Charlie Murphy - Burning Times
Charlie Murphy was a talented musician and activist, and a really nice guy. I am sorry that I just found out that he crossed over Aug 6, 2016.
I first met him Friday April 30 at a small concert he was giving at SUNY StonyBrook where I was a student. He was sponsored by the Gay and Lesbian Student Union ( I think that's what they called it). His music was being played the days before hand on our great college radio station WUSB 90.1 FM. When I heard Burning Times I nearly flipped out and couldn't get it out of my head, with the famous 'Isis Astarte Diana..' chant going over and over. For those who might not know, that chant was written by Deena Metzger.
I just had to go and see him, and hear him. I never thought that I would actually get to meet him. But the venue was small, and after all this is college. In the same vein, that's how I met all the members of U2 at school, but that's another story...
We hit it off right off the bat. We went somewhere and talked all night. We talked music, and Craft, and lots else. He insisted I come with him the next day to NY where he was doing another show, and he told me to bring along my drums ( I was playing tabla at the time...). He gave me a ticket ( see picture) which is numbered "1" on the back!
There's a LOT more to this story, but I'll fast forward to at the concert - I should say he was playing solo for these gigs. As he was introducing the last song, or the encore, he announced he wanted to invite up to the stage his good friend ( me !) to play with him.
Even though I was nervous and told him so, he said nonsense, and we practiced a bunch that day. He said, just play like that, that is exactly what I want. Wow. So I went up shyly to the stage (playing area) and we played. I was in a dream, and as high as could be without taking anything.
Afterwards, a blind man in the audience came up to us and just couldn't stop talking about how amazing that was, and that the sound of the drum transported him. He asked to touch the drum heads. Very special.
We spent the night and the next day at someone's home who would soon become my friend. Charlie and I kept in touch a little over next few years, writing letters (yes, that's what people did way back when).
This song remained a favorite and important ritually. It was one we used at the Samhain Festival at the Magickal Childe, as well as being an integral part of many 'Bardic Circles' that we did over the years.
Rest well in the Summerland my friend. Your contribution to the Craft was extraordinary, especially with this flash of Divine Inspiration.
I welcome comments, below...
Note: The lyrics are by Charlie Murphy, except for the refrain/chant, written by Deena Metzger.
Listen:
Lyrics:
In the cool of the evening, they used to gather
Underneath stars in the meadow circled near an old oak tree
At the times appointed by the seasons
Of the earth and the phases of the moon
In the center, often stood a woman
Equal with the others and respected for her worth
One of the many we call the witches
The healers and the teachers of the wisdom of the earth
The people grew through the knowledge she gave them
Herbs to heal their bodies, spells to make their spirits whole
Hear them chanting, healing incantations
Calling forth the wise one, celebrating in dance and song
{Refrain}
Isis, Astarte, Diana, Hecate, Demeter, Kali, Innana
There were those who came to power, through domination
And they bonded in their worship of a dead man on a cross
They sought control of the common people
By demanding allegiance to the church of Rome
And the Pope declared the inquisition
It was a war against the women, whose power they feared
In this holocaust against the nature peoples
Nine million European women died
And the tale is told of those, who by the hundreds
Holding together chose their death in the sea
While chanting the praises of the Mother Goddess
A refusal of betrayal, women were dying to be free
{Refrain}
Now the Earth is a witch, and the men still burn her
Stripping her down with mining, and the poisons of their war
Still to us the Earth is a healer, our teacher, our mother
She's the weaver of a web of life that keeps us all alive
She gives us the vision to see through the chaos
She gives us the courage, it is our will to survive