My niece Katie was born in the autumn of 1976 so later this month she will be 48 years old. Born in north London, she had experienced many visits to western Ireland before she moved there for good at the age of eighteen.
If you heard her speaking now you would think she was entirely Irish and you would think the same if you witnessed her singing or playing her flutes and whistles in a bar in Kilfenora, Lisdoonvarna, Lahinch or Doolin. In this she has followed her father, my late brother Paul.
Her singing voice is lovely. She closes her eyes and sails away upon the back of the song to somewhere else. Virtually all of her singing has been of other people's songs but in 2020 she crossed the line and created an original song for my brother. As it says in the first line, "This song is dedicated to my father".
I have featured it before in "Yorkshire Pudding" but recently I was alerted to the existence of another video version on YouTube. Listening to it and watching the video unfurl brought tears to my eyes. I remember how Paul and Katie were together - like peas from the same pod and he loved her very much. The feeling was wholly mutual.
A loved someone might die but they never go away - not entirely. Please listen to "When You Were Big and I Was Small"...
As long as someone remembers them they will live forever!
ReplyDeleteMaybe that song will be known for years to come... at least by a few.
DeleteThat was amazing, tears was in my eyes so beautiful
ReplyDeleteSo glad you feel the same as me about that song Orly.
DeleteThat was a true tear-jerker.
ReplyDeleteSo glad it touched you Bruce. Thanks for listening.
DeleteShe has a lovely voice and it was a lovely song, Neil! I liked seeing the pictures of her and her Dad.
ReplyDeleteIt breaks my heart.
DeleteThat is wonderful! Thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteThank your for listening Deb.
DeleteShe has a beautiful voice. What a lovely song.
ReplyDeleteI wish that it was more widely known.
DeleteWhat a gorgeous voice she has! My late dad used to waltz around with me standing on his shoes; the memory of it makes me weepy. Thanks for sharing this lovely song.
ReplyDeleteYou are welcome Margaret and I am glad that that image of a child dancing on her father's shoes took you back.
DeleteSo beautiful! It brought tears to my eyes. I also have a child soon to be 48, about one month from now.
ReplyDeleteHow the years pass Elsie.
DeleteI cried, too. It's a beautiful song and the video enhances it so well.
ReplyDeleteAlthough of course I have never met your brother and most likely will never meet your niece, I, too, was once small and my Dad was big. We didn't make music together like Paul and Katie, but we spent a lot of time together, and my love of walking and of nature (and a lot of what I know about woodland and animals) comes from my Dad. He died two years ago but is still very much there in my heart.
He always sounds like such a kind, gentle and loving father. You were lucky to have him.
DeleteHe was, Neil. I miss him dearly, but I also know how lucky my sister and I were to have our Dad around for so long, and my Mum her best mate and "life comrade" (as she called him in the announcement of his death) for 64 years.
DeleteWhat a great voice, rich and strong. Lovely song too. Deserves to be better known. 48 - bet that's hard to believe.
ReplyDeleteIt seems like yesterday when Katie was born.
DeleteIt was a beautiful song sung by your niece who is also very beautiful.. But it was sad of course.
ReplyDeleteShe captured that special sorrow that most of us can relate to.
DeleteWhat a lovely tribute to a loving relationship
ReplyDeleteThanks for listening to it Kylie.
DeleteWhat a lovely song! Alas, I'm not talented with my voice so most of my remembering occurs with the pen, or keyboard, these days. Hopefully that will be enough to keep their names remembered.
ReplyDeleteMost people have their own talents - that just grew. They were not chosen.
DeleteBeautiful voice, beautiful song and a wonderful tribute to her father, your brother. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteThanks for listening ma'am.
DeleteNeat.
ReplyDeleteI saw your Katie at Doolin Folk Festival in 2018. She walked past me and my friend after her show and smiled at us both. Lovely lady and a lovely song.
ReplyDeleteIt's nice that you can relate to her like that Dave.
DeleteThat song was so moving and beautiful. I know it must really tug at your heart when you listen to her words and voice and you see the photos your brother and your niece as a little girl. A reminder that life is indeed too short.
ReplyDeleteThat is a nice response Michael.
DeleteAbsolutely beautiful.
ReplyDeleteGlad you agree Mary.
DeleteWell, you made me cry first thing this morning. That is a beautiful song and she has such a beautiful voice. I didn't know you had a Katie in your family as well.
ReplyDeleteSorry for making you cry.
DeleteThat certainly stirred some emotions here. I daren't forward it to Kay or she would cry gallons. What a beautiful voice your niece has.
ReplyDeleteHer voice comes from deep within and she gets every note right.
DeleteI'm sorry, brother. But, right now, I can't even express to myself, let alone to you, what that song and that video has just done to my heart and soul. I am so touched. Not only with her memories and seeing pictures of her father but touched once again by memories of my own father and what might have, could have ..............
ReplyDeleteSo glad it touched you Donna. I bet you would have been good at singing that song in your salad days.
DeleteBeautiful - such happy memories.
ReplyDeleteThere's a sense in which Katie really needed Paul and probably still does.
DeleteWhat a beautiful song and a well-done video. She certainly captured and conveyed her love for her father. (I have fond memories of "Come On Eileen" as well!) What is that white object sitting in the grass at 48 seconds into the video? A leprechaun house?
ReplyDeleteIt's a ceramic Irish cottage - maybe the lid of a butter dish. I guess that Katie made it herself.
DeleteLovely song and lovely voice!
ReplyDeleteThere's a simplicity and purity about it.
DeleteWhat a beautiful love song.
ReplyDeleteI suppose it is indeed a love song.
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