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A Mother

from The Stern Task of Living by Hibsen

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    The CD for the Stern Task of Living is a beautifully designed 4 panel package with a booklet containing some background information about how the album was conceived plus lyrics of all the songs. The artwork, which was painted by Mark Keogh, captures the guests arriving at the 'Little Christmas' dinner from the short story 'The Dead', which is the most famous short story from James Joyce's Dubliners.

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lyrics

She pushed the decanter towards Mr. Holohan
“Don’t be afraid” urged pale Mrs. Kearney
He had come to discuss a series of concerts
Would young Kathleen Kearney accompany the artistes?

Beaming inside with vicarious pride
That her daughter the pianist would headline each night
Oh the mother advised on this grand enterprise
A contract was drawn then she bade him goodbye

[Chorus]
All Kathleen desired was to do as she pleased
To play the piano and be at her ease
With a mother like hers unbending and stern
Will young Kathleen get caught in the crosshairs again?

Mrs. Kearney showed tact as she set to the task
Shaping the programme from the first to the last
Excitement increased as the concert dates loomed
Her greatness through Kathleen would finally be proved

Opening night came and left shadows of doubt
Weak acts were blamed for being far from sold out
She voiced her concern as four nights became three
Reminding Mr. Holohan of the contract they’d agreed

[Chorus]

When the last night came round a full house turned out
Yet still Mrs. Kearney sought payment upfront
A struggle of tongues with Holohan ensued
Until red faced he paid half of the dues

A relieved young Kathleen sought refuge on stage
Where for the next hour she was free from the cage
That had formed from the steel of her mother’s strong will
A short-lived reprieve to the show’s interval

She went back to the dressing room only to see
Mrs. Kearney demanding the balance of fees
Mr. Holohan refused and all were agreed
That the show would go on and the Kearneys would leave

All Kathleen desired was to do as she pleased
To play the piano and be at her ease
With a mother like hers unbending and stern
Young Kathleen was caught in the crosshairs again

credits

from The Stern Task of Living, released May 26, 2023

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Hibsen Dublin, Ireland

Hibsen are an Irish contemporary folk music ensemble formed by folk artists Gráinne Hunt and Jim Murphy. They released their debut album 'The Stern Task of Living' on 26th May 2023. The album was inspired by the book of short stories 'Dubliners' by James Joyce. Each of the 15 songs on the album is named after the short story on which it is based. ... more

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