New iTom Song

[filkertom]

This sure wasn't the song I was planning for this week. I apologize in advance; this one's probably gonna suck, and it's certainly nowhere near adequate to the task. But it's all I've got.

This one's for Dave.

Comments

[musicmutt.livejournal.com]

"this one's probably gonna suck"

Well, it didn't. Thanks, Tom.



*hugs*

[autographedcat.livejournal.com]

Just reading it reduced me to tears again. I will listen to it later, but not now. Thank you for writing it.

[kitanzi.livejournal.com]

No, it doesn't suck at all. It did a fine job of bringing me to tears again, though...

[catchild.livejournal.com]

It didn't suck, and it brought tears to someone who never even met or heard Dave. Good song Tom, and it fits my life right now. Thanks for writing songs that speak to the heart and soul.

[alwosm.livejournal.com]

Tom, Tom ... I don't think you deperately need the egoboo (yeah, yeah, I know we all need egoboo) but as noted above (again and again) and in an inversion of the Harry Chapin feedback, this song decidedly does NOT suck.

Though I prefer to be living, thank you very much, I would feel pleased to have inspired this song.

Like may others in yesterday's thread, I'm not sure I knew Dave - but I am sure I had seen him. I was recently trying to decide to wait for an invitation or crash the Filk at Filkhaven. Now I won't have the chance. (Maybe not even for this last :-( )

Good on you, Tom. Try not to be too mortal.

JM

[filkertom.livejournal.com]

Thanks. I'm not going for egoboo. I just... don't feel up to the task, somehow. I'm really surprised at how affected I am by this, and not just because Dave was One Of Us, and not just because I weigh even more than he did and am risk for the same thing that took him from us.

I'm just very, very sad right now, and I realize that it's a drop in the bucket compared to others' sadness about Dave, especially of course Peter's... but I'm depressed as hell that this very nice man will not be around anymore. And I just don't think my words can convey that. Is all I'm sayin'.

[wcg.livejournal.com]

I just... don't feel up to the task, somehow.

Yeah, I understand the feeling. But there are no ordained bards around anymore, so you'll just have to do. Who better than you?

[vixyish.livejournal.com]

I understand. All of it.

I keep bursting into tears at odd times.

I think you did well by him.

[braider.livejournal.com]

If you mean filkhaven the channel, it doesn't require an invitation. If you mean the housefilk at Glimmerglass, his brothers would like for there to be one more - there were two tentative dates when he died, and it's still up in the air. I suspect you would be welcome.

[shadowcat48li.livejournal.com]

it absolutely did not suck, I didnt know dave at all, but it was nicely done, and condolences to everyone who knew him

[braider.livejournal.com]

*hug*

[paltergo.livejournal.com]

*hug* Tom, thank you for posting that song. It is very touching. I'm still in shock at the news and words fail me. I still can't believe that I won't be seeing him at 'fusion. :<

[wildcard9.livejournal.com]

When the music kicked in, I almost thought you were using the tune of Suicide is Painless, except in a very serious way. And no, the song does not suck. I don't know who Dave is, but the song is still a fitting tribute to a fallen friend.

[filkertom.livejournal.com]

Heh. huskiebear also mentioned "Suicide Is Painless", a song I greatly admire. But that wasn't on my mind, honest. I haven't seen an episode of M*A*S*H in years. In fact, I cobbled the first part of the melody from an unfinished song, which now will have to be finished with a different melody....

[tigertoy.livejournal.com]

Even if it did suck -- and I don't think it did -- Dave was always about presenting whatever you have with confidence and quiet pride. It shows some honest feelings that I'm feeling myself, and if it's a little rough around the edges, that's only fitting, because what Dave gave us was often a little rough too, but it was heartfelt and that's why we loved it.

[erinwrites.livejournal.com]

Tom, Rand showed me the song, and it made me cry. It was a beautiful tribute.

[peteralway.livejournal.com]

Thank you

[filkertom.livejournal.com]

Of course, Peter, of course. Any word on memorial arrangements yet? And I understand if the family wants it private. We can do something public at 'Fusion if you'd like, and I'm sure FKO and OVFF will want to do something as well.

[peteralway.livejournal.com]

Bob and I will be attending ConFusion. That Sunday would have been Dave's 57th birthday.

Watch my LJ for memorial plans. It sounds like nothing will happen until at least late February. I'll post things there as they are figured out.

I know Dave enjoyed your music and performances, and made sure to catch your concerts. I remember Dave dragging me into my first filk circle in the 1990's at Confusion. He assured me that I would be allowed to play my ducimer--something I had never done in front of an audience. I know you were there, because you sang "Storm Dancing."

I'm sure some sort of memorial concert or set would be appropriate at ConFusion. If it does happens, I will put in a request for "Storm Dancing" now, because that was my first experience of the magic of filk with Dave.

I'm in the Ann Arbor phone book, and my email is petealway (at) aol (dot) com if you want to reach me.

[filkertom.livejournal.com]

"Storm Dancing"? You've got it. Dammit, I'm tearing up again.

Storm Dancing

[archiver-tim.livejournal.com]

Oohh, great song that I, too, enjoy. When I played my field recording of it for someone else, the comment I got was "Who is that playing with him" -- take that as an extreme complement, Tom, that guitar work is among your best.

-Ryan

[peteralway.livejournal.com]

You seem to have written the melody for another one for Dave, with words by a denizen of Filkhaven:

http://bookwyrm-com.livejournal.com/22268.html

[peteralway.livejournal.com]

Tom, I confess I was taken aback when I first heard this, because I was expecting a tribute song. But now that I have shifted gears, I can appreciate it as a powerful statement about our mortality.

And now this, It shields you from life's harsher ways,
He died, he left, ran out of days, reads too soft. The closest thing to life's harsher ways that I saw Tuesday morning that scans to "He died, he left" is "He coughed to death."

This song will never be easy for me to hear. It will never be how I want to remember Dave, but it is powerful, valuable art that I respect. And I will never object to you performing it, because music does not have to be pretty to be good. I appreciate the personal connection to it, and with time I may grow to even enjoy listening to it.

Thank you for thinking about my brother.