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IRISH AMERICAN NEWS, CHICAGO SHOWS INTEREST IN A NEW CIVIC FLAG FOR BELFAST. Pl…

IRISH AMERICAN NEWS, CHICAGO SHOWS INTEREST IN A NEW CIVIC FLAG FOR BELFAST.

Plus a new song “The Green and Blue” by Randall Stephen Hall.

The Green and Blue.
A song by Randall Stephen Hall. ©

https://soundcloud.com/randall-stephen-hall/the-green-and-blue-18-7-13

http://www.irishamericannews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=4627%3Anew-flag-for-belfast&catid=163%3Aiblogs&Itemid=192

Oh I hear your words
Rising like the sun.
Far across the fields
For they move as one.
Lining up like men
With their horses strong.
They will gather up
All their strength for song.

Oh these words I take
From this magic bag.
My sword and shield
They are all I have.
But they’ll fight for me
Just like Finn MacCool.
They are like a spear
I will throw for you.

Chorus.

Oh Ireland, oh Ireland.
Oh Cath-a-leen na Hoolihan.
Oh Ireland and Scotland too.
When will I see
Your green and blue?

But there’s more to this
Not just words you see.
Not just Ireland
For it’s you and me.
I am here you know
Like I’ve always been.
My two wee legs
Standing with the green.

Chorus.

Oh let me in
I am here so long.
Oh add my tunes
All to your song.
Oh harmony, oh harmony
Oh let your love
Just encircle me.

Chorus.

Oh Ireland
When will I see you?
Oh Ireland
When will I see you.


The Green And Blue. 18.7.13
soundcloud.com
I grew up in Belfast, never really relating to the conflict between Catholics and Protestants, between Unionists and Nationalists. I grew up a Pres…

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IRISH AMERICAN NEWS, CHICAGO SHOWS INTEREST IN A NEW CIVIC FLAG FOR BELFAST. Pl…

IRISH AMERICAN NEWS, CHICAGO SHOWS INTEREST IN A NEW CIVIC FLAG FOR BELFAST.

Plus a new song “The Green and Blue” by Randall Stephen Hall.

The Green and Blue.
A song by Randall Stephen Hall. ©

https://soundcloud.com/randall-stephen-hall/the-green-and-blue-18-7-13

http://www.irishamericannews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=4627%3Anew-flag-for-belfast&catid=163%3Aiblogs&Itemid=192

Oh I hear your words
Rising like the sun.
Far across the fields
For they move as one.
Lining up like men
With their horses strong.
They will gather up
All their strength for song.

Oh these words I take
From this magic bag.
My sword and shield
They are all I have.
But they’ll fight for me
Just like Finn MacCool.
They are like a spear
I will throw for you.

Chorus.

Oh Ireland, oh Ireland.
Oh Cath-a-leen na Hoolihan.
Oh Ireland and Scotland too.
When will I see
Your green and blue?

But there’s more to this
Not just words you see.
Not just Ireland
For it’s you and me.
I am here you know
Like I’ve always been.
My two wee legs
Standing with the green.

Chorus.

Oh let me in
I am here so long.
Oh add my tunes
All to your song.
Oh harmony, oh harmony
Oh let your love
Just encircle me.

Chorus.

Oh Ireland
When will I see you?
Oh Ireland
When will I see you.


The Green And Blue. 18.7.13
soundcloud.com
I grew up in Belfast, never really relating to the conflict between Catholics and Protestants, between Unionists and Nationalists. I grew up a Pres…

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The Gap in the Hedge. Poems, Songs and Stories. EBAF. The East Belfast Festival…

The Gap in the Hedge. Poems, Songs and Stories. EBAF. The East Belfast Festival August 2013.

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The Giant’s Causeway Story in Irish, released into the wild. The Giant’s Causew…

The Giant’s Causeway Story in Irish, released into the wild.

The Giant’s Causeway animated story, the Irish version,
is now available on You Tube. Hopefully there will be other language versions too.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KOCjt6uxF6s&feature=c4-overview&list=UUjBuqkbiVGJNpj9E0HmyZRw

Other useful links: www.randallstephenhall.com/shop
To purchase the Giant’s DVD, related books, The Duck
Or “The Wee Wee Man/Songs from the Moon Shed” CD.

http://www.earthnativeart.co.uk/dvd.htm
For a detailed guide of what is on the Giant’s Causeway DVD.

Contact: randall.stephen.hall@gmail.com

The main idea for the DVD was to bring English, Irish, Ulster Scots and Scots Gaelic together within the one area. I worked on this project between 1999 and 2002, when it was launched at the Linenhall Library.

For a link to my article in The Irish American News, Chicago on there being no evidence of the Irish Language, Ulster Scots or Scots Gaelic at the Giant’s Causeway, at present.
http://www.irishamericannews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=4078%3Athe-giants-causeway-&catid=128%3Aletters-to-the-editor&Itemid=382

The music that you hear at the beginning and end of the animation was sung by Catherine-Ann MacFee. Two songs from her classic album, “Canan Nan Gaidheal”.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catherine-Ann_MacPhee

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greentrax_Records

My drawings were animated by Peter Cooper, Michael Lee and Paul McKnight.

Various people helped me with translations and voice over work. Seán Ó Muiregáin/Irish version. Scots Gaelic translation/Ian MacDonald/The Gaelic Books Council/Voice over by Anne Sinclair. The Ulster Scots version was translated by Ian Parsley with help from Gavin Falconer. They both did a great voice over too. A Scots version was also written by the Scots poet, Dave Purdie.

Some extra useful links.

http://www.gaeilge.ie/

http://www.investni.com/

http://www.ulsterscotsagency.com/

http://www.gaelicbooks.org/


Giants Causeway – animation irish
www.youtube.com
The Giant’s Causeway Story in Irish, released into the wild. The Giant’s Causeway animated story, the Irish version, is now available on You Tube. Hopefully …

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The Giant’s Causeway Animation. Originally created in 2002. Here's a wee Octobe…

The Giant’s Causeway Animation. Originally created in 2002.
Here’s a wee October present. In English, Irish and Ulster Scots.

Now, released into the wild. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KOCjt6uxF6s

The English and Ulster Scots versions are on You Tube too.
Please share, if you wish.

Thanks.

Stephen.
www.randallstephenhall.com


Giants Causeway – animation irish
www.youtube.com
The Giant’s Causeway Story in Irish, released into the wild. The Giant’s Causeway animated story, the Irish version, is now available on You Tube. Hopefully …

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Hugh Midden Speaks. By Randall Stephen Hall. Here’s a wee collection of poems i…

Hugh Midden Speaks.
By Randall Stephen Hall.

Here’s a wee collection of poems
including one song and some musical elements
called “Hugh Midden Speaks”

https://soundcloud.com/hugh-midden-speaks/almost-eighty-7-12-11
A link to ten audio files. There may be more.

Background.

Although I work as an illustrator, I’m also involved
with writing, music, poetry and storytelling.

Part of this work has evolved into “Hugh Midden”,
A character of my own invention. Hugh expresses
ideas and thoughts that, to me, sound better
in his voice, than my own.

Hugh describes himself as a North Antrim Tribesman.
Of Scottish and Irish descent. A hybrid. A small holding
farmer. A wearer of the plaid/tartan blanket, overalls, boots, patched jeans, cap, ancient Harris tweed “jecket”, dark glasses and a smoker of the rolled cigarette.

He has worked at many things. Above his fire rests an ancient spear he calls “Ye Boy Ye”. His pen is also his spear.

He has his own opinions and thoughts. So here they are.

Good Luck.

www.randallstephenhall.com
randall.stephen.hall@gmail.com


Almost Eighty 7.12.11
soundcloud.com
Narrated by Hugh Midden. Hugh looks at life from the perspective of a working man who has had a hard and eventful life. What age is Hugh? He as nev…

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Colour Theory. (Flag Song). A song by Randall Stephen Hall © Chorus. Red whit…

Colour Theory. (Flag Song).
A song by Randall Stephen Hall ©

Chorus.

Red white and blue now.
Green white and gold.
All of these colours
They’re so very old.
You can’t own a colour
No woman or man.
For if you do now
You don’t understand.

Verse.

The red of the sunset.
The white of the moon.
The blue of the night now.
The May flowers in bloom.
You can’t make some colours
Line up like a gate.
To shut off your thinking.
What a terrible fate.

The green of the grass now.
The waves on the sea.
The gold of the harvest.
For you and for me.
You can’t make some colours
Just march like a drum.
Go die every Easter.
Come home, won’t you son.

Chorus.

Green, white, and gold now.
Red white and blue.
What do these colours.
Just mean to you?
Go look at your colours
Before you can find.
First, open your heart.
Then go change your mind.

Chorus.

But what of the white now
The colour we share?
The waves on the sea shore
The moon way up there.
The Dove, he was shot down.
His angels wings fly.
Feathers are colours.
For feathers we die.


Colour Theory 31.8.12
soundcloud.com
“Colour Theory” is a song from a collection I’ve been working on for a while. It looks at issues of identity around flags and identifica…

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The Fair Ground. A song by Randall Stephen Hall. 2007-2010 © Come with me to th…

The Fair Ground.
A song by Randall Stephen Hall.
2007-2010 ©

Come with me to the fairgound
Come with me today.
Come with me to the fairground
It is a special day.
Come with me amongst the lights.
Come with me, we’ll be all right.
Come along, oh take my hand
This can’t be wrong
You understand?

Let’s go and get some food now.
Let’s spend some time alone.
To walk amongst the crowds now
And find our own way home.
No one’s there to worry us.
No one’s there to hurry us.
No one’s there to spoil our fun.
Oh you and me, we are as one

Chorus.

At the fairground
At the fairground.
This is our special field.
At the fairground
At the fairground.
Where love will never yield.
Come and be my girl tonight.
You don’t have to fear me now.
I can’t make all these things right.
But love will conquer us somehow.
At the fairground.
At the fairgound.

I know your face and friends now.
You live across the bridge.
I’ve often seen your beauty
Since we were just wee kids.
Our freckles and the way we laughed.
Two speckled birds.
The way we danced.
Come let us go, let’s take a chance.
Oh here’s our love, a new romance
At the fairground
At the fairground.

https://soundcloud.com/randall-stephen-hall/the-fairground-29-9-12

Some new romances begin amongst people from different parts of the community. They find the fertile ground (the fair ground) of markets, fairgrounds and city centres, pubs, clubs and dances, to grow and blossom. Other areas like mixed youth clubs, integrated education and further education inspire a new kind of love in Northern Ireland.


The Fairground 29.9.12
soundcloud.com
The fairground. A safe place to meet. Bright lights, excitement, food and the promise something new.

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Why are you Leaving ? (Young male suicide in North and West Belfast) A song by R…

Why are you Leaving ?
(Young male suicide in North and West Belfast)
A song by Randall Stephen Hall.

How come you’re leaving?
And where will you go?
You look like winter
All covered with snow.
You’re much too young now
For hanging around.
So how come you’re leaving
When this old sun goes down?

The North and the West now
It’s harder living here.
The wolf packs they are running.
Sucking on cold beer.
Been’ sniffing at the hard stuff
Or some grass amongst the weeds.
But weeds can be beautiful.
Give birth to beautiful seeds.

Chorus.

While you’re hangin’ round
On this old side of town.
Where were your dreams?
Cause you don’t have to drown.
I look at your face.
You’re not warm anymore.
I don’t want to see you
Hangin’ round my door.

Comfort your parents
You’re lying so calm.
Who’se gonna tuck you in now
And wrap you up from harm?
Initiation, imagine your friends.
How they would miss you
And the love they would send.

So lift up your head now
And don’t let it fall.
By doing yourself down
And hitting that big wall.
You’re much too young
For hangin’ so long.
So don’t leave too early
With the sun sinking down.

Chorus.

https://soundcloud.com/randall-stephen-hall/why-are-you-leaving-1-12-12


Why are you Leaving? 1.12.12
soundcloud.com
“Why are you Leaving” is written about young male suicide in North and West Belfast. The song really speaks for itself.