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One Good Thing

from Dumpling House, NYC by Joe Harvard

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about

A song inspired by the story of Bridgette Cleary. Often mistakenly called the last woman burned for witchcraft in Ireland, Bridgette Cleary was in truth a victim of the complicated socio-political pressures of that time and place, changes in economic gender roles at the turn of the 20th century, and a personal situation which resulted in her ability to earn more than the male members of her family -- including her cooper [barrel-making] husband -- and enjoy a degree of independence previously impossible for a woman. It was a position which invited envy, and a friendship with the British-appointed steward of a confiscated farm seems to have been a factor, if not in the final incident then in the willingness of those family members who should have protected her to abandon her at the critical moment.

Cleary was isolated and tortured by her brother, husband & some other male relatives in her own home, a cottage in Clonmel, when they came to believe she was a Fairy Changeling - i.e., not really herself but an evil crone replacing her in the Cleary home, a situation which tradition indicated required loved ones to threaten the malignant spirit out of her with fire. Her husband expected his wife to come back from a hill known as a Faerie Fort riding a white horse; she didn't. A very sad story, one contemporary account of which can be read at
gaslight.mtroyal.ca/clonmel.htm

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lyrics

When the sky fell it had nowhere to go but down
Like a seashell l I held it to my ear to hear the sound
When the sky fell no one else could tell and they thought I was lying
And they cried, and they keep on crying

When the land rose I watched the sun sit by my feet
And the sea froze no one even seemed to miss the heat
When the land rose and the ocean froze I could hear them sighing.
And they died, and they keep on dying.

Bridget Cleary made dresses and shirts while Michael made his barrels and his churns
Earned half of what his young bride earned
Michael was the one approved the kill, he said it wasn’t Bridgett Cleary but an evil faerie that he burned
Bridgett’s not comin’ home. This isn’t some Faerie poem

I been searching for one good thing to call my own
Sat in Church and I looked around and found myself alone
I been searching for one good thing to call my own
Call it home. And I’ll keep on trying
I been searching for one good thing to call my own
Call it home. And I’ll keep on trying
I been searching for one good thing to call my own
Call it home. And I’ll keep on trying

credits

from Dumpling House, NYC, released October 4, 2002
Joe Harvard: Vocal, Telecaster, Charvel Surfcaster w/GK2a p/u thru Roland GR30 gtr synth ["horns"], bass.
Marco Giovino: drums.
Prod & eng by JH on a Pro Tools 24 Mix+ setup

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Joe Harvard Asbury Park, New Jersey

"VU & Nico" author, producer-artist-musician
LP creds: Dinosaur, Jr, Pernice Brothers, Throwing Muses etc; spiritual midwife to tons more as co-founder/owner of Fort Apache '85-'93.
An East Bostonian based [One Banned Man, Dub Proof, Doctor Danger, Cockwalkers] in NJ & MOTH NYC Storyslam Champ '01; loves cats. Asbury Music Awards: Top Americana '09/Top Multi-Instrumentalist & Top Avant-Garde '10.
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