+ Reply to Thread
Results 1 to 7 of 7

Thread: Tribute

  1. #1

    Default Tribute

    The other day, on the 23rd of May, I honoured my late mother's birthday. If she was alive, she'd have been 76.

    She died when she was younger than I am now.

    She was a woman with big-time emotional problems, and we kids had a pretty nasty childhood as a result. But the one thing my mother gave us (as did every member of my family from the previous generations) was the freedom to love music. Music was fostered freely in our houses; there were always singalongs and family concerts, contests to be the first to learn all the words to a song, and everywhere we went there was a radio or a console record player to keep everybody entertained. My grandfather's '56 Ford never came with a radio, so when we travelled in the car, someone always brought along a radio so we wouldn't miss out on the thrill of road music!

    Anyway, one of my mother's favourite tunes was a little National Film Board vignette that used to play on TV, starting in about 1979 or 80. It was usually tucked in with a commercial break and when it came on, she would run from the kitchen (it usually came on around supper time), and take a brief reprieve from cooking to dance to the waltz. Sometimes, we'd join in and sing along in harmonies, and bask in the moment.

    I betcha some of my Canadian friends will remember this one.

    Happy Birthday, Old Gal. Always in my thoughts.





    And - of course - if you want to sing along...


    THE LOG DRIVER'S WALTZ

    If you ask any girl from the parish around,
    What pleases her most from her head to her toes;
    She'll say, "I'm not sure that it's business of yours,
    But I do like to waltz with a log driver."

    CHORUS

    For he goes birling down, and down white water,
    That's where the log driver learns to step lightly;
    It's birling down, and down white water,
    The log driver's waltz pleases girls completely.


    When the drive's nearly over, I like to go down
    And watch all the lads as they work on the river;
    I know that come evening they'll be in the town,
    And we all want to waltz with a log driver.

    CHORUS

    To please both my parents I've had to give way,
    And dance with the doctors and merchants, and lawyers;
    Their manners are fine but their feet are of clay,
    And there's none with the style of my log driver.

    CHORUS

    Now I've had my chances with all sorts of men,
    But none is so fine as my lad on the river;
    So when the drive's over, if he asks me again,
    I think I will marry my log driver.

    CHORUS

    Birling down, and down white water,
    The log driver's waltz pleases girls completely.


    - low life -

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Mar 2013
    Location
    New Liskeard, Ontario
    Posts
    528

    Default

    Thank you, Elmaux, for the memory. Take care.
    Brian

  3. #3

    Default

    God Bless you and your Mother, Elmeaux!!!
    Always remember to enjoy where you're at on the way to where you're going!!!

  4. #4

    Default

    That's great, Elmeaux! Thanks so much for allowing us to conjure the image of your mom dancing along with the log drivers. May time soften the difficult memories, and sharpen the good.
    All the best to you.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    May 2010
    Location
    Alberta, Canada
    Posts
    2,088

    Default

    Thanks for the memory, Elmeaux. One of my very favourite NFB productions. Whenever we heard that, my kids and I would break into the song (well, we'd primarily hit it on the chorus).

    Thinking of your Mom running to listen to that. . . .

    Regardless of any other problems, she did give you a great heritage - music.
    ___________________________________
    Steinberger NXT5 EUB, MTD 535 Fretless, Tobias Killer B6, 72 Fender Precision
    Eden WT500, WTX1000N & WP100, QSC PL230
    Eden D410XLT, D410XST, 215, Fender Bassman 10

  6. #6

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by TobiasMan View Post
    One of my very favourite NFB productions. Whenever we heard that, my kids and I would break into the song (well, we'd primarily hit it on the chorus).
    I think the waltz was danced and sung by MANY Canadians! It was a real hit!

    Speaking of NFB films, here's another fave... THE BIG SNIT. No dancing, just really funny (and a little scary, too).

    "This wonderfully wacky animation film is a look at two simultaneous conflicts, the macrocosm of global nuclear war and the microcosm of a domestic quarrel, and how each conflict is resolved. Presented with warmth and unexpectedly off-the-wall humor, the film is open to a multitude of interpretations."





    Thanks to all for joining in with the tribute. STOP SHAKING YOUR EYES!!!


    - low life -

  7. #7

    Default

    That was cool Elmeaux. At my last job, we used pike poles alot but one fella, a new guy to logging, called it a "pokey stick" so we've called them pokey sticks ever since. That brought back some good memories.
    Off to go play a private party gig now. Should be a barrel of fun. We haven't practiced in over a month. The guitarist/singer was in Florida trying to make money.

+ Reply to Thread

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may edit your posts
  •