Search options (Page 3 of 13)

Hey Weedjie,

A smokin' song! I'm assuming the sentiments of the last verse is very much tongue in cheek.

Here in Belfast, the IRA, UDA and UVF decided some years ago that they they would act as judge and jury on the the activities of some of their local youth. They started shooting them ( with guns ) and drilling them (with black and deckers) in the knees. They left dozens of teenagers on crutches for life. Others were told they had to leave the country.

Most of those teenagers are now in their thirties. They were kneecapped for stealing cars and robbing shops. Most of them had learning disabilities or just hadn't wised-up yet. They had no hope and nowhere to go. Inevitably some of them were shot because they were in the wrong place at the wrong time or said the wrong thing to the local paramilitary commander.

And while the paramilitaries were maiming kids for stealing, they themselves were out murdering people.

Sounds much worse than anything I have had, guess the Doctor's the best bet.

I had problems with my right index finger ( second joint from the palm end) when I was practicing my picking ( like a nut, I wanted everything faster and faster !). It would "stick" and heat up, with a red mark across the skin of the joint.

I eased off on the practice and took glucosamine ( it's a herbal thing that you can get in most supermarkets ). It righted itself. Whether it was the rest or the glucosamine, I don't know.

I'm with Prinsb.

I use 1, 2 and 4. I like to hit the D as well.

It started a few years ago when I started playing mandolin and wanted to get the pinky into practice. At one stage I was trying to barre with the pinky ( 1:G and 2: D ), but gave that up.

Hi Lena,

I missed the protest - I was in London - otherwise I would have been there. For me, the people who have held the line in communities , in our places of work and in public have been the Trade Unions. That's why the Unions organised the protest. That's why I'll always be in a Union.

Thanks for the poem, Lena

In Northern Ireland, people are having to make difficult decisions. A tiny violent group seems determined to shoot to pieces the peace that has been building here for 14 years. They got the guns from somewhere. Thankfully our politicians are united in opposition to recent events.

People who would never have spoken to the police because of past events have decided it is time to speak out and have the murderers gaoled.

Personally, I have less certainty that "one on a cross" has much of an influnce on these people, but I know that many people do. I think it is up to ordinary men and women to stand up against this. I think it was Ginsberg who said "the world is a mountain of sh** and we have gotta shift it by the handful."

Like the lyrics and look forward to hearing the recording - great idea using caps etc.

Heart on your sleeve, Phil - righteous anger is a good thing. It is life-affirming.

I'm trying not to see you as Capt. Parazone - you'd be too flushed and round the bend, old friend !

And thank goodness we've got past that bit about poems not being songs - they're just songs that ain't been sung yet !

Selso,

Just listenened to your songs - you have an accent, man !!

I see from google maps you live close to Albuguerque, Durango and Santa Fe - have you any idea how cool that sounds for someone living in Belfast !

Go easy, step lightly, stay free !

Hey Daddy, i'm on call in three weeks time so I know where you're at - had to make them move it when they tried to have me on call on St Pat's Day.

Phil, problem is herself loves it, she's had a big one this year and has been partying for about three months !

Kap, is it mature or laid back ?

UYK, the only answer is to play even more !

Lena, herself wouldn't let me wear sweat pants - and I'm not sure when the last time was I broke a sweat other than playing guitar - still if you mean ease gently into the evening, then I'm with you.

Badeye,

That is brilliant ! I loved the mix of place, history and industry.

This is a poem about Ireland that I wrote many years ago. There are a couple of lines I couldn't remember, so just did something new.  Some vocabulary for the  lirish words might be useful ( apologies if you already know them )

a cran ( in this case not a tree) is an "ornament" played on the flute when you drop into the note you want to play from the note above or below - like tapping the flute.

Croker is Croke Park GAA ground in Dublin

Craic is the boasting, complaining, laughter and crying that make up a good night out.

Ireland's not one place,
It keeps moving about.
Just when you think it's settled
It'll leap up and shout.

It's a land where the rivers
Run slow-winding and long
And the crans of the wooden flute
Sing out it's song.

It's the bustle of Belfast
And  the cliffs of Connemara
The Croker in Dublin,
And the burial mounds of Tara.

It's those amber Bushmills waters
And that lump in your throat
Waving goodbye to family
When you leave on the boat.

It's the craic in the back bar,
The horizontal rain,
And the laughter and the boasting
When you come back again.

But much more than that
It's a tiny wee spark,
That lfe-loving glimmer
In each Irish heart.

It's in each generation
Wherever they may be,
At home on this island
Or far-flung across the sea.

So if you've a glimmer of Irish
You can call your own,
There'll always be a welcome
Back here at home.