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We Are for Egypt

by River to River Community Records

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1.
Llegaron junto a las mariposas // they came with the butterflies under the wings of their ancestors they harvested the land and made themselves a new home Eoh, Eah, por dentro, todos somos igual //on the inside, we are all the same x 2 Otros llegaron con los búhos // others came with the owls con sed de sabiduría // with thirst of wisdom otros no saben qué pasó // others don’t know what happened they just landed in here Eoh, Eah, por dentro, todos somos igual x 2 Mirá, que todos tenemos sueños // look, we all have dreams no importan banderas, la raza o el sexo // no matter the flags, the race or sex y llegamos al mismo lugar // we arrived in the same place Little Egypt nos quiso albergar // Little Egypt gave us a shelter una tierra peculiar de compleja humanidad // a peculiar land of complex humanity nos hizo olvidar que existen fronteras // made us forget that there are borders que las banderas poco enseñan // that flags don’t teach a thing que después de la muerte, somos materia seca // that after death, there’s only dry matter escucha mi letra // listen to this no somos dueños del planeta // we don’t own the planet solo vecinos en esta tierra // we’re neighbors on this earth con sus retos y sus pruebas // among challenges and trials las diferencias se vuelven estrechas // differences become so small con café y buen ron // with good coffee and rum nada mejor que un buen son // nothing better than a good song olvidamos lo que es nación y cantamos esta canción // we forgot what a nation is and sang this song Eoh, Eah, por dentro, todos somos igual // on the inside, we are all the same Eoh, Eah Todos somos igual // we are all the same Eoh Eah Todos somos, todos somos igual // we are all (x 2) the same
2.
Ma named me Charles Cane Wilson in ‘93 Pa lies deep in the shaft of number 19 She works the days long and into the night and I tend a Sumac fort on the hillside I let my dreams take me to the past Where I can be wild and strong and fast My name is Charlie I’m a pirate of the Shawnee We’ve been here forever, and ever shall be My name is Charlie We’re the pirates of the Shawnee I hold in my hand the sword from a man Who is a river pirate just like me I spotted it gleaming so powerful seeming This bank of sand at his command I watched down below upon the Ohio If he returns I’ll join his fearless band I dreamt they would come for me To Cave-in-Rock we’d ferry And I would bring home riches From the pirates of the Shawnee One night I awoke as though in a dream To Captain Mason standing before me Into the dark flew my Captain and me Where soon I’d learn my savior he’d not be Crimson daggers waving Innocents are wailing Darkest fears, death drawing near My name is Charlie I’m a captive I’m a poor boy They’ve been here forever, and ever shall be My name is Charlie I’m with the pirates of the Shawnee In the pirates’ den I lay in ties No riches did I find My vision of salvation was only in my mind By dawn’s light a torturous path Atop the cave pirate’s wrath I close my eyes to the wind and the water My name is Charlie It’s the eve of my ninth birthday Ma waits for me at home in Rosiclare My name is Charlie And the current will take me there
3.
Boomer was the fastest dog in old Makanda town quicker than the trains that came around His master’d ride, the dog beside him keeping steady pace With just three legs that hound would make a name Boomer, everyday he went down- town, he drew a crowd Boomer, all who saw him knew he was the fastest dog around All aboard! See the fastest dog around! x 2 He caught the eye of jealous men who ran that coal fired train That dog makes us look slow they would complain We’ll have a race and pickup pace and use our quickest train and show this town ‘the fastest’ is our claim Boomer, doesn’t stand a chance, we’ll leave him far behind Boomer, we’ll do what we have to just to make good time All aboard! See the fastest train in town! x 2 Boomer raced the fastest train in old Makanda town took the lead with three legs on the ground Conductor said let’s pull ahead and so they shoveled hard The train caught fire his master was aboard Boomer, lift his legs to cool the flames, two legs charged forward Boomer, met his end upon a wall, a hero’s end to mourn All aboard! A hero’s end to mourn x 2
4.
You may sing of old Kentucky Or your Indiana home You may boast of old Missouri Or the many lands you roam But to me no land is dearer When I dream of girls and boys Than the country of my childhood down in Southern Illinois chorus: Down in Southern Illinois x 2 And I guess I’d rather stay, sir Down in Southern Illinois You may call it Darkest Egypt You may call us green as grass Say we live on mush and bacon Johnny cakes and apple sass (Apple sass? Yum yum!) But I tell you all your talking Don’t begin to equal joy That I feel when in the country Down in Southern Illinois chorus You may tell me of the grandeur Of big cities, oh so fine, You may say their life is better Than this country life of mine But I dream of hog and cattle Country sights and lots of noise And I guess I’d rather stay, sir Down in Southern Illinois chorus x 2
5.
Old girl from Cairo town I wish she was dead She did some crazy things Put that notions in my head chorus: Great God, ain’t that hard Great God, ain’t that hard Great God, can’t you see For me to love a woman that don’t love me Came down from Cairo town Ain’t got a lousy dime You know I spent it all on that damn Cairo girl of mine chorus Old girl from Cairo town I wish she was dead She did some crazy things Put that notions in my head chorus
6.
Mid the valleys and the hills mid the woodlands and the rills in the land that pleasure fills is the County of Saline County of Saline x 2 In the land that pleasure fills is the County of Saline Broad and fertile are the fields Great the income nature yields And the cause of right she shields In the County of Saline County of Saline x 2 And the cause of right she shields In the County of Saline chorus: Grand old County of Saline Fertile spot of Egypt’s plain Truest days that we have seen was in the County of Saline Homes and schools and churches too and her people brave and true make the future bright in view for the County of Saline County of Saline x 2 make the future bright in view In the County of Saline chorus x 2 Grand old County of Saline
7.
Let me tell you all a story back in 1861 Down in Southern Illinois in the town of Marion A big ol’ crowd had gathered upon the town square There were horses and their wagons there were people everywhere The topic was rebellion And the union to divide It was neighbor against neighbor It was time to choose a side Now John Logan was a man that everybody knew and down here he was respected To his country he’d been true He drove his team into the crowd And he stood in the wagon bed And the crowd became so quiet And this is what he said Well, you gotta preserve the Union, boys There is no other way You can stand up for your country, boys We can’t divide the state I’m gonna join the army And I’m gonna join today And I want you to come with me And John Logan led them away Let me tell you all a story back in 1861 Down in Southern Illinois in the town of Marion
8.
In the town of Shawneetown As the evening shades cames down On a quiet Sabbath evening, cold and gray While the people walked the street Or in dear communion sweet Within their peaceful homes the close of day All at once the bells were ringing With a wild and awful din While the fearful fact breaks over one and all That the faithful levees broke Pales the lips of those who spoke While the roaring, clashing, awful flood comes in There were heroes, too, that day Franklin Robinson, they say With his boat brought many safely to the shore While they struggled with the waves He rowed out, their lives to save Working bravely ‘til the awful flood was o’er Father Bikeman saw it coming Like a giant mountain high And he knew what dangers in his pathway lie But he did his duty well While he boldly rang the bell Warning all within the danger line to fly In the town of Shawneetown There are broken hearts and homes Since that fateful Sabbath evening, cold and gray Where was once all smiles and light There is not but darkest night Where was once a happy city, wrecks appear Let us rally to their hardship From the city, hill and plain Give our sympathy and money to their aid Soon calamity may fall On our loved ones, homes and all May be separated ne’re to meet again
9.
I live in Southern Down in Southern Southern Illinois I live in Southern Southern Illinois I’ma tell you people something, you can really feel the joy Little Egypt (x 2) is in Southern Illinois x 2 Like the land across the water, they got Pyramids on the soil Superman city (x 2) is in Southern Illinois x 2 In the town called Metropolis Boy, what a joy Bald Knob Cross (x 2) is in Southern Illinois x 2 That’s where they bless the bikes That’s a joy Come on down (x 2) to Southern Illinois x 2 You’ll be glad you did and that’s a joy
10.
Bonsoir le maître et la maîtresse, et tout le monde du logis, pour le dernier jour de l’année ô la Guillannée vous nous devez (Good evening to the master and mistress, and to everybody in the house for the last day of the year, you owe us the New Year’s mistletoe) La Guillannée vous nous devez dites-nous-le si vous voulez nous rien donner dites-nous-le (You owe us the New Year’s mistletoe, tell it to us if you don’t want to give us anything, tell it to us) Bonsoir le maître et la maîtresse, et tous le monde du logis, pour le dernier jour de l’année ô la Guillannée vous nous devez (Good evening to the master and mistress, and to everybody in the house for the last day of the year, you owe us the New Year’s mistletoe) La Guillannée vous nous devez dites-nous-le Si vous voulez nous rien donner dites-nous-le (You owe us the New Year’s mistletoe, tell it to us if you don’t want to give us anything, tell it to us) On vous demande seulement une échinée (We’ll only ask you for a pork backbone) Une échinée n’est pas grande chose ça n’a que de dix pieds de long Nous en ferons une fricassée de quatre-vingt dix pieds de long (A pork backbone is not a lot, it's only about 10 feet long and we'll make ourselves a stew that is 90 feet long) Si vous voulez nous rien donner dites-nous-le On vous demande seulement la fille aînée (If you don’t want to give us anything, tell it to us We’ll only ask you for the oldest daughter) Nous lui ferons faire bonne chère, nous lui ferons chauffer les pieds Quand nous fûmes au milieu du bois nous fûmes à l’ombre (We’ll make her make a feast and we’ll make her warm her feet When we were lost in the woods, we were in the shadows) J’entendais la coucou chantez et la colombe Rossignol du vert bocage ambassadeur des amoureux (I heard the cuckoo sing and the dove, Nightingale of the green wooded countryside, ambassador to those in love) Mais va te dire à ma maîtresse qu’elle a toujours le cœur joyeux qu’elle a toujours le cœur joyeux point de tristesse (Go tell my mistress to always have a joyous heart Always a joyous heart, no sorrow at all) Tous les fillettes qui n’ont pas d’amant comment vivent-elles Ce sont les amours qui les réveillent et qui les empêchent de dormir (How do all these girls live without a lover It’s their longing that keeps them wakeful and disturbs their sleep) Supplions à la compagnie de vouloir bien nous excuser si nous avons fait quelque folie c’était pour nous désennuyer une autre fois nous prenons garde quand sera temps de revenir (We supplicate for the forgiveness of the company If we have pulled any shenanigans, it was just to have some fun Next time we will be more careful, when it’s time to return) La chandelle de ma cousine elle a fait de grand coton il y’a toujours moyen de rire pour les filles et les garçons (The candle of my cousin, she made of large cotton There's always a way to make the girls and boys laugh) Bonsoir le maître et la maîtresse, et tout le monde du logis, (Good evening to the master and mistress, and everybody in the house) Bonne Année (Happy New Year)

about

Executive Producer’s Note: Stacy Davidson

My vision for this album is to bridge Southern Illinois’ traditional musical heritage with its living arts culture while highlighting Southern Illinois’ fascinating “Egyptian” legacy. In an homage to the “song catching” of Appalachian ballads, I set aside half the album for traditional songs and the other half to newly-commissioned works. It was a firm requirement that all of the musicians were from Southern Illinois or were active in Southern Illinois’ music scene. I also hope this album serves as an example for historians and researchers to develop more outward-facing projects and incorporate community members in the knowledge-making process. Ultimately, a scholar’s work is not for themselves but for others. May listeners, present and future, find inspiration in these songs and the rich, artistic traditions of Egypt, Illinois.

My work on this album is dedicated to the memories of my Grandpa,JohnT. Davidson (1928-2003), dulcimer-player extraordinaire and history buff, and my landsman, Steven H. Crane (1980-2020),
saxophonist, bass clarinetist, and repository
of Egyptian Illinois lore.

I am grateful for the unwavering support of Joseph Davidson and Carolyn Davidson as well as my family, friends, and supportive colleagues.This album would not have been made without the dedication, hard work, creativity, expansive talent, and extensive experience of my Producer, Jenny Pape, and the musicians who contributed to this album.



Producer’s Note: Jenny Pape

When Stacy contacted me, I knew the hardest part of my job was going to be narrowing the scope of this project to only a handful of songwriters and performers in this area. Not the worst problem to have, I admit.We’re fortunate to have a rich, musical history in Southern Illinois, with a community that celebrates live music and its songwriters.This album, I believe, shows that to be true. A lot of research went into selecting the traditional songs, and I found the SIU Press to be a great resource of local folklore, oral traditions, regional specific songs, and public domain works.When selecting songwriters and thinking of the type of sound for the album, I wanted to keep with the American roots music found within this region and include: blues, folk, Americana, bluegrass/string band music, and even a blend of Latin and country music. I was continuously impressed by what the artists brought to the table throughout the entire process of writing, arranging and performing. This project has been a blast! It’s been a journey, and I can’t say enough good things about it, so I’ll stop trying.

I’d like to dedicate this album to my son, Thelonious Arthur Pape, with a smile sweeter than a Cobden peach.

Thank you to my supportive husband, Alex Pape, my creative and technical sounding boards, Alex Jockusch and Josh Morrison, and all of the incredibly talented songwriters and musicians. A heartfelt thank you to our Executive Producer, Stacy Davidson, the reason any of this happened— we are so grateful for you.

credits

released November 8, 2022

Executive Producer: Stacy Davidson
Producer: Jenny Pape
Assistant Producers: Oleksander Jockusch & Josh Morrison
Recorded by Oleksander Jockusch & Jenny Pape
Mixed by Oleksander Jockusch
Mastered by Jenny Pape

Album design, original artwork and layout by Nate Graham
Cover photo by Jen Haselhorst
Art direction: Stacy Davidson

This album was recorded at Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL, and supported by a Mellon/ACLS Community College Faculty Fellowship from the American Council of Learned Societier.

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River to River Community Records Carbondale, Illinois

Releasing vinyl records and promoting music for Southern Illinois artists.

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