Demo: "The Joy of Living" (Ewan MacColl) (Patreon)

I'm pleased to share with you another of the beautiful songs one of my Kickstarter backers asked me to record -- one I might never have known had it not been for their sponsorship and recommendation. A double gift, then, and in this case, an enduring and uplifting treasure.

There's no doubt that Dave Carter's "When I Go" is at the top of my dyin' songs playlist, but "The Joy of Living," Ewan MacColl's poignant goodbye to the people and places he loved, belongs on that list, too. See if you agree.

The Joy of Living

Farewell, you northern hills, you mountains all, goodbye.Moorland and stony ridges, crags and peaks, goodbye. Glyder Fach, farewell, Cui Beig, Scafell, cloud-bearing Suilven.Sun-warmed rock and the cold of Bleaklow’s frozen sea,The snow and the wind and the rain of hills and mountains.Days in the sun and the tempered wind and the air like wine—And you drink and you drink till you’re drunk on the joy of living.

Farewell to you, my love, my time is almost done.Lie in my arms once more until the darkness comes.You filled all my days, held the night at bay, dearest companion.Years pass by and are gone with the speed of birds in flight,Our life like the verse of a song heard in the mountains.Give me your hand then, love, and join your voice with mine—We’ll sing of the hurt and the pain and the joy of living.

Farewell to you, my chicks, soon you must fly alone.Flesh of my flesh, my future life, bone of my bone.May your wings be strong, may your days be long, safe be your journey.Each of you bears inside of you the gift of love—May it bring you light and warmth and the pleasure of giving.Eagerly savour each new day and the taste of its mouth—Never lose sight of the thrill and the joy of living.

Take me to some high place of heather, rock and ling.Scatter my dust and ashes, feed me to the wind.So that I will be part of all you see, the air you are breathing.I’ll be part of the curlew’s cry and the soaring hawk,The blue milkwort and the sundew hung with diamonds.I’ll be riding the gentle wind that blows through your hair.Reminding you how we shared in the joy of living.

Thank you all for being here and for supporting the grand experiment that is this life in music and art. Thank you for bringing beauty my way and giving me the opportunity to do as I did here -- sit with this gorgeous song till I found my own song inside it. What a gift. Thank you. xotg