John McGlynn : If All She Has is You

Taken from the PBS Special "Anuna : Celtic Origins". www.anuna.ie. John McGlynn site www.myspace.com/johnmcglynn

Category:

Music

Tags:

• anuna
• john
• mcglynn
• celtic
• origins
• nick
• drake

[indigodawn2]

I don't think my comment was that odd. Maybe I just hear John's accent differently than you because I'm Canadian not Irish. To my ears that distinct Irish pronounciation is much more apparent when he speaks. I guess others do not hear it that way.

[brezairola]

Yes - that does make sense. Most commentees are American, and what is odd about John's accent is that he pronounces all the consonants. Irish msuicians when they sing rock tend to drop them, but John makes a point of enunciating every word very clearly. A Canadian would hear that as slightly American. Your own accents are very distinct to Irish ears, so well spotted.

[indigodawn2]

I notice the lovely Irish accent in the interview. However, the song is sung without any hint of an accent.... sounds perfectly North American. Just curious if dropping the accent is done intentionally or does it happen naturally when singing the words? Thanks for posting....it is sung so beautifully.

[brezairola]

Thats odd. John never sings in any other accent other than his own, which is flat Irish. What an odd comment.

[Laurensings21]

I love his voice!

[BookwormCWfan]

I love this song because, unlike so many other songs, it's about a guy whose girl left but he isn't malicious or angry. It's very refreshing and I love it!!

[jimicharbeats]

This is such a beautiful song, is there anywhere I can find sheet music/ tab?

[clmarais]

This song is so heartbreakingly beautiful. I don't understand it completely because it's a personal story, but it's so sad, I feel it deeply. I've listened to this song every day this week, it's my current favourite. Well done John! Beautifully written and performed. Wow.

[Veritasetfortis]

@BookwormCWfan Actually, the song is about him leaving his girl, and yet she waited for him still wearing his ring while in the rain and in black (symbols for her depression and mourning). The verse talks about how he regrets this and hopes that whomever she turns to is one in a million, i.e. better than he was to her.

[sacajamore]

If you listen to the lyrics (as John says, "correctly") you will understand that what makes this song so sad is that the first person in this song has infact, died. I realize music is open to interpritation, as it should be, but the second verse "waited in vain, a figure in black, alone in the rain" and "still wears my ring" sounds obviously tragic.

[lunchboxattacks1]

I don't normally like "pretty" love songs or songs to do with love but you can feel the poignancy in this one.

I bet they are still trying to get 1:17 to 1:25 's seat dry..........

[Gloweh]

@indigodawn2 It's actually a very basic and common linguistics thing, really. You'll hear a lot of european and british and other english-speakers who are not North American, but sound as such when they sing. Not odd at all.

[SilentSympathy]

@BookwormCWfan If you listen to what John says at the beginning it's the complete opposite.

[Arsenogenics]

@Lunapalis Like all good musicians and singers. I guess that you have to actually experience the ego-less perfection of performing withing the intention of the composer to understand how wonderful music is. I think one of the best musical quotes was from John Coletrane "After all the investigation, all of the technique-doesn't matter! Only if the feeling is right."

[Arsenogenics]

@Lunapalis Great comment Luna. You're correct. All good singing puts the singer in second place to the song. This is just well sung and not interpreted. Fascinating that choral music actually encourages the singer to leave the ego out of the performance. Soloists feel the need to put part of themselves into the song when in fact the only thing important IS the song.

[ozarozarozar]

Can anyone play this guitar?? i would like to learn it!!