Innovative and inspiring, both collecting traditional songs, as well as writing new ones. He was, and remains, a very influential artist, writer and singer, committed to social issues. He travelled around the world collecting and recording songs.
Married to Peggy Seeger, he reportedly sang his most famous song - 'The first time ever I saw your face' - to her over the telephone during a transatlantic phone call.
His song 'Dirty Old Town' has been recorded hundreds of time, notably by The Spinners (the British folk group), Rod Stewart, The Pogues, Townes Van Zandt, The Specials, the Mudmen.
He was father to musicians Kirsty MacColl, Neill MacColl and Calum MacColl, and grandfather to Bombay Bicycle Club's Jamie MacColl.
MacColl and Seeger recorded several albums of political commentary songs. MacColl himself wrote over 300 songs, some of which have been recorded by as diverse as Roberta Flack, Planxty and Johnny Cash. In 2001, The Essential Ewan MacColl Songbook was published, which includes the words and music to 200 of his songs.
There is a plaque dedicated to MacColl in Russell Square in London. The inscription includes: "Presented by his communist friends 25.1.1990 ... Folk Laureate - Singer - Dramatist - Marxist ... in recognition of strength and singleness of purpose of this fighter for Peace and Socialism". In 1991 he was awarded a posthumous honorary degree by the University of Salford.
MacColl was very politically active and as well as political song he was a playwright and one of the founders of the Communist backed 'Edinburgh People's Festival' from 1951-54. The EPF was a victim of McCarthyism but provided the blueprint for today's Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
Joy of Living
Ewan MacColl Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Moorlands and stony ridges, crags and peaks, goodbye
Glyder Fach farewell, Cul Beig, Scafell, cloud-bearing Suilven
Sun-warmed rocks and the cold of Bleaklow's frozen sea
The snow and the wind and the rain of hills and mountains
Days in the sun and the tempered wind and the air like wine
And you drink and you drink till you're drunk on the joy of living
Lie in my arms once more until the darkness comes
You filled all my days, held the night at bay, dearest companion
Years pass by and they're gone with the speed of birds in flight
Our lives like the verse of a song heard in the mountains
Give me your hand and love and join your voice with mine
And we'll sing of the hurt and the pain and the joy of living
Farewell to you, my chicks, soon you must fly alone
Flesh of my flesh, my future life, bone of my bone
May your wings be strong may your days be long safe be your journey
Each of you bears inside of you the gift of love
May it bring you light and warmth and the pleasure of giving
Eagerly savour each new day and the taste of its mouth
Never lose sight of the thrill and the joy of living
Take me to some high place of heather, rock and ling
Scatter my dust and ashes, feed me to the wind
So that I may be part of all you see, the air you are breathing
I'll be part of the curlew's cry and the soaring hawk,
The blue milkwort and the sundew hung with diamonds
I'll be riding the gentle breeze as it blows through your hair
Reminding you how we shared in the joy of living
The lyrics to Ewan MacColl's The Joy of Living talk about the beauty and majesty of nature and how it inspires and brings joy to us all. The song is a tribute to living life to the fullest and savoring every moment, good and bad, as they make up the rich tapestry of our existence. The verses are steeped in nostalgia and a sense of loss for the beauty of the natural world, which is emphasized by the repetition of the phrase "farewell" throughout the song.
The first verse bids goodbye to the northern hills and mountains that the author has grown to love. It mentions specific landmarks such as Glyder Fach and Scafell and describes the different types of weather one can encounter on the mountains. The mixture of sun, the tempered wind, and the air like wine make the experience of climbing and hiking a compelling one for the author. The last phrase of the verse is, "And you drink and you drink till you're drunk on the joy of living," portraying the deep sense of awe and wonder that exploring the mountains provided.
The second verse is an emotional farewell to a loved one. The phrase "you filled all my days" captures the depth of love the two share, and how it has permeated through every aspect of his life. The verses' tone turns melancholic, "years pass by, and they're gone with the speed of birds in flight," and it's evident that the end of the author's time is near. But instead of dwelling on the sadness of his departure, the author seizes the moment and sings about the "hurt and the pain and the joy of living" that he shared with his companion, only reinforcing the central message of the song.
Line by Line Meaning
Farewell, you northern hills, you mountains all goodbye
Saying goodbye to the northern hills and mountains with a heavy heart.
Moorlands and stony ridges, crags and peaks, goodbye
Taking leave from moorlands, stony ridges, crags, and peaks of the mountains.
Glyder Fach farewell, Cul Beig, Scafell, cloud-bearing Suilven
Saying goodbye to several mountains, including Glyder Fach, Cul Beig, Scafell, and cloud-bearing Suilven.
Sun-warmed rocks and the cold of Bleaklow's frozen sea
Reflecting on the memories of sun-warmed rocks and the cold of Bleaklow's frozen sea.
The snow and the wind and the rain of hills and mountains
Remembering the harsh weather conditions of the hills and mountains covered in snow, wind, and rain.
Days in the sun and the tempered wind and the air like wine
Cherishing the days spent in the sun with the gentle wind blowing, and the air like wine.
And you drink and you drink till you're drunk on the joy of living
Enjoying life to the fullest, drinking in every moment, and getting high on the joy of living.
Farewell to you, my love, my time is almost done
Expressing goodbye to a dear love as the time of the departure comes closer.
Lie in my arms once more until the darkness comes
Savoring the last moments of togetherness in each other's arms before darkness sets in.
You filled all my days, held the night at bay, dearest companion
Expressing gratitude towards the dearest companion who filled all the days and held the night at bay.
Years pass by and they're gone with the speed of birds in flight
Reflecting that time passes as fast as the speed of birds flying high up in the sky.
Our lives like the verse of a song heard in the mountains
Comparing lives to the verse of a song heard in the mountains, which echoes in the mind long after it is gone.
Give me your hand and love and join your voice with mine
Asking for love, holding hands, and joining voices to sing together.
And we'll sing of the hurt and the pain and the joy of living
Singing together, cherishing the memories of the hurt, pain, and joy of living.
Farewell to you, my chicks, soon you must fly alone
Saying goodbye to the young ones who are soon to fly alone.
Flesh of my flesh, my future life, bone of my bone
Referring to the young ones as the flesh of flesh, future life, and the bone of the bone.
May your wings be strong may your days be long safe be your journey
Wishing for the young ones' strong wings, long days, and a safe journey ahead.
Each of you bears inside of you the gift of love
Recognizing the gift of love inside each young one.
May it bring you light and warmth and the pleasure of giving
Wishing for the gift of love to enlighten and warm their hearts and enjoy the pleasure of giving.
Eagerly savour each new day and the taste of its mouth
Encouraging the young ones to cherish every day and savor the taste of life.
Never lose sight of the thrill and the joy of living
Advising the young ones to never forget the thrill and joy of living.
Take me to some high place of heather, rock and ling
Requesting to be taken to a place high up in the mountains with heather, rock, and ling.
Scatter my dust and ashes, feed me to the wind
Asking to scatter the ashes and dust and let them feed the wind.
So that I may be part of all you see, the air you are breathing
Requesting to become a part of everything being seen, breathed in the air.
I'll be part of the curlew's cry and the soaring hawk,
Becoming part of the curlew's cry, and the soaring hawk.
The blue milkwort and the sundew hung with diamonds
Becoming part of the blue milkwort and the sundew hung with diamonds.
I'll be riding the gentle breeze as it blows through your hair
Becoming part of the gentle breeze, blowing through the hair.
Reminding you how we shared in the joy of living
Reminding of the joy of living, shared together.
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: EWAN MACCOLL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
gdgest
Indeed, @Sheila Kinsella ... Francesco Spiga has a great page at CPDL which offers the following general information:
Title: Madonna tu mi fai lo scorrucciato
Composer: Anonymous
Lyricist: Anonymous
Number of voices: 3vv Voicings: STB or SSB
Genre: Secular, Folksong
Language: Neapolitan
Instruments: A cappella
Published: 1537 in Canzoni villanesche alla napolitana, Naples: Johannes de Colonia.
http://www2.cpdl.org/wiki/index.php/Madonna_tu_mi_fai_lo_scorrucciato_(Anonymous) ...
And... Ontapic has a YouTube video which features NCCP's variant which readily shows the source of MacColl's tune. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oOkVCpXmRrg ... I have added this data to the page at GEST Songs. Thanks for digging this up. :)
Philip Davison
This song, and Ewan, will be part of my life until my dying breath. Although born in England, he was a true Scot. I can't think of a better poem of love from a dying man to his wife and children. You'll always be with me, Ewan. Safe be your journey.
Carol Cripps
This song helped me get through the days following the passing of my mother in 1993, and seven years later, when my dad passed. Whenever I hear it, I think of them, but not with sorrow.
BodsnVimto
Ewan - you still live on in the air of every hill around here in this wonderful North West of England - and probably a few in Ireland too.
RIP to a fierce defender of us common folks.
Sarah Moore
Beautiful
BodsnVimto
@Sarah Moore A very, very belated thank you to you. I must have missed your response previously.
Leon Lawson
And all those in Scotland.
Dervie100
Pure poetry. What a wonderfully talented man. So sad that both he and Kirsty are now gone,
gordon jenks
I remember playing this song after hearing the news of my fathers death. I was cuddling my girls Francesca and Alexandra listening to Ewan MacColl sing the Joy of Living with tears pouring down my face. What a poignant moment.That was March 1996. I have just come across it again today December 12th 2015 while trolling through You tube. I played it again and phoned Alexandra and the memories came flooding back. Alexandra remembered.
Alun Rhys Jones
Thank you so much. Of all of MacColl's great songs, this one moves me the most.
Dave Pass
A lovely inspiring song and one that I can empathise with as a fellow hiker. We have his legacy and others with the right to roam over mountains which is so important.