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about

David Alway, a beloved and longtime member of the filk community, died suddenly January 9, 2007. He was a big, friendly, gentle man, who didn't have an enemy in the world as far as I know. He sang fun, quirky dittys and soft, sad ballads, a cappella or accompanying himself on a dulcimer. He made stylish and elegant buttons for his online filk community, Filkhaven. He took lots of pictures at conventions, and shared them with everyone. He brought his brother Peter into fandom, which was a very good thing for all concerned.

He was just one of the nicest people I've ever had the honor and pleasure to know, and his death hit us all hard. The only comfort we took was that he had just been at GAFilk that weekend, and so he spent the last few days of his life doing what he loved best with the people he loved most.

I wasn't even a close friend or anything but I was going to see him at ConFusion two weeks from then and now I wouldn't and I'll never hear him sing again and I can't believe how much I miss him.

lyrics

I had this friend, not close to me,
But still someone I liked, and he
Had passed away quite suddenly,
Had passed away quite suddenly....

"Passed away" -- how soft a phrase,
How gently on the heart it plays,
It shields you from life's harsher ways,
He died, he left, ran out of days,

We'd share a laugh, we'd share a tune,
And then we'd both move on,
I was supposed to see him soon,
But now the chance is gone

Well, I could tell you 'bout my friend,
But it's been said much better than
I ever could by other men,
No need for me to speak again

Except to say at last I see
The face of my mortality,
The face of Death in front of me,
And I won't go the same as he.

I make that empty promise now,
That I'll choose how to die,
A shallow, hopeless, useless vow,
But still I've got to try.

So take the time to sing your song,
Ask those you love to sing along,
You'll never know till things go wrong,
And then the chance has come and gone.

I had this friend, not close to me,
But still someone I liked, and he
Had passed away quite suddenly,
Had passed away quite suddenly....

credits

from iTom 2​.​0: Transitions, released January 26, 2007

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Tom Smith Ann Arbor

Weird Al with more books, JoCo with more jokes, Carlin with more Cthulhu. Since 1985, Tom Smith has been breaking hearts, minds, and laws of propriety and physics with his insane blend of sf/fantasy, Life With Computers, pop culture, politics, and puns. More than twenty albums later, he maintains the best is yet to come. ... more

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