Lyrics: Canadian singer and songwriter, the late Rita MacNeil(1944 – 2013). Vocals: The melodic voice of Irish country, pop and folk singer Mary Duff.
Working Man.
It’s the workin’ man I am, And I’ve been down underground, And I swear to God if I ever see the sun, Or for any length of time, I can hold it in my mind, I never again will go down underground. At the age of sixteen years, Oh, he quarrels with his peers, Who vowed they’d never see another one, In the dark recess of the mines, Where you age before your time, And the coal dust lies heavy on your lungs. It’s the workin’ man I am, And I’ve been down underground, And I swear to God if I ever see the sun, Or for any length of time, I can hold it in my mind, I never again will go down underground. At the age of sixty-four, Oh, he’ll greet you at the door, And he’ll gently lead you by the arm, Through the dark recess of the mines, Oh, he’ll take you back in time, And he’ll tell you all the hardships that were had. It’s the workin’ man I am, And I’ve been down underground, And I swear to God if I ever see the sun, Or for any length of time, I can hold it in my mind, I never again will go down underground. It’s the workin’ man I am, And I’ve been down underground, And I swear to God if I ever see the sun, (see the sun), Or for any length of time, (any length of time), I can hold it in my mind, (in my mind), I never again will go down underground.
On Monday evening last, at 14:21 hours, I was contacted (PM on Facebook) by Mr Jim Ryan, (Elected Local Councillor). He informed me that his associates had held a meeting ‘with a few experts‘, with regards to the state of the river Suir at Barry’s bridge in the town centre.
There was I thinking that I was going to be reprimanded, by my betters, for contacting the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which I certainly did, in an attempt to get some action in my efforts to save the decline of the River Suir and to lower, at least somewhat, the filthy stench currently being emitted from its murky waters.
No, thank God, the EPA hadn’t informed Mr Ryan directly, about my daring activities. Instead he was anxious to obtain images of sewage flowing into the river, which he had been fighting to correct for over the past 11 years; with his colleagues failing to support him and he without a camera of his own and no sense of smell.
In the course of our brief communication, I must apologise to Mr Ryan for misleading him. I had stated that I thought that the emissions from the area at the Emmett street “swinging gates” side of the river walk had been fixed. However, I also had stated that because of nettles retained by our local ‘nettle hugging’ biodiversity individuals, same could not be fully confirmed.
I am now happy to confirm, using the Thurles.Info satellite; that fixing this problem, requested on June 30th, 2022(view Here); on October 14th, 2022(view Here); on June 28th, 2023(view Here); and again on October 26th 2023(view Here), was simply too much of a challenge for our elected double jobbers; what with the war in Ukraine; the war in Gaza, not to mention Covid.19 and the onset of space tourism.
I now feel embarrassed, as I report that the emissions reported two years are still happily flowing, leaching into the water; only in larger amounts than was reported previously back in 2022. Again the nettles forbid me from seeing the actual pipe and my only pair of wellington boots have sprung a leak.
Archival picture of sewage entering the river Suir taken in 2022. Pic: G.Willoughby.
Same sewage photographed two years later on Saturday last. September 21st 2024. Pic: G.Willoughby.
Meanwhile, the person who sent men into the river, without supervision, on Tuesday and Wednesday of last week, should consider their position and resign.
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We had expected this workforce to return to complete their cleaning work on Thursday, and Friday last, but alas, no show; hope they didn’t pick up anything, forcing them to take sick leave. The reeds were cut, using strimmers, and left to float on the water’s surface, blocking the two fish runs, and forcing the main water stream to flow directly over the low weir. Branches were removed from under the bridges arches and left partially in the water and on the river bank. As our video shows, despite no rain over the past 7 days, water is still flowing from a drain under Thurles Swimming Pool, directly into the river, as is a stream of water from pipes under Barry’s Bridge, which we reported last January, (view Here).
Anyone Missing A Sock? No effort has been made to collect the numerous years of litter, piled and hidden in the receding undergrowth, found in the river itself and on its banks, in the form of plastic bags, tins, bottles, clothing, etc. One thing I did discover; while Red Bull liquid may give you ‘Wiings’, their empty containers remain fully grounded, when caught floating in existing Blanket Weed (filamentous algae).
Yes, the public are totally responsible for this littering, but what are we getting in return for vehicle parking charges and for local property tax, the latter which has increased in Thurles every year, since it was introduced in 2013 except during local election years.
Members of Thurles Tidy Towns, Thurles Gun Club and myself had worked for absolutely no recompense to make this same area visually beautifully, which Thurles Municipal District Councillors and their officials have now turned it into a cesspit, having removing all its assets.
It may now be necessary to put together a working volunteer group to save this wonderful asset, for according to Mr Ryan (Cllr.), despite being set up in 2016, the outfit known as the Local Authority Waters Programme (LAWPRO), have no immediate action plan in place and will require 4 months to make such plans, before urgent funding can even be applied for.
Lyrics: Singer, producer, and musician Adam Wright(nephew of Alan Jackson), American country music singer-songwriters Hailey Whitters and Sarah Turner. Vocals: American country music singer-songwriter, Alan Eugene Jackson.
The Older I Get.
The older I get, The more I think, You only get a minute, better live while you’re in it, ‘Cause it’s gone in a blink. And the older I get, The truer it is, It’s the people you love, not the money and stuff, That makes you rich. And if they found a fountain of youth, I wouldn’t drink a drop and that’s the truth, Funny how it feels I’m just getting to my best years yet. The older I get, The fewer friends I have, But you don’t need a lot when the ones that you got, Have always got your back. And the older I get, The better I am, At knowing when to give, And when to just not give a damn. And if they found a fountain of youth, I wouldn’t drink a drop and that’s the truth, Funny how it feels I’m just getting to my best years yet, The older I get. And I don’t mind all the lines, From all the times I’ve laughed and cried, Souvenirs and little signs of the life I’ve lived. The older I get, The longer I pray, I don’t know why, I guess that I’ve, Got more to say. And the older I get, The more thankful I feel, For the life I’ve had and all the life I’m living still.
Lyrics: American country musician and song writer, the late Dallas Frazier(1939 – 2022). Vocals: American singer and song writer, the late Kenny Rogers(1938 – 2020).
Son of Hickory Holler’s Tramp.
The corn was dry, the weeds were high when Daddy took to drinkin’. Then him and Lucy Walker they took up and run away. Mama cried a tear and then, she promised fourteen children, I swear you’ll never see a hungry day. When Mama sacrificed her pride, the neighbours started talking, But I was much too young to understand a thing they said. The things that mattered most of all was Mama’s chicken dumplings, And a goodnight kiss before we went to bed. Oh, the path was deep and wide, from footsteps leading to our cabin, Above the door there burned a scarlet lamp, And late at night, a hand would knock and there would stand a stranger, Yes, I’m the son of Hickory Holler’s tramp. When Daddy left and destitution came upon our family, Not one neighbour volunteered to give a helping hand. So let ’em gossip all they want, she loved us and she raised us, The proof is standing here, a full grown man. Last summer Mama passed away and left the ones who loved her. Each and every one was more than grateful for their birth. Each Sunday she receives a fresh bouquet of fourteen roses, And a card that says, “The greatest Mom on earth”. Oh, the path was deep and wide, from footsteps leading to our cabin, Above the door there burned a scarlet lamp, And late at night, a hand would knock and there would stand a stranger, Yes, I’m the son of Hickory Holler’s tramp. Oh, the path was deep and wide, from footsteps leading to our cabin, Above the door there burned a scarlet lamp, And late at night, a hand would knock and there would stand a stranger, Yes, I’m the son of Hickory Holler’s tramp. Oh, the path was deep and wide, from footsteps leading to our cabin, Above the door there burned a scarlet lamp, And late at night, a hand would knock and there would stand a stranger, Yes, I’m the son of Hickory Holler’s tramp. END
‘Dancing In The Dark’ was the first single released ahead of Bruce Springsteen’s 1984 album, ‘Born in the U.S.A. and became his biggest hit, thus helping the album become the best-selling album of his career. This above named song was composed in one night by ‘The Boss’, following a row with his manager American music critic, writer, and record producer Jon Landau. Landau wanted “Born in the USA” to become a massive commercial hit, which went against Springsteen’s ethos with regards music and creativity. His lyrics discuss the difficulties of being a music artist (“check my look in the mirror, I wanna change my clothes, my hair, my face”), and highlight the pressures of commercial success, while maintaining artistic integrity. “Can’t start a fire… can’t star a fire without a spark”. “This gun’s for hire, even if we’re just dancing in the dark”, confirms that despite his creative mind, it is impossible to just click your fingers and immediately produce a hit song; which of course is what this Rock Music genius actually achieved.
Vocals and Lyrics: American rock singer, songwriter, and guitarist, (Nicknamed “The Boss”)Bruce Frederick Joseph Springsteen and the E Street Band.
Dancing In The Dark.
I get up in the evenin’, And I ain’t got nothin’ to say. I come home in the mornin’, I go to bed feelin’ the same way. I ain’t nothin’ but tired, Man, I’m just tired and bored with myself, Hey there, baby, I could use just a little help, You can’t start a fire, You can’t start a fire without a spark, This gun’s for hire, Even if we’re just dancin’ in the dark. Messages keeps gettin’ clearer, Radio’s on and I’m movin’ ’round my place, I check my look in the mirror, Wanna change my clothes, my hair, my face, Man, I ain’t gettin’ nowhere, I’m just livin’ in a dump like this, There’s somethin’ happenin’ somewhere, Baby, I just know that there is, You can’t start a fire, You can’t start a fire without a spark, This gun’s for hire, Even if we’re just dancin’ in the dark. You sit around gettin’ older, There’s a joke here somewhere and it’s on me, I’ll shake this world off my shoulders, Come on, baby, the laugh’s on me, Stay on the streets of this town, And they’ll be carvin’ you up alright. They say you gotta stay hungry, Hey baby, I’m just about starvin’ tonight, I’m dyin’ for some action, I’m sick of sittin’ ’round here tryin’ to write this book, I need a love reaction, Come on now, baby, gimme just one look, You can’t start a fire, Sittin’ ’round cryin’ over a broken heart, This gun’s for hire, Even if we’re just dancin’ in the dark. You can’t start a fire, Worryin’ about your little world fallin’ apart. This gun’s for hire, Even if we’re just dancin’ in the dark. Even if we’re just dancin’ in the dark. Even if we’re just dancin’ in the dark. Even if we’re just dancin’ in the dark. Hey baby! END
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