A song of immigration - Ode to Annie Moore - Live version

[Romidon]

I REALLY wanted to put both of these in the same post, but I just couldn't squish 'em enough... 

This is a live version of 'Ode to Annie Moore' recorded March 16, 2019, recorded by me, again on my Zoom H6 this past March at a gig our band played for St. Patrick's Day.  (I used the shotgun mic for this recording.)  I didn't know how to mix it down afterwards so the fiddle player in the band had a program on his computer to finalize or 'normalize' it..

I played guitar and sang.  The other instruments were a mandolin; a piano and a fiddle.  The piano player and mando player both sang back-up vocals on the chorus.

Note the difference in how the vocals sound; 16 years passed between the two recordings... 

(I play in an 'Irish-American' band.  We play mostly traditional jigs and reels, with the occational polka.  We likewise do traditional pub songs along with some more modern Irish covers of U-2, Cranberries, Flogging Molly, as well as some Sensational Alex Harvey Band numbers for fun...  We also do some Irish-flavored originals, most written by me.)

Ode to Annie Moore

written & performed by romidon ©rmd.2000

On January 1st , 1892;
The S.S. Nevada with it's passengers and crew.
Out from the Cobb of Cork, bound for Amerikay.
Pulled into New York Harbour at the dawning of the day.
And the gates of Ellis Island opened for the first time then
To welcome weary immigrants into this strange, new land.

Oh yes, on January 1st , 1892;
Just as the new year dawned, it was her 15th birthday too.
This red-haired lass from Cork, with brothers both in tow,
She was breathless with excitement at the sight of their new home.
She felt a fearful sense of wonder, she had never felt before
As her shipmates raised a toast singing "Happy Birthday Annie Moore!"  So:
       To everyone who's crossed the ocean out of hopes to find
       A dream that might lay hidden on some unseen distant shore.
       To them we lift a glass now, wishing 'Auld Lang Syne'!
       And 'Happy Birthday Annie Moore, Annie Moore.  Happy Birthday Annie Moore.'

Well on January 1st , 1892,
As they lowered down the gangplank, people crowded to get through.
When all was said and done, by fate or grande design;
When the registration started, Annie was first in line.
As a crowd of people gathered from behind the barricade
A bright ten dollar gold piece into her palm was laid,
And as she gazed around in wonder, she was awed
A new year in a new world:  She had made it after all!  Yes: 
       To everyone who's crossed the ocean out of hopes to find
       A dream that might lay hidden on some unseen distant shore.
       To them we lift a glass now, wishing 'Auld Lang Syne'!
       And 'Happy Birthday Annie Moore, Annie Moore.  Happy Birthday Annie Moore.'

And though her shinning moment has faded through the years
By all respects this Irish lass just simply disappeared..
So this tribute to her name reminds us she was not alone:  She joins
The ranks of those who took their dreams and faced the Great Unknown!  Yes, here's: 
       To everyone who's crossed the ocean out of hopes to find
       A dream that might lay hidden on some unseen distant shore.
       To them we lift a glass now, wishing 'Auld Lang Syne'!
       And 'Happy Birthday Annie Moore, Annie Moore.  Happy Birthday Annie Moore.
       Annie Moore, Annie Moore.  Happy Birthday Annie Moore.'

fin.

Ferryman said something about being a sucker for a 'big production job'.  Although this really isn't a 'big' production, it DOES have more instruments which I think fleshes the song out a bit more.. 

romidon.

[Flash Harry]

I love listening live music, and though this is recorded, it's clearly recorded live.

Great style and competence, I'd have liked to be there  to have witnessed this. It's a marvellous song, lovely pace, delivered really well.

[Pete C]

Great performance Romidon and I love that song - must be the Irish in me ! My great great grandparents on my father's side of the family were Irish immigrants to the UK in the mid 1800's.
A lot of us on Songcrafters use Audacity (Free download) for normailsing songs. There's a few threads by our resident expert 64 guitars on how to use it to normalise and trim songs before uploading. Well worth downloading it.

And a belated welcome to Songcrafters !

Pete

[Ferryman_1957]

Great performance, I listened to both versions and enjoyed both but I do like the live one slightly better. Your vox are fantastic, great voice and great feeling in the performance. Maybe a little more "grit" in the vocals in the second version.....

[Romidon]

Great performance, I listened to both versions and enjoyed both but I do like the live one slightly better. Your vox are fantastic, great voice and great feeling in the performance. Maybe a little more "grit" in the vocals in the second version.....

Thanks all.

This has been a popular song for us and the fact that it is an original makes it the more satisfying.  Still, for some reason, it's one that I tend to screw up 'live' just about EVERY time we play it out as a group.  When I play it solo I don't seem to have much of a problem. 

I have a recording that Hook made and I wanted to use that one, but I mixed my verses up; repeated one verse and left out a whole other one...  So much of a mess up, I couldn't use it here.  On THIS recording in the intro I talk about 'a young la-aydy'.  I was going to use the word 'lass', then as I started to say the word decided to say 'lady'.

In the actual song I screw up the lines;
"She felt a fearful sense of wonder, she had never felt before
As her shipmates raised a toast singing "Happy Birthday Annie Moore!"
I sing:
"She felt a fearful sense of wonder, as she looked upon the shore
As her shipmates raised a toast and said "Happy Birthday Annie Moore!"

It's not all that important but I guess it's an example of 'on the fly' improvisation when you blank out while singing...

Anyway thanks again Ferryman and all for your kind words.   

romidon.

[kenny mac]

Wow,,,,where do I start?
This is such a breath of fresh air,a great performance,with some great musicians I may add.
You reminds me of the band Aslan.
An excellent composition,great to hear that live feel.
Such a talented bunch,and you sir,,,,are fantastic.
Bravo to all.