annathepiper | Damn you, Séan McCann! (Reply)

Not like it's any surprise that I've been songvirused by GBS ditties all week in anticipation of tomorrow night, but one in particular has gotten into my head and hands this week--and has gotten me itchy to learn the chords. The ditty in question is "John Barbour", and the more I hear it, the more I like it--like much of Something Beautiful*. And I ain't heard yet of any of the OKP fans having tabbed this puppy out! Now apparently I'm going to have to figure out the melody line so I can figure out the chords; I know it starts on a C, at least, which suggests it MIGHT be in the key of C, but I'm going to have to see if C, F, and G are happy chords in this ditty. The changes don't sound too terribly complicated--most of the song, at any rate, is Séan building up the lyrics till he's roaring them out at the end on top of the skirrl of the bagpipes.

And, might I add, DAMN does he sound good belting out "For I am bold John Barbour--and I plow the ragin' sea! I plow the ragin' sea! I plow the ragin' sea!"

I found myself describing this man's voice with the phrase Boromir uses to Aragorn in Fellowship of the Ring: "the clear ringing of silver trumpets". Séan McCann's voice is like that. BOY am I looking forward to hearing him bellow this one out tomorrow--and seeing Bob play the bagpipes for it too!