Music To Have Your Teeth Out By

This playlist was prompted by a visit to the dentists, and is dedicated to the lovely Dr. Emma.

First a few words from Pam Eyres:

Oh, I wish I’d looked after me teeth,
And spotted the perils beneath,
All the toffees I chewed,
And the sweet sticky food,
Oh, I wish I’d looked after me teeth.

Well you didn’t, and that’s why you’re now lying back in the dentist’s chair. Have you taken those two Beta-blockers your GP gave you? Then close your eyes and just listen – you won’t feel a thing.

MTHYTOB **More on Page 2 »**
Apologies to Linux users for the Microsoft-only player. Until I fix this problem an URL to the (m3u format) playlist is here.

	1. Talk to me of Mendocino – from ‘Kate & Anna McGarrigle’ 1975.
Kate & Anna McGarrigle	Kate’s beautiful passionate words and the gorgeous harmonies with her sister say everything here – I can’t describe what I feel listening to this – make up your own mind! I bid farewell to the state of old New York My home away from home. In the state of New York I came of age When first I started roaming And the trees grow high in New York State And they shine like gold in the Autumn. Never had the blues from whence I came. But in New York State I got ‘em. Talk to me of Mendocino. Closing my eyes I hear the sea. Must I wait? Must I follow? Won’t you say “Come with me”? And it’s on to South Bend, Indiana Flat out on the western plain. Rise up over the Rockies and down on into California Out to where but the rocks again And let the sun set on the ocean. I will watch it from the shore. Let the sun rise over the redwoods. I’ll rise with it till I rise no more. Talk to me of Mendocino. Closing my eyes I hear the sea. Must I wait? Must I follow? Won’t you say “Come with me”? Kate McGarrigle Kate & Anna McGarrigle Mendocino Coast - Photo courtesy of sbelli, pa, USA

	2. Grace And Pride – from ‘Secret People’ – Capercaillie 1993.
Secret People	Karen Matheson is a firm favourite with me, and is one of my favourite ‘Dark Voices’. This beautiful song has the singer looking back with a great fondness, but almost overpowering longing, at happier times of her life – somewhere I’m sure we’ve all been. Water lapping round my knees Golden sand beneath my feet Would mean a lot to me There’s very little you can say To make those feelings go away Till you take me There’s nothing more that I prefer To see the boys and the girls Step it out with grace and pride As honesty flows by your side I cannot run from times hard pressed To become embittered, dispossessed Just like some do And maybe some place I can find Where wheel and heart become entwined Like I hope to And nothing matters more to you To sit and sing a song that’s true The first one there and last to leave Sweet memories for you to keep No easy lesson for me to learn Just to close those eyes of mock concern And halt your rush to be sincere There’s more in life for you to fear. Manus Lunny Secret People More about Capercaillie

	3. Snow – from ‘A Winter Garden’ – Loreena McKennitt 1995.
A Winter Garden	White are the far-off plains, and white The fading forests grow; The wind dies out along the height, And denser still the snow A gathering weight on roof and tree, Falls down scarce audibly The meadows and far-sheeted streams Lie still without a sound; Like some soft minister of dreams The snow-fall hoods me round; In wood and water, earth and air A silence everywhere Save when at lonely intervals Some farmer’s sleigh, urged on, With rustling runners and sharp bells Swings by me and is gone; Or from the empty waste I hear A sound remote and clear The barking of a dog, or call To cattle, sharply pealed, Borne echoing from some wayside stall Or barnyard far afield; Then all is silent and the snow falls Settling soft and slow The evening deepens and the grey Folds closer earth and sky The world seems shrouded, far away. Its noises sleep, and I as secret as Yon buried stream plod dumbly on and dream. Archibald Lampman (1861-1899) A Winter Garden – five songs for the season Snow

	4. Moving – From ‘The Kick Inside’ – Kate Bush 1978.
The Kick Inside	Moving stranger Does it really matter As long as you’re not afraid to feel? Touch me, hold me How my open arms ache! Try to fall for me How I’m moved How you move me With your beauty’s potency You give me life Please don’t let me go You crush the lily in my soul Moving liquid Yes, you are just as water You flow around all that comes in your way Don’t think it over It always takes you over And sets your spirit dancing How I’m moved How you move me With your beauty’s potency You give me life Please don’t let me go You crush the lily in my soul Words & Music by Kate Bush The Kick Inside Whale

	5. Lord In The Morning – from ‘Sing lustily, and with Good Cheer’ – Maddy Prior & the Carnival Band 1994.
Ling Lustily and with Good Cheer	Who was it that said ‘God has all the best tunes’? This one surely, is sung by one of his Angels. Maddy’s voice soars above the all-enclosing sympathetic harmony created by the combined male voices and bass strings. You don’t have to be a Christian to enjoy this – ignore the words and let the music caress your heart. Lord, in the morning Thou shalt hear My voice ascending high; To Thee will I direct my prayer, To Thee lift up mine eye. Up to the hills, where Christ is gone To plead for all His saints, Presenting at His Father’s throne, Our songs and our complaints. Thou art a God before Whose sight The wicked shall not stand; Sinners shall ne’er be Thy delight, Nor dwell at Thy right hand. But to Thy house will I resort, To taste Thy mercies there; I will frequent Thine holy court, And worship in Thy fear. O may Thy Spirit guide my feet In ways of righteousness! Make ev’ry path of duty straight And plain before my face. My watchful enemies combine To tempt my feet astray; They flatter, with a base design To make my soul their prey. Lord, crush the serpent in the dust, And all his plots destroy; While those that in Thy mercy trust, Forever shout for joy. The men that love and fear Thy Name Shall see their hopes fulfill’d; The mighty God will compass them With favour as a shield. Isaac Watts Sing Lustily and With Good Courage

	6. Je Sais Pas – from D’Eux by Celine Dion 2001.
D'Eux	Celine Dion has a (I believe undeserved) reputation for being a bit of a belter – not what you would want to soothe your savage brow. I’m of the opinion that her french-language songs are in a different league to the English-language stuff. For that reason, I haven’t included the English translation here. If your French dosn’t cut the mustard and you are curious as to what she is saying, use one of the translation websites. Je Sais Pas is just full of passionate longing. Hopefully it will touch you as it has touched me. Détourner des rivières, porter des poids Traverser des mers, je saurais faire Défier des machines, narguer des lois Les foudres divines, ça m’effraie pas J’sais prendre un coup, le rendre aussi River des clous, ça j’ai appris J’suis pas victime, j’suis pas colombe Et pour qu’on m’abîme, faut qu’je tombe Je sais les hivers, je sais le froid Mais la vie sans toi, je sais pas Je savais le silence depuis longtemps J’en sais la violence, son goût de sang Rouges colères, sombres douleurs Je sais ces guerres, j’en ai pas peur Je sais me défendre, j’ai bien appris On est pas des tendres par ici Je sais les hivers, je sais le froid Mais la vie sans toi, je sais pas Lutte après lutte, pire après pire Chaque minute, j’ai cru tenir J’voudrais apprendre jour après jour Mais qui commande à nos amours? Je sais les hivers, je sais le froid Mais la vie sans toi, je sais pas Je sais pas Je sais pas Jean-Jaques Goldman D’Eux

	7. Jimmy Mo Mhile Stor – from ‘Tears of Stone’ – The Rankin Sisters & The Chieftains 1999.
Tears of Stone	Bliain an taca seo Jimmy d’imigh uaim rún mo chléibh Ní thiocfaidh sé abhaile go dtabharfaidh sé cúrsa an tsaoil; Nuair a chífead é rithfead le fuinneamh ró-ard ina chomhair ‘S clúdód le mil é, sé Jimmy mó mhíle stór Bíonn m’athair is mo mháthair ag bearradh’s ag bruíon liom féin Táim giobaithe piocaithe ciapaithe cráite dem shaol; Thugas taitneamh don duine úd dob fhinne ’s dob áille snó Is chuaigh sé ar bhord loinge, sé Jimmy mó mhíle stór These twelve months and better my darling has left the shore He ne’er will come back till he travels the globe all over And when he returns with laurels I’ll crown him all over He’s the fondest of lovers, sweet Jimmy mó mhíle stór Raghadsa chun coille agus caithfead an chuid eile San áit ná beidh éinne, ag éisteacht le ceol na n-éan Ag bun an chrainn chaorthainn mar a bhfásann ann féar go leor Ag tabhairt taitnimh don duine úd, sé Jimmy mó mhíle stór He’s the fondest of lovers, sweet Jimmy mó mhíle stór Tears of Stone
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