Change Can Be Hard!

I led a Celtic Invasion of Oban, Scotland in 2010. One evening, I was singing at a local restaurant for my invaders. A man at the bar started cheering me on as well. Next thing we knew, Liam Griffin was singing us a song he wrote about his life as a scallop diver in Lamlash Bay.

It was a fantastic song. You can hear him sing it on the Irish & Celtic Music Podcast. But the lyrics never really hit home until I recorded it last year for Come Adventure With Me. It's a song about change.

Liam's life was upended by change. In particular, the Scottish government is leading the charge to making Scotland more sustainable. I've been watching the industry for the past three years. It's mind-blowingly awesome to see.

I heard on the EarthWise podcast that the “Scottish government recently announced that in 2022, renewable technologies in that country produced the equivalent of 113% of Scotland’s electricity consumption.” (source) Incredible!

That's great for Scotland and the environment, but it comes with a cost. For Liam, he was made to retire.

It's sad of course. But change is a part of life. Everything changes.

One of the things I love about “Myra's Lament for Lamlash Bay” is that it is a lament for change. I feel like with all things we lose, we have to mourn their loss before we can move forward.

The next time you miss the “good ol' days”, think about that. Remember those days. Take some time. Mourn the loss of those days. Smile fondly as you recall happy times. But then remember that each day forward is a brighter future. There is so much hope and joy you can experience when you choose to do so.

You can learn more about “Myra's Lament for Lamlash Bay” on this week's Pub Songs & Stories. You'll also enjoy music from The Byrne Brothers.

• Listen to Mad Jenny on Lamlash Bay #85.
• Vote for your favorite songs on Come Adventure With Me.

Want to join me on an adventure this fall? I hope to lead a Celtic Invasion of Scotland's Whiskey in September.

LISTEN TO THE SHOW

Upcoming Shows

• MAR 9: Senoia Beer Company, Senoia, GA @ 7-10 PM
• MAR 13: St Patrick's Day Coffee on Bandcamp at 11:30 AM
• MAR 16: The Ivy Buckhead, Buckhead, GA @ 6-9 PM
• MAR 17: Wings Cafe & Tap House, Marietta, GA @ 3-7 PM
• MAR 23-24: Sherwood Forest Faire, Paige, TX
• MAR 28: Dragon Con Filk Music Concert w/Brobdingnagian Bards @ 8 PM
• MAR 30-31: Sherwood Forest Faire, Paige, TX

You can see my full schedule on my website.

What's Your Favorite Song on St Patrick's Day Songs for Kids?

About a decade ago, I recorded a live video on YouTube of me singing St Patrick's Day songs for kids. When the show was done, I took the audio from that performance and turned it into an album of the same name (and a podcast episode). It's just me and the autoharp singing Irish songs that kids (of all ages) might enjoy. St Patrick's Day Songs for Kids is one of my most-popular albums this time of year.

Listen to St Patrick's Day Songs for Kids. You can stream it for free on Bandcamp.

Once you're done, please vote for your favorite songs

If you're not a patron, you can play along too. Post your favorites on Facebook.