I’ve reviewed a few of Jed Marum’s CD’s on this blog in previous posts. Jed’s site is here: I believe him to be one of the most talented guitarist and vocalist in the Celtic music world. I’ve listened to hundreds of songs related to the War Between the States, and I believe Marum has also composed some of the finest Civil War music of this age. After listening to Marum’s newest CD production, Sands of Aberdeen, once again I must say that I am impressed with Marum’s musical vision and with the quality of his work  as well as that of the wonderfully talented musicians who work with him. Here’s a little bit of information on this new CD:
The album was recorded in Dallas and in Toronto and was produced by Paul Mills. This has been been a LONESTAR STOUT project and includes Hugh Morrison, Mason Brown, Pete Dawson along with Jed and Jaime Marum and David Shaw. The new album features original and traditional music, a blend of Scottish, Irish and American roots music with a strong Celtic flavor.

I intend to do a few posts on this CD, including posting interviews with the other band members. For today, as I immediately fell in love with the title song of the CD, “Sands of Aberdeen,” a ghost story, I decided to begin with it. Here are the lyrics along with a few of Marum’s notes on the song.

JED MARUM LYRICS:

Sands of Aberdeen, (c) Jed Marum, 2008

Grey and blue while I wait for you
All on the South Breakwater
Overdue how I long for you
I long to see your sail

May the Cold North Sea bring you home to me
I am my mother’s daughter
From that foreign shore, frozen Labrador
Home to Cruden Bay

CHO: Every night I hear your footsteps
Climbing up my stair
You kiss my cheek and I awaken
I speak your name
But you’re not there

Time wears away
Wearing day by day
Are you still among the living?
Months have been
Since you should have seen
The sands of Aberdeen

Time wears away
Still I wait and pray
Along the South Breakwater
I watch for you
How I long for you
I long for your embrace

Notes: I used a diary of a Scottish sailor and fisherman who sailed with his crew from England in the 1830s to form the back story for this song. They would fish and trap for furs in Labrador each season. They’d wait for the sea ice to break up in the spring, then set up camp for the summer. Ships in those days didn’t always return home, and sometimes those left behind in Scotland and the UK would never have a clue what happened to their loved ones who sailed away to the new world. I wondered how the young wife of a sea captain from Aberdeen might feel while facing the likely loss of her husband to the frozen Labrador shores or the unforgiving North Atlantic.
You can find more information on Jed Marum, his music, CD’s, and order this newest release, The Sands of Aberdeen here:

Here is a photo of Jed:

Jed Marum at Chicago Gaelic Park Irish Fest