The Cursing Song (w/ Dick Langford) by Rebsie
Genre: Psychedelic
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Keywords:
curse (3), cursing (1), more cursing (1)
Description:
Does exactly what it says on the tin.
Written by Scottish musician and composer R J Stewart, a friend of my dad's, in 1975. I don't know what was in his head when he wrote it, but the song somehow chimed with me. Especially as we now have a prime minister hell-bent on concreting over the British landscape because it's good for the economy. My home town is full of sealed-up wells - a historic spa resort with no spas left. Our last working spa was demolished to make way for a splurge of luxury apartments which look like one of those Rotastak complexes you get for hamsters. This curse isn't aimed at individuals but at the whole culture of profit-before-people and environmental pillaging which seems to have infected our national consciousness.
Many thanks indeed to R J Stewart for permission to record and post this. You can check out his other music and books at www.dreampower.com.
And many thanks to Dick, who is a constant inspiration to me as well as providing his own distinctive contributions.
Song copyright © R J Stewart 1975. Recorded with permission.
This recording © Rebsie Fairholm/Dick Langford 2008
Rebsie: vocals, midi stuff (Fitch cello, sitar, drums)
Dick: more midi stuff (bass, extra percussion, horns, strings)
The cursing figure in the photo appeared one day on the wall of the (demolished) hospital where I was born. Luckily I managed to photograph it a few days before somebody embellished it with an unwieldy erect phallus.
Written by Scottish musician and composer R J Stewart, a friend of my dad's, in 1975. I don't know what was in his head when he wrote it, but the song somehow chimed with me. Especially as we now have a prime minister hell-bent on concreting over the British landscape because it's good for the economy. My home town is full of sealed-up wells - a historic spa resort with no spas left. Our last working spa was demolished to make way for a splurge of luxury apartments which look like one of those Rotastak complexes you get for hamsters. This curse isn't aimed at individuals but at the whole culture of profit-before-people and environmental pillaging which seems to have infected our national consciousness.
Many thanks indeed to R J Stewart for permission to record and post this. You can check out his other music and books at www.dreampower.com.
And many thanks to Dick, who is a constant inspiration to me as well as providing his own distinctive contributions.
Song copyright © R J Stewart 1975. Recorded with permission.
This recording © Rebsie Fairholm/Dick Langford 2008
Rebsie: vocals, midi stuff (Fitch cello, sitar, drums)
Dick: more midi stuff (bass, extra percussion, horns, strings)
The cursing figure in the photo appeared one day on the wall of the (demolished) hospital where I was born. Luckily I managed to photograph it a few days before somebody embellished it with an unwieldy erect phallus.
Lyrics:
The Cursing SongLyrics © R J Stewart
Cursed be they that have ruined a fair land,
And cursed be they that have sealed up the wells,
And cursed be they that abandoned the Gods hands,Â
And build a strange place for their people to dwell.
Â
Cursed be your breath and cursed be your breathing,
Cursed be your eyes and cursed be your sight,
Cursed be your hands that have blackened the harvest,
And closed the old ways to the joy and the light.
Cursed be your name all cursed and forgotten,
Cursed beyond memory, place, or recall,
And dust be your souls out of Nothing begotten,
Nothing to no-thing, and Nothing to All.
Â
Now cursed are they that have ruined our fair land,
And cursed are they that have sealed up our wells,
And cursed are they that abandoned our Gods hands,
And built a strange place for the children to dwell.
Hardware:
A couple of Macs and some other bitsSoftware:
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caroline
and who better to know than you?? ;) - a fabulous colab - as usual and stamped with true rebsie style - lots of lovely sounds going on too - fat and delicious - which reminds me... thank you both - big loves xoxoxo
Rebsie
Heh! Yes, this is the logcal next step up from the joy of swearing in the MacJams chat window. Thanks for being firsties.
Feter
what an excellent song ..a pure art to enjoy
the voice the charming of the syle .the fitch cello
the arragment .just speechless this song is
just awesome .goodness a sitar you fly too far !!
thank you so very much for such Colab and a true
gem to share .!!!
Rebsie
Thank you Feter for your constant support. Maybe it's my Asian genes but I really love the sound of the sitar and have been waiting for the right opportunity to use one on a song.
Bob Rodgers
lovely song, I enjoyed this very much, I really do like this, great sounds from all the instruments, lovely strings and your wonderful vocals, superb!!
Rebsie
Thanks Bob, glad you enjoyed it. That's always the most important thing.
jiguma
Powerful words delivered perfectly Rebsie! Hard to believe there's not at least one real (as in wood and strings) instrument amongst all that. Top marks to you both - 11/10 for Mr Stewart!
Neil
Rebsie
Cheers Neil. I agree, the songwriting and the concise way he presents such a powerful message are top notch. His work deserves to be much more widely known. The lyrics here have multiple levels of meaning, from the direct spoiling of the environment to the sealing of the wells of vision which connect us with the soul of the land.
One line that resonates with me is the "cursed be your hands that have blackened the harvest", since I'm so heavily immersed in the politics of agricultural biodiversity. All the issues I rant about (GM crops, loss of biodiversity and big business trying to control the world's food supply) are so neatly summed up in that one line, even though most of those issues were not on the radar in 1975.
DWL
Just added a few sounds but Rebsie is too nice to say so :-)
I was amazed when I heard this for the first time. The lyrics have a real resonance for contemporary society and as Rebsie said they have a far deeper significance than just bulldozing our history for profit.
I was pleased to be a small part of it.
Cheers
Dick
Rebsie
You've got a funny definition of bugger all, mister.
This arrangement would be a shadow of what it is without the ** 20 TRACKS ** you contributed. You've added all that lushness without compromising the subtlety, which is a special skill you have and I'm very grateful for it.
apb
.. paradise and put up a parking lot"... the b**t*rds!
and cursed be Tomas for the phallus graffiti as well ;o)
Love this song, not heard the original .. but I loved the celtic lilt to this, particularily on the "a strange place" line.. with the morris dancer percussion in tow :o)
I had a thought that a delayed verse might have worked later on .. you know that er...start repeating a bit after the first line starts, as in Frère Jacque or Scarborough Fair, also helping with the build.
.. and even light drums could have come in at some point (with the bass might be a bit early), though I would have to hear that etc ..
Could go a touch more "Figgy Duff" this one ..
.. and the hospital where I was born is also long since gone (Royston, Glasgow) :o( .. I sympathise.
Rebsie
Thanks Alan. I'm not surprised you haven't heard the original, wonderful though it is. I found it on a very ancient and wobbly 1970s tape. I think it's time for an R J Stewart revival though.
The original is sung with a fine Scots accent, which means that "cursed" rhymes with "dust" ... a subtlety which is lost when it's sung by a Sassenach.
St Paul's Hospital Cheltenham, 1861-1998, RIP.
lavalamp
Nice song. You druids need to settle down.
Really an excellent full sound. The bass gives it a complete feel.
Great job.
Dave
Rebsie
I'm not much of a druid, just a common or garden underworld traveller.
Thanks for commenting David. We have my collaborator to thank for the fullness of the sound, and for his wonderful power-bass.
bud
and adds such a heavy undertow. Another beautiful tune from you Rebsie. Whatever you touch turn to gold. The sitar-like solo is perfect and the rhythm track is fantastic. Where do I stop? Ah yes - you've got a mighty fine voice my dear.
Rebsie
Thanks Bud for a lovely comment, I really appreciate that.
heh...
Cool melody on this tune. Something's clipping with your vox on the mp3 I downloaded, thought you'd like to know
Nice thing you always do with this type of thing that fits your style, or iS you. 'Ndeed, dear. Lovely.
. - Harold
Rebsie
Yes, this song is right up my street.
You're right about there being a touch of distortion in a couple of places where the levels were a bit hot, but I hoped nobody would notice! I don't use any compression on my songs (just a personal thing, but I hate what it does to the subtle tones in my voice) so I have a difficult balancing act trying to get the master volume as high as possible without crunching into the red. And I did overcook this one slightly. Mea culpa.
Epileptic Gibbon
three versions of this song now and I've enjoyed each and every one. My only slight reservation with this latest version, which is excellent, is that odd percussive noise which makes it sound like a rattlesnake has been thrown into the room. I may grow to appreciate or at least habituate to it on future listens, but after a couple of listens I found it obtrusive. That aside, I like this version a lot. I no longer have the earlier versions to compare it with but it stands up on its own merits. Dick's contributions are extremely valuable, despite his now legendary modesty, and I no longer feel I need to compliment Rebsie - this is just her doing that fabby thing that she does. Good work, both of you!
Rebsie
Thanks for your support as always, Eppy.
We'll have to agree to disagree about the rattlesnake percussion. I love what it adds to the song, a kind of poised aggression which is meant to be unsettling. I'm glad you approve of the rest of the arrangement ... I agree that Dick did a fine job.
Peter Bauckham
version and this is even better. Excellent additional bits from Dick. I'm a big fan of the Fitch Cello and that Sitar... and your wonderful singing of course Rebsie.
Peter
Rebsie
Thanks Peter! As you listened to my original demo version you can hear how much richness and dynamic range Dick has added to it. I'm very pleased with how it turned out. The Fitch cello is great ... a freebie which sounds better than a lot of paid-for software instruments. It makes wonderful harmonic drones, which is why I use it such a lot.
Moviz
all the way with these sentiments, just having been cast into the shadow of a brick wall at the bottom of my garden all within the law (allegedly). There will be nothing left of our historic lands and buildings if this get rich quick building fest carries on. This song is wonderful in the production and singing and the words are excellent. Very lush sounding, regards M
Rebsie
I sympathise, Maurice. The get-rich-quick property opportunists are a blight on my street too. 1930s houses with big gardens ... nobody buys them to live in anymore, just to rip out all their character, build ugly extensions and flog them on at a vast profit. The gardens which have been tended and loved for 70 years are erased with a JCB and replaced with gravel so that the posh twits who buy the overpriced houses can park their Jeeps on it. Oops, am I ranting again? Sorry. But I do know how you feel. There are many other things in the world to feel outraged about, but the widespread attitude of "add value and sod the neighbours" really bugs me.
Incredible... stunned.. bowled over... speechless (almost)...
How do you keep getting better?? How ?? Its Mr Langford isnt it?? i want a damn Dick Langford of my own!! LOL!
This... this whole thing... from your back story and just... damn! just laying it down!! Awesomeness!
Best yet, ever.. super ga ga wonderful!
DLing it and taking it with me to a party this weekend *evil grins*.
....*bows way way low before leaving such grace*...
Rebsie
Your effusive comments are always guaranteed to put a big smile on my face Jason! Thanks.
Yes it is Mr Langford. There's no better way to raise your own game than by working with other musicians who are really skilled. My music has come on in leaps and bounds since I've had Dick as a creative partner. Aside from what he adds to the songs directly, he feeds my musical imagination and gives me the confidence and enthusiasm to try new ideas, which has made a huge difference. I'm very happy with the way things are going.
Thanks for your support! I'm glad to see the muses seem to be stirring for you too at the moment.
Monkaton
Good song, good singing, good production. I was waiting for the bagpipes. Where were the bagpipes?
Oh well, good use of strings and things. Very poignant lyrics and sentiment. Something most of us can relate to quite vividly.
Nicely done.
Rebsie
Thanks! I wish I played the bagpipes, but I think my husband is grateful I don't.
Bagpipes and sitar ... that must be a combination I can use somewhere ...
It is! it is a combination you can use somewhere and I see nooo reason at all that you shouldnt have didge in there trading licks with the pipes and sitar!
Come on! Wind up the amazing Mr Langford and lets do a funky weird haunting pan world ethnocentric folk goth piece!! I am sooo down or up for it!
please please please???
J.A.Stewart
and we are STILL the ones who are cursed.
This is a subtle, lovely arrangement, but much too genteel for the subject matter, from my perspective.
If any lyric deserves an angry *Rap* treatment, with the most damnable expletives... this is it.
But Damn! those Stewart men do some fine work. ;)
--- Joe
Rebsie
Thanks Joe, I appreciate you giving this a listen.
I think there's a lot to be said for making a subtle curse like this. Weaving it gently into a controlled hypnotic rhythm gives it a power of its own.
You Stewarts have great credentials. Rightful kings of Scotland, by all accounts. And a very pretty tartan to go with it.
Cameron
Excellent combination of sounds, very well-mixed. No small feat, considering the variety.
The bass adds a certain "boomy momentousness" to this track. This track sounds very rich and full.
There's an interesting sustained sound, like a "squeeze-box", or drone. Very hypnotic!
The sitar was a bit exotic of a spice, but I think I could get used to it! ;) You handle it well here.
Excellent photo. Images like this are like making music, aren't they? Ephemeral, fleeting moments.
Rebsie
Thanks Cameron, for another gracious and considered comment.
As reluctant as Dick is to take his due credit, the bass gravity and the overall richness of the sound are mostly down to him.
The 'squeezebox' drone is Claire Fitch's wonderful multi-purpose cello s/w instrument. Usually when I use it I adjust it to get it sounding like an authentic cello, which it does very well. But in this case I decided it didn't need to sound like a real cello, it was fulfilling a role as a drone instrument and there was no reason why it had to sound like anything in particular. :) So I gave it a slightly more stilted attack on the notes and it kind of sounds like a backwards accordion. I liked it like that so I left it in.
echoroom
A lyric still poignant over 20 years later. This is a beautiful dark track, your lovely vocal giving some light thru the curtains.
Great work guys
steve
Rebsie
20 years? Your sense of time is just like mine, Steve!
Thanks for your kind words, that's a nice way of describing it.
rtcooper
Classic Sweep and Scope.
Ahead of its time in 1975, timely now.
The British Invasion, Too continues.
Superb Layout and Delivery.
appreciation and regards,
Cooper
Rebsie
Thanks RT. British invasion indeed. And Mr Stewart lives on your side of the Atlantic these days, so watch out! ;)
Brian D
this is really beautiful. reminds me a little of Fairport Convention/ Linda Thompson. really well played and recorded. gorgeous, really.
Rebsie
Thanks Brian, glad you liked it. I can certainly cite Fairport and Linda as influences.
jgurner
I expected more cursing. I guess I've been listening to American music too much.
Powerful, powerful song. Very haunting and very apt for these times. What you describe happening to your home is exactly what's happening to the city I consider my second home, the town of Oxford, Mississippi - home of William Faulkner. It's being paved and built up so that instead of the idyllic small Souther town you'd expect Faulker to hail from, its becoming the picture of urban sprawl.
You and Dick do a wonderful job with this tune, Rebsie. It's lovely and haunting. Thanks for sharing it with us all.
Rebsie
If you want THAT kind of cursing, I have a recording of me tripping over a guitar en route from the computer to the microphone, but I haven't yet managed to incorporate it in a song.
Yep, the insidious culture of greed seems to be everywhere. Not just in big business, but on a local and individual level. I'm convinced town planners never actually set foot in the areas they make decisions for. I dunno about you, but in this country they design big retail parks with no footpaths or proper pedestrian access, so if you DARE to venture into them on your own two legs instead of a car you risk getting your arse knocked off.
Your warmth and wit are always appreciated here, Joe. Thanks for being so supportive.
eleveneyes
wow, I'm blown away, got the chills, goose bumps and all! wow. what a wicked song! great lyrics and Rebsie - your delivery gives those lyrics extra power. Great pic too!
Rebsie
Thanks for a lovely comment Ray, it's good to see you around here again.
Chills and goosebumps are good, I'm happy with that. :)
Dj French Toast
Rebs this is great ! Lovely vocal very haunting and real ....the accordian or organ sound draws you in and then you voice makes you listen then the story wow just brings my mind to old past and forests and well great job vocals , sound bed is increadable !
Rebsie
Thank you. The idea was to grab your attention and then hold it there with the hypnotic rhythm, so I'm glad it worked.
HipHopMoses
Like Joe I was looking for some profanity LOL but I was glad to hear cursing done so well. I often speak about cursing and profanity, because I believe cursing is much worse. Thanks for sharing.
Moses
Rebsie
Thanks Moses. Funnily enough the word "cursing" has a slightly different usage on this side of the Atlantic ... "consigning person or thing to destruction", as my dictionary says. So it didn't occur to me that it might be interpreted as "swearing" until I saw the responses from Americans!
Jim Bouchard
it maybe should be labeled explicit! Really supa dupa! I get so little time to listen to songs on MacJams, I have to go right for the rebsie as soon as I see it for I know I won't be disappointed. Excellent as always!
Rebsie
What a lovely thing to say Jim, thank you. It certainly is hard to find the time to keep up with stuff on MacJams, and the longer you've been here the more difficult it is to keep up with all the people you've made friends with over the years.
peacepiano
A song perfectly matched to you voice. Tone of vocal and instruments conveys the lyric in a direct and powerful way. Great song!
Thanks
Bill
Rebsie
Thanks Bill, glad you like it. I decided this one would be most powerful if it was direct and uncluttered, so I'm glad you picked up on that.
davisamerica
just a wonderful work.... as always!
Rebsie
Cheers Jack. I don't know how you find the energy to be so unfailingly supportive to so many people here, but I appreciate it! :)
Ibstrat
song really hit home with me.I studied environmental science in college for a couple of years.I remember one of the professors telling me that he used to go around plugging up pipes that were dumping pollution into streams.They would then back up into the factory and wreak havoc.When it's profit against the environment it seems like the money always wins.Great song!
Rebsie
What a great idea, plugging up the pipes. I'd love to do that. As I get older I spend less time taking direct action and more time ranting on my blog instead, but you're making me nostalgic for a bit of criminal damage. Many years ago my brother and I 'moved' a dual-carriageway which was about to rip its way through the fields where we played as kids. The site of the new road was marked out with red and white poles ready for the bulldozers, and we ripped them all out and flung them as far as we could into the cornfields. And we moved a manhole cover and filled in the drain with earth and stones. It was all in vain though, the road was built and much to my disgust I have to drive along it every time I visit my parents.
Outtaorbit
to watch a country go off and leave your dreams and trade the future for simple profit that only goes to one or two pockets.
Stamping out beauty is what politics do best.
Rebsie
Yes indeed, the damage is usually down to a handful of already wealthy profiteers who generally don't have to live next to the hideous things they create.
guitapick
...as it's used now, is that it's an infinite game that's played on a finite playing field. So the adherents who can't see beyond the noses on their faces just start grabbing onto new, "unimportant" (or LESS important), areas to "play" in when the old ones dry up.
Sounds like that's what your (and ours) administration is doing to you.
Curse them...
F@*k 'em...
Rebsie
You're right on there, Bob, and that's a great way of putting it. We've been pushed into a consumer culture which is completely unsustainable and based on a belief system that the economy has to go on expanding at all costs. When quite obviously it can't.
I don't envy you your country's administration and its Chief Chimp, but things are certainly not getting any better here either. I think Tony Blair was a disaster for this country but at least he gave the impression of having some control and focus in his corruption. Gordon Brown is corrupt and inept, which is not a nice combination.
As you say ... F@*k 'em.
michael2
is just what I have come to expect from you. beautiful and slightly off kilter. if you were doing this in the 80's, all of the goth kids would have given up on Bauhaus after seeing you on tour with Dead Can Dance. really sweet.
Rebsie
Thanks Michael! I take "slightly off kilter" as a big compliment. :) There is definitely a goth streak in me even if I never took to wearing the thick black eyeliner.
Vic Holman
jeez this went by under my radar. everything for the ages here. heavy and dramatic. and you roped Dick in!
Everything sounds great and real.
I have to wonder if Dick would of sneaked his barn animals in if he had the chance. :)
Rebsie
Thanks for stopping by, Vic, it's much appreciated.
Dick is working with me on my second album, so I'll be surprised if it doesn't end up with a farm animal on it somewhere. :)
damiengh
With your arrangement, instrumentation and most definitely your voice, one can truly believe that this curse WILL.....be carried out. I sure hope so anyway.
Another great one from you.
This should seriously make R J Stewart proud.
Rebsie
Thanks Damien! It would be nice if we could change the world by singing a spell-song ... 'cause I've lost hope in the political process ever doing any good.
I'm not sure if R J has heard the song yet but I really hope he likes it.
SmokeyVW
you're making me cry.
why can't we stop the madness?
http://www.macjams.com/song/30292
http://www.macjams.com/song/32880
Rebsie
Good question Smokey.
craft
Beaufifull voice and lovely strings.. Great collab...
Rebsie
Thanks Craft, glad you enjoyed it.
MissChaos
Gorgeous, haunting, moving, lingering. This is brilliant.
Rebsie
That's a big compliment coming from someone whose music is all those things. Thanks very much MissC!
Joe Brady
nice work with the rhythm section! Your vocal is outstanding(as usual); yeah, they pave paradise.........
Joe
gwhoose
few realize that a curse only names those who are already cursed by themselves. when england takes itself back from the present invasions of islam and christian hypocrisy, and the euro dies, and scotland separates, and ireland becomes one; and the great oceanway of the north opens up once again and the longboats come from the mysts where they have been lost for so long; then you can redig your wells again. you will be surprised how many exiles remember the old waies.
that80sboy
....uhm...did i say wow!...the mood is great on this piece...nice work you guys!!
Rebsie
Thanks! I'm very pleased you like it.
lupiroz
and nice composition, amazing instrumental inserts and perfect vocals performance Rebsie!
Rebsie
I'm really glad you like it Lupiroz ... you are doing such great music yourself.
dirigent
A magical celtic song, pure beauty, wonderful voice - touching.
Full of atmosphere and feeling! Great performance, love it!
Rebsie
We really appreciate your kind words, thank you!
music and a splendid vox makes this song worthy and significant. This is pure and beautiful.
Rebsie
I'm very pleased you think so, Arend. Thank you for your kindness and support.
What a great melody.... I like the rhythm of this... A nice song to listens to.... It's relaxing.... Thanks for sharing this song....
Mrs. Fairholm,
It's great to hear your voice again! I'm in love with this song so much. I love to hear that style very much more than playing it. It's very Blackmore's Night feel ...
Thanks for sharing such a masterpiece ....
Take Care
- Yeman A. Al-Rawi
Rebsie
Thanks Yeman, your support is always much appreciated. It was very kind of you to leave a comment on the MySpace blog too. Thank you!
dlb
On getting this one on the radio. Lovely song, performed with feeling and passion. Quite beautiful.
Rebsie
Thanks Dave ... this one has been doing quite well on internet radio. Two plays in a week.
BeccaJohnson
WOW,I was well impressed by this song!!!!That kind of music relaxes me and bring all those good memories!
Great voice,Great Music!!!!!!
I can't believe you did comment on "Not My Guide"-I feel like I am in the 1st grade after I've listened to your song:-)Long way to go for me:-)))))
Rebsie
Hi Becca, you're well above the 1st grade. The secret of being a good singer is confidence and learning to believe in yourself. And you're already well established on that path ... you have a great voice and you know how to use it. I've no doubt it will continue to get better and better the more you sing. :)
MIRx
it's auch a beautiful work, so well played and sung. Beautiful, I say.
Rebsie
Thank you very much MIRx, I really appreciate you coming along and giving it a listen.
TobinMueller
Psychedelic? (Would that be more a statement of your state of mind while mixing the song?) This is a wonderful modern interpretation of traditional folk. I love it. Could be one of my all-time favs of yours, Rebsie. Excellent collab.
Rebsie
Thanks very much Tobin, I really appreciate the compliments. My choice of genres is pretty arbitrary because my stuff never seems to properly fit any of them. I'm delighted you think this is my best yet because I do feel that I'm poised for a big leap forward. Dick Langford is the best thing that's happened to me in a long time.
saymme
Courtsey to You both...! AWESOME what a great 'poem'& music so wonderfully sung Happy to hear they played it on the UKRADIO Thats thrilling so good alot of People get to hear the two of You : ) !!! ThankYou dl & faved
Pete_NB
This is the kind of song that could be mistaken for being one of those old folk tunes that nobody knows who wrote so they label it "traditional". It's a real gem!
And congrats on the radio play. Not surprising given the calibre of the composition/performance. Well done!
LunaTrick
Lovely singing and lyrics... love the Elizabethan and celtic overtones... especially the string drones. I have a feeling that we have some things in common.
Char
M'lady Rebsie. I was persuaded by your committed protest.
I am sure R J Stewart was happy with your version. Really beautiful melody and orchestration backing you up. Very complete and delightful. :) Thanks to all.