Here’s a lovely little gem of a song from the late and legendary Glaswegian Folk Singer and songwriter Matt McGinn. The song ‘Troubled Waters in my Soul’ here is taken from McGinn’s album ‘Tinny Can on my Tail. Hope you Enjoy!
Troubled Waters in my Soul by Matt McGinn
Lyrics
I’ve been sailing through Troubled Waters that knew no calm
The winds were wailing oer those waters and my sorrows knew no balm
Those troubled waters
Troubled Waters
Troubled Waters in my Soul
Ive been drinking Troubled waters to ease my mind
But in those waters, troubled waters no solace could i find
Those troubled waters
Troubled waters
Troubled waters in my soul
Storm clouds gather oer those waters , No haven had I
I was wandered on those waters, No love had I
Those troubled waters
Troubled waters
Troubled Waters in my Soul
Who was Matt McGinn
Matt McGinn was born in just off the Gallowgate in the Colton area of Glasgow in January, 1928. Born into a family of Nine, McGinn grew up in the are which was rich in Irish culture. This where he hoovered up many of the tunes often chanted with a mixture of colourful sectarian overtones and made them his own.
Although he was never to play a musical Instrument, and in some opinions, couldn’t sing either, McGinn wrote some amazing lyrics which he put with these tunes. His lyrics addressed social and political issues, yet he had a skill of being able to make them comedy, child friendly songs.
The Politician
McGinn was expelled from Primary school and sent to approved school as a child. However, this was no reflection on his intelligence. At age 31, he obtained a Trade Union Scholarship to the Ruskin College in Oxford. Here he saw how society really worked. After a brief period as a school teacher, his beleifs were solidified and McGinn returned to Glasgow, vowing never to work again. However, Matt was a an enthusiastic campaigner for local social and housing issues and helped establish the Gorbals Adventure Playground.
In 1962, Matt won a song writing competition with his song ‘The Foreman O’Rourke’ which earned him a place at the Carnegie Hall. Here he met a young Bob Dylan and the American Folk Singer and Songwriter Pete Seeger whom he would forge a lasting Friendship with. Matt McGinn was a member of the Communist Party of great Britain and was a committed Socialist, trade unionist and a keen observer of nature which reflected in his songs.
Being a father himself, he was great at writing children’s songs too. He was really good fusing these components together to make songs that can be understood by all ages with an appreciative meaning as one grows older. However, in the 1960’s Britain and America were still in the height of the Cold War and while McGinn was a big name in the Folk Revival scene, he was limited in his publicised and very few TV appearances of Matt McGinn in his life and one from his early era.
The Entertainer
As the 1970’s came along, the songs McGinn sang had started to become less of a threat to the status Quo and the singer had also adopted a more humorous approach to his material. This live show here is a prime example of Matt McGinn the entertainer. It was recorded in the singers latter years. But it has no shortage of humorous jokes and the craic which Matt was always good at. In fact, he was often considered the Mentor of his banjo Player Billy Connolly who would later go on to become a world famous Stand Up comedian.
Sadly Matt McGinn passed away in 1978. Unfortunately his home in Govan hill in Glasgow’s South Side suffered a fire when matt came home drunk one night and fell asleep in bed with a cigarette. He died in the fire and was pronounced dead by smoke inhalation at age 50.
The Legacy
Matt McGinn’s works are still very much celebrated and many musicians and songwriters including myself can say that McGinn was a big Influence on them. McGinn’s songs are still performed by folk musicians on both sides of the Atlantic. In Scotland and in America at tribute concerts. His songs have been recorded by Pete Seeger, The Weavers, Theodore Bikel, The Corries, Luke Kelly, The Chinese Man, The Ian Campbell Folk Group, Barry Dransfield & Rachel Unthank and the Winterset, among others.
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