I love Paul's Renaissance style here. This is the first time I've listened to it properly; I realised this week that it was the only song I ever sang in front of my father.
Great to hear this again, Paul. I bought your songbook from Steve Harrison, who was touting a handful at "Raise Your Voice" in Sheffield in February. Smashing!
We were in New Zealand in March last year (got locked down there instead of going on to Australia!). We sang this lovely song whilst at the Otago Goldfields Mining Centre, and sent a recording home to the UK for all our friends at our Folk Club that we were missing.
Lovely stripped back version of a great song. You can tell it's a great song because it works so well just like this. There have been more technically adept versions, there have been more emotionally expressive versions, but Paul wrote it, he doesn't need to fancy it up. Gorgeous.
Great stuff Paul! Unfortunately we never met when I was coasting NZ in the late 60's but John Sutherland (Devonport Folk Club), also Bruce King, introduced me to your music. Maybe I can call to see you while we're in the Lakes, 11th-18th May.
I still sing this Song. A Decade later. I've now been gold panning, though the wander lust has ended, and I've planted my roots far from home, in a different gold rush spot. Now I sing this as I walk, and work, and to my son.
RU-vid thinks I might want to listen to this song again. How right it is! One of many great songs written by Mr M - I hope to continue to playing it for a good many years to come, as I hope Paul does.
This is one of my favorite songs of all time. I remember listening to this and the album penguin eggs by nic jones (which has a cover of this song) while in my dad's arms when i was a toddler.
Hi Paul, I had the joy of singing this to myself by a lake close by the Cardrona valley a couple of years ago when I was in NZ. Its a brilliant song, evocative and a pleasure to sing every now and again.. respect. Mike
Sometimes the cover is better than the original, as in this case the Nic Jones version takes this beautiful song to a higher level. Great to hear the original though.
I would refer to this as SANDCAST,a beautiful rendition by the singer/songwriter...somewhat polished(I will know my song well before I start singin') but still not overdone. To those not familiar with SANDCAST I would refer you to the honda cb750 sandcast....not for the motorcycle stuff persay...but to understand the developement of anything....being it product or poetry etc. to me Paul does a fantastic job.....just beautiful.
Thanks for this. There are so many durge like or fiddly versions out there.Compliments on the filming too ...www.mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=44110#3667144
Really like this song. What a great distinctive voice and great fingerpicking. That's a man I'd love to meet. Just subscribed. If you have time, check out my new song The Train!
Not fair to presume that he's lying/insincere. He wrote the song to help teach NZ history when he was a school teacher. mainlynorfolk.info/nic.jones/songs/farewelltothegold.html
