Janey, a letter came today and a picture of you. Your expression so like your father's brought back all the years.
Songs from Letters
Song Cycle by Libby Larsen (b. 1950)
1. So like your father's (1880) [sung text not yet checked]
Language: English
Text Authorship:
- by Martha Jane Cannary (1856 - 1903), as also known as Calamity Jane, no title, written 1880, from her letters to her daughter Janey (text adapted by the composer)
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Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]2. He never misses (1880) [sung text not yet checked]
Language: English
I met your father 'Wild Bill Hickok' near Abilene. A bunch of outlaws were planning to kill him. I crawled through the brush to warn him. Bill killed them all. I'll never forget... Blood running down his face while he used two guns. He never aimed and he was never known to miss.
Text Authorship:
- by Martha Jane Cannary (1856 - 1903), as also known as Calamity Jane, no title, written 1880, from her letters to her daughter Janey (text adapted by the composer)
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Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]3. A man can love two women [sung text not yet checked]
Language: English
Don't let jealousy get you, Janey. It kills love and all nice things, It drove your father from me. I lost everything I loved except for you. A man can love two women at a time. He loved her and he still loved me. He loved me because of you, Janey.
Text Authorship:
- by Martha Jane Cannary (1856 - 1903), as also known as Calamity Jane, no title, written 1880, from her letters to her daughter Janey (text adapted by the composer)
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Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]4. A working woman [sung text not yet checked]
Language: English
Your mother works for a living. One day I have chickens, and the next day feathers. These days I'm driving a stagecoach. For a while, I worked in Russell's saloon but when I worked there all the virtuous women planned to run me out of town, so these days, I'm driving a stagecoach. I'll be leaving soon to join Bill Cody's Wild West Show. I'll ride a horse bare-back, standing up, shoot my old Stetson hat twice - throwing it into the air - and landing on my head. These are hectic days - like hell let out for noon. I mind my own business, but remember the one thing the world hates is a woman who minds her own business. All the virtuous women have bastards and shot-gun weddings. I have nursed them through childbirth and my only pay is a kick in the pants when my back is turned. These other women are pot bellied, hairy legged and look like something the cat dragged in. I wish I had the power to damn their souls to hell! Your mother works for a living.
Text Authorship:
- by Martha Jane Cannary (1856 - 1903), as also known as Calamity Jane, no title, written 1882-3, from her letters to her daughter Janey (text adapted by the composer)
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Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]5. All I have [sung text not yet checked]
Language: English
I am going blind. All hope of seeing you again is dead, Janey. What have I ever done except one blunder after another? All I have left are these pictures of you and your father. Don't pity me, Janey, forgive my faults and all the wrong I did you. Good night, little girl, And may God keep you from harm.
Text Authorship:
- by Martha Jane Cannary (1856 - 1903), as also known as Calamity Jane, no title, written 1902, from her letters to her daughter Janey (text adapted by the composer)
Go to the general single-text view
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]Total word count: 367