Joy Of Living (Ewan MacColl)

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  • čas přidán 10. 03. 2011
  • This video is featured with lyrics on a mobile friendly page at:
    GEST Songs of Newfoundland and Labrador:
    gestsongs.com/10/joyofliving.htm
    This is one of MacColl's last songs and his farewell to the world. In it, a dying hiker says goodbye to all he holds dear: the hills, his wife and his children (Black And White - The Definitive Collection, 1993 CD, trk#20, Green Linnet Records, Nashville, TN) and (Black And White - The Definitive Collection, 2000 CD, trk#18, Cooking Vinyl Records, London, UK).
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Komentáře • 68

  • @vivianlemottee3291
    @vivianlemottee3291 Před 3 měsíci +1

    What a beautiful album.🇦🇺❤️🇮🇪

  • @philipdavison1487
    @philipdavison1487 Před 2 lety +15

    This song, and Ewan, will be part of my life until my dying breath. Although born in England, he was a true Scot. I can't think of a better poem of love from a dying man to his wife and children. You'll always be with me, Ewan. Safe be your journey.

  • @alexodonnell6191
    @alexodonnell6191 Před 4 lety +8

    Oh ewan ewan I loved you so much...I saw your last concert..I treasure that memory..you died too soon... thank you for your fortitude and the wonderful wonderful songs..you were a hero of mine.... still are actually..

  • @carollizc
    @carollizc Před 10 lety +43

    This song helped me get through the days following the passing of my mother in 1993, and seven years later, when my dad passed. Whenever I hear it, I think of them, but not with sorrow.

  • @Dervie100
    @Dervie100 Před 12 lety +20

    Pure poetry. What a wonderfully talented man. So sad that both he and Kirsty are now gone,

  • @bodsnvimto
    @bodsnvimto Před 8 lety +67

    Ewan - you still live on in the air of every hill around here in this wonderful North West of England - and probably a few in Ireland too.
    RIP to a fierce defender of us common folks.

    • @scjohnston1812
      @scjohnston1812 Před 6 lety +3

      Beautiful

    • @bodsnvimto
      @bodsnvimto Před 5 lety +2

      @@scjohnston1812 A very, very belated thank you to you. I must have missed your response previously.

    • @leonlawson2196
      @leonlawson2196 Před 3 lety +2

      And all those in Scotland.

  • @gordonjenks
    @gordonjenks Před 8 lety +40

    I remember playing this song after hearing the news of my fathers death. I was cuddling my girls Francesca and Alexandra listening to Ewan MacColl sing the Joy of Living with tears pouring down my face. What a poignant moment.That was March 1996. I have just come across it again today December 12th 2015 while trolling through You tube. I played it again and phoned Alexandra and the memories came flooding back. Alexandra remembered.

  • @haggisscouse
    @haggisscouse Před 12 lety +9

    He was one of the very greatest of songwriters, nothing trivial about these lyrics. Must get my boots on, time is running out...

  • @HaplessHypnagogic
    @HaplessHypnagogic Před 4 lety +13

    Reduces me to tears every time.

  • @gaspode18
    @gaspode18 Před 12 lety +10

    The last time I climbed Suilven, or to be more precise, failed to climb it, was in my seventy-second year. I was with my wife and fourteen-year-old daughter Kitty. "You go ahead," I told them, "I'll meet you at the top." But 'the flesh is bruckle, the fiend is slee', and I hadn't gone more than half the distance when my legs refused to carry me further. My body had given me plenty of warnings over the last seven or eight years but this was the final notice. My mountain days were over Ewan McColl

  • @aaronbrown8820
    @aaronbrown8820 Před 3 lety +3

    Peggy and Ewan’s voices are utterly angelic.

  • @AllanEPetersen
    @AllanEPetersen Před 12 lety +6

    Great song! And great landscape near Glossop in Peak District! And what a history: Hundreds of hikers in the thirties fighting for public access to the mountains.

  • @billybobbobbilly9477
    @billybobbobbilly9477 Před 2 lety +1

    Beautiful Song Thank You Ewan

  • @sandramorey2529
    @sandramorey2529 Před 3 lety +3

    Ewan MacCall was so unique. I absolutely loved him and I like how Peggy compliments his solo singing w/o overpowering him vocally. For so long he was persona non grata to the U.S. because of his political activism and I am so sorry it took so long for that to be lifted. We went to hear him every chance we could when it was lifted. He sang Hind Horn, a very difficult ballad for me at the last performance I saw him at here in San Francisco. Peggy wrote down on a cocktail napkin the tune to The Demon Lover so I could learn it. They were so generous with their talent & Peggy still is. Ewan will live forever.

    • @gdgest
      @gdgest  Před 3 lety +1

      I was pleased to find Ewan's variant here in CZcams: czcams.com/video/C8fxwvxHFwk/video.html

    • @sandramorey2529
      @sandramorey2529 Před 3 lety +3

      @@gdgest CZcams has become a treasure rove for traditional music from everywhere. I now own every song Ewan recorded and/or composed. But back in those days,
      if it wasn't in the library, it wasn't available. That was before computers. Thanks for the link.

  • @jonesthephones
    @jonesthephones Před 11 lety +19

    Thank you so much. Of all of MacColl's great songs, this one moves me the most.

  • @deanapostol3963
    @deanapostol3963 Před 3 měsíci

    Among the best songs about dying. Or living as the case may be.

  • @davepass7859
    @davepass7859 Před 7 lety +6

    A lovely inspiring song and one that I can empathise with as a fellow hiker. We have his legacy and others with the right to roam over mountains which is so important.

  • @mikewalsh6168
    @mikewalsh6168 Před 8 lety +6

    Beautiful photographic tribute to the wonderful Ewan McColl and Peggy Seeger. I was at his last concert in Dublin - an unforgettable evening.

    • @KennBurch
      @KennBurch Před 7 lety +1

      I envy you. Saw him in Juneau, Alaska when he and Peggy were the guest artists at the Alaska Folk Festival. It was a powerful, yet heartbreaking experience...you could tell his time was not that far away.

  • @jaybeefrommanchester
    @jaybeefrommanchester Před 12 lety +8

    a great singer, and a great political activest, the workin class are missing him now !

  • @johnkeith6419
    @johnkeith6419 Před 2 lety +2

    Take my ashes to Curtaig beach; scatter the ashes in the wind, listen to this song, have a wee greet; then smile.

    • @gdgest
      @gdgest  Před 2 lety

      Thanks, John. :) images.app.goo.gl/1DA2fTmaAm9QYy3Q6

  • @deanapostol4127
    @deanapostol4127 Před 6 lety +3

    This song breaks our heart.

  • @Memesaplenty
    @Memesaplenty Před 6 lety +2

    Devastatingly sad and beautiful

  • @adrianpaice1781
    @adrianpaice1781 Před 4 lety +3

    We are booked to see this in January. I am so looking forward to it!

    • @helencampbell4450
      @helencampbell4450 Před 4 lety +1

      Was at Celtic connections yesterday, fantastic concert but this song was the highlight, so moving and beautifully sung.

  • @walkingplant
    @walkingplant Před 11 lety +8

    saw him perform this at phoenix arts leicester. he broke down due to ill health on a couple occassions peggy took over but he still finished it.
    an unforgettable night for an unforgettable performer I FELT REALLY PRIVILEDGED

    • @redtrummy
      @redtrummy Před 2 lety

      Saw him at the White horse Folk Club Birstall - Halcyon nights, but I drank too much then, and still do.

    • @eightmegsandconstantlyswap8862
      @eightmegsandconstantlyswap8862 Před 10 měsíci +1

      I saw Peggy Seeger and their son Callum play this in Wales last year. You could tell it really meant a lot to them as they performed it.

  • @alanwarwick587
    @alanwarwick587 Před 3 lety +2

    Last verse recited by me at .a good friend's passing over 30 year's ago

    • @gdgest
      @gdgest  Před 3 lety +2

      The last line is where hankies come out and tears start to flow: "Reminding you how we shared
      in the joy of living."

  • @TomorrowWeLive
    @TomorrowWeLive Před 6 lety +3

    Very moving

  • @macskrade
    @macskrade Před 10 lety +4

    Beautiful

  • @josephlawless2528
    @josephlawless2528 Před 6 lety +3

    Beautiful, but tragic in so many ways.

  • @pauricpuirseal9012
    @pauricpuirseal9012 Před 3 lety +1

    I often wonder what Peggy Seeger must think of this lovely lovely song she never sang it and when I saw her playing in Dublin about 10 years ago I do remember her saying "Now come on" as if it would have too much when asdked

    • @virtualjan3140
      @virtualjan3140 Před 2 lety

      She has sung it since. I forget whether it was at King's Place in London or at the Komedia in Bath but I've definitely heard her sing it with one of her sons about three or four years ago

  • @johnmcdylan
    @johnmcdylan Před 13 lety +1

    Uplifting lyrics, inspirational slideshow. Many thanks.

  • @raymondcrooke
    @raymondcrooke Před 13 lety +2

    Great song. Thanks for sharing this.

  • @bettyhoare7854
    @bettyhoare7854 Před 5 lety +3

    I am going to have this sung at my graveside

  • @Golfgtiguy
    @Golfgtiguy Před 11 lety +1

    Thanks friend ,

  • @kidspositive1837
    @kidspositive1837 Před 7 lety +1

    Good pictures!

  • @johndavidcollins6163
    @johndavidcollins6163 Před 3 lety +1

    My father had his ashes scattered in the Highlands of Scotland although from Liverpool

    • @gdgest
      @gdgest  Před 2 lety

      Very interesting, John. I'm pleased to learn of the memories Ewan MacColl evinced from you.

  • @RickKasten
    @RickKasten Před 9 lety +2

    Luka Bloom has an amazing version of this on his "Head and Heart" album

  • @kevinborg2273
    @kevinborg2273 Před 8 lety +1

    nice song

  • @annieperrot9059
    @annieperrot9059 Před 5 lety +1

    J aime

  • @gdgest
    @gdgest  Před 5 lety +1

    The mountain areas in this song are all defined on a page with lyrics and more at:
    GEST Songs of Newfoundland and Labrador: www.gestsongs.com/10/joyofliving.htm
    where this video is embedded along with the lyrics as well as an excellent duet performance by Tony Hilliard and Janet Ruth Young - The Dorymates - from Cape Ann, Massachusetts. Drop by. :-)

  • @redtrummy
    @redtrummy Před 2 lety

    He was great - but he closed our Folk Club when practically no one turned up (including me, exam time)

  • @sheilakinsella5218
    @sheilakinsella5218 Před 5 lety +3

    Was always charmed by this beautiful tune believing it to be McColl's work, however I have just heard it performed in the BBC's Early Music Late, 30th June 2019 'Anonymous'
    Madonna tu mi fai lo scorrucciato
    . Naybe 400 years old but still beautifully adapted to Ewen's lyrics.
    Performer: Jowan Merckx. Performer: Sofie Vanden Eynde. Singer: Lore Binon. Performer: Sarah Louise Ridy.

    • @gdgest
      @gdgest  Před 5 lety +2

      Indeed, @Sheila Kinsella ... Francesco Spiga has a great page at CPDL which offers the following general information:
      Title: Madonna tu mi fai lo scorrucciato
      Composer: Anonymous
      Lyricist: Anonymous
      Number of voices: 3vv Voicings: STB or SSB
      Genre: Secular, Folksong
      Language: Neapolitan
      Instruments: A cappella
      Published: 1537 in Canzoni villanesche alla napolitana, Naples: Johannes de Colonia.
      www2.cpdl.org/wiki/index.php/Madonna_tu_mi_fai_lo_scorrucciato_(Anonymous) ...
      And... Ontapic has a CZcams video which features NCCP's variant which readily shows the source of MacColl's tune. czcams.com/video/oOkVCpXmRrg/video.html ... I have added this data to the page at GEST Songs. Thanks for digging this up. :)

    • @islaskinner4911
      @islaskinner4911 Před 2 lety

      I didn’t know that - wonderful use of the tune - but love the original too thx for signpost to that!

  • @Golfgtiguy
    @Golfgtiguy Před 11 lety +3

    What part of the UK are these hills ? I hope to hike them some day and remember the song , video and the Man .

    • @autonomads
      @autonomads Před 7 lety +3

      Kinder Scout is in the Peak District, North England.

    • @Tiffanyknows99
      @Tiffanyknows99 Před 6 lety +3

      Glyder Fach is in Snowdonia, in North Wales

    • @Davidburbidge
      @Davidburbidge Před 6 lety +2

      Suilven and Cul Beag are in the north west of Scotland - near the small town of Lochinver. Beautiful mountains to walk up - Suilven especially. You need a long walk along a track to get to the bottom of Suilven, and then a steep walk up the the mountain to the top. .

    • @Davidburbidge
      @Davidburbidge Před 6 lety +4

      Scafell (pronounced Scaw-fell not Scar-fell) is in the Lake District. The shortest route is from Wast Water - but as that is over on the west side of the Lake District you need a long drive to get there. My favourite route is from Borrowdale near Keswick - park at Seathwaite farm and then walk up to Styhead Tarn, where you turn left to Esk Hause and then over the boulder field to the top of Scafell Pike (which I believe is what Ewan means in his song as there is another fell nearby called Scafell.) Come back down the corridor route to Styhead and back to Borrowdale. I live near Scafell and have been to the top a few times - it is England's highest mountain, so it's very popular. I taught an arrangement of this song to the choir I lead here in the Lake District. While I was learning the song, like you I climbed up all the mountains mentioned in the song.

    • @petershore4863
      @petershore4863 Před 6 lety +1

      Lake district . England . Land of my Anglo Saxon ancestors

  • @linalina8147
    @linalina8147 Před rokem

    I first read the lyrics and it felt so beautiful, joyful, celebrating life !!! 😊 ❤But when I heard the song by E McColl it felt boring and like I am on a funeral !!!! 😢 Someone please write a better music !!! The words of the song are so deep and beautiful and true ❤️!!! Needs a better melody !

  • @Golfgtiguy
    @Golfgtiguy Před 12 lety +1

    Beautiful

  • @RamaDrama06
    @RamaDrama06 Před 8 lety +1

    Beautiful