Among These Hills - The Rustic Riders
Copyright 2011
All Lyrics and Music Copyright 2011 by Lisa Meissner except Father Kelly - Music by Father PJ Kelly (Public Domain)
Produced by Dan Duggan Esperance Recording Studio, Red Creek, NY
Personnel:
Lisa Meissner (mice-ner): Vocals - all tracks; Guitar – tracks 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9; Cello - track 4
Klaus Meissner (like santa): Percussion – tracks 1, 2, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12
Dan Duggan (dug-in): Guitar - tracks 1, 2, 3,4,5, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12; Bass - tracks 1,2,7, 9, 12; Piano – tracks 3, 5, 6, 10, 11
Bill Chamberlain (cheym-ber-lin): Mandolin track 1, 7, 12; Mandola – track 4; Clawhammer Banjo – tracks 2, 7, 12
Henry Jankiewicz (Jank- ko- witz): Fiddle tracks 1, 2, 8, 9
Sue Grimm (grim): Flute - tracks 3, 4, 8
Notes about the Songs:
1. Standing at the Door – A song about making change and taking risks.
2. Walking in the Light - A gospel song with an Appalachian feel.
3. Love Grows Here – A love song for my son and his wife. Both grew up in the Adirondacks, left to explore the world and each decided separately that there was no place like home.
4. It’s My Turn – At a rest stop while traveling the first line popped into my head watching a middle aged person helping an older person. (It's a pretty common sight!) I thought of the people I work with and the ways that I've been helped - people giving rides, sharing their wealth, meals and so much assistance.
5. May Your Journey Be Swift - A song about dying. My neighbor, good friend, mentor and “grandmother” to our children was dying of brain cancer. With the help of hospice and her family she died at home. This is my prayer for her, our mother Emmy and for all of us.
6. Knock- A gospel song with a bluesy feel. Growing up my family did not attend any church or synagogue. My first church experience was around age 5. In the late 1950’s my brother and I were the only white children in an all black church service. I remember feeling completely loved by the people and the music.
7. Come Dance with Me – This started as a song for my grandson’s first birthday, but ended up being a meditation on life. It has a nice old timey feel.
8. Father Kelly – This song is based on the tune The Rossmore Jetty by Father PJ Kelly, also known as Father Kelly’s Reel. (Public Domain) It tells the story of many of the folks with developmental disabilities we have worked with over the years.
9. Song of Hope – I wrote this after seeing a documentary about Holocaust survivors getting married and giving birth while living in displaced person camps after WW II. At the time we were also reading about modern day slavery and preparing for a trip to Haiti.
10. We Won’t Give Up – This is a true story about a Northern NY paper mill that was “idled” for 8 years. The people of Star Lake and Newton Falls, especially Levi Durham and Andy Le Roux, worked to maintain the mill. After 8 years it was finally sold. The story can be found on the web at http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/05/nyregion/05mill.html. Unfortunately it was idled again in June 2011.
11. Old Town Clock – Saranac Lake, NY has a beautiful town hall based on Independence Hall and has a beautiful clock that is always slow. It’s a wonderful metaphor!
12. Walk This Road – I wrote this in 2006 as the 2008 presidential cycle was gearing up. It was my hope for civil discourse. We continue to end all our shows with it.
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