Celtic Folk: By Lake And By Lee

stoman · **on:** August 22, 2010, 01:34:10 AM

Edit 25th Dec. 2010: Added an improved mix!

This is another lyric by Donna put to music by myself. Which means I composed it, and then some real musicians played it.

Lyrics: Donna Devine
Vocals & Violin: Robyn McKenzie
Guitar, Bass & Spoons: Billy Playle
Bodhran: Vincent Pompe van Meerdervoort
Composed, arranged & mixed by Steffen Offermann

By Lake and By Lee

I once loved a young man
By lake and by lee
And he promised that one day
We would cross the green sea
Oh, his blue eyes were bright
As he paid court to me

But one night a full moon
Lit this old harbour town
The press gang lay waiting
And we saw them too late
They tied him with ropes
And dragged him away

I once loved a young man
By grove and by glen
Of all others the kindest
And the fairest of men
He asked should we marry
And I answered back when

But one night a full moon
Lit this old harbour town
The press gang lay waiting
And we saw them too late
I fought hard to hold him
But we both met our fate

Now I stand on the pier near the place where I fell
And drowned in the ocean, so legends would tell
Oh, we travelled the sea, as he'd promised to me
But he journeyed wide and I journeyed deep

Oh, one night a full moon
Lit this old harbour town
The press gang lay waiting
And we saw them too late
They tied him with ropes
And dragged him away

I once loved a young man
By lake and by lee
And he promised that one day
We would cross the green sea

This is the link to the final version:
By Lake And By Lee

Regards,
Steffen

riggorog · **Reply #1 on:** August 22, 2010, 05:38:46 PM

Really very cool

Love the violin! I like that there is a variety of styles popping up here @ MCS. Great work guys!

Roger

PVD · **Reply #2 on:** August 22, 2010, 08:51:34 PM

Very, very lovely, Robyn's vocals are spot on and the feel is very Celtic and folksy.

Well done.

Paul

Paulo · **Reply #3 on:** August 24, 2010, 05:46:48 AM

Lovely, Steffen... Great work by all.

stoman · **Reply #4 on:** August 24, 2010, 11:00:55 AM

Thanks for listening and for your kind words, guys!

The technical quality of some of the seps was pretty bad, and the biggest problem was the (ugly) reverb on the tracks. I'm pretty satisfied with the result with respect to these difficulties.

BTW, I just appended a link to an alternative mix, done by another guy, at the bottom of the first post. His version sounds a little more percussive, but not bad either.

Regards,
Steffen

Donna · **Reply #5 on:** August 24, 2010, 12:51:36 PM

Roger, Paul, and Paulo, thank you for your kind comments.

Steffen did a lovely job with the music, and an admirable job with the mix, given what he had to work with.

Steffen, I enjoyed Eberhard's mix as well. The percussion is quite nice in the instrumental sections, but I think the spoons/bodhran combo is too high in the mix during Robyn's vocals.
They compete with each other. Perhaps he could pull the percussion back in the vocal sections. Just a thought.

Donna

McLovin · **Reply #6 on:** August 24, 2010, 10:21:40 PM

Stephen,... really great mix here.

I can't really hear where your issues were in regards to the seps so,... whatever you did worked.

This is a great celtic song. Excellent lyric and music.... really well played and sung. I used to play in a celtic style pop act so,... this is definitely the real thing.

Excellent

stoman · **Reply #7 on:** August 25, 2010, 12:43:29 PM

Very encouraging, Jay, thanks!

You played in a folk band? Are there any recordings to listen to?

And how about doing another folk song? I'd LOVE to have your vocals on one of my compositions one day.

Regards,
Steffen

Donna · **Reply #8 on:** September 15, 2010, 08:24:22 AM

Thanks, Jay.

I love trying to capture the feel of the old songs. And Steffen's sensitive interpretation was spot on.

Steffen, I thought you might like to hear what people are saying

Donna
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Beautiflly written lyric, and Robyn allows the melancholy to shine through!!!
The muscal arrangement, and the strings are perfect!!! rittmo'
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This brought tears. Beautifully done all the way around. It was sad enough that he was taken, but then it got even sadder. The line "But he journeyed wide and I journeyed deep", just got me. I always love your writing, and this is a type of song that you do to perfection. A wonderful collaboration!! Sheila
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Sounds great. Nice to see others posting in the much underused folk genre; not enough of it here. AS
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Lovely, lovely write and performance. Love it! RJC
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Great write nice style, enjoyed listening. I like the folk song style and some of the near antiquated words, by lake and by lee, etc. Jon
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Nice song I enjoyed the story a lot. Good music. James
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Classic folk with an Irish flair...well done, Ray
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Such a lovely song to tell such a sad tale. Powerful words and anthemic music with a sweeter than sweet vocal! Rusty
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Beautiful poetry Donna. I love Irish songs. The Celtic Women songs are so beautiful and this is right there in that class. Well played, well sung, and well written. A pleasurable listen! GH
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Well sing it from the mountain top. Dig the celtic feel and velvety, weaving voc and melody. Violin is such a pefect choice for the production and somber lyric/sentiment. Much enjoyed. thanks for sharing. Rard
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Wonderful song. I think the Celtic style suits the lyrics very well. Really loved listening. Ben
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Donna, I loved the historical aspect of your lyrics and the melody is great. Nice work all 'round. Sad yet true. Loved my listen. Dave
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Ah, my favorite genre. Great story Donna. The Celtic flow captures the historical setting so well. The percusion adjustment sounds great now. From the lyrics in that amazing mind of yours all the way through the great musicians in this collab; this is one EXCELLENT production! This one clinched it for me ;-)
All the best, Robin
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Nothing got in the way of my devouring every word and following the lovely melody. This could not be more beautiful....Love it !!!!! Annie
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This sure sounds beautiful to me! Very cool story and told so well! Lovely! Diane

Studioplayer · **Reply #9 on:** September 24, 2010, 04:59:48 PM

Very nice Steffen. You do this style well. Great voice on this. It's quite beautiful. Nice!!

Dave

stoman · **Reply #10 on:** September 25, 2010, 03:50:50 AM

Always nice to get some positive feedback. Thanks!

Regards,
Steffen

Johnny · **Reply #11 on:** September 25, 2010, 08:25:45 PM

Very lovely to listen to. A lyric and melody marriage that, I believe, would brought a throb to any "Old Druid's Heart"

The vocal felt like it was coming right out of the dark ages! Very cool.

Mr. Mom · **Reply #12 on:** September 25, 2010, 09:10:32 PM

Awesome lyrics/melody/vocals

If I had the means, I would hire all of you for my own Celtic Ballad - Seven Year, Seven Tears

You can never have enough Celtic tunes, IMO

Going back for another listen,

John

songsparrow · **Reply #13 on:** September 26, 2010, 03:25:58 AM

Absolutely stunning song! Loved it. Robyns voice is perfect for this! Well done all.

stoman · **Reply #14 on:** September 26, 2010, 12:47:34 PM

Much appreciated! Thank you all for the kind comments!

Regards,
Steffen