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Uncle Neil

from Wrinkles and Scars by JAMES GORDON

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about

Another in a series of songs JG has written about dementia. His father was a bagpiper Even at the end of his long but dementia-ridden life you could give him a bagpipe chanter and he'd play pipe tunes from way back in his ravaged memory, when he didn't even know who is family was. That tale was adapted for this song to a more song-friendly instrument, the fiddle. This features Anne Lindsay on the fiddle.

lyrics

He took his fiddle off the wall,
And said “I get forgetful, that’s all
All this talk
From that quack of a doc,
He thinks that I should be mothballed”

Then he’d put that fiddle to his chin
Grab his bow and he’d begin
The way he always did with the St. Anne’s Reel
Somehow the part left in his brain
That held those tunes remained the same
As long as he could play then you could feel
Like we still had our good old Uncle Neil

Sometimes on visits he would know
Who I was and we would go
Down memory lane
So many road-blocks on the way
That trip could get treacherous and slow

But he’d start into an old-time tune
He’d tap his toe and pretty soon
He would be back on an even keel
And although that terrible disease
Had brought that poor guy to his knees
As long as he could play then you could feel
Like we still had our good old uncle Neil

credits

from Wrinkles and Scars, released March 2, 2024
This song includes the traditional fiddle tune "Drowsy Maggie"

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about

JAMES GORDON image

JAMES GORDON Guelph, Ontario

James Gordon is a Canadian songwriter/playwright/musician/producer/author and community activist. Co-founder of the legendary Canadian folk trio Tamarack, He’s released 40 albums in 40 years!
His newest release on Borealis Records- "the Heritage Hall Sessions" has been very well received world-wide. James Moonlights as a CIty Councillor in his hometown of Guelph, Ontario. www.jamesgordon.ca ... more

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