Love and Death
Posted at 1:01 AM on February 28, 2009
by Dale Connelly
(24 Comments)
This week on Radio Heartland on Minnesota Public Radio News, I'll talk with "creative noisemaker" Claudia Schmidt about singing jazz and folk, both as a soloist and with a band. She'll perform a number for those who are only "going one or two miles an hour on the freeway of love".
And what about those relationships that never gain any speed at all - the ones you wanted to have that circumstances don't favor or cosmic forces conspire against?
We'll hear some songs on the topic.
In the second hour, we'll sample some musical send-offs nominated by Radio Heartland listeners who took it upon themselves to plan their own funerals.
A bit morbid, I know, but once you start to think about it, you can't stop wondering what you would like to have the mourners hear as your "last song".
When the question was asked in this blog it drew over 70 posts.
Here's an alphabetical list of some of the songs that were mentioned by Gail, Cynthia, Sherilee, Roger, Mark, Kay, Grant, Don, Lindi, Patricia, Mary, Kate, Boone, Clif, Carla, Elinor, Mike, Andre, Mike, Killer, Kerstin, Ben, Anna, Lu, Claire, Nancy, Beth, Don, Chris, Linda, Patrice, Suzy, ewallj, Jon, Pat, jimck, Audrey, Darcy, Don Cynthia and Robbie.
If you feel the urge, please add more!
Note: Not all these songs are in tonight's show! It would take weeks!
A Lark Ascending by Ralph Vaughn Williams
A Water Over Stone by Bok, Muir & Trickett
All My Tears by Emmylou Harris
And When I Die by Blood Sweat & Tears
As Long as I Can See The Light by Ted Hawkins
Ashokan Farewell by Jay Ungar , with the Sullivan Ballou Letter
Beautiful Day by U2
Beulah Land by Helen Schneyer
Bird on a Wire by Leonard Cohen
Bridge Over Troubled Water by Simon & Garfunkel
Bring Me Flowers While I'm Living by Champion Jack Dupree
Bristlecone Pine by Michael Johnson
Cantique do Jean Racine by Faure
Closer to the Light - Jim Liz Beloff
Crossing the Bar by Salamander Crossing
Dust in the Wind by Kansas
Einstein the Genius by Cranberry Lake Jug Band
Free Life by Dan Wilson
Funeral For a Friend by Dirty Dozen Brass Band
Girls Just Wanna Have Fun by Cyndi Lauper
Go and Dig My Grave by Bok, Muir & Trickett
Gulf Coast Highway by Nanci Griffith
Hallelujah, I'm Ready by Ricky Skaggs
Hallelujah, the Great Storm is Over by Bob Franke
Hallelujah Chorus by The Roches
Hallelujah by Leonard Cohen
Hell, Yeah by Neil Diamond
Here Comes the Sun by Beatles
I Want to be Ready by Ben Harper
I'll Cross Over Jordan by Johnny Cash & June Carter
I'll Fly Away by Roy Acuff
I'll Fly Away by Linda Tillery
I'll Find My Way Home by Vangelis
Is That All There Is? by Peggy Lee
Kitty Come Home by The McGarrigles
Knocking On Heaven's Door by Bob Dylan
Language of the Heart by Bok, Trickett and Muir
Laudate Dominum or Ave Verum by Mozart
Let the Mystery Be by Iris DeMent
Lord of the Dance by Ben Luxon & Bill Crofut
Many Rivers to Cross by Deacon John
My Soul by Peter Mayer
Now Let the Weeping Cease by Gospel at Colonus
O Death by Ralph Stanley
Ode to Joy by Toronto Tabla Ensemble
Old Love by Neal & Leandra
One Tree Hill by U2
Only Way Is Up by Yaz
Piu Jesu fr: Requiem by Faure
Please Don't Bury Me by John Prine
Requiem by John Rutter
Sailing Down My Golden River by Greg Brown (Pete Seeger)
St. James Infirmary by Cab Calloway
See That My Grave Is Swept Clean by Geoff Muldaur
Simple Gifts by anyone
Somewhere Over the Rainbow by Eva Cassidy
Song of the White Throat Sparrow (actual birdsong)
Sunrise, Sunset from Fiddler on the Roof
Swimming to the Other Side by Pat Humphries
Take Care the Road You Choose by Richard Thompson
The End by Beatles
The Galaxy by Jim Post
The Mary Ellen Carter by Stan Rogers
The Night Pat Murphy Died by Great Big Sea
The Sodium Chloride Song by The McGarrigles
The Swimming Song by Loudon Wainwright III
There's a Tavern In The Town by Rudy Vallee
They Tell Me by Stoney Lonesome
This is My Song (Sibelius's Finlandia)
Timberline by Emmylou Harris
Time is On My Side by Rolling Stones
Tonight's the Night by Neil Young
Wall of Death by Richard Thompson
We Are The Champions by Queen
What'll I Do? by The McGarrigles
When I Am Laid in Earth by Susanna and the Magical Orchestra (Purcell)
When the Saints go Marchin' In by Dr. John
Who Will Sing for Me by John McCutcheon
Wonderful World by Louis Armstrong
You Can't Take It With You When You Go by Jez Lowe
Comments (24)
Thanks for putting together this list, Dale. Wednesday's run of comments on this topic was great. Looking forward to tonight's show!
Thanks, Dale. It looks like Radio Heartland has its first Keepers CD in the works. I'm sure your listeners and bloggers could come up with a fitting title.
I'm also looking forward to this evening's show. Radio is so great these days, I hate to go anywhere anymore. Out here in the hinterlands, an HD car radio won't do us much good as far as RH is concerned, but there's plenty of work to do at home, God knows. And happily.
Mary, not that I want to encourage you to leave home...just in case you didn't know, the Saturday night Radio Heartland show is on regular analog radio as well-- on the news and information stations, including KNOW in the Twin Cities...so, if you do find yourself in the car on Saturday night, you can listen.
It is a great list and discussion...I may not be able to stay up to hear the second hour, so glad it is archived so I can listen during the day.
Thanks, Cynthia. I did know the Saturday evening show could be listened to on ALL my radios, and I have been catching it when I can stay awake. And like you, I enjoy listening to it during the day. Thanks.
I thought of another great song for your list, Dale. It's from a CD that Malcolm Dalglish (Metamora) put together with the poems of Wendell Berry and the voices of young people Dalglish trains (the Ooolites). The CD is Hymnody of Earth and the song I like is called To the Holy Spirit.
O Thou, far off and here, whole and broken,
Who in necessity and in bounty wait,
Whose truth is light and dark, mute though spoken,
By thy wide grace show me Thy narrow gate.
There are two Johnny Cash songs that combine love and (violent) death rather nicely - Delia and Cocaine Blues, Though neither would probably make the "most requested at funerals" Top-40,
I don't think there's a more euphoric final send-off than Pat Metheny's "First Circle."
I too thought of another (another!) possible funeral song, then decided...like you, Linda...that, no..probably not. It's the Jacques Brel song saying good-bye to his friends and family...called "Funeral Tango" in "... Alive and Well and Living in Paris"
Last week I mentioned Van Morrison's Into the Mystic as one of my send-off favorites. The song I want played for the final toast is Ding Dong The Witch Is Dead - from one of my all-time favorite movies.
For some reason the suggestion of Ding Dong the Witch is Dead made me think of another fun send-off:
"In Heaven There Is No Beer"
I was happy to here MPR made its goal and that Radio Heartland was a big part of that success. The amazing part is that most listeners to RH had already spent the equivalent of a membership in purchasing HD radios, wireless setups and whatnot just to be able to continue listening to great music every day. And then to become or remain a member on top of that (in these, you know, economic times) should be quite a strong statement to the MPR membership bean counters.
Nice going, guys!
Hello, the list is great, sorry that I have fallen behind on the past few days of blogging. Looking over the list I saw Ralph Stanley, thinking of the song Angel Band (is that the right name?) and I think I have a recording of that by Monroe Crossing also.
When I hear that I think of what a great funeral song it would be...
Looking forward to the Saturday show!
Good Evening Heartlanders!
My first time listening to the Saturday night version of RH -- what a delight to hear Claudia Schmidt! I've always loved her voice and music. I either work all day Saturdays or I'm at karate all day, and am too tired to remember the show -- but I did tonight, luckily. But I may not make it through the 2nd hour to hear all this "music to die for."
I'm constantly amazed at the wide variety of music RH folks come up with. I have a hard time remembering artists and song titles, so it's all new to me!
Good show tonight Dale. What took me by surprise was in additional to you dialing up good tunes & interviewing Claudia, it broke into headlines news and a weather update, then back to the good tunes. AWESOME! If that could be worked into the morning show sometime in the near future, my mornings would be even sweeter than they are now.
Hi Heartlanders ~ Finally able to remember to tune in to this evening show!
I agree, Joanne, it is great to hear Claudia Schmidt on the program. In fact, would she ever consider modifying her career a bit to be a 'regular' visitor and co-host on the morning Radio Heartland show?
I think Claudia was one of the first guests on RH, and if I recall correctly, she sang a song she composed for the Sustainable Cities Symposium(?) she attended in South Africa. I think the song had to do with the warmth of the sun - which sounds particularly wonderful to me as the weather seems determined to remain in winter mode here in MN.
Teri, I definitely like that idea -- Claudia Schmidt would be a wonderful addition to RH -- even if just one or two days a week.
Dale/Mike: can you give us an approximate amount of how many people/dollars came to RH from the pledge drive? I'm really curious how much of an impact RH listeners made on this first one for RH. mary made an excellent point above -- in this economy, it sounded like many folks upped their contribution specifically for RH, besides buying the HD radio, computer speakers, iPhone app, etc. I wasn't able to buy new stuff or upgrade, but I certainly renewed my membership.
If we did well, what kind of goodies can RH listeners expect in the future? More live DJs or a co-host for Dale (although you do great on your own)? Some news and weather coverage? A big party where all of us loyal listeners can meet each other? Jobs or internships for radio DJ wannabees (like me!)? Live concert coverage? Our own Keeper CDs -- which seem to have a good start already!
Just wondering -- inquiring minds want to know!
Oh, yes -- and RH Goat Mugs for all!
Hi Saturday night Heartlanders!
Great show Dale, as usual! Claudia Schmidt's artistry has graced the edges of my life for over thirty years. I first heard her in the Chicago area when my girlfriend at the time brought me to a show with Claudia and Brian Bowers I think along with lots of other folks. It remains one of the best shows I remember. Claudia has a mesmerizing spark any time I hear her but that night she was a blast furnace as she generally is in concert.
For additional tune on the list how about the Bach tune, Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring. I think Leo Kottke has a nice version.
G'nite all!
Enjoyed the program and the blog tonight...THANKS!
Because by the Beatles and/or Song With No Words by Crosby,Stills,Nash
Thanks for compiling all the songs in an organized list, Dale. I didn't realize there had been so many, even though I read all the posts. Good suggestions tonight, too. What a variety!
It's always a treat to hear Claudia Schmidt.
In my head, I think of this list as Music to Die For.
A few more that I'd like at my funeral. People you should play...
The Parting Glass 2:20 The Wailin' Jennys
I Still Miss Someone 2:35 Johnny Cash
Boats To Build 3:50 Guy Clark
Let The Mystery Be 2:46 Iris Dement
Laughing River 4:17 Greg Brown
When We're Gone Long Gone 3:59 Harris, Parton, Ronstadt
We'll Meet Again 2:58 Johnny Cash
I Will 4:04 Alison Krauss
My Own Kind Of Hat 2:56 Merle Haggard
Across The Great Divide 3:57 Nanci Griffith
What A Wonderful World - Louis Armstrong
Arlington 4:50 The Wailin' Jennys
My Old Man's Stuff 2:50 Tom Roznowski
Sorrow In The Wind 3:32 Emmylou Harris with Sharon & Cheryl White
Over the Rainbow 3:31 Israel Kamakawiwo'ole
Always 2:53 Tish Hinojosa
Dream River 3:48 The Mavericks
September When It Comes 3:40 Rosanne Cash
Grandpa Was A Carpenter 2:13 John Prine
He Knows How Much We Can Bear 2:48 Kate MacKenzie
Miss the Mississippi and You - (Same Train - A Different Time) 3:17 Merle Haggard
I'll Fly Away 3:57 Alison Krauss & Gillian Welch
Tears 3:54 Chet Atkins & Mark Knopfler
I've Been Everywhere 3:17 Johnny Cash
Memo To My Son 1:55 Randy Newman
Baby Mine 3:14 Bonnie Raitt & Was (Not Was)
Make Someone Happy - Jimmy Durante
Ave Verum Corpus 2:32 Beth Nielsen Chapman (a little Mozart)
In the Eye Abides The Heart 2:55 Beth Nielsen Chapman
We All Need More Kindness In This World 3:34 Guy Davis
What'll I Do 3:37 McGarrigle Sisters
Goodnight Sweetheart 2:09 ( Rufus Wainwright)
I'll Be Seeing You 4:44 Etta James
My Old Man 4:02 Steve Goodman
I'm Not Afraid to Die 3:27 Gillian Welch ( not the bummer it sounds like it could be)
Just As I Am 1:46 Willie Nelson
Just A Lucky So And So 3:45 Charles Brown
Spring Wind 4:32 Greg Brown
When You Are Old 2:53 Gretchen Peters
Calling All Angels 5:20 Jane Siberry
Further Along 4:21 Ralph Stanley & Lucinda Williams
Who Knows Where The Time Goes 5:06 Sandy Denny
Don't Be Ashamed Of Your Age 3:34 Willie Nelson
If I Had A Hammer (The Hammer Song) 2:46 Nanci Griffith
How I Love Them Old Songs 3:55 Mickey Newbury
Forever Young 4:58 Bob Dylan
I Had A Real Good Mother & Father 3:14 Gillian Welch
You Got Gold 4:38 John Prine
All Fall Down 3:20 Emmylou Harris & George Jones
Workin' Man Blues 2:33 Merle Haggard
I Walk The Line 2:45 Johnny Cash
Poquita Fe (A Little Faith) 4:45 Tish Hinojosa
Didn't Leave Nobody But The Baby 1:57 Emmylou Harris, Alison Krauss & Gillian Welch
Amazing Grace 4:26 The Blind Boys Of Alabama
Innocent When You Dream (Barroom) 4:15 Tom Waits
Once In The Prairie Tall Grass 3:48 Peter Ostroushko Minnesota: A History Of The Land
Lord, In Thy Bosom We Will Rest 3:12 Peter Ostroushko Minnesota: A History Of The Land
Has anyone recommended/requested Steve Goodman's "The Dying Cubs Fan's Last Request"?
John Baggs, baseball coach at the College of St. Scholastica since 1992, just passed away last Tuesday. He leaves behind his wife and two remarkable little children, ages 3 and 8. And then there are his current and former Saints players; I'd say over a hundred of us attended the funeral in Duluth on Saturday. And then there are scores of friends, relatives, and colleagues. By any measurement, a great father, great coach, great person--one who touched many lives.
And an enduring Cubs fan, having grown up in the Chicago area.
Shortly after news of Coach Baggs's death last Tuesday, I found Steve Goodman's song on the Internet. Now, I can't listen to it often enough--a bit of blues, with truth and levity, to help us all along, whether Cubs fans or not.
Here's to you, 33, standing by the third base coaching box, waving the next Saint home.
-------------------------
PS: Dale, you played "Ashokan Farewell" the morning my mother died in 2005; I had sent in an email request, and a few minutes later the song was playing, giving her a most fitting escort to everywhere. That one simple, beautiful gesture will stay in my memory forever. Thank you again.
Thanks for your work in compiling all our opinions!
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