A Newfoundland song you've probably never heard

I have been touched by a song I have at my Downhome Kitchen site that is probably a song from Newfoundland that you have never heard. It's a song about a man who purposely sinks his fishing boat off some point and he explains why he does this.
I see this song, called Sir, Beyond that Point, being especially effective in an Arts and Culture stage setting. Here's what I mean. There's a darkened stage and on it is a wharf. A fisherman walks out and suddenly a small spotlight comes on him as he approaches the edge of the wharf. He looks sad as he seemingly eyes the horizon. Then he says:
Sir, beyond that point that's the open sea,
And, mister, that's where I want to be;
Where my father went, and his father before,
And where it appears I'll go no more.

I really appreciate the lyrics and musical score in this piece by Sheldom McBreairity. I love the way the music builds. I'm sure you will too. Just email me at mike_madigan@yahoo.com and I can send you the song.

Titanic Survivor -My great Aunt Maggie

I'm not really sure if she is my great aunt, but Maggie Madigan did survive the Titanic's sinking on April14th-15th 1912. Both she and my great grandfather, John Madigan, were born in the small town of Askeaton, Co Limerick, Ireland. I didn't know any of this until a woman from Ohio, Karen Thomas, emailed me out of the blue and asked if I was related to Maggie Madigan.
Karen had just visited the Titanic Exhibit in Cleveland Ohio and upon entering the exhibit people are given a replica ticket of one of the passengers who sailed that fateful voyage. Karen was given the ticket which bore the name: Margaret "Maggie" Madigan -Third Class and when Karen finished the exhibit 4 hours later, she noticed Maggie Madigan was on the wall of survivors.
So who was this Maggie Madigan? How old was she? Where did she end up? Who did she marry? All these questions Karen pondered, and she thought the internet would give her the answers. But no! Nothing had been written on Maggie Madigan as Maggie had drifted into obscurity unlike most of the other Titanic survivors. No one knew where Maggie had gone as just a few facts about her had risen. History had lost Maggie Madigan!
Karen was puzzled about this. We began corresponding and I became fascinated with the story too. With thoughts from Karen, I wrote a song about Karen, myself and our quest to find the true story of whatever happened to Maggie Madigan. And because I put it on my SharecropperTrio's third cd "Home,Boys!", the wheels started turning in the academic thinkers of Encyclopedia Titanica. But that's a story for later !
For now why not drop into my music site at the popular KITCHEN of the online Newfoundland Downhome Magazine site and have a listen to my song Maggie Madigan-Titanic Survivor
at http://www.downhomekitchen.com/posts.php?id=18392&page=10
Just scroll down that page till you see the song and verse:
Maggie Madigan — Titanic Survivor
Third class passenger saved that night;
Lowered in a life boat with sixty-five others,
Adrift off Newfoundland — Oh, what a fright!

A tumbling Iceberg almost killed me

Yes, an Iceberg off Harbour Grace, Newfoundland, tumbled right over as I approached it in a dory. What's a dory? It's a unique old style boat here in Newfoundland that fishermen used to row to go fishing. They were also used on schooners off the Grand Banks.
But on this particular day I rowed out to try to get a chunk of ice off this iceberg that had come into the mouth of the harbour. I was told the ice makes a nice cracking and fizzing sound if you put a piece of it in a glass of rum. Well low and behold, as I approached the iceberg, didn't the darn thing suddenly shake and vibrate and then it "turtled" over as quick as a piece of ice will do in a glass. The wave it produced headed right toward my dory and I barely had time to react. But I did drop down low in my dory and thankfully all that happened was the dory lifted right up and down and never rolled over. It was that fast. I was lucky!
Then I heard the most strangest voice!! Really!
Why don't you click on over to this site and find the song, lyrics and the tune called Iceberg Towering Over Me. Just scroll down the page till you find it.
http://www.downhomekitchen.com/posts.php?id=18392&page=2
You can hear it and feel the chords I use on my guitar as they will explain how weird and scary all this was. Enjoy!

Never too late to Blog, eh?

Hello all SharecropperTrio fans and folks!
I am presently blogging some great music at the Newfoundland Downhome "Kitchen" site at:
http://www.downhomekitchen.com/posts.php?id=18392
and the music chosen there by me is mostly Newfoundland folk. But I've thrown in some Irish and blue grass and many have contributed their own songs and comments. It may take 30 seconds or so for the song to download when you click the blue "here" button beneath the comments,..... but it'll be well worth it. There are a few old style songs that people have presented but most of the songs are the newer performed ones with great lyrics and music. Ear phones or good speakers is a must! With earphones the bass comes through which is so necessary.
So have a look and listen,...and enjoy. There must be 25 pages there so far!!! There are even a few of our Sharecropper songs there and a few of my own originals like Maggie Madigan-Titanic Survivor and a song about my experience with an iceberg as I rowed out to see it. Didn't the darn berg flip right over when I was just 10 meters away!!! I called the song Iceberg Towering Over Me.
Oh, and that song above about Maggie Madigan?? Both she and my great grandfather, John Madigan, were born in Askeaton, Co. Limerick, Ireland. Maggie survived the sinking of the Titanic on April 14th/15th, 1912. Thank God great Grandpa John never crosssed on the Titanic, or I might not be writing this blog!
You can reach me at mike_madigan@yahoo.com