It occured to me that Joan Osborn sang a version of this song which was released on the Tears of Stone album for The Chieftens. This album was released much later than LM's version was recorded.
Maybe someone can answer this, but I wonder why this song was not released in either a previous album, or on the Tears of Stone album instead of Joan Osborn's version. LM's version is so much better than Osborn's.
If you do not have this version, I highly recommend you get the album. It is worth it.
Wow! I just realized something (forgive me if this is old news to you). LM modifies the her to his throughout the song but doesn't change the sex at the end. On the Alhambra recording she still says "his wings" and "he'll lose". I'd always thought that didn't make sense, I'm glad to find out I wasn't totally out of it.
If that doesn't make sense to you, (me neither); I have a warning for you: please don't try to analyze Paul Siman's lyrics. My mother, her friend and I tried to make sense of the songs on his "Graceland" cd and gave up trying to figure out why would anyone "have diamonds on the soles of their shoes", (I like Lady Blacksmith Mamboso's verson the best); so I just let the songs take me away, very far away. As for "Ragland Road", I listened to just about all the versions that youtube has to offer and Loreena captures the spirit of the song best. I can't listen to anyone else sing that song. It is one of my favorites, they are all one of my favorites; maybe it has to do with her "emotional honesty" as she explain in "Words and Music". That makes sense to me. "In your heart, in your soul, may you find peace there," Gina
Posts: 425 | Location: Gold Bar, Washington USA | Registered: November 11, 2006
Originally posted by Guitarpat56: I saw that CD listed, but I looked and didn't see "Raglan Road" on there. Is it? If anyone is interested in a coooooool poster on E-bay, someone is selling a promotional poster on E-Bay. I got mine for $30.00, but if you watch you can get them for $20.00. It was from the "Paris and Toronto" CD era. Just type in Loreena McKennitt (all catagories) and look for poster/banner. Here's a link but I'm sure it's closed by this time. They seem to have plenty, and is a picture any true Loreena fan would want, playing the harp.
quote:
Originally posted by reneecamp: I just got the CD with Raglan Road from EBAY (someone was selling it with the "Share the Journey" sampler, so I couldn't pass it up)... I thought to myself "This shold have been on the Visit." Then I looked at the info and it WAS recorded in 1991. She is AMAZING... I teared up a little listening to it just now.
How I love you eBay! I managed to get the poster and I'm still on the look out for a studio recording of Raglan Road. I'd like to hear what it sounded like 15+ years ago.
Posts: 126 | Location: Damariscotta, Maine | Registered: December 03, 2006
I'm sorry for asking this in this venue but my wife and I will be going to Ireland next year and other parts of Europe. When and where is the best time to catch the best music festival or music concerts in Ireland. I'm thinking Dublin...maybe in May?!?! I may be reached at jeffreyillanphillips@gmail.com . Thank you.
Posts: 69 | Location: New York | Registered: December 10, 2006
I checked to make sure and yes, many of you don't know the actual orign of this song.
The Irish poet Patrick Kavanagh wrote this poem in the early '60s while he was living in Dublin. He had moved to Dublin, a city, from the countryside of Co, Monaghan and it is this city/rural tension that infuses his poetry. His constant and approachable theme is one of the writer being driven to the place where his muse calls him but realising that the place of his birth is the actual inspiration and he hates it for it...!
He wrote this poem knowing it would be put to music soon enough. And it was by a great and iconic singer in Ireland called Luke Kelly, a founding member of The Dubliners. Even though Loreena sings this in a raw and increadible way, Luke's original take is the one that all others are measured by.
He had a gravel voice, a rawness that comes from great suffering. Not unlike Tom Waits but not as 'drunken'. Luke Kelly was the last of his kind: The Irish balladeer who 'became' the song he was singing and transported you into the world of the song and another world... a man's singer too...
I always cry when I hear him sing "Scorn not his Simplicity" - a song about a special child that the parents are so worried will be ridiculed for the rest of his life because he is 'different'. It will tear your heart out.
Then he can come out and sing "7 Drunken Nights' in the best PUB MUSIC tradition there is!! Bizarre and so brilliant at the same time!
Loreena, no doubt, had Luke's version in mind when she recorded hers. I am sure of it.
Enjoy this song for what it is: a wonderful and real love song of a person who is loved in the ordinariness of life and it transformes them into magic!
TTFN!! LisaIreland
Posts: 5 | Location: Baltimore MD ex Dublin | Registered: October 11, 2007
I saw that CD listed, but I looked and didn't see "Raglan Road" on there. Is it? If anyone is interested in a coooooool poster on E-bay, someone is selling a promotional poster on E-Bay. I got mine for $30.00, but if you watch you can get them for $20.00. It was from the "Paris and Toronto" CD era. Just type in Loreena McKennitt (all catagories) and look for poster/banner. Here's a link but I'm sure it's closed by this time. They seem to have plenty, and is a picture any true Loreena fan would want, playing the harp.
quote:
Originally posted by reneecamp: I just got the CD with Raglan Road from EBAY (someone was selling it with the "Share the Journey" sampler, so I couldn't pass it up)... I thought to myself "This shold have been on the Visit." Then I looked at the info and it WAS recorded in 1991. She is AMAZING... I teared up a little listening to it just now.
Posts: 114 | Location: East Waterboro, Maine | Registered: January 09, 2007
Originally posted by Guitarpat56: In case anyone wanted the lyrics as they don't appear on any recordings by Loreena that I know of. Of coarse, there is a gender change on NFTA
On Raglan Road of an Autumn day I saw her first and knew, That her dark hair would weave a snare That I might someday rue. I saw the danger and I passed Along the enchanted way. And I said,"Let grief be a fallen leaf At the dawning of the day."
On Grafton Street in November, we Tripped lightly along the ledge Of a deep ravine where can be seen The worth of passion play. The Queen of Hearts still making tarts And I not making hay; Oh, I loved too much and by such and such Is happiness thrown away.
I gave her gifts of the mind, I gave her the secret signs, That's known to the artists who have known The true gods of sound and stone. And her words and tint without stint I gave her poems to say With her own name there and her own dark hair Like clouds over fields of May.
On a quiet street where old ghosts meet I see her walking now, And away from me so hurriedly My reason must allow. That I had loved, not as I should A creature made of clay, When the angel woos the clay, he'll lose His wings at the dawn of day.
Wow! I just realized something (forgive me if this is old news to you). LM modifies the her to his throughout the song but doesn't change the sex at the end. On the Alhambra recording she still says "his wings" and "he'll lose". I'd always thought that didn't make sense, I'm glad to find out I wasn't totally out of it.
Posts: 126 | Location: Damariscotta, Maine | Registered: December 03, 2006
Originally posted by Guitarpat56: In case anyone wanted the lyrics as they don't appear on any recordings by Loreena that I know of. Of coarse, there is a gender change on NFTA
On Raglan Road of an Autumn day I saw her first and knew, That her dark hair would weave a snare That I might someday rue. I saw the danger and I passed Along the enchanted way. And I said,"Let grief be a fallen leaf At the dawning of the day."
On Grafton Street in November, we Tripped lightly along the ledge Of a deep ravine where can be seen The worth of passion play. The Queen of Hearts still making tarts And I not making hay; Oh, I loved too much and by such and such Is happiness thrown away.
I gave her gifts of the mind, I gave her the secret signs, That's known to the artists who have known The true gods of sound and stone. And her words and tint without stint I gave her poems to say With her own name there and her own dark hair Like clouds over fields of May.
On a quiet street where old ghosts meet I see her walking now, And away from me so hurriedly My reason must allow. That I had loved, not as I should A creature made of clay, When the angel woos the clay, he'll lose His wings at the dawn of day.
In case anyone wanted the lyrics as they don't appear on any recordings by Loreena that I know of. Of coarse, there is a gender change on NFTA
On Raglan Road of an Autumn day I saw her first and knew, That her dark hair would weave a snare That I might someday rue. I saw the danger and I passed Along the enchanted way. And I said,"Let grief be a fallen leaf At the dawning of the day."
On Grafton Street in November, we Tripped lightly along the ledge Of a deep ravine where can be seen The worth of passion play. The Queen of Hearts still making tarts And I not making hay; Oh, I loved too much and by such and such Is happiness thrown away.
I gave her gifts of the mind, I gave her the secret signs, That's known to the artists who have known The true gods of sound and stone. And her words and tint without stint I gave her poems to say With her own name there and her own dark hair Like clouds over fields of May.
On a quiet street where old ghosts meet I see her walking now, And away from me so hurriedly My reason must allow. That I had loved, not as I should A creature made of clay, When the angel woos the clay, he'll lose His wings at the dawn of day.
Posts: 114 | Location: East Waterboro, Maine | Registered: January 09, 2007
Originally posted by sycsailor: I just got the Nights from the Alhambra CD at a concert and I haven't stopped listening to Raglan Road since. I'm limiting myself, though as opposed to keeping it on repeat (as I'm prone to do).
It must be something about Maine because I have rediscovered that song as well! There is an intensity to it, the way her vocals change throughout the song. There's this pristeen sound and then it's like she almost scolding you. I just got done listening to it on my headphones and then I came up here and read this. I have also rediscovered "Santiago" I can still feel the momentum Hugh Marsh creates during his playing. Certainly one the highlights of the show I saw. "Never Ending Road" is quickly rising to the top as well.
Definitely something in the air up here! "Santiago" and "Never Ending Road" (and Raglan Road, of course) are both tracks I've been more attracted to since the show. "Marco Polo" too!
Posts: 126 | Location: Damariscotta, Maine | Registered: December 03, 2006
Many of LM songs are a world into themselves. Seeing her live brings the professionalism of her band to bear.
quote:
Originally posted by Guitarpat56:
quote:
Originally posted by sycsailor: I just got the Nights from the Alhambra CD at a concert and I haven't stopped listening to Raglan Road since. I'm limiting myself, though as opposed to keeping it on repeat (as I'm prone to do).
It must be something about Maine because I have rediscovered that song as well! There is an intensity to it, the way her vocals change throughout the song. There's this pristeen sound and then it's like she almost scolding you. I just got done listening to it on my headphones and then I came up here and read this. I have also rediscovered "Santiago" I can still feel the momentum Hugh Marsh creates during his playing. Certainly one the highlights of the show I saw. "Never Ending Road" is quickly rising to the top as well.
Posts: 69 | Location: New York | Registered: December 10, 2006
Hey Philly girl! Qustion: What is the sampler CD for which you are referring? I may have all the LM CD's but evidently not all her songs...You are not the only one that gets very emotional over LM music. Many of the people at her concert at Radio City Music Hall were experiencing their own cathartic outpouring.
quote:
Originally posted by reneecamp: I just got the CD with Raglan Road from EBAY (someone was selling it with the "Share the Journey" sampler, so I couldn't pass it up)... I thought to myself "This shold have been on the Visit." Then I looked at the info and it WAS recorded in 1991. She is AMAZING... I teared up a little listening to it just now.
Posts: 69 | Location: New York | Registered: December 10, 2006
Originally posted by sycsailor: I just got the Nights from the Alhambra CD at a concert and I haven't stopped listening to Raglan Road since. I'm limiting myself, though as opposed to keeping it on repeat (as I'm prone to do).
It must be something about Maine because I have rediscovered that song as well! There is an intensity to it, the way her vocals change throughout the song. There's this pristeen sound and then it's like she almost scolding you. I just got done listening to it on my headphones and then I came up here and read this. I have also rediscovered "Santiago" I can still feel the momentum Hugh Marsh creates during his playing. Certainly one the highlights of the show I saw. "Never Ending Road" is quickly rising to the top as well.
Posts: 114 | Location: East Waterboro, Maine | Registered: January 09, 2007
I teared up a little listening to it just now. 
