There were reports that Bob Dylan had passed on, but no, not at all! Reports have been greatly exaggerated! Dylan lives on in body and in spirit! Always one of my favorites, from Highway 61 Revisited (1965).
Bob Dylan (vocals, guitar, harmonica), Mike Bloomfield (electric guitar), Al Kooper (organ), Frank Owens (piano), Joe Macho Jr. (bass), Bobby Gregg (drums), Bruce Langhorne (tambourine).
Here is a traditional ballad, “Soul Cake,” in a nice acoustic and choral arrangement led by Sting, from If on a Winter’s Night . . . (2009).
Sting’s is a Christmas album, but “Soul Cake,” or “A Soalin'” was originally associated with Halloween. (Peter, Paul and Mary’s version is here.) All Saints Day is November 1, and All Souls Day is November 2. “All Hallows” was the name for All Saints Day, and “All Hallows Evening” (October 31) was the origin of the name Halloween (“All Hallows E’en” –> “Halloween”). “Souling” was a practice during this season in which groups of folks went from home to home offering to pray for the souls of departed ones in return for getting something to eat, traditionally “soul cake.” It was like caroling and was the original version of trick-or-treating.
First, we present Steeleye Span, the great folk rock band that often gets mixed up with Steely Dan, from their 35th anniversary tour (2004).
Refrain:
Gaudete, Gaudete, Christus est natus
Ex Maria Virgine, Gaudete!Rejoice, Rejoice, Christ is born
of the Virgin Mary, Rejoice!
I assume that lead vocalist is still Maddy Prior. I used to have a bit of a crush on her. Anyway, this is their original recording of “Gaudete” from Chrysalis (1972).
Tempus adest gratiae
Hoc quod optabamus,
Carmina laetitiae
Devote reddamus.The hour of grace which we seek is here.
We offer with devotion our songs of gladness.
Next, the hymn is sung by Choir on the Stairs. I got the feeling I’m going to be revisiting this group for Sunday selections. Great accoustics to match great singing:
Deus homo factus est,
Natura mirante,
Mundus renovatus est,
A Christo regnante.God is made man, a thing of wonder.
The world is renewed by Christ’s reign.
Next up, the kids choir Libera sings it:
Ezecheelis porta
Clausa pertransitur,
Undelux est orta
Salus invenitur.Light has arisen. Salvation is come,
Bursting the gates of death.
And finally, we bring you the Mediaeval Baebes:
Ergo nostra contio
Psallat jam in lustro,
Benedicat domino,
Salus Regi nostro.Our congregation lustily rejoices now,
Giving blessing to God, our Saviour and King.
Nao Matsuzaki’s “Kawaberi no Ie” (house next to a river) is a single from 2006 but seems to have been re-released on some of her albums. It made an impression on me as the theme music for a weekly documentary program on NHK, so I hunted it down for the listening pleasure of my 2 1/2 readers.
This seems like the sound sincerity would make if it could make a sound. You can see Nao’s official site here. Buy here.
This post has been one of my most visited ever. Thanks for coming by and appreciating the song.
From viewer comments I gather that most are visiting this post to get to the comments, where I posted the video of an extended session with Nao and her band. That video has (apparently) the only complete version of “Kawaberi no Ie” that can be played on the T’Oobs in Europe or North America. To make things easier, I am moving that video up here. The song starts from 21:40:
An additional note: NHK’s weekly Document 72 Hours (which always features Nao’s song at the end) is available in English on the T’Oobs. It doesn’t have a lot of thrills and chills, but it is a really fascinating slice of life show. The producers pick a spot and film the people that go there for 72 hours. Then they make that into a 25 minute documentary.
UPDATE II
Commenter Pow.r asked about English lyrics. I couldn’t find any, so I did this crude, unpoetical, probably-inaccurate-in-various-places translation below. Promise me you won’t use this to sing the song in English. We need a songwriter to do that version. Also, let me know when any of you find any mistakes.
UPDATE III
Lyrics below are modified after a suggestion by commenter Audrey.
川べりの家
Kawaberi no Ie
House by the River
Nao Matsuzaki
大人になってゆくほど
Otona ni natte yuku hodo
The more grown up I get
涙がよく出てしまうのは
namida ga yoku dete shimau no wa
The more the tears flow
1人で生きて行けるからだと
hitori de ikite yukeru kara dato
I can live on my own so
信じて止まない
shinjita yamanai
I won’t stop believing
それでも淋しいのも知ってるから
sore demo samishī no mo shitteru kara
But I know I’m lonely, too, so
あたたかい場所へ行こうよ
atatakai basho e yukou yo
Let’s go to a warm place
川のせせらぎが聞こえる
kawa no seseragi ga kikoeru
I hear a river flowing
家を借りて耳をすまし
ie o karite mimi o sumashi
I rent a house and listen to my ears
その静けさや激しさを覚えてゆく
sono shizukesa ya hageshi-sa o oboete yuku
I’ll remember that silence, that intensity
歌は水に溶けてゆき
uta wa mizu ni tokete yuki
The song melts in the water
そこだけ水色
soko dake mizuiro
Watery blue, only there
幸せを守るのではなく分けてあげる
shiawase o mamoru node wa naku wakete ageru
I won’t hold on to happiness but split it up
なるべく大きくて
narubeku ōkikute
Spread it out as far as possible
なるべくりっぱな水槽を
narubeku rippana suisō o
A fish tank as nice as I can find
自転車で買いに行き
jitensha de kai ni iki
Let’s go by bicycle and buy it
はなしてやろう
Hanashite yarou
Let’s let it go
なんて奇跡の色を持っているの
nante kiseki no iro o motte iru no
What a miracle, the color you have
キラキラ揺らめいてる
kirakira yurameiteru
Glittering, shimmering
水溜まりに映っている
mizutamari ni utsutte iru
It’s reflected in a puddle
ボクの家は青く透け
boku no ie wa aoku suke
My house is translucent blue
指でいくらかき混ぜても
yubi de ikura kakimazete mo
Even when you stir it with your fingers
もどってくる
modotte kuru
Come back
とても儚ないものだから
totemo hakananai monodakara
It’s so transitory so
大切にして
taisetsu ni shite
Cherish it
一瞬しかない
isshun shika nai
You only have a moment
一瞬しかない
isshun shika nai
You only have a moment
Since NSR is exploring Steely Dan and Steely Shodan, it only seems proper to revisit the often confused trans-Atlantic 70s counterpart. (The name mixup is a running joke for about 4 decades now.) From Please to See the King (1971).
What Do You Do for an Encore? 