Forerunner

[Joe]

According to an interview in early August, The Cottars are preparing to enter the studio to record their third CD. Here's a quote from Ciaran:

"We’ll start recording a new CD between now and spring," he said. "We have 95% of the material ready and, once we find time to get into the studio, we’ll start laying down the tracks. This 3rd CD will likely be part of the US record deal that we expect to sign in the coming weeks."

That is certainly great news! Read that entire article
here or read some more commentary here .

[Joe]

Some of the new lyrics...samples will be up soon!

3. Byker Hill
(trad)
If I had another penny
I would have another gill
I would make the piper play
The bonny lass of Byker Hill

Chorus:
Byker Hill and Walker Shore
Collier lads for ever more (2x)

The pitman and the keelman trim
They drink bumble made from gin
Then to dance they do begin
To the tune of Elsie Marley

When first I went down to the dirt
I had no cowl nor no pitshirt
Now I've gotten two or three
Walker Pit's done well by me

Geordie Charlton, he had a pig
He hit it with a shovel and it danced a jig
All the way to Walker Shore
To the tune of Elsie Marley
--
4. Atlantic Blue
lyrics (c) Ron Hynes

What colour is a heartache from a love lost at sea
What shade of memory never fades but lingers to eternity
How dark is the light of day that sleepless eyes of mine survey
Is that you, Atlantic Blue? My heart is as cold as you.

How is one heart chosen to never lie at peace
How many moments remain is there not oneof sweet release
And who's the stranger at my door to haunt my dreams forever more
Is that you Atlantic Blue? My heart is as cold as you, as you

I lie awake in the morning as the waves wash on the sand
I hold my hurt at bay I hold the lives of his children in my hands
And who's plea will receive no answer who's cry is lost upon the wind
Who's the voice so familiar whispers my name as the night comes in
And who's wish never fails to to find my vacant heart at valentines
Is that you Atlantic Blue? My heart is as cold
My heart is as cold, my heart is as cold as you.

--
6. Pat Works on the Railway
(trad.)
In eighteen hundred and forty-one,
I put my corduroy breeches on,
I put my corduroy breeches on
To work upon the railway.

Chorus:

Fil-li-me-oo-ri-i-ri-aye
Fil-li-me-oo-ri-i-ri-aye.
Fil-li-me-oo-ri-i-ri-aye.
To work up on the railway.

In eighteen hundred and forty-two,
I left the old world for the new,
Bad cess to the luck that brought me through
To work upon the railway.

Chorus

In eighteen hundred and forty-three
'Twas then I met sweet Biddy McGee
An elegant wife she's been to me
While working on the railway.

Chorus

In eighteen hundred and forty-five,
I thought myself more dead than alive,
I thought myself more dead than alive
While working on the railway.

Chorus

It's "Pat do this" and "Pat do that,"
Without a stocking or cravat,
Nothing but an old straw hat
While Pat worked on the railway.

Chorus

In eighteen hundred and forty-seven,
Sweet Biddy McGee she went to heaven,
If she left one kid, she left eleven,
To work upon the railway.

Chorus

In eighteen hundred and forty-eight,
I learned to drink me whiskey straight,
It's an elegant drink that can't be beat
For working on the railway.

Chorus
--
7. Georgia Lee
lyrics (c) Tom Waits

Cold was the night, hard was the ground
They found her in a small grove of trees
Lonesome was the place where Georgia was found
She's too young to be out
On the street.

Why wasn't God watching?
Why wasn't God listening?
Why wasn't God there for
Georgia Lee?

Ida said she couldn't keep Georgia
From dropping out of school
I was doing the best that I could
But she kept runnin' away from this world
These children are so hard to raise good

Why wasn't God watching?
Why wasn't God listening?
Why wasn't God there for
Georgia Lee?

Close your eyes and count to ten
I will got and hid but then
Be sure to find me. I want you to find me
And we'll play all over
We will play all over again

There's a toad in the witch grass
There's a crow in the corn
Wild flowers on a cross by the road
And somewhere a baby is crying
For her mom
As the hills turn from green back
To gold

Why wasn't God watching?
Why wasn't God listening?
Why wasn't God there for
Georgia Lee?
--
9 . Home By Bearna

Trad. Irish (from Co. Kerry)

In Scartaglen there lived a lass
And every Sunday after mass
She would go and take a glass
Before goin' home by Bearna
We won't go home along the road
For fear that you might act the rogue
We won't go home along the road
We'll go home by Bearna

We won't go home across the fields
The big thornins could stick in your heels
We won't go home across the fields
We'll go home by Bearna
We won't go home around the glen
For fear your blood might rise again
We won't go home around the glen
But we'll go home by Bearna

We won't go down the milk boreen
The night is bright we might be seen
We won't go down the milk boreen
But we'll go home by Bearna
We won't go home across the bog
In fear we might meet Kearney’s dog
We won't go home across the bog
But we'll go home by Bearna
--
10. Send Me a River
lyrics (c) Sinéad Lohan

We're doubtful of much hope today
I'm so sad to see you sad
Goldness of feeling think of a roman

Go in to the western wind
Send me a river
See the ship on the sea
Send me a river
'cos I am not where I want to be

Designing for the kingdom
And shaping to the crowd
The scene was so revolting
That the queen in the shame she bowed
She bowed to the families of misfortune
Who had lost a lonely life to her

She did not know
She could cause sorrow within
Send her a river
See the ship on the sea
Send her a river
'cos she is not where she wants to be

And when your evening gown
Trails into the mud
Remember what they're seeing
Is not what it's all about
And you've got to walk on through
With millions on either side
Watching you with their eyes

You did not know
You could cause sorrow within
Send you a river
See the ship on the sea
Send you a river
'cos you are not where you want to be

We're doubtful...

[Joe]

I've seen some places that have the release date moved up to January 17.

Edit...January 17th is when the album is released in Canada.

[Joe]

Hi folks,

Head over to walmart.com for 30-second MP3 samples from Forerunner.

www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=4457031

[roger]

Brilliant!

It is very good of walmart to allow me to listen to clips on their site when I have already ordered it from amazon!

Based on the clips (and I have heard them all), I expect to like Forerunner just as much as 'Made In Cape Breton' but I will be amazed if it comes up to the high standards of 'On Fire'. I should know soon because, according to the confirmation email, the expected delivery date is tomorrow or Wednesday!

Roger

[Joe]

Hi Roger,

Glad you liked the clips! I might see if Walmart has the CD in stock. If not, I'll check Borders but looks like likely that I will order it from Rounder Records.

BTW, sounds like Fiona has done quite a lot of singing on this one!

Joe

[portia]

Fiona's voice has matured a lot. I like it.

[Joe]

Hi all,

I got the last copy of 'Forerunner' at Borders. The assistant mentioned that she alone rang up four sales of the CD. They have the CD in the World Music - Celtic section and have it available for listening.

I won't say anything about the CD until Roger gets his in the post!

Cheers,
Joe

[roger]

Thanks for the thought, Joe but you go ahead if you like. I can't be sure how long it will be before it arrives.

Cheers,
Roger

[Joe]

Review of "Forerunner" from the April issue of Celtic Heritage Magazine www.celticheritage.ns.ca

"FORERUNNER—AS CLOSE AS THERE IS TO PERFECTION" -J. Ferguson
April 2, 2006

THE COTTARS
"FORERUNNER"

When Gordie Sampson's first solo recording "Stones" was released, I chatted with veteran Cape Breton musician Ralph Dillon (Buddy and the Boys, Rita MacNeil) at a release. He said when he listened to the CD—and I'm paraphrasing here—he couldn't find anything wrong with it. The singing, playing, mixing and instrument sounds were all flawless. It was like the perfect CD.

I suppose no recording is really perfect but "Forerunner" by The Cottars is as close as there is to perfection. The sister/brother quartet of Fiona and Ciarán MacGillivray and Roseanne and Jimmie MacKenzie have released their third recording and their first on the prestigious Rounder label. It's a wonderful collection of traditional and contemporary folk music that works on all levels. These four teenagers are skilled musicians and play a long list of instruments. They are joined by top-notch studio musicians in Cape Breton and Nashville for this CD. "Forerunner" was produced by Ciarán and Fiona's dad, Allister MacGillivray, and multi-skilled Cape Breton musician, Gordie Sampson. It was recorded at Lakewind Studios in Cape Breton and Sound Emporium in Nashville.

There isn't anything that comes close to a weak spot on this CD, but I have a few favourites. The polka medley with Roseanne on fiddle and Jimmie on tenor banjo really caught my ear. It seems like Tom Waits writes songs just for The Cottars. "Georgia Lee" is a haunting duet by Fiona and Ciarán. When I heard The Cottars' version of "Hold On" on the radio I actually didn't recognize Fiona's voice. It has matured so much in the last couple of years. An achingly beautiful rendition of Ron Hynes' "Atlantic Blue" has Fiona in a duet with guest singer, Jimmy Rankin. This is another CD with beautiful photography with the four photogenic young people against a leaden sky. Photography is by Andrew MacNaughtan.

The Cottars have really taken the folk world by storm the last few years and, in
this case, "Forerunner" can only be an omen of better things to come for these
talented young musicians. A must for your collection.

— John Ferguson, "Celtic Heritage Magazine", April/06

[Joe]

Hi all,

There is a new website from Yahoo Music featuring The Cottars.

Of particular note is the Tracks page. One can listen to as many as 25 full-length songs for free, courtesy of Rhapsody Music. Look for the 'play' icon before the song title to listen! At this time, only songs from the current CD 'Forerunner' are available.

new.music.yahoo.com/cottars/tracks/

Best wishes,
Joe