The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #172643 Message #4180258
Posted By: Paul Burke
29-Aug-23 - 03:10 PM
Thread Name: Tune Req: The original tune of Willy o' Winsbury?
Subject: RE: Tune Req: The original tune of Willy o' Winsbury?
Are there any pre- 60's "source" recordings (wax cylinder? tape? ancient pottery*?) of Wo'W?
Certainly the tune popular since Sweeney's Men (or whoever) fits the song perfectly, both metrically and in mood. I've often experimented with swapping tunes (taking my cue from I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue), some more successfully than others. The Poacher's Fate (Come all ye lads of high renown) works, I think, very well with the tune of the Canadian (Newfy? KEI?) song Goose Bay. The Recruited Collier I think goes well with Andy's Gone With Cattle, though some punters say the tune is too jolly for the subject.