// Sorry about the mulitple sends on last night's digest. Netscape
// kept telling me it hadn't sent out the file...
// The definitive word on the Flyer, the definitive word on "craick,"
// that Texas Monthly article...lots of nanci content...wow!
// Enjoy...[BP]

_________________________________________________________________

Subject: NN: re: flyer
   From: LDay67@aol.com

Hi flyers and flyees,

One of my favorite threads has re-emerged. I've deleted the original messages
about the identity of the pilot in the airport who inspired "Flyer," but the
NanciNetter said something about how the man behind the inspiration must feel
when he sees the CD.  I think the flyer character became more of an archetype
than the biographical re-telling of a stranger in an airport.  As this thread
evidenced a couple of years ago, many of us have had flyers in our lives,
those cherished people whose time in our lives must be short and unrequited.
In Nanci Griffith's writing, this archetypal lover is the best kind; in fact,
he's the only kind who isn't treated with bitterness.  With these fleeting
relationships, her lyrics can focus on the positive elements of her time with
him, reflecting wistfully about the good old day.

Also on this thread, I don't think the Flyer of the title describes only the
pilot in the airport.  I think it also signifies the persona that Nanci
Griffith chooses for the CD.  She has called the CD her most autobiographical
work, and she writes in the liner notes that "it's a fly-by-night traveler's
life I have led."  Plus, in the lyrics to the title cut from Late Night Grande
Hotel, she says, "I am just learning how to fly away again."  She's a flyer,
too.  

Lisa "too clumsy" Day

_________________________________________________________________


Subject: Re: NN: re: flyer
   From: kenn lippert (lippert@fyi.net>

...snippage... 

>In Nanci Griffith's writing, this archetypal lover is the best kind; in fact, 
>he's the only kind who isn't treated with bitterness. With these fleeting 
>relationships, her lyrics can focus on the positive elements of her time with 
>him, reflecting wistfully about the good old day. 

I am reminded of the movie "City Slickers" (I cannot read, so the closest I
can come to literary references is movies). I am sure I do not have the
dialogue correct, but the gist is there. Billy Crystal's character is talking
to Jack Palance's, (Curly?), after they have spent a night together out on the
open range and shared in the birth of a calf and the death of a cow. Billy
asks Curly if he has ever been in love. Curly relates the story of walking
down a country road and seeing a slim wisp of a woman out hanging laundry.
>From the distance he cannot see much, but that she is young and beautiful and
innocent. He keeps his distance and just watches. As the sun sets it falls
behind the girl from where Curly waits and she is silhouetted against the
dusk. Her thin cotton dress does little to hide her tender lithe body. 

"It was a perfect, once in a lifetime image, and at that moment I fell in
love." said Curly. 

Billy asked, "So did you go and talk to her?" 

Curly replied, "No I just walked on down the road. I figured it couldn't get
any better than that." 


kenn "not walking enough" lippert 
 _________________________________________________________________________ 
| kenn lippert                             "Reach me down my Tycho Brahe, | 
| lippert@fyi.net (home)                 I would know him when we meet... | 
| lippertkb@atc.alcoa.com             Though my soul may set in darkness, | 
| http://www.fyi.net/~lippert              it will rise in perfect light; | 
|                                       I have loved the stars too fondly | 
|                                            to be fearful of the night." | 
| "See Kate Campbell"                                     -Sarah Williams | 
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

_________________________________________________________________


Subject: Re: NN: re: flyer
   From: ALJ (guerreros@uswest.net>

just like "So now I dream of a lover that I don't know. . ." from that never
learn to fish on a borrowed line song on Once In A Very Blue Moon. . .  :-.)
liz

_________________________________________________________________


Subject: Re: NN: re: flyer
   From: Shawn Kimbro (kimbro@planetc.com>

Kenn writes:

> I am reminded of the movie "City Slickers" 

John Steinbeck's "The Chrysanthemums."

-S

_________________________________________________________________


Subject: Re: NN: re: flyer
   From: Susan bond (su.b@sk.sympatico.ca>

Lisa wrote:
>>In Nanci Griffith's writing, this archetypal lover is the best kind; in fact,
>>he's the only kind who isn't treated with bitterness.  With these fleeting
>>relationships, her lyrics can focus on the positive elements of her time with
>>him, reflecting wistfully about the good old day.

then Kenn wrote:
>Billy asked, "So did you go and talk to her?"
>
>Curly replied, "No I just walked on down the road.  I figured it couldn't
>get any better than that."

Ah, but it does. And many a great song has been born of it. And when it
doesn't, well, many a great song has been born of that, too.

Susan


_________________________________________________________________


Subject: NN: "Flyer"? literal?
   From: Robert Smith (smi2726@ibm.net>

the day of princess' diana's funeral my family drove from pgh to phila. (6 hr.
drive) to see nanci at the tower theatre. when she gave the rap leading into
"flyer" , how could we help but yell out "we're from pgh!". she replied (best
as i can recall,) "you have the nicest airport!". so i'm guessing that song is
pretty literal.
so, dear nanci, from one flyer to another, so glad to have something nice
happen to ya in my hometown. 
love ya,
jean

_________________________________________________________________


Subject: Re: NN: Is Flyer a true story?
   From: Jenn Fletcher (jfletch@its.caltech.edu>

Hello All,

  Ron Hennessy asked:

>Has there been any followup to their conversation on the plane?  Or were they
>just--not like two ships passing in the night--but like two jets zooming past
>each other in different directions?!

  I had the great good fortune to be in Denver for Nanci's final concert of
the Flyer tour. She opened that night with the title song, and to the best
of my recollection she said that she had subsequently tried to get in touch
with the Air Force pilot but he had not responded and she'd never seen him
again. I don't believe she ever mentioned his name. Sad, perhaps, but I
certainly-- perhaps many of us-- have also met people who have flown
through and touched my life. When I was a child I once met a nun on a
flight to Alaska who was on her way from relief work in Central America to
help start a monastery outside Fairbanks. In the course of several hours
conversation she opened whole new worlds to me, and I've never forgotten
her. Thank you, Nanci, for giving a name to this wondrous, nameless
experience...

   --Jenn in LA

PS My thoughts and prayers go out to Christina Myers and her family--
"There are no strangers here, only friends we haven't yet met."


_________________________________________________________________


Subject: Re: NN: nanci books
   From: Bell/Wrightson (onemansmusic@mindspring.com>

So what ever happened to Nanci's work of fiction?

Sarah

_________________________________________________________________


Subject: Re: NN: nanci books
   From: Catelaw@aol.com

(( So what ever happened to Nanci's work of fiction?>>

The Texas Monthly article quotes Nanci as "[Hoping] that 'Two of a Kind
Heart'...will be published by Random House this year," although it later
describes the novel in less than flattering terms.  

Also, perhaps of interest, is that Nanci "says her next album of new songs
[after the symphony production, which is, of course, not new songs] might be
just her, a guitar, and her pianist," which TM says "might even be something
to write home about."

Cate, in Atlanta


_________________________________________________________________


Subject: NN: Another Top Ten
   From: Scott_Johnsen@restrac.com

Hello Everyone,

WUMB radio station in Boston does an annual Top Ten albums of the previous
year.  Strictly speaking, these are not all from 1998 since there are some
albums that would fall through the cracks because of the voting window.  So
they include those albums that may not have receive many (any?) votes the
previous year because they were introduced at the end of the calendar year.
The votes are taken from members (at a certain dollar level and above) and
radio personnel.  Then they do a Top Ten count down over a two week period
where they will play many tracks throughout the day from the number 10
album on Monday, number 9 album on Tuesday and so on.  Today they announced
and played the number 6 album of 1998.  I am pleased to announce that Nanci
Griffith's Other Voices, Too came in at number 6.  I will be happy to post
the entire Top Ten after they have all been disclosed.  The number 1 album
will be announced and played a week from today.

- Scott

Now Playing:  Greg Brown, Dream Cafe


_________________________________________________________________


Subject: NN: nanci books
   From: ALJ (guerreros@uswest.net>

Searching Amazon.com I came across a Nanci title Don't Wanna
Talk About Love. It's an audiocasette from 1990 (of course
the publisher is out of stock). Any clues - live performance
from Storms?    :-.) liz

_________________________________________________________________


Subject: Re: NN: nanci books
   From: MISTERCD@webtv.net (SID PORTER)

     I am pretty sure that the tape in question is just a cassette
single.  When I searched Amazon for Mary Chapin's children's books, I
noticed that she also has a couple of similar tapes listed.      I
ordered "I Dont Want To Talk About Love" from Amazon a while back and
after about a three month wait, they told me that they could no longer
get it.

Sid "Buy Anything With Nanci'" Porter


_________________________________________________________________


Subject: Re: NN: Nanci Griffith -- Cover Girl
   From: "Panchyshyn,Roman" (panchysr@oclc.org>

Bill [Peete],
Great photographs on that Dirty Linen article, especially the ones from
Telluride, ca. 1987-1988. I have some pretty good photos myself of Nanci
from 1987, when I had  a press pass and got to sit in the pit directly below
the stage giving me direct access to the stage for photos. The white dress,
the music was perfect, so was the weather, though it was a little chilly in
the evening. Am going back this year after 10 years, hope Nanci can make it
back as well.
Congratulations to Kathie & Joe on their wedding plans.
Roman

PS. Watch out for those copyright police on your website. Don't know if DL
magazine takes too kindly to folks scanning their articles and posting them
on websites. Being a librarian myself, I know that libraries could not
justify scanning this under the argument of "personal use", unless you
procured permission from the publisher.
Ciao.

_________________________________________________________________


Subject: NN: Heartfelt thank yews
   From: Poetmuse@aol.com

just a short note today before everything begins- please forgive my lack of
coherentness..I've tossed and turned all night and have probably only recieved
a few winks of sleep- but I wanted to pass on my utter most gratitude for all
the letters that I recieved since last night... y'all are truly wonderful
human beings. I'm not a religious person really, but my mom is, and last night
I sat her down and introduced her to this thing we call the nanci net and all
the well wishes and prayers and it truly touched her. And that means so much.
Of course I was fine until I recieved a letter this morning from Robert P.
that contained a simply wonderful, beautiful poem that touched my heart- then
the tears really came! But it's all good, Robert- don't fret.
I won't get to see my dad till today, if at all- but I will keep passing on
the positive thoughts and prayers through my mom....he had surgery yesterday,
so I am sure it helped- he's still with us.
I tend to internalize everything and not let it sink in, so I'm saving them
for when it truly hits me. Take care everyone.And a million thanks, again.
I'll update later, that is, if anyone wants.

Christina
wishing it would rain to wash my face clean

_________________________________________________________________


Subject: Re: NN: Heartfelt thank yews
   From: Bell/Wrightson (onemansmusic@mindspring.com>

Poetmuse@aol.com wrote:
> 
> I'll update later, that is, if anyone wants.

Christina,

PLEASE update us.  Vince wrote about his time in the hospital, and said
that it is easier to be in the bed than stand at its side...so I'm
sending extra prayers to you and your Mom, along with those to your
father, right now.

Much love,

Sarah

_________________________________________________________________


Subject: NN: From Clare to where?, etc.
   From: Paul Larsen (paul@davisnet.net>

I am listening to OVOR right now, and it brought up in my mind a question
(again) about the lyrics in the song "From Clare to Here."  It starts out
"Four who shared this room, and we were caught up in the crack."  That has
never made much sense to me.  A few months ago, however, I was watching the
show "Travelers" on Discovery (since cancelled) where I was introduced to
the term "craic", a colloquial Celtic (?) term referring to having a good
time.  This would make more sense to me when the following lines are
"Sleeping late on Sundays, and we never got to mass."  Are there any
thoughts on that, informed or otherwise?

Breaking the cardinal rule of only one subject per e-mail, I too wanted to
convey my congratulations and best wishes to Joe and Kathie on their recent
engagement.  I also wanted to let Christina know that her request was not a
silly one, and that my thoughts and prayers are with her and her family at
this time.

Paul "TGIF - what more need I say?" Larsen


// This topic was covered in some detail back in September or 
// so of '96. You can follow the discussion in the archives at:
//        http://brisbin.net/Nanci/archives/arc.html 
// [BP]


_________________________________________________________________


Subject: Re: NN: From Clare to where?, etc.
   From: "Alan B. Larson" (alanlarson@mindspring.com>

Paul, 
I'm pretty sure that is what she is referring too.  Van Morrison has used
the term crack in several of his songs also.  And since Nanci has a special
affinity to Ireland and celtic things it would seem to fit.
Alan


_________________________________________________________________


Subject: RE: NN: From Clare to where?, etc.
   From: "Thomas, Tasha" (TThomas@vilcom.com>

I have it on good authority (Ms. Nanci herself) that she is referring to
Irish "craic", rather than that other crack we've all heard so much about in
recent years. This term was discussed a bit before "From Clare to Here" was
sung at the Dublin concerts in Nov.

_________________________________________________________________


Subject: RE: NN: From Clare to where?, etc.
   From: Graham Brown-PRESSTC (graham.brown.01@bbc.co.uk>

Not wanting to be "picky" but isn't this a Ralph McTell song? I remember
seeing him perform it with Nanci at the Royal Albert Hall on the OVOR tour.

Best wishes to all from a dark, damp London afternoon
Graham   

_________________________________________________________________


Subject: NN: answers
   From: "Hans Janssen" (hjanssen@mail.dotcom.fr>

Hi All,

This was the answer I got from someone from Ireland on the "crack" question:

>Owen,
>
>Can you help with the expenation of crack, craig?

Hello Hans any  "craic" ?  (pronounced "crack")
It means is there any fun or excitement in your life?

I might say I went to the Pub last night and there was "great craic" or the
"craic was mighty"  meaning we had a great time.
There is also a song with the line "The craic was 90"  this means things
were really, really exciting.

If you go to the first page of my web site I have the line.
"I hope you get a wee bit of  craic here" which means I hope you enjoy my
web site.

We have a great many sayings like this. You have given me an idea , I must
make a list of them sometime and put them on a page of my "Images of
Ireland" site with explanations.

>>"Sleeping late on Sundays, and we never got to mass."
I will explain this line for you
In the Catholic Church on Sunday mornings there is a church service called
"The Mass" It is repeated e.g.
one at 10.00 hrs, 11.00 hrs and perhaps 12.00 hrs. Roman Catholics are
susaposed to attend one of them. So  you have two or three opportunities to
get to mass and it is susaposed to be a sin if you miss mass.

Hope you have the best of craic this weekend.

Owen
http://members.tripod.com/~imagesofireland/imagesof.htm"

Getting a lot of craigh tomorrow,

Hans Janssen.

_________________________________________________________________


Subject: Re: NN: From Clare to where?, etc.
   From: Stenbock@aol.com

The group Celtic Thunder has a song called "The Galway Ghost" where a man
flees Ireland to escape a murder charge.  One line is "I can't go back for
love or crack", which always seemed related to me...

_________________________________________________________________


Subject: NN: No Nanci Content-Sorry
   From: "Pat Hasz" (phasz@tclsystems.com>

Hi Nancinetters,

Any San Diego area Nancinetters want to get together for a Lucinda 
Williams concert?

She is playing at the Belly Up, Solana Beach, on Feb. 26.

Please email privately if interested in meeting.

Thanks,
Patty Hasz 

_________________________________________________________________


Subject: NN: Texas Monthly Article
   From: Steve Makarsky (thekidd@flash.net>

I just finished re-reading the Nanci Griffith article in Texas Monthly
and Im still not quite sure where the writer is headed with it... I
wish I had access to a scanner so everyone could read it for themselves,
but heres my take on it....

The first half of the article is a generally positive account of Nancis
music career up to 1998 and OV II and the Letter... This is then used
as the spring board for an extended discussion of  Nancis lack of
genuine sincerity by several named Texas critics  and an anonymous
Austin musician (who are not Nanci fans)...  The premise of this
discussion is that an artist cant be both sincere and concerned about
their career at the same time - like these are two mutually exclusive
items... And how Nanci is actually a cold and calculating person who
puts on a persona of sincerity and vulnerability for her audience...
This then leads to a several paragraph editorial comment by the writer
about how Nanci is spreading herself thin, writing letters when she
should be writing songs and that she is obsessed with being an
unappreciated Texas ex.

Some specifics:

On the plus side, the writer does allow Nanci to express her reasons for
sending out  her letter... (Its my home.  If I get a bad review, I
dont really care about it if its not Texas.  My whole family lives in
Texas.  You want your family to be proud of you, just like you want your
native soil to be proud of you.)

On the negative side, although the writer obviously had the chance to
interview Nanci, she never gets the chance to respond directly to these
criticisms as to her sincerity... So, it reads (to me at least) as a one
-sided attack...

As examples of her insincerity, the writer discusses Nancis appearance
and actions on the ACL Townes Van Zant Tribute and her accents... 

The critics claim her tears during Ft Worth Blues are a means for her to
play up to the camera... (My comment:  Ive seen this special several
times and, yes, she does look at camera at one point & its obvious
there are tears coming down her cheeks, but it occurs as she is looking
up and away for a couple of seconds and once she notices the camera is
on her, she looks away...) 

The other example is one thats been discussed here before:  her accents
and pronunciations... At one point Corcoran (one of her biggest critics)
states Nobody raised in Austin has an accent.  (My comment:  What part
of Austin was he living in?  Having lived in Austin during the 70s, we
all had accents...)

Now, I have never met Nanci and I do not consider myself to be YASENF,
but  I do believe in the old saying You can easily judge the character
of others by how they treat those who can do nothing for them or to
them.  Almost everything Ive ever read about Nanci shows that she is a
genuine what-you-see-is-what-you-get type person.  False sincerity
eventually surfaces & having a bad day or two does not make someone
dishonest or deceitful... The numerous accounts of those Nnetters lucky
enough to have actually met Nanci leads me to believe she is who she
presents herself to be...

To me, sincerity in a musician shows in the honesty they pour into their
writing, the intensity and emotion they put into their singing, and how
they treat their fans and peers... If youre anything less than
truthful, your writing becomes only so many overused clichis and the
music is nothing better than Muzak... And your audiences (and peers)
quickly find out and leave...

Is Nanci insincere?  Sorry, I dont buy it... This article would have to
be more balanced and provide more specific examples to make me change my
mind...

Thats my 2 cents.... Sorry for the long post, Bill... Feel free to edit
as needed....

Steve now its back to the grind...

_________________________________________________________________


Subject: NN: RE: Texas Monthly Article
   From: "Thomas, Tasha" (TThomas@vilcom.com>

I'll second those sentiments Steve, but that's coming from YASENF.

I'm going to Barnes and Noble tonight to see if I can find a copy of Texas
Monthly. Does this article simply reference the "Letter" or was the letter
sent to this publication? I haven't seen the letter, and can only guess
about it's contents, from the comments you fellow NN'ers have made.

_________________________________________________________________


Subject: Re: NN: Texas Monthly Article
   From: Bell/Wrightson (onemansmusic@mindspring.com>

Steve Makarsky wrote:
> 
> The premise of this
> discussion is that an artist cant be both sincere and concerned about
> their career at the same time - like these are two mutually exclusive
> items... 

Haven't read the article so I can only take this out of the specific and
react generally.

The excerpted line struck me though, and I think it is just not true. 
Ah, we all know the myth of the pure, tortured artist who must be
protected from the seamy sides of reality...the moans of left brain vs
right brain...the oh I just don't understand all that business stuff. 
Often it is a crock, sometimes a personal choice, at times just a
certain, individual, personality.  There are certainly artists in this
world who can, with grace and brilliance, combine art and a concern for
career.  More power to them.

Gee, guess I'm in a "hogwash" mood this rainy, bleak day.

Sarah
=========================================
Sarah Wrightson/One Man's Music
http://www.mindspring.com/~vincebell/
Vince Bell's book is now available at his web site.
Look there for his new CD, Texas Plates, January 15.
=========================================

_________________________________________________________________


Subject: NN: Nanci's next and that poem...
   From: "Robert Pugsley" (RMP6@leicester.ac.uk>

Dear all,

Cate told us (via Texas Monthly) that...

(((Nanci "says her next album of new songs
[after the symphony production, which is, of course, not new songs] might be
just her, a guitar, and her pianist...>>>

Well that should please a few of the more curmudgeonish folks
around these parts..! Seriously though, I'm sure I'm not the only
one (I know I'm not...) who would love this to be true, I like LNGH
the much as the next man (...er...unless that man doesn't like it...
obviously...) but one of my favourite Nanci memories is seeing her
just strummin' her guitar...

...And (just so you know), no, it wasn't a poem of mine I sent Christina,
with my sense of rhyme (not no mention rhythm) that would have 
really upset her :-) It was a poem called 'Uphill' by Christina Rossetti...

OK, that's enough for now...

Incidentally, how many NN couples are there now? 3 or 4? And what
with spring in the air...

all the best

Robert (Pugsley)
Does Kenn's computer talk to him then?....Oh I get it....My, that kitty...etc.

_________________________________________________________________


Subject: NN: My Nanci find...
   From: Kati Rose (katirose@ez2.net>

After years of searching I came up with two more pieces for my collection
of Nanci stuff.  I went to a semi-local (about an hour away) mall where
they had a Virgin record store...and I found "One Fair Summer Evening"
video (which I've heard is out print??) and "The Best Of Nanci Griffith"
CD...the UK import.  I am so jazzed I found these. I've had some of my
online friends looking for the CD hoping someone in the UK would find it
for me...but no one ever came across it. I had given up hopes on finding
the video since I heard it was no longer in print. I love them both! The
video doesn't have the best of quality...but what can one expect from a
video that's almost 10 years old.  It's so great tho, seeing on video what
I've been hearing on the CD for so many years. Just thought I'd share...now
back to the world of lurkdom!

KatiRose

_________________________________________________________________


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