GaryM03062

Breaking the ICE Lyrics: Gary McGath Music: John Brown's Body (Battle Hymn of the Republic) Licensed under Creative Commons CC BY-NC https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ Our cities are invaded by the immigration cops. They are searching through apartments, they are questioning the shops. They are calling for your papers at the highway traffic stops. Let’s kick the bastards out! Refrain: I.C.E., we do not want you, I.C.E., we do not want you, I.C.E., we do not want you, Let’s kick the bastards out! If they’re knocking on your door, then tell the snoops to go away. If they ask about your neighbors, you don’t have a thing to say. If you think they’re after you, prepare a plan to get away. Let’s kick the bastards out! Refrain If they’re dropping in for dinner, tell them they’re too late for lunch. If they show up at your party, you can dunk them in the punch. If they plant a camera on your corner, smash it with a crunch. Let’s kick the bastards out! Refrain We will never bow our knees to any kind of tyranny, We will tell them that Americans take pride in being free. If they think that they can scare us, then to Hell with I.C.E.! Let’s kick the bastards out! Refrain

Lyrics by Joseph Warren, slightly revised here. Tune: "The British Grenadiers." That seat of science Athens, And earth’s proud mistress, Rome, Where now are all their glories We scarce can find a tomb. Then guard your rights, Americans, Nor stoop to lawless sway, Oppose, oppose, oppose, oppose For Free America. Proud Albion bow’d to Caesar, And numerous lords before, To Picts, to Danes, to Normans, And many masters more; But we can boast Americans Have never fallen prey, Huzza, huzza, huzza, huzza For Free America. Torn from a world of tyrants Beneath this western sky We formed a new dominion, A land of liberty; The world shall own we’re free here, And such will ever be, Huzza, huzza, huzza, huzza For love and liberty. God bless this maiden climate, And through her vast domain May hosts of heroes cluster Who scorn to wear a chain. And blast the venal sycophants Who dare our rights betray; Assert yourselves, yourselves, yourselves For brave America, Lift up your hearts, my heroes, And swear with proud disdain, The wretch who would ensnare you Shall spread his net in vain; Should Donald send out all his thugs, We’d meet him in array, And shout huzza, huzza, huzza For brave America.

With the US government (and to some extent the Canadian government) putting up barriers, we need songs reminding us of the long friendship between our countries, which is stronger than any politician's decrees. This is my contribution.

Imagine a shanty sung by a crew of Vulcans. This song warns against errors of reasoning in a form designed to amuse you. "Haul in the logic, cast off the fallacies!"

A satirical song about Trump's plans to annex Greenland. The tune is "Marching Through Georgia" by Henry C. Work.

My setting of the introductory verses of Rudyard Kipling's "The Old Issue." The poem warns against the return of monarchs with autocratic power. It's a warning we all need to repeat as often and strongly as possible.

Some people think "Edelweiss" from "The Sound of Music" is a traditional Austrian song. It's by Rodgers and Hammerstein, but there is an older "Edelweiss" by the 19th-century songwriter Moritz Peuschel. I could only find low-fidelity, incomplete recordings, so I decided to make mine, if only for preservation purposes. It's clearly Swiss rather than Austrian, especially in the third verse. The lyrics are given below, with my translation. German isn't my native language, so I apologize for any errors. "Edelweiss" by Moritz Peuschel, public domain Wer nennt mir jene Blume die allein Auf steiles Alm erblüht im Sonnenschein, Die schönste Zierde unsrer Alpenwelt Hoch droben einsam wächst vom Schnee erhellt! Der Hirtenbube auf der Alpe Höhn, Wenn du ihn frägst, wird stolz es dir gestehn: Es ist der Blumen schönste, dieses Reis, Die Alpenkönigin heisst: Edelweiss! Den Jüngling, der die mühevolle Bahn Nicht scheute, trieb's die steilen Höhn hinan, Er wusste wohl, dort findet er allein Das höchste Glück, das bald er nennet sein! Kein Fels zu hoch, kein Spalt ist ihm zu breit, Er jubelt laut, weil er zum Ziel nicht weit, Für's Lieb er freudig eine Blume bricht, Ein Edelweiss, der Alm Vergissmeinnicht! "Mit Herz und Hand steh'n wir für's Alpenland!" So rufen alle die das schöne Band Der Freiheit innig fest umschlungen lält, Die gerne sterben für die Alpenwelt. Die fest und treu wohl einig Hand in Hand Die Freiheit pflanzten in das Alpenland; Den Freien ward für ihrer Mühe Preis Der schönste Lohn, ein zartes Edelweiss. Und wenn dann einst das Sterbeglöcklein tönt, Der Alpensohn sich met dem Tod versöhnt, Spricht wehmutsvoll der Priester ein Gebet, Weil seine Seel' vor Gottes Throne steht. Mit Blumen schmücket man sein kleines Haus, Zum Kirchhof trägt man weinend ihn hinaus, Und aus der treuen Freunde stillem Kreis Bringt jeder ihm das letzte Edelweiss. My English translation: Who presents that flower which alone Blooms on the steep mountain in the sunshine, The fairest ornament of our Alpine world, Which grows high up, illuminated by snow. The boy with the herd on the Alpine height Will proudly tell you, if you ask him: It is the fairest of flowers, this sprout, The Alpine queen's name is edelweiss. The youth, who didn't shy from the difficult path, Climbed up to the steep heights, He knew that only there he finds The greatest joy, which he will soon claim. No rock is too high, no crevice too wide. He shouts for joy, for he is not far from the goal: For love's sake he breaks off a flower: An edelweiss, the Alps' forget-me-not. "With heart and hand we stand for the Alpine land!" So call out all of the fair band Whom freedom firmly holds in her embrace, Who would gladly die for the Alpine world. The firm and true, united hand in hand, Who planted freedom in the Alpine land. The free gain for their efforts The fairest reward, a tender edelweiss. And when the death knell sounds, The son of the Alps reconciled with death, The priest sadly speaks a prayer, For his soul stands before God's throne. They deck his little house with flowers. Weeping, they carry him to the churchyard, And from the silent circle of true friends Each one brings him the last edelweiss.

A song written for FAWM 2020, based on Mary Shelley's novel Frankenstein. The accompanying photo is of the real Castle Frankenstein in Germany. Music and lyrics Copyright 2020, Gary McGath. Recording copyright 2021, Gary McGath.

"Rich as Croesus," a song about how even ordinary people today are wealthier — in terms of what we can do and enjoy — than the richest ancient kings.

"Beacons in the Darkness," a celebration of the lights that answer the winter solstice's darkness. Copyright 2021 Gary McGath. Words, music, and performance by the author. http://www.mcgath.com/songs/Beacons.pdf

A satirical song about qualified immunity, a legal doctrine which shields law officers and other government employees from legal liability in many cases. Lyrics and music notation, as well as supporting links, are found at http://www.mcgath.com/songs/QualifiedImmunityWaltz.pdf Lyrics, music, and performance copyright 2021 Gary McGath.

One of three songs I've written based on characters in my novel, The Magic Battery. Faust in this story hasn't sold his soul to the Devil, but many consider him the greatest mage in Europe. This song is from his younger, more reckless days.

One of three songs I've written based on characters in my novel, The Magic Battery. Gottesmann is the villain of the story, but he thinks he's the hero.

One of three songs I've written based on characters in my novel, The Magic Battery. Frieda is the most philosophical character and sees a bit beyond the sixteenth century.

"The Mad Scientist's Love Song," by Gary McGath, Copyright 1995. Performed by Gary McGath and Virginia Taylor. The song has been nominated 3 times for a Pegasus Award.

A song in love and support of black cats, written for FAWM 2020. Especially for Mikado and Mogul. This was the first track I submitted for FAWM, and the quality is questionable even by my own amateur standards. But I like what I said in it.

My German translation of my own song, "The Broom Maker." I like the German words better, and Heather Dale has recorded the song in English (on YouTube). It's a tangential take on Humperdinck's "Hansel and Gretel." I've always wondered why the father, who is a broom maker, knows so much about witches.

A non-religious memorial song. The first upload created with my new Zoom H1N. Song copyright 2007, Gary McGath.

Based on a true story. In 1983, Stanislav Petrov was working for the Soviet missile early warning system. He received an alert from the computer. Rather than report it as protocol dictated, he decided it was a false alarm. He was right, and his choice likely prevented a nuclear war.

The cat shelter (MRFRS) where I volunteer had a small cat population for months, because water damage in the basement made important space unusable. Seeing all the empty cages got me to thinking along these lines. I wrote the song for FAWM 2020.

"The Alternate World Temperance Union," written and performed by Gary McGath. From my tape, "Shrink Wrap Blues."

"Macdonough's Song" by Rudyard Kipling, with music and performance by Gary McGath. From my long-ago tape, "Shrink Wrap Blues."

This song commemorates the escape of Ona Judge, a slave of George Washington, and her finding a safe place to live in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Words and music by Gary McGath. Copyright 2018 Gary McGath.

A keyboard improvisation inspired by Maria's Dance in "Metropolis." Created in an attempt to apologize for the extreme lateness of the Helva Peters album, which I promised in a crowdfunding campaign last year.

The "Duetto" from Mendelssohn's Songs without Words. You'll find better performances, but I've tried to find something personal in it. Without words or not, the final phrases in the two parts are certainly saying "Ich liebe dich."