[Jomi]

For those who like the story:
This song is based on an accident in a local mine. the whole story is very harrowing so I chose just one part of it.
As one shift was ending and another beginning, some men and boys were were being brought up the pit shaft. Part of the machinery at ground level (weighing 17 tons) broke away and fell into the shaft, when it hit the ascending cage some of the support ropes at one side were broken, tipping it over and some of the men were thrown into the shaft.
Of those men left clinging to the cage, one of them called down the shaft to his son who was one of the people thrown out into the darkness. The song is based on this part.
The debris which fell down the shaft completely blocked the way out for the men and boys below and 205 of them died, 3 of them were aged 10 years.

[Jomi]

The lyrics:

Did you feel it falling, like thunder with coal dust all around?
Could you hear me calling, in the darkness far below the ground?
Did you hear me calling?

Your mother is weeping, it’s always the same as we stand at this place
One picture for keeping, white smile and white eyes on a dirty black face
Did you hear me calling?

And I think if only, there was something more we all could’ve done
Were you frightened and lonely, when the light had faded away and gone,
Did you hear me calling?

The pit head is all gone, there’s just a field where it once used to stand
We’re going home son, till next time with more pretty flowers in my hand
Did you hear me calling?

Did you feel it falling, like thunder with coal dust all around?
Could you hear me calling, in the darkness far below the ground?
Did you hear me calling?

Did you hear me calling?

January 16, 1862, Hester Pit

[knight46]

Jomi,
Great song and great job on guitar and vocals. The song is hauntingly lovely and your voice brings out all of the sentiment.
Great job as always.

[allthumbs]

Outstanding. You are a natural. You should get your talent out there. Start gigging.

[eddiez152]

Jomi,

Another outstanding tune. Even if you had not played guitar the vocals are wonderful. Another one for the Jomi file.

[cshude]

That was another great song. Your singing really brought out the sadness and pain the families must have felt. The echoing at the end really caught at the heart. You'd have the folks crying in their pints playing this one at the pub.

I think it's time to write a cheery song- you might put yourself in the same category as Leonard Cohen if you keep this up

[Jomi]

Knight46,
Thank you, I'm really pleased that you enjoyed it.

Allthumbs,
Thank you, for your belief in me I'm really very grateful. As for gigging, I'm beginning to picture you with a shotgun in my back marching me on to a stage somewhere.

Thanks Eddiez152, glad you enjoyed it and proud you're keeping it.

Cshude, I,m very glad you felt the emotion in the song, it really did come from the heart. There's obviously much more to the story and reading it was heartbreaking; but that poor man shouting down the shaft to his lost son really got to me.

I know what you mean about a cheery song, you're probably right, I do tend to gravitate towards sadness or tragedy. I think there's a bit more inside of me to come out yet though.

take care,

John

[Jomi]

Thanks YouToo,
Glad you liked it, I was worried that it would be considered morbid and no one would like it. It's quite scary posting here .......but not terrifying like singing in public!

John

[eddiez152]

Jomi,

Morbid ? I think not, many a tune have been written on this subject matter.
Gordon Lightfoot's The Wreak of the Edmund Fitzgerald is only one.
In a TV presentation that was done to honor the lost sailors, there was a bell rung for each lost sailor and everytime that bell rang it would send a chill up your arms.
You have a nitch, and a most wonderful one. A cheerfull tune is always a plus.

eddiez

[Jomi]

You always know the right thing to say Eddiez, thank you.

[diredigits]

John your songs are hauntingly beautiful. The blend of your guitar and voice bring forth the emotion within the song. Also I like the way you set the stage previous to the song, sort of a prelude to the song. I remember some folk singers of years past would do this. I think it helps the audience set up a mental picture of the event taking place in the song and sets the mood. I wouldn't worry about the melancholy aspect of your songs. You have to sing what you feel or it isn't real. You have a rare gift. Thanks for sharing it.

Pat

[Doug]

Jomi, that was beautifully, beautifully done. Writing is perfect, singing is excellent, guitar superb, and the production very professional. Hmmm, any other superlatives I could use.

Yup, not bad at all.

[Stratrat]

Jomi - I'm seldom known to be at a loss for words, but all I can say is WOW.......just WOW. Very powerful song, absolutely beautiful.

+1 to what everybody else said. You definitely should be gigging, your music is too good not to be shared.

[Jomi]

Thank you Diredigits (wonderful name), I AM a folk singer of years past, maybe that's where I got the habit of explaining the song first!
Unfortunately there's a 20 year gap between then and now with no playing in between.

Thanks Doug, there are quite a few other superlatives that have been directed at me over the years, but this is a family site!

Thank you Stratrat, especially since you helped me to get the echo sorted out for the ending.

[mattz196]

Fanatastic Jomi ,nothing morbid about telling a tale of loss with feeling and grace as you did.