RIP Liam Clancy

Liam singing "Roseville Fair" (Bill Staines) with Gemma Hayes, from his 2008 album, The Wheels Of Life.

I loved him the first time I heard him.

Dylan said Liam Clancy was the best ballad
singer he ever heard. I can understand him
saying that. Long before I went to Ireland, The
Clancy Brothers were known to me. It was
always Liam that I heard. When some of his
solo albums came to me, I understood why.
I wanted to tell a song like he did, gather
people in that heartful place we share.

The last time I was in Ireland I found a
few more albums of Liam's. One of them,
The Wheels Of Life, was a new release,
from October 2008. He already knew, then,
that his time was not long. In "I Knew This
Place," from the pen of David Mallett, Liam
sings...

"The day is done, the lights are low
The wheels of life are turning slow
And as these visions turn and go
I lay me down to sleep..."

When I learned of Liam's death this
morning, I felt a draft move through the
room, as if my own mortality just had its
hand let go by another, older hand. As if
my own life had lost its breath a moment.

Liam Clancy moved me. Not every time, but
often, and when he did I was filled with feeling.
Liam's songs take me from the superficial
distractions of the world around, bring me to
the heart again, into that calling that songs
faithfully return us to.

"And the next time I see you we'll be down
at the Greeks' / There'll be whiskey on
Sunday, and tears on our cheeks..."

Thanks, Liam Clancy.
Rest now.

DL

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Category:

Music

Tags:

• Liam
• Clancy
• Irish
• Troubadour
• Wheels
• Of
• Life
• Gemma
• Hayes
• Roseville
• Fair
• Bill
• Staines
• RIP

[Horsemarine100]

The most beautiful interpretation of I have ever heard of this beautiful love song. I saw Liam in person only one, a year or so before he went to his final gig in the sky. It was quite unforgettable. Why didn't I catch up with him sooner?!

[benitothreezero]

Beautifully sung and an amazing melody. RIP Liam, very sad loss

[flenithganthry]

Oh dearie me...what do you say -harmonies so lovely and ah heart so sweet!

[Macangusagain]

@ozzyslasher1970 In Irish it is usually Slainte Mhaith,and in Scottish Gaelic it is Slainte Mhath ,pronounced slawn je vah ,and also used as a single word in both. In the couplet it means "good health",alone "health". Liam touched my heart many times, an honour to have seen and heard him in concert , and I remember him very well. Eirinn gu bragh agus Albainn gu brath

[Hunter00750]

What a loss, .... back in the 60's I saw the Clancy Brothers & Tommy Makem in Boston twice, completely fantastic show. Every year we lose so many truly talented people - that really can't be replaced. 

[ozzyslasher1970]

sadly missed i will drink a parting glass to him on the 9th. lost my dad in 07 to cancer. thay are both in heaven in the pub laughing singing and of corse drinking to our health. so to you all i say slangt( hope i spelled it right.)

[reyegnor]

rest in peace hellorodney

[pleuni101]

My favorite song is the Dutchman,no one else sings it better.Thank you Liam,rest in peace ! You always in my mind !

[eulessgirl]

Beautiful tribute to this great performer. Thank you.

[Tessietots]

A wonderful tribute to Liam. A man I've grown to love, through listening to his music and reading of his life. We love and miss you Liam and you will forever live in our hearts.