Phil Coulter Scorn Not his Simplicity

Another song by 'Ireland's Ambassador To Music' about a tragic moment in his life...
Phil wrote his moving tribute to his first son, who was born (in the early 80's) with Downs Syndrome and died at the tender age of four years old.
The song pleads for tolerance and understanding of his son and the syndrome.
Not long after writing it he played it to the great Luke Kelly who because of the personal essence of the song felt that the song should not be sung except for special occasions, and not on every performance.
Enjoy,
GC88

[@beehive41]

A song never to be forgotten. When you have a child with a huge challenge or even know of others who face the same thing, never scorn, but always love and understand. I heard this song when it first came out I face this challenge with a family member daily. The song is pretty sad but so very true. Thank you for writing from the heart. And thank you Celtic 88 for posing it.

[@errigaltruagh6251]

Phil it's not a cross to have a special child, it's a blessing. Mother of a 39yr old blessing

[@user-kp1ci4xo8j]

Absolute Legend

[@katcat67]

Such a sad and beautiful song. Phil is so talented.

[@bobopaxaton]

I loved this beautiful song before, but now I love it even more knowing the story behind it.Angels are holding his son.

[@The1Meade]

I'm so sorry you lost this precious baby. The gift is that he will be waiting for you.

[@seanmcneill8899]

the one and only Phil, thank you so much for your beautiful music and hope your son doing good and living his own life.

[@altabooyse3440]

The son died when he was 4 years old in approximately 1969. Phil is now about 77 years old.

[@claricestarling5278]

I love love love this song. Luke Kelly sings with so much passion that I believe he does Phil Coulter's great song more justice. Thanks for sharing this with all of us..

[@stephenpaddy3131]

I had the pleasure of being accompanied by Phil on piano doing this great song once.

[@vernacummins5624]

I have listened to this song for the last 20yrs and gave me great understanding and acceptance of my own son.Danny.amazing lyrics.thank you

[@jdawn1982]

I'm bawling right now. What a beautiful song.

[@BornAgainSpartan]

I know what cross he talks of, and haveing experienced and continue to experience it, with time the cross gets lighter or you get stronger, the title is wonderfull in its own right because you do just that in the early years, but then you open up and embrace him, there called special children because they make you become more patience and human, my little boy dosnt have downs but his own challange,s i would,nt change him for the world! THANKS PHILL!!

[@anntaylor1675]

Very touching.Well done the great Phil Coulter xx

[@maryharlow8933]

Beautiful.

[@Teigokane]

Thanks for uploading this. This song means a lot to me. I've been looking for a version sung by Phil Coulter for a very long time...

[@gogoshkakinkladze]

Such a beautiful and personal peice, one I intend to learn and play,

[@GlasgowCeltic88]

GoGoshKa Kinkladze O'Callaghan, did you ever get round to learning this?

[@desertsongtv]

[continued] when I learned that it would gradually do the same to my beloved wife-- and that there was absolutely nothing I could do to change it --I was forever changed. My universe was forever changed.

[@Alexe829]

They're not a " cross" They're a BLESSING! FULL OF LOVE. How could you say that?

[@vintagedaddyo]

Always a simply profound track..., both this original version as well as Luke Kelly's version are amazing indeed truth ;)

[@geoandsandy]

I like Phil's version the best ,my speacial needs son is now 18

[@babybookworm003]

this song descibes some very strong feelings how ever its my beleif children who are born simple or with severe mental disabilties are closer to heaven then we'd like to think.

[@macster11]

great song, Check out the version done by the great Luke Kelly

[@plankgate]

thank you phil for this

[@desertsongtv]

Thank you, Phil, for speaking our hearts so eloquently. This is that moment that comes to to many of us (perhaps all of us) when we meet the absolute; when we recognize that some things in our lives cannot be repaired or remediated, but must be acknowledged and accepted as fact. When I learned of my sons' genetic condition which would limit their physical abilities and dim their senses, and would surely shorten their lives; [continued]

[@nicholasalvarado1508]

Best version

[@GlasgowCeltic88]

Nicholas alvarado that's because it's the original version...

[@HugaTree4love]

soooo sad makes u wanna cry :'(

[@FVCatfishcom]

I think Phil and John Mcdermott should get together. They both have such a beautiful taste of music...so sad and touching, a lot of emotion!

[@christhyfrancis521]

Just heavenly mr. Coulter, thank you sir

[@Martsigras]

I never knew Phil sang this. I know he wrote it, and I know what it was written about. Before hearing this I thought Luke Kelly's version was the definitive. how wrong I was. With Luke's version you can hear the emotion. with Phil's you can feel it. beautiful song

[@GlasgowCeltic88]

@frapestyle Although you are totally correct there. It is not only Bach's Prelude in C, but ALSO Gounod's Ave Maria. Bach wrote Prelude No. 1 in C major, from his Book I of The Well-Tempered Clavier in 1722, during his appointment in Köthen. About 137 years later Charles Gounod took Bach's Prelude away and added the Latin prayer Áve María to the melody. Thank you for taking time to listen to this wonderful piece of music and for your comment. GC88

[@Teigokane]

@GlasgowCeltics88 his son was born much earlier. Luke Kelly already sang this song in 1974.

[@kitabwalli]

This always makes me think of Lawrence in the 2005 Neil Jordan film 'Breakfast on Pluto'. Trans character Patrick 'Kitten' Braden shows his loving nature in relation to Lawrence, who dies early in the story but is not forgotten.

[@GlasgowCeltic88]

@sterlingsilverf Apparently it was one of a few pieces of music that would sooth his son...

[@frapestyle]

@sterlingsilverf the beginning was Bach's Prelude in C

[@superjailwardenlover]

That was Phil talking at the beginning, right? Anyway, I feel really sorry for him... His music's awesome, his voice is awesome, he doesn't deserve to have so many family members taken away from him like this... It was very relaxing and brilliant, nevertheless. =D I'll give him/you 5 stars ^_^

[@Teigokane]

@GlasgowCeltic88 I know. But this wasn't in the early 80s but in the early 70s. Luke Kelly's best known performance of this song was in 1974 in Jim McCann's TV show. See v=YTBC7ckTWpo.

[@sterlingsilverf]

@GlasgowCeltic88 Yes!

[@anneoneill2042]

OH MY GOD THE CARE SERVICES INFLICTED ON THE VULNERABLE

[@GlamRockCowboy]

I first heard this song in a deeply moving performance by Ronan Tynan in the second Irish Tenors television special. No offense to Mr. Coulter, but I DO wish someone would post that video as well! Also, I'd like to find out if the sheet music for this song is available, as I would like to learn it myself.

[@GlasgowCeltic88]

@sterlingsilverf Ave Maria...

[@michaelmcdonnell2193]

Great song, where can I get the sheet music?

[@kevboyle3746]

Michael McDonnell His sheet music is published Sir, I did have it some years ago. I hope you can find. Enjoy

[@68grace]

No, it was unfortunate wording... but it was definitely a cross to bear, that his little boy died... so I don't think we should be critical of him.

[@antiguabayful]

After 34 seconds Phil mentions "Cross". Surely handicapped children are not crosses to be borne out?

[@sterlingsilverf]

Does the intro to this remind anyone of a classical piece?

[@BuddyBuddy21]

Forest Gump ?

[@elsedierck2085]

voor het onschuldig kind dat niet begrijpt, in elk van ons

[@emmetroche3098]

luke kelly s version is way better