Songs for Saturday: The Mary Ellen Carter

[mdlbear]

It isn't the song I originally intended to write about, but it's been a rough week, and the first song I turn to when things are going down the tubes is "The Mary Ellen Carter".

You probably know it, especially if you've been hanging around me, or filkers in general, for a while. Just in case you don't, though, or you need to hear it again, here's Stan Rogers singing it. It's the second version I heard; I don't remember who I first heard singing it at a con, but I tracked down the CD -- it's on Home In JHalifax -- and learned it, because because I had to. The lyrics are in the first comment, but just in case you want a version with chords, here you go.

It's not about making me feel better. That doesn't work. It's about making me feel defiant enough to damned well get up and keep going anyway.

Afterward, depending on what's going on, I'll sing "Desolation Row", "Bells of Norwich", or maybe even QV. But it's "The Mary Ellen Carter" I turn to first.

And you, to whom adversity has dealt the final blow, With smiling bastards lying to you everywhere you go, Turn to, and put out all your strength of arm and heart and brain And like the Mary Ellen Carter, rise again. Rise again, rise again; though your heart it be broken And life about to end, No matter what you've lost, be it a home, a love, a friend Like the Mary Ellen Carter, rise again.

See you next week.

NaBloPoMo stats:
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    438 words in 2 posts today

Comments

Thanks!

[dialecticdreamer]

I needed this song today.

Re: Thanks!

[mdlbear]

You're welcome. Some days really call for it.

[mama_kestrel]

I sing it for the same reasons.

[madfilkentist]

That's a good distinction, between feeling better and feeling defiant enough to keep going.

[mdlbear]

Thanks!

[kellan_the_tabby]

I read this just after this post about hopepunk, & I really feel there's a theme for today.

[mdlbear]

Thank you -- that's a good post.

[jesse_the_k]

I'm ashamed to say I never parsed the lyrics of the Mary Ellen Carter before.

Thank you for rectifying that, and sorry for the new weight on your shoulders.

[mdlbear]

You're welcome! It's a very good song for when things are bad.