Big Iron Page

Carol Noonan's Big Iron
Big Iron, is an entrancing collection of old and new western songs. Carol's unique and original style take the "twang" out of these steadfast originals and the result is a beautiful and haunting recording. Songs like Red River Valley, Streets of Loredo, and Shenandoah, with a few of Carol's originals in the mix round out this wonderful tribute to some great American music.

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A Note from the Artist:
Who says girls can't sing cowboy songs??!!!!......Well my mother, my sisters, my brother and my husband for starters. But who listens to them anyway? Well Big Iron is not just an album of cowboy songs. I also wanted to revise some of these American traditionals, all familiar, and hauntingly comfortable. Some of you will have grown up with these songs as I have. (and we don't need to mention any dates here) Others may have learned these songs when you first picked up a guitar. For those of you "youngsters", who may be hearing these songs for the first time, you will find them timeless and beautiful. The American traditional has a unique blend of melodies from countries afar, and melodies of a country newly born. Later on the cowboy, will take this genre to another level, while still singing these old favorites. Songs like Red River Valley and Shenandoah were sung in my class room as a child over and over again. Some of the other tunes, I grew to love after watching all the old westerns, where I fell in love with American cowboys and the horses they rode. While listening to old recordings and trying to pick out the songs that I would do for this album, I also found myself obsessed and maybe even possessed with the lone gunfighter. I wrote a couple of my own tunes, with this dark figure by my side. Choosing the songs for Big Iron proved to be the hardest part of the project. Once the right people were in place, the playing to follow, came naturally and beautifully. That could only happen with these wonderful people. They are my usual suspects of a band; Duke Levine and Kevin Barry on guitars, and Paul Bryan with his signature bass lines and keyboard arrangements, and a new and welcome addition of Billy Conway on drums. With Chris Rival recording, it was a perfect blend of talent and friendship. It was good to all be together again, and I think that come through in the music of Big Iron. We began recording on Labor day, and a week later, the light hearted mood of this project, changed violently by the events of September 11. For this reason, I decided at the last minute to re-record an old tune of mine, "Unknown Thing" that seemed all too appropriate for this time of uncertainty. I am hoping this album will remind us of a time when life was simple, and music was pure and true. I thank you for opening your hearts and your ears to the music that we have worked so hard to create.
- My best to you all, Carol Noonan

Credits

Produced by Paul Bryan and Chris Rival
Recorded and engineered by Chris Rival at My Generation Studios, Somerville Mass
Tracks played by Gerry Leonard , Sonny Barbato, and Paul Bryan's
keyboard tracks, recorded by Paul Bryan.
Mastered by Jonathan Wyner at M Works Studio, Cambridge Mass.
Design by Dawne Gilpatrick-Hall
Album photos of my brother Mike and my cousin Ellie, courtesy of my Mom
and my Aunt Harriet....yes, I will return them!

Musicians

The Band:
Kevin Barry-nylon string, 12 string, and acoustic guitars, back-packer, electric mando
Paul Bryan-bass, chamberlin, hammond, ochestron, piano
Billy Conway-drums
Duke Levine- electric guitars, madolin, electric mandolin, guitorgan, national guitar, lap steel
Carol Noonan-vocals, acoustic guitar, dobro(as if), hammond, little Jeannie Blake's accordion
Also appearing:
Dennis Brennen-backing vocals on "Lonesome Saddle"
Gerry Leonard- Electric "spooky ghost" guitar on "Mae Oh Mae" and the drone on "Down in the Valley"
Sonny Barbato all accordion tracks except for "Unknown Thing"
Songs by Carol Noonan, published by Noonan Building and wrecking, ASCAP copyright, 2001

Lyrics:

Red River Valley

From this valley they say you are going
We will miss your bright eyes and sweet smile
For they say you are taking way the sunshine
That has brightened our pathways awhile

chorus:
Come and sit by my side, if you love me
Do not hasten to bid me adieu
Just remember the Red River Valley
And the cowboy who loves you so true

Do you think of the valley you're leaving
O how lonely and sad it will be
Do you think of the kind hearts your breaking
And the pain you have caused to me

They will bury me where you have wandered
Near the hills where the daffodils grow
When you're gone from the Red River Valley
For I can't live without you I know

Streets of Laredo As I walked out in the streets of Laredo As I walked out in Laredo one day I spied a young cowboy, all dressed in white linen All dressed in white linen and clothed for the grave I see by your outfit that you are a cowboy These words he did say as I slowly walked by Come sit down beside me, and hear my sad story For I'm shot in the chest, and it's soon I will die Twas once in the saddle I used to go riding Once in the saddle I used to go gay I first took to drinkin and then to card playing Got shot in the chest and i'm dyin today Oh beat the drum slowly and play the fife lowly And play the dead march as they carry me long Take me to the valley and lay the sod o're me For I'm a young cowboy and know I've done wrong Go bring me back a cup of cool water To cool these parched lips the cowboy then said Before I returned his soul had departed And gone to the round up this cowboy was dead As I walked out in the Streets of laredo As I walked out in laredo one day I spied a young cowboy all dressed in white linen All dressed in white linen and clothed for the grave	Wayward Wind written by Stanley Lebowsky and Herb Newman Universal-Polygram Intl. Pub. Inc. chorus: The wayward wind is a restless wind A restless wind that yearns to wander And he was born the next of kin The next of kin to the wayward wind In a lonely shack by a railroad track He spent his younger days And I guess the sound of the out bound train Made him a slave to his wand'rin ways Oh I met him there in a border town He vowed he's never part Though he tried his best to settle down Now I'm alone with a broken heart

High Noon (Do Not Forsake Me) by Dimitri Tiomkin-Ned Washington Universal -MCA Music Pub OBO Volta Music Corp Largo music, Inc O/B/O Catherine Hinen Patti Washington Music Do not forsake me oh my darlin On this our wedding day Do not forsake me oh my darlin Wait wait along I do not know what fate awaits me I only know I must be brave And I must face a man who hates me or lie a coward a craven coward Or lie a coward in my grave Oh to be torn tween love and duty S'posin I lose my fair haired beauty Look at that big hand move along Nearin' high noon He made a vow while in state's prison Vowed it would be my life or his'n I'm not afraid of death but oh what will i do if you leave me Do not forsake me oh my darlin You made that promise as a bride Do not forsake me oh my darlin Although you're grievin', don't think of leavin' Now that I need you by my side Wait along-Wait Along *Lonesome Saddle* by Raycharles Lamontagne Well we rode into town like a couple of fools High on the meskal and bent low on my mule I'm just trying to find some place where a man might find some rest to wash the tears from my eyes and the blood from my vest chorus: One lonesome saddle one lonesome ride One lonely cowboy pining a woman unkind Walked into the saloon on my feet that felt like lead Cold steel been pounding in the back of my head I raised up my glass to the quick and to the dead Saying hey he ain't heavy and a bottle of red As the glass left my lips I felt her hand upon me her smile it was so warm but her eyes were so cold She says to me now won't you walk beside me I shut my mouth and did as i was told	Big Iron by Marty Robbins Warner Bros. Music a Division of Warner Bros. Inc. To the town of Agua Fria rode a stranger one fine day Hardly spoke to folks around him didn't have too much to say No one dared to ask his business, no one dared make a slip The stranger there among them had a big iron on his hip It was early in the morning when he rode into the town. He came riding from The southside and slowly looked around He's an outlaw loose and running came a whisper from each lip And he's here to do some business with big iron on his hip In this town there lived an outlaw by the name of Texas Red Many men had tried to take him, that many men were dead He was vicious and a killer though a youth of twenty four And the notches on his pistol numbered one and nineteen more Now the stranger started talking made it plain to folks around he was an Arizona Ranger wouldn't be too long in town He was there to take an outlaw back alive or maybe dead And he said it didn't matter that he was after Texas Red Wasn't long before this story was relayed to Texas Red But the outlaw didn't worry men that tried before were dead Twenty men had tried to take him, twenty men had made a slip Twenty one would be the Ranger with the big iron on his hip Now the morning passed so quickly and it was time for them to meet It was twenty past eleven when they walked out in the street Folks were watching from their windows everybody held their breath They knew this handsome stranger was about to meet his death There was forty feet between them when they stopped to make their play And the swiftness of the ranger is still talked about today Texas Red had not cleared leather when a bullet fairly ripped And the ranger's aim was deadly with the big iron on his hip It was over in a moment and the crowd all gathered round There before them lay the body of the outlaw on the ground Oh he might have went on living but he made one fatal slip When he tried to match the Ranger with the ig iron on his hip Big iron on his hip

Down in the Valley chorus: Down in the valley the valley so lo Hang your head over hear the wind blow Hear the wind blow dear hear the wind blow Hang your head over hear the wind blow Roses love sunshine violets love dew Angels in heaven know I love you Know I love you dear know I love you Angels in heaven know I love you Build me a castle forty feet high So I can see him as he rides by As he rides by dear as he rides by So I can see him as he rides by Write me a letter send it by mail Send it in care of Birmingham jail Birmingham jail love, Birmingham jail Send it in care of Birmingham jail *Shenandoah* Oh Shenandoah I long to see you Away your rolling river Oh Shenandoah I long to see you Away I'm bound away Cross the wild Missouri Oh Shenandoah I love your daughter Away your rolling river Oh Shenandoah I love your daughter Away I'm bound away Cross the wild Missouri Oh Shenandoah I long to hear you Away your rolling river Oh Shenandoah I long to hear you Away I'm bound away Cross the wild Missouri	Cross to Bear by Carol Noonan When I rode through Ravensfield that August night I never expected another gunfight I only was parched and a bit saddle soar But Ravensfield Ravensfield called me once more It was two years today that I rode through that town Before I had left I had laid a man down The crosses they planted was my cross to bear Cause the men in the graves had a name that we shared chorus: Well they never forgave me for what I had done Our mama had died and our daddy's begun... Anew life with a beauty that none could compare And I stole her away. It would be my cross to bear. Well I raised up a family and called them my own And never looked back on my Ravensfield home Now I am old and my daddy's long gone But five brothers remain who still take up the gun Dig the graves, plant the cross, spread the dirt two lives lost three lives lost four lives lost five lives lost A family of ten now a family of five But a picture remains wanted dead or alive The crosses they planted were my cross to bear Cause the men in the graves have a cross that we share

Mae Oh Mae by Carol Noonan My horse will carry me far tonight away oh Mae oh Mae My gun'll be hanging right by my side away oh Mae oh Mae Take me with you I am your wife away oh Mae oh Mae Take me with you or take my life away oh Mae oh Mae chorus: I could ride beside you Sleep under the moonlight Face the man that hates you Pray over a gunfight My hands are quicker than anyone's away oh Mae oh Mae He'll rule the day he was under my guns away oh Mae oh Mae I'll shoot him once then I'll shoot him twice away oh Mae oh Mae He'll beg to spare his miserable life away oh Mae oh Mae They took three steps and then they fired away oh Mae oh Mae But this man had cheated this man had conspired away oh Mae oh Mae A shot in the back and smoke from a tree away oh Mae oh Mae My love had fallen by treachery away oh Mae oh Mae My eyes are open but I can't see away oh Mae oh Mae A hole is burning inside of me away oh Mae oh Mae I can't feel the earth underneath my head away oh Mae oh Mae I fear my love that soon I'll be dead away oh Mae oh Mae I will lie beside you Sleep under the moonlight Face the stone that marks you Pray over a gunfight He called out my name before he died Mae oh mae I'll see you my love on the otherside Mae oh Mae	Unknown Thing by Carol Noonan There's a break in the storm, and we're finally warm, but the chill won't go away There's a silence broke, and we've finally spoke, but your voice is far away And we won't be right again, And we won't be right again And our backs will break from the task we take, and we're weary to the bone Oh our hearts are strong and it won't be long till the blood turns into stone And we won't be right again....and we won't be right again Though the sky is grey, could be night or day there's no light for us to see What the future will bring is an unknown thing but I'm sure of you and me And we Will be right again.....And we Will be right again. * This is an old song of mine, that came to mind during the tragedies that took place on September 11, 2001. It was a bittersweet time for us, while we recorded an album in the midst of such uncertainty. I can only hope that this song can bring some comfort, and that the last few lines may ring true for years to come. I dedicate it to those lost, and those who have lost.