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MINING THE SOUL
Released
in 2000. Features North America's only coal-miners choir, THE
MEN OF THE DEEPS.
Click
song titles for lyrics, speaker icons for Real Audio sound clips
 Track
Listing & Sound Clips
1.
Working Man
2. Plain Ole Miner Boy
3. Emigrant Eyes
4. We Rise Again
5. In A Town This Size
6. Farewell To Nova Scotia
7. Working In A Coal Mine
8. Sweet Jesus
9. Dark As A Dungeon
10. Home I'll Be
11. I Shall Not Walk Alone
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Mining The Soul
Story....
From
Cape Breton Island, comes the magic of two internationally
acclaimed performers; multi-award winning singer-songwriter Rita
MacNeil re-unites with The Men of The Deeps, North America's
only coal miners' chorus for a heart-felt performance of MINING
THE SOUL - an extensive Canadian tour and exclusive new
recording.
 Far
beneath the surface of the earth, some say the heart and soul of
Cape Breton beats. A tumultuous industry has given character to
this part of the country, character that is reflected in its
people and their music. The island speaks of working class
values, strong friendships, unfailing courage and unwavering
faith. These emotions have found their voice in MINING THE SOUL.
The
MINING THE SOUL tour, which features both MacNeil and the choir,
promotes the CD of the same name, and is MacNeil's first major
tour with the Men, who worked with her in 1989 on a song called
Working Man. MacNeil got a glimpse of what life underground is
like when, just for fun, she toured the Princess mine. "I
was thinking it would be a fun thing to do - duh." Going
down the mine shaft did something to her. It was as if the
spirit of the workers spoke to her through the pitch blackness.
The song Working Man came to her, practically writing itself,
she says.
 Indeed,
Working Man is one of MacNeil's most acclaimed recordings, and
paved the way for future appearances with The Men. "When I
wrote the song, I was not thinking of The Men of The Deeps at
that time - I was thinking of the experience I was having down
underground. But someone had suggested 'If you get a chance in
some concert, you and The Men of The Deeps should do this song
together.' And that happened, and it sort of clicked, and they
were on the Junos doing that song..."
"...In
her hymn to Nova Scotia's miners, Rita MacNeil was joined by The
Men of The Deeps...they filed onto the stage from the wings and
auditorium to construct a three-tiered wall of light and sound
above MacNeil and beneath a glowering red sky upstage. It was a
brave and epic stunt, simple in its humanity and emotionally
overpowering, that brought the audience, awestruck, to its
feet..." (Toronto Star)
 MacNeil
and The Men entered the studio this spring and reunited with
producer Declan O'Doherty (Working Man), recording an album that
brings the pride, strength and resilience to life. The project
was recorded entirely in Cape Breton over a one-week time
period; all band tracks were recorded in a studio in Irish Cove,
while vocals were recorded on the stage of the historic Savoy
Theatre in Glace Bay. Guest musicians include Lucy and Stewart
MacNeil of The Barra MacNeils, and multi-instrumentalist
virtuoso J.P. Cormier.
Along
with the popular MacNeil anthems Home I'll Be and Working Man -
featuring Men of The Deeps soloist 'Nipper' MacLeod - MINING THE
SOUL includes Leon Dubinsky's now classic We Rise Again, and the
poignant Emigrant Eyes (Stannah and Clark) - a tribute to the
emigrants everywhere who came to this country looking for a
better life. The song recounts the humble beginnings of many of
our ancestors and the priceless gift they gave the generations
to come. In contrast is the upbeat whimsy of the Lee Dorsey
cover Working In A Coal Mine and Plain Ole Miner Boy, with Rita
trading-off vocals with choir member 'Yogi' Muise. The album
also delves into the spiritual, with MacNeil's Sweet Jesus, and
the closing track, Ben Harper's I Shall Not Walk Alone; a
song of faith and inspiration, Rita pairs with fellow maritimer
Kim Dunn for this haunting ballad.
 For
MacNeil, this is a career milestone. She has long wanted to
record an album and go on tour with The Men of The Deeps. Now
she is doing exactly that, MacNeil is pleased to announce that
the collaboration 'clicks, primarily through mutual respect.'
"I'm just learning the total history of The Men of The
Deeps. They've been together now, with members coming and going,
for 35 or more years. And their dedication to what they do - the
music - is an inspiration to anybody in the business. They love
it, and they take it very seriously. A lot of them are still
active miners, and the rest retired. It is amazing - quite
unique."
MINING
THE SOUL is an emotionally uplifting marriage of two of Canada's
most unique and distinctive artists, a celebration of home,
heritage and song - a celebration of all.
 "...Rita
MacNeil and The Men of The Deeps gave a full house of
flatlanders a fine show at Centennial Auditorium. The Mining The
Soul Tour worked a rich vein of emotion throughout the night,
from sad and nostalgic to joyful and triumphant."
~ Saskatoon Star Phoenix
"The
pairing of the lovable MacNeil and the gritty realism of The Men
of The Deeps was a satisfying mix, combining the eloquence of
MacNeil's singing and the powerful voices of the male chorus
into something special. The performance was part-concert, part
revival meeting...and a musical tribute to the men who risked
their lives in the coal mines. It was a performance that rang
strong and true."
~ Ottawa Citizen
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Working
Man
Chorus
It’s a working man l am
And I’ve been down under ground
And I swear to God if l ever see the sun
Or for any length of time
I can hold it in my mind
I never again will go down under ground
At
the age of sixteen years
Oh he quarrels with his peers
Who vowed they’d never see another one
In the dark recess of the mines
Where you age before your time
And the coal dust lies heavy on your lungs
Chorus
At
the age of sixty-four
Oh he'll greet you at the door
And he'll gently lead you by the arm
Through the dark recess of the mines
Oh he'll take you back in time
And he'll tell you of the hardships that were had
Chorus
(Repeat Chorus)
(Repeat Chorus)
God I
never again will go down under ground
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Home
I'll Be
I see
the mountains, feel the salt air
I have reasons to behold
All the wonders that never cease to be
You're as timeless as the water
You're as gentle as the fields
I caress you oh Cape Breton in my dreams
And
you never let the hard times
Take away your soul
And you stopped the tears from falling
As you watched the young ones go
You're as peaceful as a clear day
You're as rugged as the seas
I caress you oh Cape Breton in my dreams
Chorus:
And home I'll be
Home I'll be
Banish thoughts of leaving
Home I'll be
I see
the blue lakes, feel the passion
I have reasons to believe
There are places that will bring you to your knees
I hear voices they are calling
I have reason to pay heed
I caress you oh Cape Breton in my dreams
And
you kept your arms wide open
To let your children know
Wherever there is distance
The heart is always home
You're as soulful as a choir
You're as ancient as the hills
I caress you oh Cape Breton in my dreams
Chorus
/Repeat Chorus
Banish
thoughts of leaving, Home I'll be
Words
and Music by Rita MacNeil
©1990 Pond Publishing and Production Limited
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