This is used as mostly a camp song but in some research online it may have been from the 1960s and used on Catholic retreats?
Answers (8)
Saw below that you have an album. That is amazing--what a treasure! Thank you for relaying the info--I've always wondered.
Can you be so kind to send me the lyrics? Do you know where I could get this album that includes the song "Easy come, easy go, through summer and through snow ..."? I searched on iTunes in vain. I live in France, could you be so kind as to record of me the song and send it via e-m? Many thanks!
Jubei, are you still searching for this recording?
I was hoping to get a copy of the song, Easy Come Easy Go, loved it as a child at Camp Christopher, any idea where I can get a copy?
My Dad, Kevin Johansson, wrote this song!!! He wrote it back in the late 60's/early 70's when he was part of Young Christian Workers and it got incorporated into a small song book which we still have. He was searching for his song online the other day and told me about your post and asked me to answer it (he's no good at technology!)
Hi Leanne - it was fun to read your post. My reply only indicated that I knew the singer of this song (John Rodak) as I still have the album. Its cool to learn that your dad actually wrote this tune. I wonder if the two of them knew each other back in the day. Tell your dad thanks for clearing this up.
Interesting, I'll ask him about it. The song was actually banned here in South Africa when the YCW was banned under apartheid in the 70's/80's, but it was still sung in the Catholic church.
Well, thank your dad from me and my sister--this is a huge memory for us from Camp Christopher--in Bath, Ohio. (yes, Catholic : ) To this day when we get together--we eventually end up breaking into this song! Great memories.
My sister and I were just talking about John Rodak. He is her confirmation sponsor. We used to love having him come over and play his guitar for our family in the 60's. What huge memories we have of the song Easy Come, Easy Go. I am very happy your dad wrote this song. We have not heard from John in over 40 years. May God be with him wherever he is.
Hi kmccarren, you can read my post that will help bring you up to date on your friend John Rodak.
Hi :)
So my friend Kevin Johansson (the original composer) told me that there was someone asking and talking about his song, so I came across this post. Its a pretty awesome song that he is now teaching me. So I'm really excited about that. I wanted to know if you maybe have an original copy of the song, sung by John Rodak that you could send to me? would like to hear it :)
EASY COME EASY GO
easy come easy go through summer through snow
up and down all around this universe I go
and I'll walk upon your waters, move mountains from your path
with a smile from my companions. I'll teach you how to laugh
cause I have ripped off my mask, torn down my walls
strapped up my boots to answer his call
you say that i am a rover, got no place to call my own
with a thousand places I call home,I know i am not alone
I've thawed out my body, I've put blood in my viens
cause people were crying , they were calling out my name
you say that I am a poor man, got no one to care for me
With a million brothers and sisters , how rich can one man be?
my sister is from Boston, my brother rides the rails
my cousin is from china, my cousin brings the mail
I have met with kings who have passed away, but I know they still care
My Father lives in Heaven, Babe He's a millionaire
saw a light in your window, thought i would pause and take a rest
say helo and goodbye and wish you all the best
I am just here on a visit , I may not be back this way
cause when my journeys over I'll be going home to stay
--- I have a small retreat book with the words - hope to find it - the above is from internet excerpts. I would like to get the original words. Learned the song from TEC 12 - Teens Encounter Christ retreats in the Chicago area late 60's.
Ive carries this song with me my whole life. Learned it at 10... Camp Sancta Maria, in Gaylord, Michigan. I can still hear the sound from the chapel. All men and boys, singing divergent notes. The deep voices sliding between keys.... It was the most perfect harmony to me... The one song that stuck in my brain. Such comradery, such brotherhood.
I'm searching for this recorded copy the board is talking about. Where might I find it? I'd be willing to send a money order.
In addition, those lyrics are absolutely identical! This brongs back memories. We had counselors from all over... England, Scotland, Australia... Very interesting this whole story. The apartheid, what a disaster they were to freedom of expression on the whole! The song being sung in Detroit and Ohio... Northern Michigan. Finally found the RIGHT words again thank you brother!
I was John's singing partner at the time he wrote this song, along with most of the songs on the album "just passin' through". I also have the original manuscripts for most of these songs, including "Easy Come, Easy Go", given to me by his brother after John's death on Mar. 30, 2014. I was with John a few hours before he died.
As for the album and copyrights, they were financed by the owner of Gorden's Sausages in Detroit, in connection with the Catholic Church, in 1965. Father William Cunningham, founder of Focus Hope, wrote the jacket notes. The recording was done by JOPA Corp, P.O. Box 5003, Seven Oaks Station, Detroit, Mich. 48235. Pat Mason was the bass player on the album and I know he wrote "Hey Man, Hey Woman" on the album. I don't know if wrote any other songs.
John and I played in the folk music venues (mostly bars) around Detroit from 1962 to1972. It was a little odd to regularly have 3 or 4 priests in our audience, but this was due to John's songs. I wasn't Catholic myself, but I sang most of these songs with John. We were in the Navy together and because of the singing, we were going to be put in recruiting. But John developed a condition that resulted in his being medically discharged. That's when he went solo to do the album and many people will remember his performances at Cursillo's (a 3 day course for lay people) for the Catholic Church. The Church had at one point included the song in a hymnal attributing it to "Traditional" because it had become so popular, but later corrected the mistake, attributing it to John Rodak.
John's Navy discharge, and later problems in the mid 70's, were probably the results of paranoid schizophrenia, which was diagnosed sometime in the late 70's. John's wife Sue divorced him, understandably (he really was messed up for a long time). John lived in Adult Foster Care for like 38 years. When John died he had not seen or spoken to his two girls for most of that time...a tragic end to such a talented and promising life.
Great post Robo !! Believe it or not, the owner of Gordon's Sausage Company is still alive ... he's 86 and also my dad. Our family (from Dearborn) enjoyed John coming to the house and entertaining us back in the day. It would be nice to get your contact info in hopes of sharing some stories.
I may have sent your dad a message on facebook today...provided he went to U of D and lives in Ok?
Hi Robo, I don't know if you received my last 'comment ' from a few days ago. If not, then here it is again. My dad and mom (both owners of Gordon's Sausage Co.) are 86 years old and living in Gainesville, FL. They were very much involved in a number of Detroit community and religious activities, such as Focus HOPE and the Cursillo. I shared your JR post with my dad and he wanted to know if he could somehow talk with you. If you are willing , please let me know. Thanks, Mike
Hi Robo - As an update, I not only have the album "John & Patrick" in my possession but also John Rodak's demo tape of this particular song (plus others). Please contact me when convenient as my dad is excited that he might have an opportunity to talk with you about the past. By the way, he did graduate from the University of Detroit. I look forward to hearing from you - thanks.
Hi Roland - thanks for writing !! I confirmed the request on Facebook and noticed that you have "Thomas Umlauf, Jr." as a contact. As this is my brother, I'm assuming that you might know our family. I look forward to hearing from you again.
Turns out I do and I am so pleased that I answered this post. What an amazing coincidence! John was at your parents house the night he finished writing "Easy Come, Easy Go", and he dedicated it to the two of them and sang it in its entirety the first time for them. Several years ago I had the album converted to CD at a studio and I sent one to your Dad, but of course he has the original album also. Also, it might interest people to know that the song was taken to Africa by Father Kasmir, and John was extremely proud of the fact that it had been translated into Zulu. This prompted a line in one of the other songs on the album "with dirty hands a Zulu warrior feeds his friends"...not to be interpreted as negative in any way. Incidentally, your Dad has talked to Father Kas recently. Looking forward to Facebooking with you. Call home E.T.!!! Anyone out there in the web who is interested in John can contact me on FB. Roland Owens.
We sang it from the hymnal books, not pamphlets but the regular hard cover church books. I remember thinking how all the songs should sound like that! It wasnt boring we made it so fun!
1994-97, Camp Sancta Maria, Gaylord, Michigan.
I'm one of the 60s folks who learned this song through an association with the Conference of Interamerican Programs (CIASP) and a friend from Northville Michigan who was then a Maryknoll priest on assignment in Chicago. I just heard from a CIASP colleague of mine who is retiring and I wanted to send him the lyrics so I googled. The memories this blog brought back are amazing. Do any of you Detroiters frequent the Guernsey Dairy in Novi?
Would you be able to send me the music and guitar chords to it? I'm hoping to play it at a young people's retreat in the next few weeks? Its such a beautiful song and so I'm wanting to learn it. Its so powerful and its one of the best songs to sing with young adults. Thanks SG
Would you be able to send me the music and guitar chords to it? I'm hoping to play it at a young people's retreat in the next few weeks? Its such a beautiful song and so I'm wanting to learn it. Its so powerful and its one of the best songs to sing with young adults.
I went to St. Mary’s of Redford on Detroit and this was my favorite song. I was singing it the other day and my friend commented on it and said “what a great song”. I sing it all the time! My other favorite was sons of God. Anyone remember that one? I sure would love to get the recording of easy come easy go!
I know I'm late to this conversation but wanted to say how wonderful it was to read all of the history. I played Catholic "folk" music in Akron OH in the 70s and this was one of my favorite songs as well. Someone mentioned Camp Christopher - I used to staff Search weekends there. Still remember all the words and chords. "With a million brothers and sisters, how rich can one man be?" Fantastic. Thanks everyone who commented.
No that's not it, trust me this is a specific song and I didn't get the lyrics wrong.