Joy Of Living (Ewan MacColl)

[@bodsnvimto]

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]

Beautiful

[@bodsnvimto]

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

[@leonlawson2196]

And all those in Scotland.

[@roppa789]

The twee world of make believe in an after life was not part of Ewan’s philosophy. If you somehow believe he is sitting up above the clouds reading these KZbin comments then you’re sadly deluded. Enjoy living.. “Feed me to the wind…” as dust. That’s it.

[@RobertDiack-zl6vk]

How I love this man. A sage if ever there was one. I recommend him to all young generation as his wisdom is timeless....I say, "Just listen to Ewan as his dharma sees thro' all the sham and artificiality of our conditioned lives " His greatest virtue is his heartfelt Socialism and Marxist reading of society. The teachers teacher, a legend in every lifetime 🙏

[@philipdavison1487]

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.

[@carollizc]

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]

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

[@gordonjenks]

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.

[@alexodonnell6191]

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..

[@CircumbulatingSamsara]

Reduces me to tears every time.

[@jonesthephones]

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

[@haggisscouse]

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

[@AllanEPetersen]

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.

[@WOLFSWAG_OFFICAL]

Peggy and Ewan’s voices are utterly angelic.

[@vivianlemottee3291]

What a beautiful album.🇦🇺❤️🇮🇪

[@gaspode18]

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

[@davepass7859]

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.

[@billybobbobbilly9477]

Beautiful Song Thank You Ewan

[@sandramorey2529]

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]

I was pleased to find Ewan's variant here in KZbin: kzbin.info/www/bejne/eWnJqaqsra15rc0

[@sandramorey2529]

@@gdgest KZbin 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.

[@mikewalsh6168]

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

[@KennBurch]

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.

[@deanapostol3963]

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

[@adrianpaice1781]

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

[@helencampbell4450]

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

[@walkingplant]

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]

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

[@eightmegsandconstantlyswap8862]

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.

[@TomorrowWeLive]

Very moving

[@Memesaplenty]

Devastatingly sad and beautiful

[@johnkeith6419]

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

[@gdgest]

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

[@johnmcdylan]

Uplifting lyrics, inspirational slideshow. Many thanks.

[@alanwarwick587]

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

[@gdgest]

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

[@deanapostol4127]

This song breaks our heart.

[@raymondcrooke]

Great song. Thanks for sharing this.

[@Golfgtiguy]

Beautiful

[@jaybeefrommanchester]

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

[@josephlawless2528]

Beautiful, but tragic in so many ways.

[@josephlawless2528]

What a farewell message

[@Golfgtiguy]

Thanks friend ,

[@kidspositive1837]

Good pictures!

[@kevinborg2273]

nice song

[@pauricpuirseal9012]

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]

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

[@pietrikapoulin2891]

Garnet Rogers does the best rendition of this song.

[@johndavidcollins6163]

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

[@gdgest]

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

[@bettyhoare7854]

I am going to have this sung at my graveside

[@RickKasten]

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

[@annieperrot9059]

J aime

[@gdgest]

Merci

[@gdgest]

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]

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

[@sheilakinsella5218]

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]

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 KZbin video which features NCCP's variant which readily shows the source of MacColl's tune. kzbin.info/www/bejne/pYDOh3amjdKFqMk ... I have added this data to the page at GEST Songs. Thanks for digging this up. :)

[@islaskinner4911]

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

[@Golfgtiguy]

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

[@autonomads]

Kinder Scout is in the Peak District, North England.

[@Tiffanyknows99]

Glyder Fach is in Snowdonia, in North Wales

[@Davidburbidge]

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]

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]

Lake district . England . Land of my Anglo Saxon ancestors

[@linalina8147]

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 !

[@macskrade]

Beautiful

[@RamaDrama06]

Beautiful