[DaiCroParticipant]

Dex won't let me sleep so: I thought I'd let the hares see the bunny.:-D

A timely reminder of constant struggle and indefatigable spirit. My friend Neil from Ontario sent me this this morning:

http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/a…t-of-food?bn=1

And so I thought we might share our contribution… May, 27th 2008… four weeks after being rushed 80 miles to Singleton Hospital, Swansea after an MRI picked up the tumour that has completely crushed a vertebrae in my spine… six high doses of radiotherapy and twelve days later I was home and walking and more importantly, sleeping almost prone (I had spent the previous 4 weeks sitting upright in a chair every night because the spasms I got when I laid on my back were absolutely agonising)… anyway.;-)

Dai.

A Dai & Neil Co-write, Dai performing live.

[b]The River Rose – (Neil Cotton & Dai Crowther) ©2008[/b]

[b]V1[/b]
This winter the James Bay basin had extra heavy snow
The rivers stayed rock hard cause it was extra cold
March came in like a Lion but walked out like a lamb
Thawing the sheet of white that had covered their land
[b]
Lift 1[/b]
The river was rising up licking at their doors
Last time this happened was just 3 years before
[b]
Chorus:[/b]
Their island?s on the Fort Albany River
One hour paddle from its mouth
The spring flood has forced the Hercules
To come in and fly them out
Amongst the tears and the pride of years
The old and young in doubt
The river rose and they were flown south
The river rose and they were flown south

[b]V2[/b]
Families with little kids, the old and the infirmed
Were cradled in the wings of the Army?s silver birds
Proudly independent, the old Cree made their stand
Some of them too stubborn to leave their Native land

[b]Lift 2 [/b]
This reserve has struggled with this cycle many times before
The youth are beginning to wonder if they'll move back for more

[b]Chorus: [/b]
Their island?s on the Fort Albany River
One hour paddle from its mouth
The spring flood has forced the Hercules
To come in and fly them out
Amongst the tears and the pride of years
The old and young in doubt
The river rose and they were flown south
The river rose and they were flown south

[b]Tag:[/b]
The only flowers that grow
Are the rose of ice and snow
The old want to stand their ground
Their youth are southern bound
The river rose and they were flown south
The river rose and they were flown south

[NettieParticipant]

Wow! Dai I am so impressed ~ this is excellent ~ a man of many talents, thanks so much for sharing this.

Love Nettie xx

[DaiCroParticipant]

Thank you Nettie,

Like your sterling and exciting jump, which left me breathless, it shows that we are more than the sum of this damned disease… that we have interests and skill-sets and achievements beyond those of suffering stoically.
😐
I wish we could get more people to use the off-topic to share their interests etc… 😎

Dai.

[jmsmythParticipant]

Hi Dai

The River Rose was really lovely. It must be very difficult to write a song with someone so far away! I really enjoyed it. The first link would not work said it had expired.

Best wishes
Jean x

[DaiCroParticipant]

Thank you Jean… I will check the link… May 27th 2008… perhaps an update is in order but it is part of my plan to upload a whole album's worth of my all-time favourite self-penned/collaboration songs.;-)

The process was quite easy on this occasion.. Neil sent me his basic lyric… I 'tidied' it up, wrote the bridge and the main part of the chorus and then wrote the music and performed. Neil liked and so it was a keeper.8-)

I have about 20 collaboration songs in total.. nearly all US or Canadian friends.. its a satisfying process but it can be difficult if someone gets a bit 'precious' about certain aspects… in which case I give in but strike them off my future plans.:-

Regards:-)

Dai.

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