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Songs for a Winter's Night (2006)

is the second of the "twin" albums by The Mescaline Smugglers from March 2006. "Twin" in this case means that they were recorded at the same time, not about any similarity between them, which there isn't.

'SfaWN' includes a couple of tracks which were leftover from Lost in the Music. As the band analysed the material they had recorded (with no any special purpose or plan at that point) in sessions during that two weeks winterish period in March, they decided to split it to "rock-blues-jugband" and..... "other". So SfaWN, which got the "other" stuff, became a real mixture of sensitive, sometimes funny, but also serious music with celtic, Indian, South American and jazzy styles - with every track speaking only for itself. Beware - the atmosphere changes fast! Hopefully you can find something you like.

Afterwards Tuomas justifiably asked if this should be a Kvester Melkk Quintet album rather than a Mescaline Smugglers album, because he only plays on two tracks! But that was really just a coincidence.

All of them, including Tarja, sing in this collection. Jore holds a guitar - which he made himself about ten years back - on the front cover. Davy plays it in "My Rainbow" and Jore on "Carolan in Parola".

All tracks are recorded in Parola, Finland in March 2006
Mixed by Jore Heikkilä

Tracks:

1. Lady (Heikkilä - McGowan)
Before Davy would leave the country, I wanted to compose something to this CD, too. This was one of those tracks made by hurry. Davy needed maybe 3 minutes this time to let the words come out from his head to the paper. --jore
2. As I Roved Out (trad.)
I'm pretty sure this is a trad. Christy Moore sang this with or without Planxty. --jore
3. Carolan in Parola (McGowan)
"Traditional" music by Davy the Celt in the spirit of Turlough O'Carolan, the last of the great irish harp players. I took my lute guitar and started to pick along... I guess Davy didn't mind. This is a real studio live take; propably #2. --jore
4. Streets Tonight (McGowan)
I have no idea why this rock track is not on 'Lost in the Music' album, but at least it gives again something different to this collection. --jore
5. My Rainbow (McGowan)
We had asked Tarja to sing some songs and just before she arrived we realized we had no idea what she would sing this time. So we started to make songs in a hurry, Davy got the lyrics ready fast but I couldn't find the melody as quick as we needed so Davy started to pick my giant guitar and the result is here. Amazing guy! Tarja do her part very well, too, although there was not much time for her to learn it before we pushed the microphone to her mouth. (That's the situation she hates - but who wouldn't?) --jore
6. Camptown Ladies (Foster)
I'm happy to how this turned out. I still have my habit to make weird chord arrangements... --jore
7. Sister and Brother (McGowan)
What can I say? Davy lost both his sister and brother lately. Is there more beautiful way to handle the grief than to put the sadness into a song? --jore
8. Guitar Raga (McGowan)
This track takes us to India... okey, that was maybe too obvious. Anyway the athmosphere keeps changing... --jore
9. Walking Boss (trad.)
Maybe this is a trad song if Davy says so in art covers. I have heard Doc Watson's version and it's almost as good as ours! --jore
10. Moira Graham (McGowan)
And now we hear contemporary, not traditional folk music by Davy. This magical track enchantes me all over again. One of all time top 5 songs from Davy, says my opinion. --jore
11. Los Diablos Blanco (Heikkilä)
My love to South American Indian music popped out this time this way. Davy seems to be able to talk whatever spanish or wooden indian that might be...! --jore
12. Broken Hearted Blues (Heikkilä - McGowan)
(First: the farting sound at the beginning is just me moaning!) Another demo that "didn't need" anything else. Don't know about that. --jore
13. Baby Jesus (Heikkilä - McGowan)
Baby Jesus, again. I mean that this is the second time I compose this same poem by Davy. First version can be heard on Kvester Melkk Quintet site.. check HMS Taavi there. --jore
14. The Princess and the Poacher (McGowan)
Davy in very celtic feelings. Too bad that Fairport Convention does not play anymore; no doubt they would buy the rights of this song gladly. --jore
15. Nasty Weather (Heikkilä - McGowan)
This melody was born same time as "Lady". My whispering muse disappears most of the time but when she returns, she may have usual tracks to offer, you never know. I remember saying "Nasty Weather" to Davy and he automatically built the whole song around that. Same story with "Lady" --jore
16. Cielito Lindo (Quirino Mendoza y Cortés)
Cielito Lindo is a popular traditional song of Mexico, written in 1882 by Quirino Mendoza y Cortés. The melody was used as the basis for a popular song, "You, Me, and Us," which became a hit for Alma Cogan in the United Kingdom in 1957. --wikipedia
Our version is based on Los Paraguanos version. He we are having fun with Spanish language. Worst of Davy's yellings are removed. --jore
17. Peggy McGrath (McGowan)
Davy the Celt amazes us this time with his guitar and no doubt another strange tuning in it. --jore
18. Fairytales (Heikkilä - McGowan)
Me and Tarja wanted to suprise Davy by putting this version on a ready CD - there was already a version sung by Davy. --jore
19. Rollin' in My Sweet Baby's Arms (trad.)
Just having fun - live... -jore



PREVIEW — LYRICS — DOWNLOAD — REVIEWS


4. Streets Tonight

I fell in love in a transit van
You fell in love with another man
Where were you while I was walking the streets tonight

Never knew love could be this way
You never listen to a word I say
Where were you while I was walking the streets tonight

Say you’re looking for true romance
Cut me down with a sidelong glance
Only thing that I’ve got’s the blues
While I’m walking these streets tonight

You said you came from a broken home
You broke up mine like you broke your own
Word is that you’re out on the streets tonight

Your studied smile was a work of art
You could show Eve how to play her part
Word is that you’re out on the streets tonight

Yeah you’re seeking a love supreme
A money man who can live your dream
Only thing that I’ve got’s the blues
As I’m walking these streets tonight


5. My Rainbow

My rainbow is yellow and blue
Purple, red and orange too
Green and gold as gold can be
With silver rain for the world to see

My rainbow has colours of night
Colours of darkness and daylight
Of all the jewels the world may know
There's none as fine as my rainbow

(c) Davy Mc Gowan 2006

7. Sister and Brother

Photographs creased and torn
Where they stand still for a while
Just after I’d been born
They’re holding me with a smile

And I finally realise - they’re gone.

Nothing was made to last
Even worlds crumble and fall
God cannot change the past
As it tumbles all into all

Memories and broken dreams
Fragments that I recall
Laughter and broken screams
From the other side of the wall

And I finally realise - they’re gone

(c) Davy Mc Gowan 2006

9. Walking Boss

Chorus:
Walkin' boss
Walkin' boss
Walkin' boss
I don't belong to you

I belong
I belong
I belong
To that steel driving crew

Well you work one day
Work one day
Work one day
Then go lay around the shanty too

[chorus]

Well I asked that boss
For a job
For a job
He said "Son, what can you do?"

I can line the jack
Drive a track
Drive a track
I can pick and shovel too

[chorus]

Work one day
Work one day
Work one day
Then go lay around the shanty too

[chorus]
 10. Moira Graham

As I was walking down by bonny Ythanside
Where waters run so clear you’ll see the fishes glide
The morning sun was shining high up in the sky
When all at once a fair young maid I did espy

Her hair was of the silk, her neck was like the swan
The fairest lass by far my eyes e’er looked upon
I bid her rest awhile and sit down by my side
My heart already set on making her my bride

She then consented and I gently asked her name
She looked upon me as she answered, ‘Moira Graham’
I sat bewitched as any other man would be
Who had this bonnie lass sat there upon his knee

She whispered words of love so sweetly in my ear
And every sound from her sweet lips I longed to hear
The shadows lengthened as the evening time drew nigh
I held her close saying we’d be married by and by

We parted sorely saying we’d meet again next day
And with a tearful kiss we went upon our way
Sleep was a stranger as I lay abed that night
For Moira Graham was always in my sight

I stood next morning where the cool clear waters flow
I waited till the sun’s bright orb had lost its glow
It sank into the West, my heart sank further still
And then I saw a figure coming down the hill

It was a shepherd boy, his crook held in his hand
I stopped and asked of him if he lived on that land
He answered, ‘Yes indeed’ and gave to me his name
And so I asked him, ‘Where’s the house of Moira Graham?’

I saw him wonder, as if doubting what I’d said
So once again I put the question to young Ned
His eyes then widened and he looked at me in fear
‘The house lies empty sir - since Moira died last year.’

(c) Davy Mc Gowan 2006

14. The Princess and the Poacher

It was early in the month of June
And the king’s daughter was walking in the wood
With her heart full sore for she would soon be wed
To a man she loved not, nor ever could.

And she walked on and further on
Till she took her rest down by a shady tree
And she lay herself down there upon the ground
And weeped and moaned and let her tears fall free

Nearby her in the wood that day
Going past the lady’s way by simple chance
With the King’s own deer tied up upon his horse
Was a bold young poacher known as Thomas Rance

He stooped low and bid her time of day
And he asked of her why all the tears she shed
‘Tis kind of you sir that you do enquire
I weep for I can never love who I must wed.

Young Thomas being a handsome lad
And the Princess Mary being a lithesome maid
They took comfort each in such a fond embrace
So that soon they fell in love within that glade.

Oh but who should come along the way
But the lady’s Prince, and he with sword at knee
And he soon saw Tom, this ragged poacher lad
Lying in the soft arms of his bride to be.

He swiftly got down from his horse
And he swore an oath, in such a rage was he
Saying, ‘For taking of my lady’s maidenhead
I shall kill you both in your own company.’

Young Tom has risen to his feet
And he’s taken out his daggers one, two and three
And he’s thrown them through the early morning air
And a fine and true thrower of the knife was he

The first lodged in the Prince’s head
And the second too sped swiftly to its mark
And the last of all the three that he did throw
It soon pierced into that cruel Prince’s heart.

Princess Mary’s face was pale and wan
It was whiter than the purest driven snow
But with kisses sweet Tom took her in his arms
And along the road the two of them did go.

(c) Davy Mc Gowan 2006


PREVIEW — LYRICS — DOWNLOAD — REVIEWS


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