The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #52930 Message #1740097
Posted By: Santa
13-May-06 - 04:09 PM
Thread Name: The Highwayman (musical sound poem)
Subject: RE: The Highwayman (musical sound poem)
I saw/heard Andy Irvine sing this at the Clarence too, and I noticed extra verses not in the Ochs version that I knew from long ago. I had read the poem first, but hadn't realised how much Ochs had shortened it.
Count me among those who think that nothing of dramatic importance was cut, and also among those who feel that the world is big enough for two or more versions to co-exist. It's good to hear it being sung again, and the Irvine version is fine.
How many of the traditional ballads are currently sung at full length, anyway? If Fred Wedlock can forget the 42nd verse of Sir Patrick Spens, and sing the 27th, in reverse, and no-one noticed, does it actually matter if it's still a good song?
Awful admission time - in the Orkney session (see other thread) Meg missed a verse in Jenny Greenteeth but it still had the desired effect on the audience. This is not an actual recommendation for others to do the same - it is better with the missed verse. Welcome back to the UK, Cloudstreet.