Songs from the Musical "Matt Talbot"

Songs from the musical "Matt Talbot" were created by Pat & Kathleen Phelan in 1986 and posted on November 12, 2017 at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yissk0U0P-Y.

Ballad of Matt Talbot

Davey Inthevalley wrote and sings this song about "Dublin's beloved Venerable Matt Talbot," which was published on 15 June 2015.

What apparently struck Davey about Matt was that Matt was an ordinary man, a hard worker, and eventually found grace that lead him to true sobriety.

A Song about Venerable Matt Talbot by Paul Lisney

Paul Lisney, a Catholic singer/songwriter/guitarist for nearly 40 years and a mental health crisis interventionist by profession, “stumbled” across Matt Talbot through the internet in the summer of 2013 and later read biographies. He stated in an email that ”I was really impressed [with Matt] as soon as I started reading and knew that a song would come from it. It took longer than usual to write because of the "research" involved. I went to various sites on the internet for other details I needed for the song.”

The lyrics of his song about Matt Talbot are posted below and the link to his recording is available free at http://alonetone.com/plisney/tracks/matt-talbot.

Paul Lisney’s website is http://imagesofheaven.org/Index/Lisney.html.  

                                 
                                 Matt Talbot

On the corner Matt Talbot stood waiting, waiting
With his pockets empty and thirst raging, raging
Hoping for a friend to pass by
And invite him inside O’Meara’s for drink or two

It was Dublin, Ireland, 1884
He’d been drinking 15 years, maybe more
Spend his wages, pawn his clothing or his shoes
Just enough to buy another drink or two

Matt was home before noon that day, sober, sober
Told his mum my drinking days are over, over
Confessed before a priest, then took the pledge
And in those first days doubted that he could keep his word

And later Matt was heard to say
It cut him to the heart that day
When none of his friends said “Come inside,
have a drink on me”

5:00 a.m. Matt’s day began with daily Mass
After work he’d kneel in church, for hours on end
Anything to keep his promise, change his ways
And struggling through those 90 days he took the pledge again

Gave himself to Jesus through Mary, Mary
Read the saints and the Holy Scriptures daily, daily
Prayer, fasting, and service like the monks of old
He lived a life of solitude amidst a troubled world 

He never drank another drop
And made amends where he could
And nourished by the bread of life,
In virtue he grew

Matt would discipline himself any way he could
His bed was two rough planks, his pillow a block of wood
He lived on dry bread and cold cocoa with a pinch of tea
Would pray for hours on his knees, deprive himself of sleep

Matt worked most of his life in Martin’s timber yard
A quiet man with a ready smile, he was known for working hard
Touch his hat each time he heard the Lord’s
Name said in vain, and by example taught

He gave to those most in need
To missions and to families
And kept his pledge for 41 years
For the rest of his life

Sunday morning, June 7th, 1925
On his way to Mass Matt Talbot collapsed and died
Word spread about the holy man who died on Granby Lane
His chains of love giving him away
Reminding us all are born to be saints 

We all are born to be saints

A Song about Matt Talbot by Derek Warfield

Derek Warfield wrote the words and music for his song, “Matt Talbot,” which is included in his album, Legacy. The lyrics follow:

Oh saintly matt talbot a labouring man You worked and you toiled did the best That you can. There were times just for drinking you lived Thru your life with reality clouded midst hardship and strife For no hope it is offered there seemed no way out And you found consilation in whiskey and stout In to misery and suffering you soon were to stray For this is the wage of the alcohol way: Chorus Now the city of dublin had europe’s worst slums But for faith and for prayer you’d never have won But the spirit of enda and brendan retold Gave you inspiration thru christian way’s old Then the path of st. Ciaran and colman you choose And above the dublin city your proud spirit rose For you sought thru your prayer that your voice Would be heard and you showed thru your penance you loved and you cared In this town of eblana you were barren of hope And you prayed for a way you could live and could cope Then one saturday evening you stood back from the edge And in holy cross college you then took the pledge From that day till your death you spent time on your knees Wanting only to pray and yor god for to please And the workers of dublin said barney a chara For they knew that you prayed for all children of sorrow Full chorus as above With the minds of your masters all blinded by greed To the cause of the workers and families in need Oh you stood, by your comrades, you knew their cause just And your stand although simple in matt talbot there’s trust And the streets and the alleys all echo your name Just to know that you walked them in penance and shame And there’s many a dublin man husband or wife Who whisper your name for to let in god’s light Full chorus as above Now the city of dublin Had europe’s worst slums But for faith and for prayer you’d never have won But the spirit of endaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa.

Source: http://unitedireland.tripod.com/matt_talbot_lyrics.html

A sample of this song can be played at the Legacy album link above.

Biographical information about Derek can be found at http://www.theyoungwolfetones.com/?page_id=21

IN YOUR PRESENCE LORD-'MATT TALBOT'

Noeleen Murphy has released a new CD in remembrance of Matt Talbot. Ordering information can be found at http://www.matttalbotcounselling.ie/cd.html.

With permission to quote her, Noeleen writes, "I got the inspiration to write this song from an image of Matt Talbot. Just looking at the image, I was touched by the sadness and heartbreak of addiction.

Since writing and recording this song, I have been privileged to be asked to sing in many different venues throughout Ireland promoting the Cause of Matt Talbot. The highlight of 2011 so far for me is being asked by the Irish Pioneer Total Abstinence Association to sing the recording at the Matt Talbot/PTAA Knock Shrine Pilgrimage on Sunday 17th July 2011."

 

Below are the first two verses of the song as they appear in a 4 page booklet that accompanies the CD"

IN YOUR PRESENCE LORD-'MATT TALBOT'

I carry my cross for you my Lord
As you walk gently with me today
In my addicted state my body aches
And I hand it right into your arms O Lord
Stay close to me today

As I place these chains in the palms of my hands
And I offer them into your arms O Lord
In my addicted state my body shakes
And I hand it into your arms O Lord
Stay close to me today

 

Update:  Noeleen can be heard singing the entire song at 53 minutes into the tape at http://www.hmwn.net/audioarchive/search_results_id.php?title=20071623