"I Had A Dream I Was Moving Forward"

Taking a break from packing up (not quite last-minute...,my flight doesn't leave for four hours and I am nearly packed) to post a few more video clips and, more important, to post a very moving poem I read in today's Independent - my posting the latter is significant for two reasons: first, I'm not particularly fond of poetry in general, and it takes something very special about a poem for it to catch my eye and my mind, more so for it to catch my heart as well; second, the simple fact that there is an issue of the Independent within which it was possible for this poem to appear is cause for celebration, since this excellent newspaper has just been (appropriately enough given the proximity to Easter) raised from the dead.

Oh, yes, this poem is significant for another reason. It was written by Sean. Perhaps most signficant of all, this poem has the feel of the future, the feel of a possible future, running through it.

Stay
"Stay," you say so confident
These days are bound to change
But I fear for the "entitlement"
Determined to remain
After 50 years fair warning
To get ready for the flood
My ship is set for sailing
Like so many others should
To stay behind would be unfair
To my wife and family
For reckless, unrealistic dreams
Will never set us free
Free from fear and ignorance
That lead to poverty
Free to claim real independence
From political apathy
I do this for my country
I do this for my son
I do this to spite the blade
That would rather take my tongue
Than hear the truth fly from my heart
About how we were wrong
To sign away our nation
When we had just begun
So stay and keep your hand out
Your eyes down firmly cast
But don't forget the coming drought
The next cheque could be your last
I'll take my nod from Noah
And make ready for the rain
Keep an eye for higher ground
And a chance to start again
I'll sail my ship to safer ports
And with her flag unfurled
I'll plot a new and better course
And build a brave new world.  - Sean McCann

It takes a lot to silence me, even momentarily. This poem suffices.

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It may be a few days before I post here again, given the travel schedule, so here are a few more video links before heading out.

First up is that other LR SoNC, the one from the first St. John's show where "everything shines" refers to Sean's head.

LR SoNC, first St. John's show - "Light-headed" Sean version

The second one is very short, and because it was so impromptu, I had to scramble to catch part of it on video. so the focus sucks, but at least I did get some of it. It's from the first Halifax show at the Rebecca Cohn, when some between-song chat about their not-so-good-old-days toiling away at the Lower Deck led Alan and Sean to suddenly start a singalong of "Farewell To Nova Scotia":

"Farewell To Nova Scotia" snippet (lousy focus) - first Halifax show

I love that last look on Alan's face at the end of the clip, no blur capable of hiding that mischievous grin. This singalong was followed by Alan's tale of how when they first signed on at the Lower Deck, they assured the owners that they did indeed know this song of necessity. "Yes, of course we know 'Farewell To Nova Scotia,' we said...then it was back to the room, straight to the computer, then type, type, type, Google, Google, Google."  And, oh, what a very different look Alan got on his face when Sean next sang the first line of Barrett's Privateers.

Last but best (at least in my opinion) is a video clip I've had since last summer, a clip that comes from the Fergus Scottish Festival. This was only my second attempt at using my then-brand-new digital camera's video format (the first was in Nimes, France, when I wandered into a video being shot by Russell Crowe, Alan, and the rest of the TOFOG band in a 2,000-year-old Roman Amphitheatre), and it was also only the second time they had performed River Driver during a show (the first time was at Wolftrap). It can be tricky videoing at a GA show, especially when people crash into you; it will be very clear when that happened if you download and watch this video clip.

What's best about this one is how you can see Alan concentrating on the actual singing of this song, each word and each note, during this second-time-live performance; when you see him sing River Driver now, he is much more focused on the performance aspects instead of on each note and syllable of the song itself. As beautifully and powerfully as he sings River Driver now, as stirring and moving and compelling as he makes his performance of this song, there is something very sweet and touching about Alan's early River Driver, something very easy to love. And it's Murray's head that's aglow in this one:

River Driver, Fergus Scottish Festival, summer 2005 (second show performance of song)

There was magic in the air that summer night in Fergus, as there has been - and will be - on so many other nights. Magic and wonderful music, laughter and so much to love.

The feel of the future in the air, magic and music in the air, along with laughter and love...not at all a bad place to be heading out into, though still heading out from a hard place to leave.

Back here in a few days, I hope.

Comments

[JoAnn]

Hi Lynda

Well done in the memory description of the River Driver in Fergus. I thought I was just being overly enamoured with the fellow at the lead, but I guess my thoughts on the song were shared with others. I have missed seeing this song being done with the same compassion. It's still great, but Fergus seemed greater.
Enjoy your journey, see you on May 2. Need to set a place and time, I owe you a Guiness. Let me know what's best for you.

JoAnn

[JoAnn]

May 3. Not May 2.

[Wendy Donahue]

I too was in Fergus, and it was a fantastic night. Great to see some video of that show. Brings back memories.