Songs for lovers of lost causes...

Song of the week... Those of you who know me, know probably all too well of my obsession with music and some of you who go all the way back to my band days will recall how I fixated on a particular song and have to take take it apart and study it from all angles. I especially love old Irish and Celtic tunes and have collected hundreds over the many years playing and listening in pubs from Boston to San Francisco. So I was actually surprised when the other night I heard one down at O'Shea's that I'm sure I must have heard a hundred times before but this time I listened to the words which are all about rebellion and lost causes which must appeal to my Irish/Norwegian blood. So naturally I've been listening to all different versions .. 27 to be exact, for the past week and have finally found the one I like. And I especially like the words.. Which now that I think of it might make a good short story. Like the one I did based on the mountain song, "Long Black Veil"...which by the way you can read in the anthology, Weirdly 3, if you have a mind to. Anyway the song is an old Irish ballad from the 18th Century called The Minstrel Boy and here are the words ... Makes you want to go out and fight for a lost cause. Which as Rhett Butler said to Scarlet, are "the only ones worth fighting for." THE MINSTREL BOY by Thomas Moore The Minstrel Boy to the war is gone In the ranks of death you will find him; His father's sword he hath girded on, And his wild harp slung behind him;" Land of Song!" said the warrior bard, "Tho' all the world betrays thee, One sword, at least, thy rights shall guard, One faithful harp shall praise thee!" The Minstrel fell! But the foeman's chain Could not bring that proud soul under; The harp he lov'd ne'er spoke again, For he tore its chords asunder; And said "No chains shall sully thee, Thou soul of love and brav'ry! Thy songs were made for the pure and free, They shall never sound in slavery!"

A "night at the opera" ... Not really, but better!

We decided on going to see a band last night that a lot of people had been describing as, "must see," on the Cape... And they were right! The group is called Sarah Swain & The Oh Boys and they play a hard driving mix of country, blues and rock-a-billy. We saw them at a packed house at Harvest Wine Bar and the energy couldn't have been higher. In fact after a few pints of some very nice Cape Cod Oatmeal Stout even your humble narrator got onto the dance floor (also very packed!) And at the break I spent some time with Sarah and found her to be not only very genuine but very sweet... An unusual combination for one who delivers hard pounding music in a gritty rock style. She told me that almost everything they do are her original compositions and though I was told that they do an occasional cover, I didn't notice any last night .. (Although that could have also had something to do with the Oatmeal Stout) So if you have a chance to see to see them I urge you to do so... Even at their standing room only venues ... It will be worth it!