demoneyes_phil: (Default)
[personal profile] demoneyes_phil

At Duple-Time, Brenda Sutton produced a beautiful chair cover she'd made by way of memorial for Keris and the future absent friends (there will sadly inevitably be), so they could be with us in spirit at future cons.  And this empty chair, decorated with Keris's con-badge and picture sat there by the sound-desk through the con - a beautiful thought and deed of Brenda's.

Then as I was driving home, I suddenly realised there was now another version of Empty Chairs at Empty Tables badly wanting to be written...  [Edit: 4th verse now updated as per comments]

Empty Chair

There’s a grief we’ve shared and spoken
But his con must still go on
An empty chair stands by the table
There to mark a friend now gone

Here he worked his evolutions
A humble man who sought no fame
Here he planned for cons to follow
But for him, they never came.

                On the sound-desk in the corner
                You could find him every con
                There to stop our voices ringing
                And give them force and power
                He loved to help in all we sung
                With cables in profusion.
                And he even liked Before the Dawn.

Oh my friend we won’t forget you
In our circle you belong
Let the music ring unbroken
You would want it to go on.

Someone else can run the sound-desk
Someone else can sing the bass
But can any match your kindness,
Or begin to take your place?  


Oh my friend, my friend, we’ll miss you
So in memory of before
An empty chair stands by the table
Where absent friends can sit… no more

Date: 2012-02-06 09:03 pm (UTC)
madfilkentist: My cat Florestan (gray shorthair) (Johann)
From: [personal profile] madfilkentist
I want to sing this at the Boskone memorial circle ... if I can find a way to get through it.

Date: 2012-02-07 08:27 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] demoneyes.livejournal.com
You'd be more than welcome. Please do.

Date: 2012-02-06 09:18 pm (UTC)

Date: 2012-02-06 09:18 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] oreouk.livejournal.com
In a totally tear-jerking way

Date: 2012-02-08 10:19 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] bardling.livejournal.com
Yes. Got tears in and out of my eyes now. Like ladyat, it's running in my head now.

Date: 2012-02-06 09:27 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] otherdeb.livejournal.com
Beautiful, and so damned true.

Date: 2012-02-06 09:48 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] ladyat.livejournal.com
I will have these words singing in my head for some time now. Well done, Phil.

Date: 2012-02-07 12:16 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] djbp.livejournal.com
Hugs with tears in my eyes.

Date: 2012-02-07 02:15 am (UTC)
ext_12246: (clef)
From: [identity profile] thnidu.livejournal.com
Oh, you're almost making me cry! And I don't even know the tune, so I can't hear it in my head.

Date: 2012-02-07 08:27 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] demoneyes.livejournal.com
Here's pretty much the definitive version - Michael Ball in the Les Mis 10th anniversary concert.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJnjcX8skXk

It's just the most gorgeous song.

Date: 2012-02-07 03:54 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] filkerdave.livejournal.com
Yes. Very, very yes

Date: 2012-02-07 04:30 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] catalana.livejournal.com
That is beautiful. *hugs her evil twin*

Date: 2012-02-07 05:20 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] sexybass.livejournal.com
A fantastic song for a wonderful friend

Date: 2012-02-07 12:09 pm (UTC)
hrrunka: Attentive icon by Narumi (Default)
From: [personal profile] hrrunka
Beautiful. Thanks.

Ah, yes, that was it!

Date: 2012-02-07 12:54 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] demoneyes.livejournal.com
Have managed to dredge from memory & complete the fragment that came to me whilst driving home from the con. Probably replaces the 4th verse (after the key change).

Someone else must run the sound-desk
Someone else must sing the bass
But can any match your kindness,
Or begin to take your place?

Date: 2012-02-07 07:04 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] jaegerin.livejournal.com
I love that song. And your words are beautiful.

Date: 2012-02-07 10:17 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] valydiarosada.livejournal.com
Lovely. And just right.

Date: 2012-02-21 02:32 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] filkerbaby.livejournal.com
I've only just found this after it was mentioned it was sung at Boskone. It's beautiful. I love it. Please will you sing it for me next year?
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