Messing around with some tunes that chords can’t be found for so I’m making up my own. This one is a bit beyond my vocal range so it’s a bit of a Hodge Podge.
Nevertheless, it’s probably my favorite love poem called Via Extasia by Liam Weldon, most famously known for collecting and protecting the songs of the Traveling people of Ireland.
Oh if you were the restless sea and I the steadfast stones
Oh you the waving kelp above, I the bleaching bones
Your little waves to lap my feet
Advance and kiss, encroach, retreat
Surround, submerge, at last complete
Oh, you and I truly one
And were you then a yellow bloom, dancing in the grass
And I, a hunting honey bee, pausing e’er I’d pass
And as I sip on your nectar sweet
Your pollen grains surround my feet
In that ecstatic moment meet
Oh, you and I truly one
And were I then a single seed, of all the millions in the field
And you, a gentle raindrop from the sky
As you’d fall upon my breast
To awaken me from my long rest
In the moment by the old gods blessed
Oh, you and I truly one
And were you then the last wild leaf, upon the autumn brough
And I the wind, the wanton thief, to blow as I blow now
And when you fall, as fall you must
Oh I, to be the waiting dust
Beyond sorrow, greed, or lust
To lie here forever, truly one
Great stuff Dom, a really enchanting song and well done on putting some chords on and making it sound beautiful. Hope you have a great Christmas and new year!
Dom, you’re exceeding yourself here-
Channeling the down-to-earth authenticity of Hansard & Moore into a moody masterpiece.
Bravo!
(I’ve tried the ol’ singing poem lark meself, but with less success )
Nollaig shona
He did write the music but I’m not sure if he plays the guitar to it. He’s possibly accompanied. I’ve never seen a live performance of the song by him and he’s moved on to the other side now.
He originally wrote it for his wife.
A lot of his singing would have been unaccompanied.
Great stuff Dom, as Eddie said, completely enchanting. I really like this style of music and what a great job you did on that despite your hodge podge comment I think it was far from hodge podge.
After taking another read of the lyrics i decided to do a little reading about him. What a fascinating man, and his wife Nellie. Very cool couple, I bet it would have been amazing to have been able to sit in the Sessions at Taylor’s Hall.
I liked his saying. “There is a great difference between a folk singer and somebody who just sings folk songs.”
He was clearly a folk singer.
Thanks for turning me on to him. Also thanks again for that beautiful song.
)