Live performance of Pat Murphy’s Meadow at Afterwords bookstore
This video is dedicated to Afterwords Bookstore. The bookstore is an iconic fixture in downtown St. John’s for more than 45 years that went out of business in recent weeks. To David Benson, Catherine McCausland and family, for the much-loved gems I discovered in your wonderful store with my three girls over the years. I will miss you the most for Christmas shopping.
I chose to sing Pat Murphy’s Meadow because of the feeling it bestows. The song is about loss. It’s sentimental, but not too sentimental. I don’t want Afterwords to be forgotten, or the importance of small business, and I also don’t want people to forget the magic that books and bookstores bring to our lives. I am honoured to have David and Afterwords in the video, in what I know must be a very hard time for him and his wife Catherine. A heartfelt thank you to David and Catherine for letting us shoot this little video in such sad times. Downtown St. John’s, to quote Joni Mitchell, “You don’t know what you got till it’s gone.”
Pat Murphy’s Meadow was written by John Martin Devine from King’s Cove, Bonavista Bay, NL. The song is also available on Raised on This, available at Fred’s Records & O’Brien’s Music. Downloads are available on my Bandcamp page.
Starring David Benson as himself
Colleen Power: Vocal
Jason Whelan: Guitar
Greg Walsh: Fiddle
Directed by: Colleen Power
Camera/Editing: Ben Smith
Sound Recordist: Neil Conway
Here is the video link: