Farewell, Liam Clancy
Dec. 4th, 2009 10:38 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
filkertomAw, crap.
Liam Clancy has passed away at the age of 74.
The Wikipedia entry lists him as an Irish folk singer, which is kinda like saying Tullamore Dew is a beverage. The original Clancy Bros. were one and all marvelous, but oh my god Liam's voice, and his easy and wondrous chemistry with Tommy Makem. He was funny and dramatic and romantic and silly and sad and he's gone now and the world is less green.
What are some of your favorite Liam Clancy performance? His cover, with Tommy, of "The Dutchman" is so very beautiful, as well as their version of "Peter Kagan and the Wind". I also love his versions of "The Minstrel Boy" and "Whiskey, You're the Devil" and "The Croppy Boy" so very much. If you have links to any performances, please do post 'em here. Here's a page to start with -- click "View All" under "Most Played Songs" for a much longer list.
Liam Clancy has passed away at the age of 74.
The Wikipedia entry lists him as an Irish folk singer, which is kinda like saying Tullamore Dew is a beverage. The original Clancy Bros. were one and all marvelous, but oh my god Liam's voice, and his easy and wondrous chemistry with Tommy Makem. He was funny and dramatic and romantic and silly and sad and he's gone now and the world is less green.
What are some of your favorite Liam Clancy performance? His cover, with Tommy, of "The Dutchman" is so very beautiful, as well as their version of "Peter Kagan and the Wind". I also love his versions of "The Minstrel Boy" and "Whiskey, You're the Devil" and "The Croppy Boy" so very much. If you have links to any performances, please do post 'em here. Here's a page to start with -- click "View All" under "Most Played Songs" for a much longer list.
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(no subject)
Date: 2009-12-05 04:05 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2009-12-05 04:22 am (UTC)This sucks.
Edited to note that Wella Wallia off that same record, grim subject matter notwithstanding, was a favorite singalong on drives.
(no subject)
Date: 2009-12-05 04:30 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2009-12-05 04:34 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2009-12-05 04:43 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2009-12-05 04:39 am (UTC)"Patriot Games"
"Gentle Annie"
...and pretty much all the rest, too. ::raises mug o'tea::
(no subject)
Date: 2009-12-05 05:15 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2009-12-05 05:06 am (UTC)One of my fondest memories is sitting in Folk City, with him and Tommy Makem performing, and him dedicating "Will Ye Go, Lassie, Go?" and "The Gypsy Rover" to me.
Sorry to hear it, but thank you for letting me know.
(no subject)
Date: 2009-12-05 05:18 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2009-12-05 05:53 am (UTC)The heavenly choir has a new soloist tonight....
(no subject)
Date: 2009-12-05 05:59 am (UTC)Tom Clancy, the bass barreltone, was the one I wanted to sing like. It's so hard to imagine the world without ANY of them...
(no subject)
Date: 2009-12-05 06:48 am (UTC)But what I remembered most most were some of the spoken exchanges. Liam introduced Tommy: "Man's got a face only a mother could love," to which Tommy repled beatifically, "And many have." Another time Liam talked about country-western songs like one whose title was "If You Want To Keep Your Beer Cold, Keep It Next to My Ex-Wife's Heart." ("We could never sing that one in Ireland," Liam said. "No cold beer, and no ex-wives.")
Unfortunately Liam lost me briefly when he introduced a song about a man who lived his life like Andy Capp, and Liam made it clear that he admired that lovable wife-beating drunk of the comic strips. I grew up with Irish Catholics, and I wish I could say I was surprised.
I must have played that Clancy Bros LP to rags -- the one I borrowed and borrowed from our local library.
But since it falls unto my lot
That I should go and you should not,
I'll gently rise and softly call,
'Good night, and joy be with you all.'
(no subject)
Date: 2009-12-05 07:18 am (UTC)My greatest joy in life is hearing live music and live performance, and among my few regrets are the people I could have heard live that I missed.
The act that I'm happiest I got to see: Jack Benny, when I was about 10 years old. Funniest comedian ever.
My biggest regret: missing a live performance in my town of The Beatles, also when I was about 10.
A sad passing, but what great lives they led!
(no subject)
Date: 2009-12-05 08:09 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2009-12-05 12:37 pm (UTC)'The Minstrel Boy' is the one of his I'm most likely to have running through my head on any given day.
farewell Liam Clancy
Date: 2009-12-05 02:50 pm (UTC)I will miss Liam as Bob Dylan once said LIam Clancy is/was the worldest best ballad singer.
(no subject)
Date: 2009-12-05 05:06 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2009-12-05 05:12 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2009-12-05 06:14 pm (UTC)(ttto: Galway City)
As I rode out from Galway City
As does many a maiden fair
Who should I see but the Undead Clancies
Maggots glistening in their hair?
"Lassie, we are reunited
Singing down the country lanes
And if you'll just smile upon us
This very night we'll eat your brains!"
Ratty-at-a-tewdum, tewdum, tewdum
Ratty-at-a-tewdum, tewdum day
Ratty-at-a-tewdum, tewdum, tewdum
Ratty-at-a-tewdum, tewdum day....
"Clancies, then I shall not smile
It's really not my style and all
To lose one's brains gives such a headache
And I have no Tylenol!"
"Lassie, we were only sportin!
Your fair brains we'll do without!
When undead Clancies go a-courtin'
We'll have none but Guinness Stout!"
Ratty-at-a-tewdum, tewdum, tewdum
Ratty-at-a-tewdum, tewdum day
Ratty-at-a-tewdum, tewdum, tewdum
Ratty-at-a-tewdum, tewdum day