Tommy Makem 1932-2007

[edschweppe]

Tommy Makem, that wonderful Irish singer, songwriter and storyteller, died last night at the age of 74. According to the Boston Globe:

DOVER, N.H. --Acclaimed Irish singer, songwriter and storyteller Tommy Makem has died of cancer, ending a worldwide entertainment career that spanned more than five decades. He was 74.

"It is with great sadness that I have to report Tommy Makem passed away tonight after a long bout with lung cancer," said a message posted on his web site Wednesday night. Makem died in Dover, where he lived.

Makem grew to international fame while performing with the band The Clancy Brothers And Tommy Makem in the late 1950s and 1960s.

President Mary McAleese of Ireland led the tributes, saying Makem brought happiness and joy to fans all over the world.

Tommy, along with the Clancy Brothers, was my introduction to traditional Irish music. I've had the rare privilege of seeing him perform live several times, and he was even better in person than on a recording.

Comments

[jhetley.livejournal.com]

>...even better in person than on a recording.

Oh, yes. I had a good seat for their gig at a coffee house in Ann Arbor, some time in the late '60s. You could smell the rosin on the fiddler's bow, and _feel_ the feedback between audience and performers.

A man could get addicted to that sort of thing...

[edschweppe.livejournal.com]

I never had quite that good a seat at a Tommy Makem concert; but when he was singing or telling stories, there wasn't any such thing as a bad seat in the house.

[edschweppe.livejournal.com]

It took me a while to find these lyrics, but they sum my feelings up so well. From Tommy's version of Parting Glass (http://www.makem.com/discography/recordings/lyricpage/partingglass.html):

Oh all the money that e'er I had, I spent it in good company
And all the harm that e'er I've done, alas, it was to none but me
And all I've done for want of wit to memory now I can't recall
So fill to me the parting glass, good night and joy be with you all

Oh all the comrades that e'er I've had, they are sorry for my going away
And all the sweethearts that e'er I've had, they would wish me one more day to stay
But since it falls unto my lot that I should rise and you should not
I'll gently rise and I'll softly call good night and joy be with you all

[carl-schweppe.livejournal.com]

he will be missed.

Remember the concert at Somerville Theater??

Can't find the lyrics to "If I was a dog..."

[edschweppe.livejournal.com]

It's not quite the way I remember, but:

If I was a dog I'd wag me tail
I sit me down beside the fire
Girls could pat me on the head
Or any place else their heart desired
Wouldn't go chasin' after cats
Wouldn't go howlin' at the moon
Couldn't be bothered with things like that
If I was a dog, what I'd be doin'!

http://www.guernseycove.ca/Downloads/GuernseyCove_DL13.txt

[edschweppe.livejournal.com]

A couple of tributes from across the pond:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/6927564.stm
http://www.rte.ie/arts/2007/0802/makemt.html

The RTÉ piece includes a couple of audio links to old RTÉ radio programs featuring Tommy.