Oregon Public Broadcasting

Today's version of the Stephen Foster classic "Hard Times Come Again No More," comes to us from the Portland-based Irish group Glenlara. We spoke to two of the group's musicians about the song, and what it means to them.

Mick Mulcrone: "My name is Mick Mulcrone. I play the bouzouki and sing and I play the timber flute, Irish tradiitional music, American roots music."

Dan Possumato: "I'm Dan Possumato and I play the Irish button accordian and I'm retired from the Army and I'm now a contractor with the Army."

Mick Mulcrone: "Both Dan and I come from the same part of the country -- the Rust Belt. I come from Cleveland Ohio. we're both sons of immigrants and both offspring of working class people and the part of the country that we come from is in dire straits, very dire straits."

Dan Possumato: "I grew up in Pittsburgh and that's where Stephen Foster was born and raised as well, so I've been hearing Stephen Foster tunes my whole life. It's a city that has had its share of hard times. My father was a steel worker and was often unemployed, as were most of my friends parents from time to time. The words of the song certainly ring true for anyone who has gone through any hard times, be they economic, social."

Mick Mulcrone: "Yeah, these are hard times. I have two brother-in-laws that are out of work. They're both talented guys. One thing about America, when you hit hard times here there isn't much of a safety net, so I think people need to depend on each other and they need to look to each other. And those of us that are a bit more fortunate than others have a moral responsibilty to reach out to other people."

Dan Possumato: "I've seen longtime friends lose their jobs, I've seen people lose their houses that I directly know. For many people it's the hardest times that they've known yet."

Portlanders Dan Possumato and Mick Mulcrone, members of the Irish band Glenlara.  Possumato and Mulcrone have played together for a long time, and we asked how they met.

Mick Mulcrone: "Through music."

Dan Possumato: "That's right. Up in Alaska. We both lived in Alaska for a time. There's a great music session once a week in Ancorage and we met there come to think of that. In actual fact I think I owe you another beer."

Mick Mulcrone: "I'll collect."

Listen to Glenlara's version of Hard Times Come Again No More 

We'd like to collect your version of "Hard Times Come Again No More."  You can find out more about how to participate at opbnews.org/hardtimesmusic .