A collaboration with the gifted Philleann https://soundcloud.com/philleann. Work with people better than you are, that's how you improve.

Sung By Your Heart

Mike Krath: Great Lyrics
Finn Eces: Production, Arrangement, Melody, Vocals, Octave Mandolin, Banjo, Mandolin 

A Banshee is a death-spirit native to Celtic mythology and was regarded either as a type of fairy or a ghost, regardless of origin a Banshee was always seen as an omen of death and her screaming was said to be heard by those destined to die

Lyrics

In the darkest hue
With the curtains drawn,
Suddenly my lights flickered,
And I heard her song,
Hey! You in the dark,
In the darkening hue,
This is the banshee,
I’ve come for you.

I am the banshee
The banshee you know,
You have had your time,
Now It’s time for you to go.

I know you’re way too cheap
To hitch a ride,
So I’ve personally come,
But I’m too young I cried
I don’t want to go,
But it was too late,
We were already down the road.

And she picked up those who’d strayed,
And she picked up those who were strong,
And she picked up those who’d blessed us,
And she picked up those who were wrong.
And she picked up those who had lost their voice,
And taught them how to scream that song.

I am the banshee
The banshee you know,
You have had your time,
Now It’s time for you to go.

I am the banshee
The banshee you know,
When the young ones come,
The old’s got to go
If you’ve heard me,
It’s already too late.

I am the banshee
The banshee you know,
You have had your time,
Now It’s time for you to go.

And she picked up by those who’d prayed,
And she picked up those who were good,
And she picked up those who’d confessed,
And she picked anyone she could,
And she picked up those who had lost their voice,
Taught them how to scream that song.

I am the banshee
The banshee you know,
You have had your time,
Now It’s time for you to go.

Then Banshee of The Darkest Hue

The Banshee Of The Darkest Hue

'For You' Written by John Mc Farlane 
Vocals by Finn Eces
Arranged by Finn & John 
Produced by Finn

For more by Johnny https://soundcloud.com/johnnymc2

For You

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

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

This is for the performers and my SC brothers and sisters, brave enough to stand in front of an audience and sing their own material, but not be heard. This is for the artists who resign themselves to the fact they will never 'make it', but this is especially for the people who despite this, keep going for the love of music.

Written by Finn Eces & Johnny Mc Farlane
Arranged by Finn & Johnny
Produced by Finn Eces

Ballad for a Ballad Singer

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

Delighted to have my daughter narrate and my niece Jena join me on vocals. A special thank you to @Philleann for contributing accordion parts and those magical uilleann pipes.     

Set in Ireland in the 1840s, the tale of Cait Ui Challaigh, a widow and mother and a Landlord, Clanricarde who planned to evict them and leave them destitute. A scene played out across Ireland during that period.  

Inspired by the many 'fierce Irish women' throughout Irish History.

Jena O'Connell-Female Vocal 
Philleann-Accordion & Uileann Pipes 
Finn Eces-Octave Mandolin, Guitar, misc other.
Written & Produced by Finn Eces

Cait Ui Challaigh

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

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

Lead Vocals: Finn Eces & Jamesie Foley
Lyrics: Finn Eces & Jamesie Foley
Music: Finn Eces
Backing Vocals Finn Eces & Jena O'Connell 
Electric, Acoustic & Bass Guitars, keys & misc.: Finn Eces
Recorded, Arranged & Produced by Finn Eces

Bongos in memory of Connie Bowles

Moonrise On Monday

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

Another powerful recitation from Kevin, original found here
https://youtu.be/gmZ7FWO0NLA 

Music By Finn Eces
Produced by Finn Eces

The Listeners. A Poem by Walter De La Mare. Read by Kevin Kennedy

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 ?

Words & Music Johnny Mc Farlane
Arranged, Performed & Produced Finn Eces

Dedicated to Johnny who, recognizing I'd been offline for a while reached out to see if I was ok. Thanks JD for giving me this great song to work on to help me out of this slump.  I'm delighted with how it's worked out. We're not far off having that album!

Ordinary Guy

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

Composition & Piano: Debra Buesking ("Where Are You Now"
Vocal & Lyric: Finn Eces

Written to the beautiful Debra Buesking piece ‘Where are you’, 

The song that resulted is a scene of an older couple, enjoying their own company, a sunset and moonrise, and the silence and easy conversation that comes with time, age and peace.

I Do

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]

Moonshine Boogie Waltz
Did it happen? I'm pretty sure it did.

Moonshine Boogie Waltz

From 'all these crazies'

Written, Performed & Produced by Finn Eces

all these carzies

I Did Not Mean To Kill Her

This is a black and white song and a nod to a simpler time and the glamorous movie stars of yesteryear. Pictured is the beautiful Maureen O'Hara.

The Only Road That I Know

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

Song about two people who continue their relationship between this world and the next, in the space between awake and asleep.

Between Your World & Mine

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

Pinned to spotlight

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