TASHY HEARS

FOUR STRONG WINDS

When I was growing up I used to spend quite a bit of time reading books. My father would take me to the library every couple of weeks and, apart from books on cricket and motor racing (he limited me to 2 of these each time) the other 2 books had to be about something else. He pushed me in the direction of some classics, I particularly remember The 39 Steps and Greenmantle by John Buchan, but I really loved books about early exploration, especially in Australia, Canada and Antarctica.

In about 1963 ITV began to show a children's series called “The Terrible Ten”. It was set in Australia and I loved to watch it. Then a year or so later came another series called “The Junior Forest Rangers” and this one was set in Canada. At about the same time I found, thanks to The Searchers LP called “Take Me For What I'm Worth” a song called “Four Strong Winds”. It was acoustic based and soon I was learning it. I knew it was about Canada but checked out the author, a Canadian guy called Ian Tyson who initially sang a version with his wife Sylvia.

Even if it hadn't come from Canada I would have loved it. It was plaintiff, it was about lost or unfulfilled love and it was folksy. I learnt it, I played it endlessly and still today it is one of my all-time favourite songs. I understand that in 2005 radio listeners in Canada chose it as the greatest Canadian song of all time: I would possibly have it in my top five greatest ever.

It will also be the last acoustic folk song that I will record. My comeback, mother, is over. The last few days I have had the most incredible pain in my neck and shoulder and it turns out that the cervical spondylosis that has been diagnosed in my neck responds badly, very badly, to my fingers playing on the guitar. This seems logical as I have had a tingling, numb sensation in the fingers of my left hand for well over 15 years and you do use these fingers quite a lot in playing the guitar. Common sense has therefore prevailed and I have put away the guitar for the last time. It was fun but I won't be tempted to ever try to play again. The keyboard however...... This all took me back to a very special time in my life and reminded me of how much I love playing and singing. For a while anyway. Well, possibly four weeks actually.

I've met many Australians in my life but it was only about 7 years ago that I had a chance, a brief chance, to spend a few days in the company of a Canadian. If this was representative of how all Canadians are, I've missed a lot. I think this track would be described as after dinner music.

Hear it is