3. The Keeper of the Songs

© Robbie O'Connell 2007 Slievenamon Music [BMI]

Frank Harte was arguably the most influential traditional singer and collector of his generation. He recorded ten albums, most of them with Donal Lunny’s tasteful accompaniment. His song collection was a rich source for traditional singers, such as Christy Moore, Andy Irvine, Karan Casey, Mick Moloney, John Doyle, and many more.
He was always generous with his time and his opinions. He loved nothing more than to see a song that had lain dormant in a dusty old book being brought back to life by a contemporary singer. He revered the tradition but did not treat it as a museum piece. He often quoted Brendan Kennelly’s great line, “All songs are living ghosts and long for a living voice.”

Frank became one of my musical heroes when I started singing as a teenager. He appeared frequently on television and radio programs, usually singing Dublin street songs. Overtime his brash voice mellowed and his repertoire widened. His two CD set of Napoleonic songs, My Name is Napoloen Bonaparte is one of my all time favorite recordings.

Fortunately for me, I got to know Frank over a twenty year period when we were both instructors at the annual Augusta Heritage Arts Irish Week in Elkins, WV. and we became close friends.

When Frank died, in 2005, I wrote a song, as a tribute to him, called Havoc in Heaven, which will appear later in this songbook. It was in the style of his humorous songs and I think he would have liked it. However, I also wanted to do a tribute that was more respectful and that would contain his own great aphorism, “Those in power write the history, those who suffer write the songs.” The Keeper of the Songs was the result.

THE KEEPER OF THE SONGS

(A tribute to Frank Harte)
© Robbie O'Connell 2007 Slievenamon Music [BMI]

That once brash voice is silent now, no more we’ll hear it soar 
To call us back to Dublin’s streets or Napoleon’s cruel war,
To feel again the nation’s pride as our heroes made a stand,
Or the sorrows of our countrymen when great hunger gripped the land.

And though his voice rings out no more, his words still linger on
”Those in power write the history, those who suffer write the songs.”

It was on the streets of Boyle one day, he heard a tinker's song
Of those heroes bold in Knockanure who bitterly were wronged.
His life would never be the same from that fateful moment on
For he realized he'd found the truth in the verses of a song.

And though his voice rings out no more, his words still linger on
”Those in power write the history, those who suffer write the songs.”

For the voices of his people and the stories that they told
He cherished like a wealthy man might treasure bars of gold.
Their songs like ghosts that long endured through centuries now gone 
Were proudly given life once more by the keeper of the songs.

And though his voice rings out no more, his words still linger on
”Those in power write the history, those who suffer write the songs.”