Bloody Falls Of The Coppermine

A folk song about a clash of cultures in the Canadian arctic.
The intro & lyrics are lengthy so I`ll leave them over at SoundCloud.

Key=A , Tempo 90, Length (m:s)=4:50
4 bar intro, 101 bar chorus, from bar 5 to bar 105. Repeat x1 chorus
Song is saved with Volume, Pan, Reverb, Chorus, Bank0,
Style is _SORROW1.STY (Sorrow Folk w/ Mandolin)

RealTracks in style: 1765:Guitar, High-Strung Acoustic, Fingerpicking Pop16ths Ev16 085
RealTracks in style: 2548:Guitar, Acoustic, Rhythm FolkSorrow Ev16 090
Celtic whistle & percussion loops

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Hi Robert.
Enjoyed the imagery and storytelling.
Great title and 'five hundred miles from safety
belief shrinking to its bones' I can really relate to this phrase.
Cheers.

Great write,

I don't need to read the book now,

with all the detail that you deliver in your lyrics

it was like a movie in my head.

Enjoyed my listen

Kenny

Wow the pipe was a very cool intro. Super vocal and lyric.

Robert,

This is excellent in every regard.

A truly strong write in classic folk song tradition. Stand out lines througout - the chorus in particular...

The production is perfect for the subject matter.

Really well done. I'd say your best...so far.

.floyd

Hey Robert,

I really like this production a lot. Kind of Leonard Cohen in terms of overall sound and I say that with high compliments. Great job.

Hey Robertkc! Nice work on this! I really enjoyed the folky vibe to this. The flute is a very nice touch! Great job!

Hi RichMac,
Thanks for this - glad you found the story interesting. It seemed only fair to name the song after the book.

Robert



Kenny,
There`s a lot to the story I left out of course, ( grisly details) but I`m pleased the narrative holds together in song form.
Many thanks for your support!

Robert




Thanks Scott,
I worked hard on blending the whistle loops... still not as good as a Real Track but it has the right feel.

Robert

Hello, Robert

Great work!
As floyd said, a truly strong write in classic folk song tradition.
The whistle loops are very nice touch!
You are really a contemporary wandering minstrel.
Enjoyed my listen a lot.

Best regards.

Shigeki Adachi

Floyd,
That`s very kind.
I was enjoying the story without any plan to write a song when the image of priests in black cassocks trekking though white wilderness jumped out.
I`m glad you thought the production worked as trying to get the native drum sound was a struggle.

Robert

Fascinating!

"grey back mountains menace
like the hackles on a wolf"

What strong imagery to set things up. We love both mountains and wolves and, although menacing, it is sooo easy to envision this.

As floyd said "A truly strong write in classic folk song tradition. Stand out lines througout - the chorus in particular..." Indeed. We are history fans (of all eras) and the story is very powerful and to tell it in such a poetic manner...wow!

Your vocal has just the right element of weariness and/or sadness for the story and your choice and use of the backing tracks is perfect.

Really strong!!!

J&B

Robert,

This song is outstanding... Everything about this works so well - love your delivery.

Excellent!

Bob

Hey Robert,

What a good write. I thought the instrumentation was very cool as well as the vocal.

Nice Job!

Such a well written lyrical storyline. Great story and you put it all together with great imagery. Great production and performance. Outstanding.

Charlie

Wonderful lyrics /story and a great strong folky voice.

Robert, In the long tradition of folk songs, this one passes along a historical story. Nicely produced and sung. I enjoyed my listen. Tom

Hello Robert,

Folk music is all about story and image. You captured both perfectly. That was a great story and we think you captured the essence of it very nicely. Great job all around!

Alan & Di

David,

Thank you!
Not sure about the production, but I like to think Mr Cohen would approve of rhyming "heaven" with "weapon".

Robert



Joe,

Glad you enjoyed this. The celtic whistle is one of my favourite instruments...I`m gonna keep using these loops until there`s a Real Track!

Robert



That`s much appreciated,Shigeki.
My wanderings are mostly on the back roads where I live now, but I do sing as go!

Robert

J&B,
I have the snow covered mountains up here to thank for that opening line.
Good to find meet other history buffs - truth is so entertaining and I`ve about exhausted the local library`s supply of Arctic/Antarctic books in particular. I`m happy you felt I got the essence of this tale.

Robert




Bob,
I really enjoy the way the best folk singers deliver the goods and tried to get some of that raw sound into the vocal on this.
Thanks for your listen and comments.

Robert

Really good work Robert, excellent writing and the backing was mesmerizing!! I also thought the pipe sound was a great choice. Thanks, Torrey.

Thanks for your listen and positive comments!

Robert



Charlie,

This is the first time I`ve taken notes while reading a book - so a big nod to the author as the inspiration for turning the story into a song.
Glad you enjoyed!

Robert



Thank you for listening and liking!

Robert

Tom,
I appreciate this.After finishing the song I thought it too traditionally folk to post on the forum, forgetting what a diverse group of musical tastes are represented here every day.

Robert



Alan & Di,
Thank you!
There are so many unsung true stories...makes me wonder why I spend so much time writing fictional ones.

Robert



Many thanks, Torrey .
I couldn`t find actual Inuit percussion samples, but the Bhodran & Irish ankle bells at least got me close.

Robert

Back for another listen. Janice said the imagery was so good that she had a movie going in her head and now wants to read the book. She also mentioned the jingly bells and how the reminded her of a sled, dogs, etc.

Amazing write.

J&B

J&B,
Thanks for dropping by and listening again!
The book is well written - its also about the pursuit of the culprits across the arctic and strangely Canadian trial ( the priest`s killers became the object of great public interest and sympathy and though convicted, never went to prison).
Robert

This immediately reminded me of John Prine.

Good job on this folk style.

Comments: I'd hold back on the flute during vocals. It's rather loud and distracts from the lyrics.

Thanks for the listen and comments.
I agree about the whistle levels and have dropped them back behind vocal parts.
Cheers,

Robert