|
|
My Grandfather’s Clock.
Lyrics – Late American Civil War composer and songwriter Henry Clay Work (1832 – 1884).
Vocals – Late American country singer-songwriter John R. Cash. (1932 – 2003).
According to folklore this famous song ‘My Grandfather Clock’ was inspired by a clock at The George Hotel, in the village of Piercebridge, latter located in the borough of Darlington in County Durham, England.
The hotel in past times was a wayfarers’ inn and was owned and operated by two Jenkins brothers.
In the lobby of the Inn was a longcase tall weight driven pendulum clock, which kept perfect time, until one of the brothers passed away.
Following his passing the clock began to lose time at an increasing rate, despite the best efforts of a local clockmaker to repair it.
When the second brother died, the clock stopped suddenly and completely, never to work again.
It is understood that in 1875 the songwriter, Henry Clay Work, visited the George Hotel, and having listened to the tale of the clock from various employees and locals, he composed this song ‘My Grandfathers Clock’.
We also learn from folklore that the clock appears to recognise both the good and bad events in this grandfather’s life; it rings 24 chimes when the grandfather brings his bride into his house, and near his death it rings out an alarm, which the family recognize as meaning that the old grandfather is near death, and so they gather around his bed side. After the grandfather dies, the clock suddenly stops, and never works again.
My Grandfather’s Clock
My grandfather’s clock was too large for the shelf,
So it stood ninety years on the floor;
It was taller by half, than the old man himself,
Though it weighed not a pennyweight more.
It was bought on the morn, of the day that he was born,
And was always his treasure and pride,
But it stopped short, never to go again,
When the old man died.
Ninety years without slumbering, his life seconds numbering,
It stopped, short, never to go again,
When the old man died.
My grandfather said, that of those he could hire,
Not a servant so faithful he found,
For it wasted no time and had but one desire,
At the close of each week to be wound,
And it kept in its place, not a frown upon its face,
And its hand never hung by its side,
But it stopped, short, never to go again,
When the old man died.
It rang an alarm, in the dead of the night,
An alarm that for years had been dumb,
And we knew that his spirit, was pluming for flight,
That his hour for departure had come.
Still the clock kept the time, with a soft and muffled chime,
As we silently stood by his side.
But it stopped, short, never to go again,
When the old man died.
Ninety years without slumbering, his life seconds numbering,
It stopped, short, never to go again,
When the old man died.
[Tick, tock, tick, tock, tick, tock, tick, tock, tick……..]
END
  
Ms Maura Barrett, (Cashel Library) Reports.
With the ‘Irish Fibre Crafters’ Bealtaine event, scheduled for Wednesday May 10th 2023 next now fully Booked Out, a limited number of spaces still remain available for the following other planned Bealtaine (Irish – May) events.
Please remember that for each of the following events, booking is essential to Cashel Library at Tel: 062-63856, so do make contact ASAP to avoid disappointment, confirming your wish to attend.
Monday 8th May — Tai Chi @ 11:00am
Tai Chi with Ross Cousens from Master Ding Academy – Unlike most forms of exercise and sport, Tai Chi doesn’t rely on strength, force and speed, which makes it ideal for everyone—young and old, strong or not. Do come along and give it a go!
Tuesday 9th May — Decoupage with Mairead Kennedy @ 11:00am.
The right side of our brain is the creative side and it’s nice to use it more especially as we age. It makes us more aware of our surroundings and the simple things that we are sending to landfill e.g Can, jars or boxes. There is creative potential in everything and everyone. Creativity helps us work together in a group appreciating effort and results while sharing laughter, chats and memories.
Wednesday May 10th – Irish Fibre Crafters.
Note Please: This event is fully Booked Out.
Thursday 11th May – Laughter Yoga @ 2:00pm.
The laughing movements mimic the breathing technique, which forms the core of yoga. Like yoga, laughter yoga includes meditation, affirmations, and light stretches. It has excellent benefits for the body; hence it is really yoga.
Friday 12th May – Memoirs and Melodies with Jean Farrell @ 11:00am.
Jean Farrell writes a weekly column in the Westmeath Independent. Her many readers identify with Jean’s humorous interesting view of life as she looks back over many changes which have taken place in Ireland, since she was a young child in the 1950’s. In memories and melodies Jean reads some of her most popular articles and her sister sings some well-known songs linked to these.
“I was born with a priceless gift, the ability to laugh at the misfortunes of others.”
“Australia is an outdoor country. People only go inside to use the toilet, and that’s a recent development.”,
Above quotes from the great stand-up and now late comedian, John Barry Humphries (1934-2023).
Television viewers here in Co. Tipperary and indeed far beyond, will be greatly saddened by the news of the death of Australian comedian, actor, author and satirist, Mr John Barry Humphries [Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (CBE) & Order of Australia (AO)], who passed away today, aged 89 years.
Mr Humphries was best known for writing and playing his on-stage and television alter egos of Dame Edna Everage and Sir Les Patterson.
Although best known to his audiences for his delivery of deliberate irrationality and absurdist humour, Mr Humphries was also a film producer; script writer; a star of London’s West End musical theatre; a writer and a landscape painter.
His alter egos of the lilac-rinsed haired Dame Edna Everage evolved over a forty year period, latter to become a satire of stardom; while his portrayal of an inebriated, boorish, loud-mouthed, uncouth and uncultured, ‘cultural attaché to the Far East’, in the character of Sir Les Patterson, over the past 30 years became a regular feature in his solo theatrical appearances, both in Australia and the United Kingdom.
Having entertained on stage and screen for over 70 years, we understand that Mr Humphries tripped on a rug, while reaching for a book, back in February, latter resulting in him requiring surgery at St Vincent’s Hospital, Melbourne, Australia. He had been readmitted to hospital just this week, yet despite his accident, he had fully expected to be back and fighting fit within weeks, but sadly he never recovered.
His passing means the loss of one of our all-time great stand-up comedians.
Oíche mhaith, possum – In ár gcroíthe go deo.
The lyrics hereunder tell the story of an ageless dragon named “Puff”, and his playmate, “Jackie Paper”, latter a little boy who grows up and moves on from the imaginary adventures of childhood, leaving a rather disheartened “Puff” without a friend. The song’s story takes place by the sea in the fictional land of Honah-Lee.
Just over 60 years ago a song entitled “Puff, the Magic Dragon” (or “Puff”); written by Peter Yarrow a member of that great American folk group known as “Peter, Paul and Mary” was recorded and released in January 1963. The song was based on a poem initially written by Leonard Lipton.
Even though the song’s composer, Peter Yarrow, insisted that it was not talking about smoking marijuana, that wasn’t good enough for then United States Vice President Spiro Agnew, who deemed it to be pro-narcotics and called for the banning of the tune.
Despite the voices of the powerful and those seeking attention, speaking out against the song, it ended up being a smash hit, peaking at No 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts and thus becoming one of the folk trio’s most enduring of hits.
Singer-songwriter and guitarist Peter Yarrow insisted that the song was about the hardships of growing older and had absolutely no relationship, whatsoever, to drug-taking.
After the song’s initial success, speculation suggested, in a 1964 article published in Newsweek, that the song contained veiled references to smoking marijuana. The word “Paper” as in the surname “Jackie Paper”, the dragons human friend was claimed to be a reference to rolling cigarette papers; the words “by the sea” were interpreted as “by the C” (i.e. as in cannabis), the word “mist” supposedly stood for “smoke”, the land of “Honah-Lee” stood for “hashish”, and “dragon” was interpreted as “draggin” (i.e. inhalation of smoke). The name “Puff” was supposed to be a reference to taking a “puff” on a joint.
These suppositions later was claimed to be common knowledge to everyone; in a letter sent to The New York Times in 1984.
The song was banned in Singapore and Hong Kong because authorities believed it did contain references to a drug culture. Our readers can now make up their own minds.
Puff (The Magic Dragon)
Words and Music: Peter Yarrow and the late Leonard Lipton (1940 – 2022)
Puff, the magic dragon, lived by the sea,
And frolicked in the autumn mist in a land called Honah-Lee.
Little Jackie Paper loved that rascal Puff,
And brought him strings and sealing wax and other fancy stuff.
Chorus
Oh! Puff, the magic dragon, lived by the sea,
And frolicked in the autumn mist in a land called Honah-Lee.
Puff, the magic dragon, lived by the sea,
And frolicked In the autumn mist in a land called Honah-Lee.
Together they would travel on a boat with billowed sail;
Jackie kept a lookout perched on Puffs gigantic tail.
Noble kings and princes would bow whene’er they came.
Pirate ships would lower their flags when Puff roared out his name.
Repeat Chorus
A dragon lives forever but not so little boys.
Painted wings and giant rings make way for other toys,
One grey night it happened, Jackie Paper came no more,
And Puff that mighty dragon, he ceased his fearless roar.
His head was bent in sorrow; green scales fell like rain.
Puff no longer went to play along that cherry lane.
Without his lifelong friend, Puff could not be brave,
So Puff that mighty dragon sadly slipped into his cave.
Repeat Chorus
END
Several new optional verses have since been introduced, including:-
One fine day it happened; Puff woke up from a dream.
He thought he heard a familiar voice and Jackie’s laugh it seemed.
He looked around his cavern and over by the door,
Stood a little boy with a piece of string and a smile he’d seen before.
“Hello My name is Billy, my dad told me your name.
He said I’d find you in the cave along the cherry lane”.
Puff, that mighty dragon smiled in his joy,
He’d never be alone again for this was Jackie’s boy.
Lonely: Defined as sad because a person has no friends or company.
Homeless: Defined as being without a home, and therefore typically residing on the street.
Streets of London
Lyrics and Vocals: English singer-songwriter and acoustic guitarist Ralph McTell.
Streets of London
Have you seen the old man in a closed-down market?
Kicking up the paper with his worn out shoes.
In his eyes, you see no pride and held loosely at his side,
Yesterday’s paper telling yesterday’s news.
Chorus:
So, how can you tell me you’re lonely and say for you that the sun don’t shine?
Let me take you by the hand and lead you through the streets of London.
I’ll show you something to make you change your mind.
Have you seen the old girl who walks the streets of London?
Dirt in her hair and her clothes in rags.
She’s no time for talking, she just keeps right on walking,
Carrying her home in two carrier bags.
Repeat Chorus:
In the all night café at a quarter past eleven,
Same old man sitting there on his own.
Looking at the world over the rim of his teacup.
And each tea lasts an hour and he wanders home alone.
Repeat Chorus:
Have you seen the old man outside the seaman’s mission?
Memory fading with the medal ribbons that he wears.
And in our winter city the rain cries a little pity,
For one more forgotten hero and a world that doesn’t care.
Repeat Chorus:
END
|
Support Us Help keep Thurles.info online by donating below. Thank you.
Total Donated 2024: €300.00
Thank You!
Daily Thurles Mass Livestream
|
Recent Comments