Took a walk by the River Suir in Thurles today in the beautiful warm sunshine. Having surveyed the river area, I was reminded of the song “Down by the river”, written by Mike Hazlewood and British singer-songwriter and composer Albert Louis Hammond. The lyrics, shown hereunder, tell the story of a man and his girl friend taking a camping trip down by a river. The weather being warm; they both decide to go swimming. That night they both felt unwell, and having failed to get sleep, went for an early morning walk. During their walk, they see a silver fish lying on its side dead on the river bank and they wonder how it died. After visiting a doctor, they are informed that only foolish people go swimming in polluted river water.
The song highlights the negative environmental impact on our water, which is being accepted by our local elected Thurles politicians and councillors, to whom we pay large salaries and who are presently calling door to door, in the hope of being re-elected for yet another 5 years of waste and inactivity.
Ask those canvassing for your vote this time around, the following question “Where did the pump for the fountain, in the river Suir end up”. You will be surprised and possibly angered by the reply.
Down By The River.
Lyrics: British-Gibraltarian singer, songwriter and record producer Mike Hazlewood and British singer-songwriter and composer Albert Louis Hammond. Vocals: Albert Hammond.
Down By The River.
City life was gettin’ us down, So we spent the weekend out of town, Pitched the tent on a patch of ground, Down by the river. Lit a fire and drank some wine, You put your jeans on the top of mine, Said, come in the water’s fine, Down by the river. Down by the river. Down by the river. Said, come in the water’s fine, Down by the river. Didn’t feel too good all night, So we took a walk in the morning light, Came across the strangest sight, Down by the river. Silver fish lay on its side, It was washed up by the early tide, I wonder how it died, Down by the river. Down by the river. Down by the river. Silver fish lay on its side, Down by the river. Doctor put us both to bed, He dosed us up and he shook his head, “Only foolish people go”, he said, “Down by the river”. Why do willows weep, said he, Because they’re dying gradually, From the waste, from the factories, Down by the river. Down by the river. Down by the river. Why do willows weep, said he, Down by the river. In time, the river banks will die, The reeds will wilt and the ducks won’t fly, There’ll be a tear in the otter’s eye, Down by the river. The banks will soon be black and dead, And where the otter raised his head, Will be a clean white stone instead, Down by the river. Down by the river. Down by the river. The banks will soon be black and dead, Down by the river. Down by the river. Down by the river. The banks will soon be black and dead, Down by the river.
Irish “Go n-éirí an bóthar chun bualadh leat”, translates as“May the Road Rise to Meet You”.
Lyrics: American musician, singer-songwriter Roger McGuinn and his wife Camilla, (the former was founder and leader of ‘The Byrds’). Vocals: Irish American singer-songwriter, Cathie Ryan.
May the Road Rise to Meet You.
Summertime the sun would shine, we’d lay out in the field, Sheltered in the shadow of a tree. We write our songs to take along, And sing out on the road, And you would always sing this song to me.
Chorus. May the road rise to meet you, May the wind be at your back, May the sun shine down warm upon your land, May the rain fall soft upon your face until we meet again, May God hold you in the hollow of his hand.
Autumn leaves would leave the trees, In colours on the ground. Swirling patterns beautiful to see. I’d lay my head down on your lap, I would not make a sound, And you would always sing this song to me.
Repeat Chorus.
In the winter days the trees would shiver in the wind, Waiting for the warming touch of spring, You’d hold me in the firelight. We’d stare into the flames, And this is what you always used to sing.
The lyrics, hereunder, were inspired by the novel ‘The Grapes of Wrath’, written by American writer (and winner of the 1962 Nobel Prize for Literature) the late John Steinbeck(1902-1968).
Vocals and Lyrics: American retired country singer, songwriter, and actor Kris Kristofferson.
Here Comes That Rainbow Again.
The scene was a small roadside café. The waitress was sweeping the floor. Two truck drivers drinking their coffee, And two Okie* kids by the door. “How much are them candies?” They asked her. “How much have you got?” She replied. “We’ve only a penny between us”, “Them’s two for a penny,” she lied. And the daylight grew heavy with thunder, With the smell of the rain on the wind. Ain’t it just like a human? Here comes that rainbow again.
One truck driver called to the waitress, After the kids went outside. “Them candies ain’t two for a penny”. “So what’s it to you?” She replied. In silence they finished their coffee, Then got up and nodded goodbye. She called, “Hey, you left too much money”. “So what’s it to you?” They replied. And the daylight was heavy with thunder, With the smell of the rain on the wind. Ain’t it just like a human? Here comes that rainbow again.
Lyrics: Teacher, composer, musician, songwriter and Baptist Church Deacon/Minister, the late James B. Coats(1901-1961). Vocals: American singer-songwriter, actress, and philanthropist Dolly Parton; Featuring artists American singer Linda Ronstadt and American singer, songwriter, musician, bandleader and activist Emmylou Harris.
The Sweetest Gift.
One day a mother went to a prison, To see an erring but precious son. She told the warden how much she loved him, It did not matter what he had done.
She did not bring to him a parole or pardon. She brought no silver, no pomp or style. It was a halo bright sent down from heaven’s light, The sweetest gift, a mother’s smile.
She left a smile you can remember. She’s gone to heaven from heartaches free. Those walls around you could never change her, You were her baby and e’er will be.
She did not bring to him a parole or pardon. She brought no silver, no pomp or style. It was a halo bright sent down from heaven’s light, The sweetest gift, a mother’s smile.
She did not bring to him a parole or pardon. She brought no silver, no pomp or style. It was a halo bright sent down from heaven’s light, The sweetest gift, a mother’s smile. The sweetest gift, a mother’s smile.
Lyrics: American singer and songwriter Bill Withers(William Harrison Withers Jr.) Vocals: American singer and songwriter Bill Withers, with singer-songwriter, musician, and record producer Stevie Wonder(Stevland Hardaway Morris) and American singer, songwriter, pianist, record producer John Legend.
“Lean On Me”
Sometimes in our lives, We all have pain, We all have sorrow, But if we are wise, We know that there’s always tomorrow. Lean on me, When you’re not strong, I’ll be your friend, I’ll help you carry on, For it won’t be long, Till I’m gonna need somebody to lean on. Please swallow your pride, If I have things you need to borrow, For no one can fill, Those of your needs that you won’t let down. You just call on me brother, when you need a hand, We all need somebody to lean on. I just might have a problem that you’ll understand, We all need somebody to lean on. Lean on me, When you’re not strong, I’ll be your friend, I’ll help you carry on. It won’t be long, Till I’m gonna need somebody to lean on. You just call on me brother, When you need a hand. We all need somebody to lean on. I just might have a problem, that you’ll understand, We all need somebody to lean on. If there is a load you have to bear, That you can’t carry, I’m right up the road. I’ll share your load, If you just call me. Call me If you need a friend (Call me), Call me (call me) If you need a friend (Call me) If you ever need a friend. END
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