.
The Meeting
Place
A tongue in cheek reflection where everybody
becomes stage Irish when they step into an Irish pub. They are what we
call meeting places. A place to meet and talk, a place of holiness and
adoration of the "Guinness God". A lively lilt to this song
always get them going.
Nancy Spain
Written by Barney Rush and made famous by
the master Christy Moore. The music and lyrics of this song are some of
the best, and are a great piece to sing . I dedicated this song to my
mum Evelyn who put up with four boys and three girls all at once.
Verdant
Braes of Skreen
One of the first songs I ever learned that
was from the Irish Tradition. I first heard Mick Hanley sing this from
his album "A kiss in the Morning Early". I follow this with,
Planxty Irwin/ and Si beg, Si mor, two O’Carolan tunes. I am fortunate
to have the accompaniment of my good friend and song/writer Karen Lynne
singing with me.
Pig and
Whistle Roll
The pig and whistle fleet, based in Kiama,
serves the needs of the Illawarra district, bringing farm produce and
livestock to Sydney. Passengers travelled up to Sydney on the steamer
too - a colorful and somewhat noisy trip!
Hi, hi
the Little Boat Rides
While working on Port Kembla harbour, I've
become acquainted with its colorful sights. Its shipping, which was once
made up of sailing ships such as brigantines, clippers, and steamers and
paddlers, has inspired this shanty-style song.
Down to
the Sea in Boats
A song capturing the endless fascination
with boats of any kind - from rowing boats to container ships!