Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Kate McGarrigle has come home to rest


Kate McGarrigle died yesterday. I've been listening to her and her sister Anna for so many years. I've been listening to her children, Rufus Wainwright and Martha Wainwright McGarrigle for as long as they've been performing. The McGarrigle sisters carried me through many a broken heart, a weary spirit and a celebration.

Heart Like A Wheel, Farewell to Mendocino, Home to Harlan, A Dancer with Bruised Knees and on and on...

Tell my sister
Tell my sister
To tell my mother
I'm coming home
Home alone
Someday I'll be back again
To that green and pleasant land
Between the Channel and the sea
Across the ocean, that's where I want to be
But until then,
tie me to the ground
I've got to let these weary bones rest
From all that runnin' around
Tell my sister
To tell my mother
I'm coming home
Home alone
by Kate McGarrigle

I was going to write about why we create. Why do we keep writing or painting or dancing? I didn't have any answers, you realize. Just a query into the meaning of art.

But I won't write about that now because I don't need to. Kate reminded me. Thanks again Kate...
Here's a link to a favourite...

6 comments:

Helen Ginger said...

Ahh, Jan, what a wonderful tribute to her.

Helen
Straight From Hel

joe doaks-Author said...

Nicely said, Jan. I didn't recognize the name, but when I played the video, I sure did recognize the voice. The one uplifting thing? That voice will always be there for us.

Best Wishes Galen.
Imagineering Fiction Blog

Anonymous said...

I don't know this artist, but enjoyed the link. She has a beautiful voice.

Jan Morrison said...

Hi Helen, Galen and Carolyn - thanks for your comments. I hope that those of you who don't know the McGarrigle sisters will take some time to dip into their music. They are a most unusual and wonderfully musical family. The sisters, Kate and Anna have been performing since the 70's. Kate was married to Loudon Wainwright III, who is a wonderful artist himself (Dead Skunk in the Middle of the Road). Although Kate and Anna only made about eight albums their songs were favourites with singers like Emmylou Harris, Maria Maldaur,Linda Ronstadt who made Heart Like A Wheel a famous song. Kate had two children by Loudon - Rufus Wainwright and Martha Wainwright - both fantastic muscians. Rufus's cover of Leonard Cohen's Halleleuigah is fantastic. Always willing to go on about fantastic Canadian muscians to those who will listen!

Elizabeth Bradley said...

A gifted woman, she will be missed.

Anonymous said...

hey all have a certain quality to their voices that are unmistakable and soulful.

Agree on the Leonard Cohen cover...