"Peter Pan and Me" Moloney, Keane and O'Connell

 Peter Pan and Me (by Mickey McConnell) 

"We knew we faced the power that comes from money 
When we marched against the empire's mighty schemes 
They were armed with special powers and legislation 
While we were armed with youth and foolish dreams 

 But it seemed so right in Derry all that summer 
When we took them on and built our barricades 
We were an army dressed in faded jeans and sandals 
Too young and full of pride to be afraid 

 And we believed in things like justice, truth, and freedom 
And we believed we had a right to liberty 
And we believed that we could build a new tomorrow 
That's how it seemed to Peter Pan and me. 

 But we soon learned the truth of street rebellion 
As our city crumbled round us stone by stone 
Betrayed by those who promised they would help us 
Against tanks, and troops, and guns we stood alone. 

 The revolution is no game for foolish dreamers 
For dreamers never know the price that must be paid 
Before long we learned all power comes from a rifle 
And we learned to bleed and die and be afraid. 

 And soon no one spoke of justice, truth, or freedom 
And soon no one gave one damn for liberty 
And all we hoped was that we might go on surviving 
We grew up fast, young Peter Pan and me. 

 Then the empire dealt us death and fear and prison 
There's no mercy from that military machine 
And our street kids swapped their faded jeans and sandals 
For hoods and guns with loaded magazines. 

 And now the years have wrought their cruel retribution 
And our brothers and our sisters bear the pain 
As both sides strive for violent solutions 
And the politicians play their deadly games. 

 And among the dead lie justice, truth, and freedom 
And among the dead lie hope and liberty 
But if you care enough about brave new tomorrows 
Pull up a chair, join Peter Pan and me."

The inaugural RTÉ Radio 1 Folk Awards

The inaugural RTÉ Radio 1 Folk Awards recipients:

Best Original Folk Track "Along the Western Seaboard" - Declan O'Rourke

Best Traditional Folk Track "Bean Dubh A’ Ghleanna" - Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh

Best Folk Singer - Radie Peat

Best Emerging Folk Artist - Emma Langford

Best Folk Instrumentalist - Martin Hayes

Best Folk Group - Lankum

Best Folk Album Haven - We Banjo 3

Lifetime Achievement Award - Andy Irvine

Hall of Fame - Tom Munnelly and John Reilly

Here is Declan O'Rourke with his winner:

"Heavenly father could you hear the prayers I offer you today,
some of the people in the parish have been asking me to pray for them,
they have no strength to help themselves,
they need help fending for themselves,
and we do all we can do but there's so little that we can do,

and this is the worst winter I know of even worse than last,
the snow has stayed for too long on the ground and for the second year around,
now all across our little Island we give all our sweat and toil
and still the crops they have all rotted in the soil,

and all across the Western seaboard they await with open hands
for something to feed there children or a ship to foreign lands,
but there's nothing here to give them except for chicken feet and sand,
while Britannia rules the roost with iron hands

Lord what can we do now,
oh good Lord what can we do
when we need to feed so many and there's not even for the few,
Lord what can we do now,
Lord what can we do,
they are starving, they are freezing,
and their clothes have all worn through

Heavenly father your people need you more than ever now,
it is such a desperate situation that the nation's in somehow,
I can't see many pulling through because even if we had the food to feed them many have disease,
Lord I hope you hear our pleas,
they are scattered by the roadside,
in the towns and in the fields,
and there is not even food to work for,
nevermind beg, lend or steal,
and if we go by the predictions with starvation and eviction
some two million will be dead before we're through,

still all along the western seaboard they await with open hands
for something to feed their children or a ship to foreign lands,
for there's nothing here to give them except for chicken feet and sand,
while Britannia rules the roost with iron hands

Lord what can we do,
oh good lord Lord what can we do,
when we need to see so many but there's not even for the few,
Lord what can we do now,
Lord what can we do,
they are starving,
they are freezing,
and their clothes have all worn through,
they have no one else but you"

"Highway 4am (Driving) by Brother Sun

A Greg Greenway song as sung by Brother Sun. Love the metamorphosis of the relationship and especially these lines:

"It's a lonely romance 
It's a desperate urge 
to put something beautiful in this world" 

and

"of found girls who want to save lost boys"

  
"As you lie sleeping, I will not stop,
headlights on the blacktop.
In the wee hours of my thing,
   driving, driving.
When we first met how I must have seemed,
a young man in a boy's dream.
No information, just desire, higher, higher
   It's a lonely romance
   It's a desperate urge
   to put something beautiful in this world.
There are moments in a night's success
when something rises from the emptiness
and stirs the brave hope of a young desire,
  higher, higher
(hey yey yey)
As you lie sleeping, I will not stop,
headlights on the blacktop.
In the wee hours of my thing,
   driving, driving.
You have shown me the equal and opposite force
of found girls who want to save lost boys.
They know that longest road is never done alone,
they give them a way, a way back home.
   It's a lonely romance
   It's a desperate urge
   to put something beautiful in this world.
As you lie sleeping, through the misting rain,
high beams in the fast lane,
in the wee hours of our thing driving driving."

"Friend of Mine" Betty Elders

So eloquent and touching. The cello background adds so much. What a gift to listeners!

 

"For ten long years of running
You have been my one companion
Friend of mine
You are courage you are wisdom
There is no one who stands taller
In my eyes

Now your hair is turning silver
Near the lines my weakness left upon your face
And you walk a little slower
Than the restless one who tries to set the pace
All the times you filled my needs before your own
I never once heard you complain
Time and again
You were my friend

I wrote songs for different lovers
Distant lands and countless others
None for you
I've been linked to some old memories
By the chains that bind
But never chained to you

All these flaws you never mention
Serve to edify your gentle selfless grace
And it was never my intention
You should ever have to suffer for my ways
All the times I could have told you
Well I guess perhaps I thought perhaps you knew
Time and again
You were my friend

All the times I should have told you
Well I guess somehow I thought perhaps you knew
Love without end
You are my friend"

Folk Protest Songs

"Them’s Fightin’ Words: 10 Great Protest Songs
To the barricades! And don’t forget the lyric sheet! With midterm elections approaching, a look back at some anthems and ditties that have challenged the status quo." Loudon Wainwright III

Mike Regenstreif"s review of Loudon Wainwright's latest release

"Loudon Wainwright III – Years in the Making"