Jimbo - My Man in the chair

[Jimbos son]

Hello Jimbo,

I thought you might like this song.’The Old Man’ by the Fureys.

Tony

https://youtu.be/H6C-Fphx9lE?feature=shared

Thanks so much, Tony. I absoultely love it. A very special song.

A couple of weeks before dad died, a young Irish singer , Geroid McCarthy actually sang that in Newfoundland when he had just got word his own dad passed away. It was recorded, you can watch the extremely emotional performance here.

https://www.tiktok.com/@justinfancymusi ... 6396156166

[Jimbos son]

I'm so sorry to hear of your loss, Jamie. I wasn't part of the newsgroup, but I did get to "meet" your dad on the forum, and I liked him very much. He was kind, funny, and occasionally silly in the best way. And of course, he was poetic. I especially loved his poems/haiku about nature.

Speaking of his kindness, here's a small example: he didn't believe me when I said I was a bad cook. He sent me a couple of very simple recipes that I couldn't mess up, and they turned out quite well, my favourite was a smoked salmon potato bake that tasted amazing but was very easy. It was something he didn't need to do and was very considerate. I'm guessing your family had a number of great meals together!

I love your poem, Jamie, and I think Lisa's response was perfect. I don't think you should change a thing; it's just right. I know these next few weeks and months will be hard, my thoughts and warm wishes are with you and your family.

Thanks so much for the fabulous message, Cate. That's a really cool story about the cooking , thanks for sharing it!

Yes, many a fabulous meal we had together is right! He chose cheffing versus being an electirican, and it's mad how different his and our lives would have turned out from a simple crossroads.He wouldn't have met mom and myself and my sister Sarah wouldn't be here, for example haha. I have a little poem referring to that which I will share on the thread shortly

Thank you so much for the kind words on my previous poem, it means a lot. My sister liked it too, she insisted on getting it framed and displaying it next to dads poem at the funeral.

[Jimbos son]

Dad's crossroads

You could have been a sparky,
then we would not be here,
but off you went and learned to cook,
so that you could disappear...

From Forkhill in South Armagh,
leaving behind your ma and da,
to find some work you had to go,
you ended up in the Dunloe.

The troubles left to go and cook,
to meet your flower and start your book,
of love and loss and love again.
You know she loved you till the end.

You understood what was meant to be,
so you didn't leave for Germany,
You stayed at home with a girl called Rose
and made our special family.

Jamie Cunnningham, 2025

[AlanM]

Dear Jamie,

I have just read this thread and it has brought tears to my eyes.

I'm sorry to say that I never encountered your Dad either in life or on this Forum, but I hope your bravery in exposing your emotions here will bring out some who did know him, and you find out more of his complexities that make every one of us unique individuals.

I wish you well in your quest.

Alan

[Jimbos son]

Dear Jamie,

I have just read this thread and it has brought tears to my eyes.

I'm sorry to say that I never encountered your Dad either in life or on this Forum, but I hope your bravery in exposing your emotions here will bring out some who did know him, and you find out more of his complexities that make every one of us unique individuals.

I wish you well in your quest.

Alan

Alan, thanks for reaching out on the thread and offering those nice words.
I suppose unforutunately, grief connects us all, and it's very important to talk and share.
I didn't realise how cathartic this thread along with the poetry could be for me but it makes sense when it was
dads medium of expression in times of need.

Look after yourself and thanks again:)

Edit- by the way, that's a very impressive CV of Leonard concerts, Alan. Unfortunately we only saw him the once!

[Jimbos son]

Talking to dad.

I write this from your laptop, it's all that I have left.
We haven't got your ashes yet, it's like you aren't dead.
Your clothes in bags beside me, ready to unpack,
it's hard to filter through it all when we just want you back.

I'll make sure you stay up to date, in all your Scrabble games
you haven't got a bingo yet, but you're winning for a change:)
Armagh are quarter final bound, they beat the Dubs by piles,
The Orange Men for Sam again, I know that would make you smile.

There's one fair county in Ireland, we'll have to bring you back,
we'll scatter some ashes on Slieve Gullion, and the grave of your mom and dad.
I hope you are in heaven now, and God has you in his plan,
No doubt you're playing poker and shouting 'Fag me,Mr man!'

Jamie Cunningham 03/06/2025

[AlanM]

Edit- by the way, that's a very impressive CV of Leonard concerts, Alan. Unfortunately we only saw him the once!

Hi Jamie,

While many have heard (of) Leonard Cohen, few have really listened to his lyrics and music. Many of his songs require multiple listenings for the audience to appreciate the intriguing interweaving of words and music.
In concert he often changed arrangements between and during tours, so there are many differing versions of the same song out there. Many of these songs have been discussed in great depth on this Forum. I take great pleasure in listening to one particular song to hear how it progressed and developed (improved even?) through the various tours.
In the relatively few concerts I attended, I found that although several thousand were in the audience, he was only singing to me, an amazing skill.

To those who repeat the old cliché “music to slash your wrists to”, my reply is “show me the scars”. After a bumbling reply, I follow up with “well, you may have heard Leonard Cohen, but you certainly have not listened to him.”

No artist has affected my life in the way that LC has since I encountered him as a temporary “Dub” at TCD in 1968.
Some individual story songs by other artists may have come close but most were one hit wonders.

So, “Let me take you by the hand and lead you through the Songs of Leonard”. There are many concert reports within this Forum that are worth reading and re-reading, as well as links to a plethora of concert versions of his songs, both the well-known and the obscure.

If the “thrill of the chase” is unimportant to you, and the end result is the more significant thing, send me a PM and I’ll point you in the right direction (I hope).

Alan

From the land of Seamus Heaney. Well, a neighbouring townland, actually.