I can Finally listen to this tune without cringing!

[ProudDad]

This is poetry an old friend of mine wrote and sings to the music of "To Anacreon in Heaven":

http://fiskemusic.com/earthanthem/index.html

The song was written for the Anacreontic Society, probably around 1771. The tune was was once thought to have been written by Dr Thomas Arnold, but is now thought to have been written "collectively" by members of the society, led by John Stafford Smith (who now usually gets the credit). The society met every two weeks to get drunk, sing songs and to indulge in some debauchery. Anacreon himself was a Greek poet from about 570BC who was noted for his erotic poetry (in the Anacreontic style that he established) and his drinking songs.

the tune was recently (1931) ripped off to be used as the anthem of one of the most destructive empires in the history of the world.

It's now been liberated by Stephen Fiske as an anthem to human possibility.


:nuke: bush

[housewolf]

1. Wow! That is so moving

Thank you, it's beautiful.

[ProudDad]

6. You're welcome

Makes you think a little different about that drunken little tune.

[proud patriot]

2. LOL , I locked mine

:crazy:

[proud patriot]

3. I think this needs to be sent into Mike Malloy

as well as "walk on little man" that you do
dad . I bet he'd play "a song for Tricia" too.

[ProudDad]

7. Maybe I can bundle them up for him

If I can find the masters...

[proud patriot]

10. I think you should

Have you listened to his show yet ? My mom
got to hear him for the first time the other night
she said "he sounds just like your dad" :D

[G_j]

4. thank you!!

how beautiful!

..planning on learning this one :-)

[ProudDad]

8. So am I

It's a pretty little tune and a real show-off piece for a singer -- now we have the right kind of words.

I couldn't sing that jingoistic crap they've saddled the tune with...

Imagine, singing OUR words at the beginning of the ball game!!

[G_j]

13. interesting history too!

Something I never knew about.

I guess Jimi Hendrix's Woodstock version is no longer the only one I can listen to. :-)

[proud patriot]

5. I went ahead and sent the link to Mike Malloy

:-) I think he'll like it .

[ProudDad]

9. Thanks PP

PD

[proud patriot]

11. no problem , It's very inspiring

I think we all can use that in these times

[proud patriot]

12. shoot The email I sent to Mike bounced back

Does anyone have the working email address ?

[prairierose]

14. Thanks so much for posting this...

It's a beautiful song now!

[proud patriot]

15. okay I finally sent an email to Kathy

hopefully that will go through :shrug:

[RC]

16. Saved it to disk

More than good enought to pass along.