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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

We’ll meet at M’Auleys at a quarter to eight
For to wash the pot in Tenebrae
Lux upon lux crux upon crux
At the altar of Grace our belief is the same

One week earlier at the bottom of a stairs
Mr. Kernan was found the worse for wear
His silk hat dinged blood in his mouth
A policeman arrived drawing a crowd

'Who is the man?' 'What is his name?'
His companions deserted skirting the blame
Mr. Power was passing and took on the chore
Of getting him home and out of the bar

Mr. Kernan was once a man of success
But alas for his sins was too fond of the sauce
Mrs. Kernan despaired as they stood in the hall
“We’ll make a new man of him” Power resolved

Two nights later a trio arrived
Mr. Power Mr. Cunningham and Mr. McCoy
Immersed in the waters of philosophy’s ways
Mr. Cunningham had hatched a plan for great change

Still recovering from his travails
Mr. Kernan sat up and apologised
For the state of disorder around his bedside
As he looked at his friends with a veteran’s pride

They spoke of the mishap to Kernan’s distaste
He wished for the details to remain somewhat vague
His friends knew quite well the company he kept
Peloothered and boozing for days upon end

His blushes were spared by a knock on the door
In came his wife with three bottles of port
“Have you nothing for me?” Kernan implored
“The back of my hand” was his wife’s sharp retort

The gentlemen drank then the ruse began
Mr. Power said casually “On Thursday so Jack?”
“Thursday it is but we mustn’t be late”
Mr. Kernan’s ears piqued “so what’s in the wind?”

“Oh it’s nothing Tom it’s just a retreat
For us three rogues to be cleansed you see
Do you know my friend what’s occurred to me?
Maybe you’d join us in a four-handed reel?”

Mr. Kernan fell silent his mind ill-at-ease
To visit a church held little reprieve
For a man so suspicious of dogma decreed
But yet he still listened to the trinity’s beliefs

Finally he agreed that God could bear witness
But none of this magic-lantern business
To set things right he'd make the retreat
Credo! Credo! At last he believed
Credo! Credo! At last he believed

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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