Dobro/Mandoline based instrumental track with a touch of eastern mystery mixed with Irish influences. Have been playing around with other versions for a while but decided this pared back take was truest to the noises in my head. 

Dedicated to wise women. 

Song by Finn Eces

Wisest Is She

Sad tale of a man who falls in love with a ballroom dancer...
 
https://youtu.be/DEtYiVhY0y0

Isaac liked a Ballroom Dancer,
Watched her dancing, 
took a chance, 
and she said yes.
So he took her hand,
For the Vienese Waltz

Isaac & the Ballroom Dancer

Song for young soldiers now and in the past whose war come home with them. 

Written, Performed & Produced by Finn Eces

Jack, Jim & John

The legends of Cú Chulainn are still told to this day. As a mythological hero, the stories of his strength and power have lived on, re-told throughout the years in many ways.

Dedicated to my friend Sean Brennan RIP

The death of Cuchulainn
 

When the war between Connacht and Ulster was over Cuchulainn returned to his home in Dundalk. Maeve blamed Cuchulainn for the defeat and she plotted her revenge. During the war Cuchulainn had killed a man named Cailidín, who had six children. Maeve raise his children at her fort in Cruachan and when they were old enough she sent them to sorcery school. In sorcery school they became goblins and learned magical spells. After seven years they returned to Maeve with three magic spears that could be used to destroy Cuchulainn.

Maeve sent the goblins to find Cuchulainn and use their magic to fill his head with the sound of war. When Cuchulainn heard the sounds he was sure Ulster was being attacked. Cuchulainn rushed to the King’s fort at Eamhain Macha to gather his weapons and his chariot. Cathbad the druid feared some trickery and urged him not to go. Cuchulainn would not heed his advice and as he and Laeg his chariot driver sped away from Eamhain Macha, sad cries could be heard from people fearing he would not return.

When Queen Maeve’s forces saw his chariot racing through the gap of the north they were filled with fear. He drove through them time and time again and no one could stop him. Just then the Goblins of Cailidín arrived on the wind with the three magic spears. They gave the three spears to Cuchulainn’s greatest enemy Lugaid. Lugaid threw the first spear. Cuchulainn blocked it with his shield but it hit Laeg his faithful chariot driver and he fell down dead. Lugaid threw the second spear. Cuchulainn escaped again but this time the spear hit his horse the Grey of Macha. The horse stumbled to the ground. Cuchulainn leaped from the chariot in a fit of rage and drove the men back with his mighty sword. Lugaid saw his chance and threw the final spear. This time it hit Cuchulainn in his side.

The great warrior knew he was about to die. He dragged himself to a nearby pillar and with his cloak, tied himself upright facing his enemies. No one dared approach him for three days. Finally when they saw a raven land on his shoulder, his enemies knew he was dead.

The Fall of Cú Chulainn

Music By Finn Eces

Quarantine
Eavan Boland - 1944-2020
https://poets.org/poem/quarantine 

In the worst hour of the worst season
of the worst year of a whole people
a man set out from the workhouse with his wife.
He was walking—they were both walking—north.

She was sick with famine fever and could not keep up.
He lifted her and put her on his back.
He walked like that west and west and north.
Until at nightfall under freezing stars they arrived.

In the morning they were both found dead.
Of cold. Of hunger. Of the toxins of a whole history.
But her feet were held against his breastbone.
The last heat of his flesh was his last gift to her.

Let no love poem ever come to this threshold.
There is no place here for the inexact
praise of the easy graces and sensuality of the body.
There is only time for this merciless inventory:

Their death together in the winter of 1847.
Also what they suffered. How they lived.
And what there is between a man and woman.
And in which darkness it can best be proved.

Quarantine. A Poem by Eavan Boland, Read by Kevin Kennedy

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VbFu_0jlqvY 

A song I've grown up with but always thought deserved a softer approach than the usual raucous 'pub song' it is usually portrayed as.  Another collaboration with my friend the amazing @Philleann with the very talented Sue McBride whose vocal performance gives the song the tragic, haunting, melancholy air I was aiming for.  
  
Vocal - Sue McBride. https://suemcbridemusic.com/music/ 
Accordion, Whistle & Flute - Philleann https://philleann.com/ 
Vocal, Mandolin, Banjo & Guitar - Finn Eces 
Produced by Finn Eces

Image http://deviantart.com

"Johnny I Hardly Knew Ye"  also known as "Johnny I Hardly Knew Ya", is a popular traditional song, sung to the same tune as "When Johnny Comes Marching Home". For More https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johnny_I_Hardly_Knew_Ye

Johnny I Hardly Knew Ya

Written by Johnny McFarlane who has sadly left SC. We've agreed to post here on my page so that people still can listen to this great song. It was reaching 2000 streams before taken offline last month.

Please enjoy
Finn & Johnny

Because Our Love Is Real

Hearts get thrown away, 
Pieces on a floor, 
Hear the closing door...

A remastered song from the 'all these crazies' series

More to follow...

all these crazies

Hearts Get Thrown Away

This is the story of a young woman who made a bad decision when young, leading her into a spiral of substance abuse and ultimately mental illness and institutionalisation. She drifts in and out of reality as years go by, haunted all the while by visions her younger self, young, beautiful and free.   
 
Another remastered song from the 'all these crazies' series

The Story Of Kokomo Sue

A refrain for all the forgotten souls who languished in the ‘asylums’ and ‘sanatoriums’ of old. The tales are harrowing as was their suffering, anyway, this one is for them. 

From the ‘all these crazies’ series.

Written, Performed and Produced by Finn Eces

We Are The Loonies

Another wonderful recitation by Kevin Kennedy of a beautiful poem by the late Seamus Heany. 

Music by Finn Eces

The Railway Children 
When we climbed the slopes of the cutting We were eye-level with the white cups Of the telegraph poles and the sizzling wires.  Like lovely freehand they curved for miles East and miles west beyond us, sagging Under their burden of swallows.  

We were small and thought we knew nothing Worth knowing. We thought words travelled the wires In the shiny pouches of raindrops,  

Each one seeded full with the light Of the sky, the gleam of the lines, and ourselves So infinitesimally scaled  We could stream through the eye of a needle.


More from Kevin can be found here; https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmTYSH-_sLfRAMIltYvn0MA/featured

The Railway Children. A Poem by Sheamus Heany, Read by Kevin Kennedy

Recitation Kevin Kenney.  More from Kevin https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmTYSH-_sLfRAMIltYvn0MAMusic 

Acoustic Guitar: My good friend Johnny Mc Farlane https://soundcloud.com/johnnymc2?utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing

Music, Prodution & Mandolins : Finn Eces

If I Could Tell You. A Poem By W H Auden, Read by Kevin Kennedy

Delighted to have been asked to contribute to this fantastic Johnny McFarlane song, another in our growing catalog JD, thank you for trusting me with the vocals, arrangement and production, I hope I have done your song justice.  

Debra's beautiful piano completely transformed the tune but then anything that Debra is on is just 100% better.

More of Johnny at @@johnnymc2 and time always well spent @Debra_Buesking

The Road

The Box by Kendrew Lascelles,  Read By Kevin Kennedy
Music written & performed by Finn Eces

The Box. A Poem By Kendrew Lascelles, Read by Kevin Kennedy

For the ‘different’, people the ones who stood out, who didn’t fit in. The 'odd' ones who were picked on in school, distrusted as adults, stayed away from. Maybe you know them, maybe you are them. This is a song for them/us. 

Johnny and Mary found each other and in their own tiny world they allow each other to be who they are.

Delighted to share the guitar duties with the fantasitic Johnny Mc Farlane!  Thank you my friend.

Music & Lyrics by Finn Eces
Performed & Produced Finn Eces

Johnny & Mary

https://youtu.be/oZmyqFzEW3c

This is one of the first songs I wrote when I started writing again and for me at least, it is one of my favorites. It came quickly and felt like the words were already there waiting to come out. 

Originally published over a year ago, I was happy with everything except my clumsy attempts at piano.  So, I summed up the courage to ask Debbie to redo the piano parts which she was gracious enough to agree to. She has added emotion and nuance to the song which was missing and I am so thrilled with her interpretation. Thank you so much! Treat yourself and listen to more from @Debra_Buesking here

The song is dedicated to anyone who has ever had to say goodbye to a home, for whatever reason. And the sadness in seeing it change from a home to a building.

Debra Buesking : Piano
Finn Eces : Vocals and Guitars
Song by Finn Eces

Ghosts & Shadows Feat. Debra Buesking

When you've been around long enough you come know what and who's important.

A Friend Indeed

I'm not really writing music at the moment but found this unpublished tune that I'd forgotten about. A throwback 'retro' and somewhat tongue-in-cheek song. Sometimes all you have is your music.

Backing Vocal with Jena O'Connell
Written and Performed Finn Eces
Produced by Finn Eces

Broken Heart Banjo Song

There is lady on social media afflicted with an increasingly debilitating and unfortunately, terminal illness. Nonetheless, she is sharing her journey with the world, which will end in her passing far too young. It's cliché to say her grace, honesty, and selflessness is inspiring but she is incredibly brave and generous to take the time and energy, both of which are short, to help others. 
She is on my mind often.

Update October 2022 RIP Teed. 

Written, Performed & Produced by Finn Eces

Flow in the River

A tale from the present and from the past, a conversation between a man and his father, across distance and time. A connection, a long-ago promise made, perhaps forgotten, finally kept.

Song Finn & Phil

Hey Dad

A beautiful Patrick Kavanagh poem wonderfully narrated by Kevin Kennedy 

Music, Production & Vocalizations Finn Eces

A Christmas Childhood. A Poem by Patrick Kavanagh. Read by Kevin Kennedy

This time of year can be difficult for some, for many I suppose. This is a lovely poem about hope by Donna Ashcroft, given wonderful voice by Kevin. 

A poem by Donna Ashcroft, Read By Kevin Kennedy
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fmhUcxpFTvc&t=2s

There Will Be Some Painful Days. A Poem By Donna Ashcroft. Read by Kevin Kennedy

Back in the day when there were albums, this song would have been the last track on the B-side, that most of the band didn’t want on include at all. Poor structure, no obvious genre, not enough repetition, too long, etc, all fair points. Anyway, this is my B-side album filler that gets me kicked out of the band due to 'creative differences'. 

Thanks to my friend Johnny Mc Farlane who stood up for the song, made some great suggestions and for good measure, added the amazing solo. 

Thinking back to a lifetime ago, living in the Bronx, driving on the Major Deegan, hot summer evenings, going nowhere in particular, sketchy air con, Indigo Girls CD on full volume, trying to sing those amazing harmonies.  

Blink of an eye and all these years have past. Lots of water under the George Washington Bridge since then.

Is that alright with you ?

Written on a flight to New York this summer. Sometimes I don’t know why I release music. I put a lot into it, and in reality, very few people will ever listen to these songs and, they quickly disappear into the digital ether.  

Now, very much in the 3rd act of life, there are realities to face and, it's getting so late.

It's Getting So Late

Another Mc Farlane song which took me almost a year to find the right voice for, if I remember correctly I abandoned this more than once. Some songs cannot be rushed I guess. 

A sad song with an underlying message of hope. The Lilac Tree is from JD’s childhood and evokes memories of grandparents and time gone by, so a deeply personal song to be entrusted with. 

Delighted to have worked with Doina Bora who kindly agreed to do the violin parts! Her wonderful contribution lifts my poor musicianship and makes the song ever more special in my opinion.  You will more from Doina here https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC52RssrQfHu-751e-0rqIFw
https://www.tiktok.com/@doinabora3?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc

Song written By: Johnny Mc Farlane
Performed, produced & sung by : Finn Eces 
Violins : Doina Bora

The Lilac Tree

Dedicated to women throughout history and today, oppressed in the name of culture and religion.

Written, performed, and produced by Finn Eces 
Additional vocals by my niece Jena O'Connell

I Am My Voice

'Tóg an Bealach Radhairc' means ‘Take the Scenic Route’...always the best option.
 
Finn: I plan to go back to my Irish routes more this year and created a simple backing track on Octave Mandolin & Tenor Banjo, but then ran out of ideas.  Doina took a listen and came up with this lovely uplifting tune. The song had a different name when we started out, but now it reminds me of driving along a coast road with the window open. Thank you Doina! 

Doina: Celtic music has been a part of my life for the past 12 years and I can't imagine my life without it. When I started to write and record, these violin tracks seemed too simple. And then Finn started working, mixing, adding tracks. What a journey. Thank you, Finn, for giving me the opportunity to be a puzzle piece in this big machinery called music!

Music: Doina & Finn
Doina Bora: Violins.
Finn Eces: Octave Mandolin, Tenor Banjo.
Birdsong, recorded at dawn in County Laois, Ireland.
Produced Finn Eces.

Tóg an Bealach Radhairc [Take the Scenic Route]

Tale of a young medieval Queen first imagined in the song ‘From a Queen Falls a Crown’ written in 2021 with @Philleann, which actually gets a few spins on Spotify thanks to being on one of Phil's playlists. 

This is another take on a battle she waged against the reigning King in an attempt to rule far and wide. Tortured and blinded by ambition, she overcommits her spent forces and dooms them to defeat. 

Then, instead of accepting the Kings offer of peace, she schemes to betray his trust and hatches a plot to murder him. When this is discovered, she suffers his wrath.   

Special thanks to Jena O'Connell for her vocalizations and to @Doina-Bora for her valued violin contributions.

Dedicated to Lemony.

Written & Produced by Finn Eces

For a Queen Fall Many Men

Delighted for the opportunity to collaborate with JD on another of his songs. A fantastic tune about ‘The Wind’ a natural phenomenon that has in history held great significance and influence as far back as 5,000BC BC when sail-powered boats navigated the Nile River, and windmills in Persia and China ground grain and pumped water. 

I would never have thought about writing a song about it, which is why you work with someone with a great imagination!   

About the song
Since the beginning of time, the wind has always been there, a beautiful and dangerous power of nature, totally unpredictable, one that man has harnessed to power their sails and lately to generate electricity. I know the wind fairly well being a windsurfer and fair weather sailor. I know how beautiful and dangerous the wind can be. I have great respect for the wind and the Sea and always will have and this song is a tribute to her.

I would like to thank Finn Eces, my friend and co-writer of this song. Finn and I have been quite a number of songs under our belts now and I think it must be nearly time for the 1st Album Finn.
Finn’s voice and production skills have really taken “ The wind “ to a new level, fine tuning of the lyrics, adding in of that driving bass and funky guitar as well as those beautiful harmony vocals really set this song up to be a real Summer hit in all the beach bars around the world ( If Only )

Written by: Johnny Mc Farlane & Finn Eces
Music and Vocals: Johnny & Finn
Production : Finn

The Wind

For all the Storms still looking for their Tea Cups.

An exchange between a storm and a teacup, each seeing what is missing in them, in the other. 

The storm wishes to let go of its fury and burden, longing for a peaceful existence. The teacup, abandoned and longing to see the world, dreams of being filled again. 

The storm reassures the tea cup, not to be afraid of it. The tea cup isn't but  sees the storm's inner turmoil and offers a safe haven within its walls, envisioning a new, shared life.

The story concludes with the storm finding solace in the cradle of tea cup, in exchange, it shares is tales of the world it has seen.  

Recorded, Engineered & Produced by Finn Eces
Song by Finn Eces

The Storm & The Tea Cup

Folk tune by Wyndreth Berginsdottir written 1990 based on a dream she had

https://www.womenofthewater.org/wow-blog/savage-daughter

Our Mother's Savage Daughter

Irish Musician & Singer Songwriter who decided a few years ago to start creating music again after many years of trying to ignore the call. I also decided to post whatever I created somewhere in case anyone cared to listen, even by accident! What I did not envision was finding a community of outstanding musicians, truly world class talent and fantastic people here on SoundCloud.

I never dreamed I would also have the opportunity to create music with some of these amazing people and it has been a true joy to be given the opportunity to work with some of these gifted generous people and make music I am so proud of. 

That’s me.

Finn Eces

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