Matt Heckler, "Ain't No Ash Will Burn," by Walt Aldridge // GemsOnVHS™

An incredible journey. Across the Atlantic ocean to the fatherland of folk songs and fighting spirit, Ireland. We were told West is best, so we rambled down the coast to county Clare, to the small towns of Doolin and Liscannor. It was off season for tourism and bitterly cold. The folks about town welcomed us with open arms. We stayed in a small cabin near the Cliffs of Moher, where one evening we clamored up the trail to sing this old classic song into the setting sun, off the edge of the majestic cliffside.

One night we sat in the back of a little pub in the little village, enjoying our Guinness's and listening to the locals interact. Eventually, folks in the pub started singing to each other, acapella at that. The others would shush everyone down as one lonesome voice after another bellowed some old Irish folk song. It wasn't part of some show or program made for tourists, it was just what they decided to do. Later we found it was a funeral wake for an old fisherman who'd died, all the folks meeting at the pub after to celebrate the way they knew how, singing and drinking to their memory. We got closer and they invited us to sing. They knew nothing about us, didn't know if we could carry a tune or remember a song, but they demanded we join in. Matt and I both sung songs (not, as he likes to tell it of me, Wagon Wheel), and they listened and clapped and passed around drinks. Eventually Matt broke out the fiddle, and the night grew long. That's Ireland, for me. A moment I'll never forget.

Matt is on tour. Check out more of his music and whereabouts on his website. It's a show you will never forget, if you can listen like those Irish folks do.
https://www.mattheckler.com/

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Want to learn how to play this song? Check out these tabs: https://tabs.ultimate-guitar.com/tab/...

GemsOnVHS is a long running series of intimate, off-stage performances by songwriters we love.
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