From: owner-jangle-poets-digest@smoe.org (jangle-poets-digest) To: jangle-poets-digest@smoe.org Subject: jangle-poets-digest V9 #92 Reply-To: jangle-poets@smoe.org Sender: owner-jangle-poets-digest@smoe.org Errors-To: owner-jangle-poets-digest@smoe.org Precedence: bulk jangle-poets-digest Friday, August 31 2007 Volume 09 : Number 092 Today's Subjects: ----------------- [JP] The Kennedys' September Newsletter ["The Kennedys' E-Newsletter" Subject: [JP] The Kennedys' September Newsletter (Mailing List Information, including unsubscription instructions, is located at the end of this message.) __ The Kennedys E-Newsletter for September 2007 Contents: 1) Tour Diary: 2) The Strangelings debut CD, "Season of the Witch" now available! 3) Tour Calendar for September 2007 4) Extended calendar through December 2007 5) Strangelings tour dates 6) Strangelings live at Falcon Ridge videos on YouTube! 7) Join the new Strangelings google discussion group 8) New: your photos of The Strangelings & The Kennedys 9) Upcoming Workshops:Guitar Workshop, Sun. Sept 23, Northampton, MA; Guitar Workshop Sun. Nov 18, Ardsley (Westchester), NY 10) Kennedys spring 2008 cruise to Bermuda! Reserve your cabin now 11)SIRIUS Disorder, home of The Kennedys' "Dharma Cafe" radio show, moves from channel 32 to channel 70 12) Kennedys/Strangelings/Stringbusters Mercantile *************************************************** 1) Tour Diary: September 2007 Log: Lazin On A Sunny Afternoon After a great session, laying down tracks with producer Dave Chalfant for Boston singer-songwriter Beth De Sombres debut CD, we walked out of the cool darkness of the studio into the lambent sunshine of late summer in the Berkshires. Standing on the mountain where Dave bases his recording dojo, we breathed in the air, still cool from blowing down from Quebec, across Lake Champlain, and over the tops of the Green Mountain sugar maples. There were still hours of sunlight left, and winding roads beckoned, luring us north and west toward Mount Greylock and the Vermont border. I know, said Maura, The grocery store has already jacked up the price of blueberries, claiming that the seasons over, but Ill bet if we go up in the hills, the high bush berries are just ripening. We could use that as an excuse to wander around the mountains the rest of the day. With Beths catchy melodies and insightful lyrics still resonating in our heads, we hopped in the car and headed for the hills. Our first stop was Chesterfield Gorge, cut deep into a high ridgeline. After a warm-up hike, it was time for the main event, picking blueberries on a hillside tucked into the heart of the Berkshires. Our only companions in the berry patch were three shaggy long-horned cows, looking just like their Beatle-coiffed counterparts in Scotland. They glanced at us absent-mindedly, and then returned to some serious cud chewing. Maura was right about the berries. At the higher elevations, they were just peaking. Our shouts of succulent and bursting with flavor fell on deaf bovine ears, but we filled our buckets and our bellies with big blue berries, like bears gearing up for hibernation. Above us, a hot air balloon floated languidly, and as the sun went down, a huge yellow harvest moon rose over the southern horizon, as two happy harvesters hauled their crop down to the Old Creamery Grocery and Deli for coffee and the kind of high-fiving that only a day of music making and berry picking can inspire. Could we all quit our jobs and just sing and hunt berries all day? It worked for Cro-Magnon man, but he didnt have emails to catch up on. Anyway, in the short growing season up here in the north woods, all creatures great and small take full advantage of these Indian summer days. *************************************************** 2) The Strangelings debut CD, "Season of the Witch" now available. The Strangelings are hot off the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival mainstage! Expect more tour dates for The Strangelings! For now, you can pick up the debut CD on our website www.KennedysMusic.com. It's not available in stores. Season of the Witch includes covers of Matty Groves, White Bird, Tanglewood Tree and, of course, the mystical, Donovan-penned title track. You can also now order copies at www.CDBaby.com. *************************************************** 3) Tour Calendar for September 2007 Saturday, September 1 - 7:00pm Songwriters Round Table, Denton Hill Ski Lodge, 5661 US Rte 6 West, Coudersport, PA 16915 Home cooked dinner served at 5:00pm: $8 adults $5 under 12 Showtime at 7:00pm: $10 adults $5 under high school age 814-435-2115 http://www.songwritersroundtable.com/ Sunday, September 2 - 7:00pm Blue Moon Sundays, 200 E. High Street, Shepherdstown, WV Smoke-free listening room, with dinner menu. $12.00 304-876-1920 http://www.bluemoonshepherdstown.com/ Friday, September 7 - 9:00pm Towne Crier, Pawling, NY, co-bill with John and Mary of 10,000 Maniacs $25.00 845-855-1300 http://www.towncrier.com Saturday, September 8 - Private party Sunday, September 9 - All day festival Colorscape Chenango Arts Fest, Norwich, NY Festival is all weekend. Kennedys play Sunday only. Check out the amazing visual artists! Free Admission! 607-336-3378 607-843-6105 http://www.colorscape.org Saturday and Sunday, September 15-16 - All day festival Strawberry Park Resorts Folk Fest, 42 Pierce Road, Preston, CT 06365 888-794-7944 Festival takes place Thursday, Sept 13 through Sunday, Sept 16 Price varies: Daily passes, weekend passes, camping and RV passes. See website: http://www.strawberrypark.net/ Friday, September 21 - 8:00pm May Memorial Concerts, 3800 East Genesee St, Syracuse, NY The Kennedys return to Maura's hometown! $12.00 315-440-7444 http://folkus.org Saturday, September 22 - 8:00pm The Strangelings at Caffe Lena, 47 Phila St., Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 Jud Caswell opens. $15.00 518-583-0022 http://www.caffelena.com Sunday, September 23 - 11:00am - 6:00pm Guitar Workshop: 60 flash guitar lessons! Each student is encouraged to bring 6 questions, limit 12 students. As soon as you ask your question, Pete will answer it with a 5-10 minute lesson. Any level from beginner to advanced. Test Pete's knowledge and enhance your own as he answers questions like, "How do I play an F demented flat 5", and "What's the easiest note to play with your nose?" This will be a fun, unpredictable, and fast-paced workshop. Sign up early and come with your six questions. Pete will fill out the workshop by offering up some of his favorite guitar styles, tips, & licks. Northampton, MA Offered Sunday September 23, 11am - 6pm, Northampton, MA. Enrollment is Limited: $120.00 http://www.kennedysmusic.com/guitarseminar092307.html Saturday, September 29 - 8:30pm Middle Earth, Barton Street, Branford, Vermont 05033 Middle Earth Music Hall is the like no other! You'll feel just like Frodo and Bilbo in this underground Lair! $15.00 802-222-4748 http://www.middle-earth-music.com/ Sunday, September 30 - Private wedding Please check our website: http://www.KennedysMusic.com, or Musi-cal calendars for changes. Remember to always call venues ahead of time to confirm showtimes and locations. *************************************************** 4) Kennedys endless tour continues: ***Coming in October 2007*** Friday, October 5 - Jammin' Java, Vienna, VA Saturday, Oct 6 - Del Marva Folk Fest, Hartly, DE Friday, October 12 - Music for a Change, West Hartford, CT Saturday, Oct 13 - Grange Hall, East Sandwich (Cape Cod), MA Sunday, October 14 - North St Coffeehouse, Medfield, MA Friday, Oct 19 - 333 Coffeehouse, Annapolis, MD Saturday, Oct 20 - 2nd Story Live, Denton, MD Friday, Oct 26 - Cellar Stage, Baltimore, MD Saturday, Oct 27 - Turtle Dove Folk Club, West Grove, PA ***Coming in November 2007*** Saturday, November 3 - The Birchmere, Alexandria VA with Tom Paxton Friday, November 9 - The Strangelings at the New Revival Coffeehouse, Stow, MA Saturday and Sunday, November 10 & 11 - Northeast Regional Folk Alliance Conference, Monticello, NY Friday, November 30 - Irvington Town Hall, Irvington, NY ***Coming in December 2007*** Saturday, December 8 - Circle of Friends Coffeehouse. Holiday show with The Kennedys, Sloan Wainwright and Greg Greenway, Franklin, MA Saturday, December 15 - Club Passim. Holiday show featuring The Strangelings, Cambridge, MA Monday, December 31 - First Night Northampton, Northampton, MA For info on future tour dates, and all kinds of Kennedys' info including road diary, tour photos, and more, check out our official web site at http://www.kennedysmusic.com. Last minute changes in the schedule can occur. Please call venues to confirm before hiring baby sitters and making the trip! *************************************************** 5) Upcoming dates for The Strangelings To read about the Strangelings, visit http://www.KennedysMusic.com, or http://www.myspace.com/thestrangelings Saturday, September 22nd, The Strangelings Caffe Lena 47 Phila Street, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 Phone: 518-583-0022 Price: TBA Web: http://www.caffelena.org/ Friday, November 9, 8:00pm The Strangelings New Revival Coffeehouse 353 Great Road, First Parish Church of Stow and Acton Stow, MA 01775 Price: $15.00 Saturday, December 15, 2007 The Strangelings - Holiday show Club Passim Cambridge, MA Web: http://www.clubpassim.org/ Friday, March 14th, 2008, 8:00pm The Strangelings Me & Thee Coffeehouse 28 Mugford Street, Marblehead, MA 01945 Yes, that's 2008!! Phone: 781-631-8987 http://www.meandthee.org/ April 11, 2008 The Strangelings Outpost in the 'Burbs Montclair, NJ Web: http://www.outpostintheburbs.org/ To preview the Strangelings DVD on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c8OhvYTEBa4 For Strangelings tour dates, log onto: http://www.musi-cal.com/search?performers=The+Strangelings& For more Strangelings info, go to http://www.myspace.com/theStrangelings *************************************************** 6) NEW! Strangelings live at Falcon Ridge video: Performing Matty Groves at a campsite on Thursday night...no PA system! Fiddler Eric Lee's first time playing in the band http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CPoWGU6jURY Performing Matty Groves on the mainstage Saturday night with new fiddler "discovered" on Thursday night at the campsite:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wq0X9iytA3g To see more videos by The Kennedys, The Strangelings, and Nanci Griffith (circa 1993, when The Kennedys were in her band), log onto: http://www.KennedysMusic.com/videos.html *************************************************** 7) Join the new Strangelings google discussion group: http://groups.google.com/group/strangeheads Thanks to Gordon Nash for creating this group! *************************************************** 8) New: your photos of The Strangelings & The Kennedys Check out photos that have been posted by concert-goers like you! Gordon Nash's Falcon Ridge Folk Fest 2007 photos: http://s53.photobucket.com/albums/g48/Horvendile/FRFF%202007/ Rhiannon's Falcon Ridge Folk Fest 2007 photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/rhiannongiles/collections/72157601103073747/ Mike Roney's Falcon Ridge Folk Fest 2007 photos: http://community.webshots.com/album/560074090OOJfCi Bob Barrows' New Bedford Summerfest 2007 photos: http://www.longdogs.co.uk/gallery/v/Bob+Barrows/NewBedfordSummerfest/ Neale Eckstein's Falcon Ridge Folk Fest 2007 photos: http://www.foxrun.org/falconridge07/ Please send us your photos of The Kennedys/The Strangelings/The Stringbusters, and we'll publish the link in future newsletters, and on our web page. *************************************************** 9) Upcoming Workshops: (Buy 5 workshops, get the 6th free!) Guitar Workshop: 60 flash guitar lessons! Each student will bring 6 questions, limit 12 students. As soon as you ask your question, Pete will answer it with a 5 minute lesson. Any level from beginner to advanced. Test Pete's knowledge and enhance your own as he answers questions like, "How do I play an F demented flat 5", and "What's the easiest note to play with your nose?" This will be a fun, unpredictable, and fast-paced workshop. Sign up early and come with your six questions. Pete will fill out the workshop by offering up some of his favorite guitar styles, tips, & licks. Northampton, MA Offered Sunday September 23, 11am - 6pm, Northampton, MA. Enrollment is Limited: $120.00 http://www.kennedysmusic.com/guitarseminar092307.html Guitar Workshop: Riffs and Hot Licks (this one takes place in Westchester County, NY) This cornucopia of valuable techniques will sample a variety of topics that will be explored in depth in our series of guitar workshops. A bountiful buffet of riffs, this workshop will demystify the upper regions of the neck and then plunge into a generous feast of scales, modes, chord progressions, harmonics and stylized licks that will have you slumped over your guitar right through the Thanksgiving holiday! While the rest of your family and friends gorge on pumpkin pie, you'll be practicing the mixolydian mode, and loving every minute! Offered November 18 2007 11am -5pm, Ardsley (Westchester CO), NY. Enrollment is limited. $120.00 http://www.kennedysmusic.com/guitarseminar111807.html Special offer: present proof of purchase to The Kennedys 11/30/07 concert at Irvington Town Hall in Irvington, NY, and save $20 towards this workshop! *************************************************** 10) Kennedys announce Spring 2008 cruise! Join us on a 6-night concert cruise on Carnival Cruise Line's Carnival Miracle from New York City to Bermuda and Newport RI, April 17-23, 2008. Note: The cruise line has the right to take unsold cabins from our group as needed, so get your reservations in ASAP! For further information, log on to: http://www.fanclubcruises.com/kennedys.htm *************************************************** 11)SIRIUS Disorder, home of The Kennedys' "Dharma Cafe" radio show, moves from channel 32 to channel 70 Our weekly show airs on SIRIUS Satellite radio channel 32 until Thursday, September 6. At that time, SIRIUS Disorder, and it's band of gypsies, moves to channel 70, on Friday, September 7th. SIRIUS Disorder, every Saturday from 7 AM - 10 AM eastern time, and every Sunday from 11 AM - 2 PM, hosted by us, Pete & Maura Kennedy! These are two DIFFERENT shows each weekend, not a rebroadcast! Past guests have included: Chris Smither, Harry Manx, Cliff Eberhardt, Catie Curtis, and Jim Lauderdale, David Jacobs-Strain, Ray Lamontagne, Susan Werner, The Roches, Janis Ian, Tom Russell, Mark Erelli, Susan Cowsill, The Winterpills, Guy Davis, Gandalf Murphy and the Slambovian Circus of Dreams, Tracy Grammer and Jim Henry, Kris Delmhorst, Salif Keita, Eric Anderson, Robert Kirby, and others. Anyone with requests or comments on our show should email us at: thekennedys@sirius-radio.com. We create a virtual cafe on the Dharma Cafe, and include not only great music, but poetry, commentary, and words of wisdom from the great writers and thinkers who have inspired us! We run a comprehensive list of live concerts across America. If you're interested in subscribing to SIRIUS Satellite radio, with it's more than 100 channels of commercial free music and news, visit www.sirius.com to try it for three days free on your computer. Once you subscribe, you must purchase the hardware, which can be installed in car and/or home (you will also be able to listen online). Sirius also offers a satellite boom box. Other DJs on SIRIUS that we like are Meg Griffin, Vin Scelsa, David Johansen, Mike Malloy (he's finally found a home on SIRIUS Left 146!), Stephanie Miller, Dave Marsh, Andrew Loog Oldham, Michael Tearson, Cousin Brucie, Marky Ramone and others. *************************************************** 12) Kennedys Mercantile. To order, send check or money order to:The Kennedys, PO Box 1264, Northampton, MA 01061-1264. If you'd like to print out an order form, you can print it at: http://www.kennedysmusic.com/orderform.html Or order using Paypal by logging onto: http://www.kennedysmusic.com/order2007.html NOTE: The Strangelings debut CD, "Season of the Witch" is now available for sale on our website. (August, 2007) Songs include: "Season of the Witch", "White Bird", "Matty Groves", "Sculptor's Song", "Tanglewood Tree", "Johnny Come Down To Hilo", "Hard Way To Learn", "Wildest Sea", "The Coo Coo", "Nuah", "Wayfaring Stranger", "Man of Poor Fortune", "Wake Up, Children", "Didn't It Rain", "Sirens" $15.00 NEW: Pete & Maura Present The Stringbusters: Rhapsody in Uke (June 2007). Pete & Maura with a different twist...On this CD, they give their twin ukuleles a workout, with a programme from the great songbook of 20s and 30s Swing. Tunes by Billie Holiday, Django Reinhardt, Gershwin and Jellyroll Morton come alive with Maura's vivacious vocals and Pete's hair-raising ukulele pyrotechnics. Featuring the uke solos Rhapsody in Blue, and the condensed version of Beethoven's Fifth Symphony, plus Maura's takes on a trio of classic Billie Holiday songs and a traditional Hula that she sings in Hawaiian! $15.00 "The Strangelings: The Nuah Suite" (April 2007) Live concert DVD of their debut show, recorded at the Pioneer Arts Center of Easthampton in January 2007! Hot off the presses! Songs include: Nuah, Harvest Moon, Tanglewood Tree, Didn't it Rain, The Wildest Sea, Wayfaring Stranger, Matty Groves, Anna and the Magic Gown, Sirens, A Bend in the River. Two electric sitars, flute, percussion, acoustic guitar and a wall of ethereal voices. DVD: $20.00 NEW: Timeless Flyte - A Tribute To The Byrds; The Byrds/Dylan Connection (compilation with Kennedys track): Features: The Kennedys - "You Ain't Going Nowhere"; Bill Lloyd - "Chimes Of Freedom"; Walter Egan - "All I Really Wanna Do"; more...a digital download-only release http://cdbaby.com/cd/timelessflyte2 The link for Apple iTunes is: http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?playListId=258784730 "SONGS OF THE OPEN ROAD" (October 3, 2006) The disc is a collection of our favorite songs by other writers, and songs that we always listen to when we travel the highways and byways of America. It's our favorite road music, and so we recorded our own versions! "Songs of the Open Road" will be our second release on the groovy Appleseed Recordings label. Songwriters represented on this disc include Victoria Williams, Jimmy Webb, Gene Clark, Roger McGuinn, David Crosby, Stephen Stills, Gram Parsons, Chris Hillman, Dave Carter, Nick Lowe, Bob Dylan, John Stewart, Bob Neuwirth, Mahalia Jackson and Nanci Griffith. We recorded many more songs than we can fit on this disc, so we imagine there will someday be a volume two! Songs include: This Moment, Eight Miles High, A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall, Pretty Girl Why, Gypsy Rose, Raging Eyes, Gypsy Rider, Galveston, Jasmine, Eye on the Road, Happytown (All Right With Me), Sin City, I'm On My Way, Late Night Grande Hotel. CD: $15.00 "HALF A MILLION MILES" (August 23, 2005) Songs include: Half a Million Miles, Midnight Ghost, Namaste, Live, Listen, Nuah, 9th Street Billy, Everything's On Fire, Time Ain't Long, Here and Now, plus cover versions of Richard Thompson's How Will I Ever Be Simple Again, and Bob Dylan's Chimes of Freedom. CD: $15.00 "STAND" (2003) "Stand" features original songs by The Kennedys, as well as cover versions of Dave Carter's "When I Go," and Nerissa Nields' "Easy People." Guests include Joziah and Sharkey of Gandalf Murphy and the Slambovian Circus of Dreams! $15.00 "RIVER OF FALLEN STARS" reissue, with bonus tracks (Varese Sarabande). The new reissue of our first CD contains six bonus tracks, including "Belfast", "Sendera Blessing" and "Fog" (all previously unreleased), and instrumental versions of "River of Fallen Stars," "Run the Red Horses," and "Spirit Compass". $15.00 "LIFE IS LARGE" reissue, with bonus tracks (Varese Sarabande) The reissue of our second CD, originally released in 1996, contains six bonus tracks, including "She Just Don't Care" and "And Your Bird Can Sing" (a Lennon/McCartney song), both non-album tracks, as well as acoustic remixes of "Life Is Large", "One Heart, One Soul", "Saint. Mark's Square," and "Sirens." $15.00. "GET IT RIGHT" (Jiffyjam Records '02) Get It Right features "Didn't It Rain," "Pearl's Eye View," "Get It Right," "Angel and You" and more. Special guest appearances include Nanci Griffith, Pam Bricker (Thievery Corporation) and Starz Vanderlockett! This CD is an enhanced CD, and includes photos, video and more! SALE: $10.00. "EVOLVER" (Rouner/Zoe Records, 2000) Kennedys return to the incandescent pop style of "Life Is Large" with catchy hooks and splashes of psychedelia. Featuring the songs "Pick You Up," "Can't Kill Hope With A Gun," and "Down, Down, Down" CD only: $15.00 "ANGEL FIRE" (Rounder/Philo, 1998). Featuring "Jesse," "Common Bond," "Angels Cry" and "The Coo." CD only: $15.00. Pete Kennedy's Solo Titles: "CHANNEL 3" (Pete's electric solo album) Available in CD only. $10. "FINGERS ON FIRE" Pete Kennedy and Tom Principato. This is a newly released CD of a concert "Pete and Pato" played back in 1978, when they were both in their early teens. You gotta get it if only for the haircuts on the cover. And the music? Guitar swing at its finest. $15.00 Sheet Music: Life Is Large/Saint Mark's Square (2 song folio) $4.00 River of Fallen Stars/Day In & Day Out (2-song folio) $4.00 Send check or money order to: The Kennedys, PO Box 1264, Northampton, MA 01061-1264. If you'd like to print out an order form, you can print it at: http://www.kennedysmusic.com/orderform.html Or order using Paypal by logging onto: http://www.kennedysmusic.com/order2007.html Thanks, all! Namaste, Pete & Maura Kennedy Visit The Kennedys online at http://www.KennedysMusic.com or www.myspace.com/thekennedysmusic for lots more! Also, visit The Strangelings myspace page at: http://www.myspace.com/thestrangelings and The Stringbusters myspace page at: http://www.myspace.com/stringbusters - -- The following information is a reminder of your current mailing list subscription: You are subscribed to the following list: The Kennedys' E-Newsletter Using the following email: jangle-poets@smoe.org You may automatically unsubscribe from this list at any time by visiting the following URL: If the above URL is inoperable, make sure that you have copied the entire address. Some mail readers will wrap a long URL and thus break this automatic unsubscribe mechanism. You may also change your subscription by visiting this list's main screen: If you're still having trouble, please contact the list owner at: The following physical address is associated with this mailing list: The Kennedys PO Box 1264 Northampton, MA 01061-1264 Check out the Kennedys' Official Home Page: http://www.KennedysMusic.com/ Fab photos, the Official tour diary, dashboard Buddha haiku, groovy merchandise...what more could you ask for? ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 30 Aug 2007 16:57:02 EDT From: Nieldsforever@aol.com Subject: [JP] Ain't That Good News - Part 2 - This Train & Orphan Girl There is a spectrum of music, like colors of the rainbow, and all music falls somewhere within this spectrum or rainbow of expression. Another analogy might be that all songs are like lights within a myriad, many-starred musical constellation, the universe of lyrics and sounds, with many different yet ultimately similar lights comprising just one universe. The orbit of "Ain't That Good News" from N&K's Sister Holler revolves somewhere within the attraction of what is called gospel music. Part 1 of this series mentioned 3 other "gospelly" songs TN have done over the years -- "Will the Circle Be Unbroken," "When I'm Here," and "Give Me a Clean Heart." Part 2 concerns 2 other songs that have figured in TN's repertoire, both of which are worth considering in this regard as well -- "This Train" and "Orphan Girl." ====================================================== "This Train" and "Ain't That Good News," both from the new album, bear such a familial resemblance as to be "sister songs," a bit like the resemblance between Nerissa and Katryna themselves. Both songs emerged during the same period in fall of '05. They're both "new traditionalist" songs, fuel for the fire of the Sister Holler ethos, "Good artists borrow; Great artists steal" -- whereby N&K breathe new life into old traditional standards. Furthermore, the two songs share about the same brisk tempo, and they're even in the same key, meaning they sound a lot alike too -- "Like two peas in a pod." For slightly different reasons, the tag "sister songs" has been applied to TN's "Taxi Girl," "Einstein's Daughter," and "Cool in the Backseat" as well. All 3 of those came out the same weekend in 9/96, and all 3 deal in different ways with society's "throwaways." Returning to "This Train," the greatly-borrowed conceit, "This train is bound for glory" has been all over the place, spanning Woody Guthrie ("This Train is Bound For Glory"), Peter Paul & Mary ("This Train"), Curtis Mayfield ("People Get Ready"), and the Kennedys ("Stand"), among others. Whereas "Ain't That Good News" recasts in a new form a spiritual of the same name, the one that N&K sang in their high school chorus. ====================================================== The comparison with Gillian Welch's "Orphan Girl" is a little different case. TN first started playing it in 1998, at the very same show where I first met Cone Head. They've played it since then only sporadically, but most notably in joint appearances with the Kennedys, as part of the so-called "Ha Ha Ha" Nields / Kennedys collaborations, or in the coinage of Cone, "Orphan Girl-o-Rama." There is very little musical resemblance between "Orphan Girl," a slow ballad, and "Ain't That Good News," a rousing romp. The resemblance lies, rather, in the subject matter. ====================================================== "Orphan Girl" -- "I am an orphan on God's highway But I'll share my troubles if you go my way I have no mother, no father No sister, no brother I am an orphan girl. I have had friendships pure and golden But the ties of kinship, I have not known them I know no mother, no father No sister, no brother I am an orphan girl. But when he calls me, I will be able To meet my family at God's table I'll meet my father, my mother My sister, my brother No more an orphan girl." ====================================================== "Ain't That Good News" -- "I got a home up in a that kingdom, ain't that good news? I got a home up in a that kingdom, ain't that good news? My home on earth has been washed away Went down in the flood just the other day But I got a home in the kingdom, that's good news I got a home in the kingdom, that's good news." Skipping to the last verse -- "And we're gonna meet again in the kingdom, ain't that good news? We're gonna meet again in the kingdom, ain't that good news? We're gonna laugh and we're gonna dance I'm gonna hold you like my only chance We're gonna meet in the kingdom, that's good news We're gonna meet in the kingdom, that's good news We're gonna meet in the kingdom, that's good news." ====================================================== The heavenly goal is the vital and sustaining force in all 3 songs, giving meaning and direction to the shipwreck of this mortal existence. The "glory" for which "This Train" is bound renders class distinctions between rich and poor, and all such earthly distinctions, of no account. This is a point in common, a "Common Bond," amongst all of the "This Train" / "People Get Ready" songs. Although this "glory" is not clearly identified in N&K's version, in some of the others it is clearly identified as heaven. In "Orphan Girl," a joyous but relatively solemn-sounding reunion at God's table is envisioned, at the end of days. And in "Ain't That Good News," the reuniting with loved ones in the kingdom is couched in explicitly ecstatic, jump-for-joy terms -- "We're gonna laugh and we're gonna dance, I'm gonna hold you like my only chance." Hope, hope, and more hope -- and something that gives substance and definite shape to that hope, however unknown that "Unknown Country" may be. As a side note, it's even occurred to me that the concept "Sister Holler" itself -- once explained by Katryna ITO Appalachia, like "down in the holler" - -- and the Appalachia look to what N&K are wearing on the cover of the CD Sister Holler -- might possibly owe something to the "Orphan Girl" ethos that TN clearly have loved so much over the past decade or so. Could be. End of Part 2. Bruce Check out the Kennedys' Official Home Page: http://www.KennedysMusic.com/ Fab photos, the Official tour diary, dashboard Buddha haiku, groovy merchandise...what more could you ask for? ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 30 Aug 2007 21:06:37 -0400 From: Jay Votel Subject: Re: [JP] Ain't That Good News - Part 2 - This Train & Orphan Girl Interesting thread. I have always found a Gospel element to N&K's harmonies and would definitely add "Keys to the Kingdom," a festival favorite, to the list in the first part of this review series of postings. - -- Jay V. Check out the Kennedys' Official Home Page: http://www.KennedysMusic.com/ Fab photos, the Official tour diary, dashboard Buddha haiku, groovy merchandise...what more could you ask for? ------------------------------ End of jangle-poets-digest V9 #92 *********************************