Patrick Sky - Luang Prabang (1971)

In our previous post to feature this artist, it was mentioned how Patrick Sky’s political point of view had become more radical toward the end of the 1960s as the American involvement in Vietnam escalated. Naturally, the more radical Sky’s views became, the more radical his lyrics became. When Sky finished recording tracks in March 1971 for his forthcoming album, Songs That Made America Famous, the radical lyrics within lead to rejection from several record labels who refused to pick up the album for distribution. Eventually, in 1973, Sky decided to release the album on his own record label, Rainbow Collection, and eventually got it picked up by Adelphi Records. With its radical lyrics and limited promotion, the album didn’t sell as well as it could have in a more lenient market, such as today’s.

Written by Dave Van Ronk (and eventually recorded/released by him in 1994), the first recording and release of the song was the version recorded by Patrick Sky in 1971 and heard below. Initially, Vank Ronk was intended to appear with Sky on the song, but for reasons not mentioned, it never happened. There’s a live version of the song which features both Van Ronk and Sky from a tour they did together in 1973, but the version heard below is the original featuring only Patrick Sky and released on his 1973 album, Songs That Made America Famous.



Patrick Sky - Luang Prabang (1971)

Loading the ABLYAM player...(Might not work on mobile devices)

Lyrics:

When I came back from Luang Prabang
I didn’t have a thing where my balls used to hang
But I got a wooden medal and a fine harangue
And now I’m a fucking hero

Mourn your dead, land of the free
If you want to be a hero, follow me
Mourn your dead, land of the free
If you want to be a hero, follow me

And now the boys all envy me
I fought for Christian Democracy
With nothing but air where my balls used to be
But now I’m a fucking hero

Mourn your dead, land of the free
If you want to be a hero, follow me
Mourn your dead, land of the free
If you want to be a hero, follow me

One and twenty cannon thunder
Into the bloody, wild, blue yonder
For a patriotic ball-less wonder
Now I’m a fucking hero

Mourn your dead, land of the free
If you want to be a hero, follow me
Mourn your dead, land of the free
If you want to be a hero, follow me

In Luang Prabang there is a spot
Where the corpses of your brothers rot
And every corpse is a patriot
And every corpse is a hero

Mourn your dead, land of the free
If you want to be a hero, follow me
Mourn your dead, land of the free
If you want to be a hero, follow me

Patrick Sky - Many a Mile (1965)

Patrick Sky (born Patrick Lynch on October 2nd, 1943) is an American folk musician, singer, and songwriter. Though he was born in Georgia and raised in Louisiana, Sky made a name for himself in Greenwich Village, New York, alongside contemporaries such as Eric Andersen, Mississippi John Hurt, Buffy Sainte-Marie, Dave van Ronk, and all of the other numerous names made famous who got their start in the Village.

He recorded four albums in the mid- to late-sixties until simultaneously becoming tired with the music industry and growing a more politically radical point of view. This new outlook inspired Sky to record a highly satirical album in 1971. The album, titled Songs That Made America Famous, was so controversial that it wasn’t released until 1973, after having been declined for release by numerous labels.

More recently, Sky has been renowned for his expertise in building and playing the Irish uillean pipes. He has authored numerous books on the subject and often performs with his wife Cathy.

Heard below is the opening track to Patrick Sky’s eponymous debut album, released in 1965. Written by Sky himself, the song became a standard of the folk music scene in the 1960s. It has been covered by numerous artists, perhaps of which most notably was Buffy Sainte-Marie, who named her 1965 album after the song.



Patrick Sky - Many a Mile (1965)

Loading the ABLYAM player...(Might not work on mobile devices)

Lyrics:

I’ve damn near walked this world around
Another city, another town
Another friend to say goodbye
Another girl to sit and cry
And it’s many a mile I’ve spent on this road
It’s many a mile I have gone

Well, there was one who knew me best
You know she gave my poor heart rest
She was my world, my heart, my dear
Now she’s gone to God knows where
And it’s many a mile I’ve spent on this road
It’s many a mile I have gone

I’ve seen your towns; they’re all the same
The only difference is in a name
The only home I’ve ever know’ed
Was a suitcase and the open road
And it’s many a mile I’ve spent on this road
It’s many a mile I have gone

So I’ll fill my glasses up to the brim
And through my glass, my world looks dim
But, I know, outside there’s light somewhere
Maybe my rambling will get me there
And it’s many a mile I’ve spent on this road
It’s many a mile I’ve gone

It’s many a mile I’ve spent on this road
And it’s many a mile I will go