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“Grandpa,
Tell the Story” |
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...a work in progress... Folk music is more than a musical genre: it is a traditional storytelling medium that can provide psychic glimpses between generations and across centuries, allowing insight into the hearts, souls, aspirations and struggles of our ancestors, and offering this communion to possible future descendants, all experienced in real time through the age-old and ever-new alchemical precipitation of human blood, sweat and tears into poetic and musical expression, evocatively interweaving rhythm, melody, harmony, poetry, and story-telling. Folk music is traditionally made by the human voice accompanied by instruments that don't need to be plugged in. In the recordings linked below, the instrument is an open-backed 5-string banjo. These initial demo recordings are low-fidelity, rough-hewn, stripped-down renditions of a selection of folk songs, including some old-time folk and country ballads, some new arrangements of traditional folk lyrics and melodies, and some original compositions in an old-time-country/folk style. The audio quality is poor — these recordings were made by the technological equivalent of a tin can tied to a string powered by wound-up rubber bands. The singing and accompaniment are both rough with occasional missed notes and dropped beats. More refined and polished recordings of some of these songs will be included on a forthcoming CD — watch this space for details. These “sneak preview” files are being posted here for a limited time, for personal non-commercial listening and sharing. They are offered on a “shareware” basis — anyone may download free evaluation copies; if they cause you happiness, please consider dropping some spare change into the “virtual tip jar” at the bottom of the page. We will be updating them with new takes and adding new songs soon — “if the good Lord’s willin’ and the creek don’t rise.” These mp3 files are playable in most media players like WinAmp, etc. Feel free to contact us for assistance if you have trouble downloading or playing these recordings, and drop us a line with your comments, requests, etc., if you feel so inspired. Adjust volume to minimize distortion. Enjoy!
Original compositions — words and music by Dale R. Gowin: Grandpa, Tell the Story [4:18] — a cautionary tale of a possible post-petroleum future The True Face of America [3:34] — inspired by Hurricane Katrina The Homeless Veteran [4:19] — an old gospel tune revised by Woody Guthrie in the Depression era and now revised again in the Iraq War era A Gold Rush in the Sky [3:28] — an anthem of possible future prospectors and homesteaders of the deep sky countries A Flower that Blooms in the Mind [6:41] — what if God lived in a plant? Elmira Prison Blues [4:04] — a peek behind the walls A Postcard from Morocco [4:51] — a visionary reflection of a true prison experience
Traditional lyrics and melodies arranged by Dale R. Gowin: Deep Sea Medley [5:38] — the war widow’s ageless lament — a blend of traditional lyrics A Red, Red Rose [4:29] — traditional lyrics collected by Robert Burns blended with an Appalachian melody Come Away [5:25] — lyrics from the Song of Solomon The Least of These [3:56] — lyrics paraphrased from the Gospel of Matthew Never the Spirit was Born [3:39] — lyrics from the Bhagavad-Gita in Edwin Arnold’s verse translation
Poems set to country/folk-style music: The Garden of Love / Joy and Woe [6:40] — lyrics of William Blake woven with folk melodies My Soul Goes Clad in Gorgeous Things [3:07] — lyrics from a poem by Fannie Stearns Davis My Face in a Flower [2:46] — lyrics from an anonymous poem
Folk & country ballads: Teardrops Falling in the Snow [4:21] — written by Mac McCarty Rock My Cradle Once Again [4:04] — written by Johnny Bond & Billy Folger Distant Drums [4:23] — written by Cindy Walker Rainbow at Midnight [5:05] — written by Arthur Q. Smith Little Bessie [5:38] — traditional Dream of the Miner’s Child [5:05] — traditional Waiting at the Gate [5:38] — written by Woody Guthrie Black Jack Davy [5:02] — traditional — arranged by Robin Williamson Hangman [5:44] — traditional A Daisy a Day [4:03] — written by Jud Strunk When the Wagon Was New [3:13] — written by Sam McGee Nobody’s Child [4:06] — written by Cy Coben & Mel Foree Thy Burdens Are Greater Than Mine [3:46] — written by Pee Wee King & Redd Stuart Be Careful of Stones that You Throw [3:27] — written by Bonnie Dodd From Jerusalem to Jericho [4:10] — the gospel according to Uncle Dave Macon Men with Broken Hearts [5:58] — written by “Luke the Drifter” a.k.a. Hank Williams The Engineer’s Child [2:56] — lyrics by Henry V. Neal, music by Gussie L. Davis ... |
