Cheerful Folk Songs

Subject: RE: Cheerful Folk Songs
From: Don(Wyziwyg)T
Date: 25 Jun 05 - 12:44 PM

I was going to suggest some of mine Richard.

The Prince and the Maiden
Oi!
The Little Weatherman.
Two Policemen.
Ernie Hook.
Awfully Well for the Shape That I'm In.


Before you ask, I'd be flattered.

Let me know if we need to get together on tunes. Better yet, buy my CD, now reasonably priced at £8.00. (grins)

Don T.

Subject: RE: Cheerful Folk Songs
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 25 Jun 05 - 10:23 AM

Mockingbird Hill
Spring has now unwrapped the flowers
Listen to the mockingbird
Polly wolly doodle
Camptown races
How can I keep from singing - Jesuit style
Seeing Nellie Home
Solomon Levi + Spanish cavalier

Subject: RE: Cheerful Folk Songs
From: ranger1
Date: 25 Jun 05 - 10:16 AM

The Whistling Gypsy

Subject: RE: Cheerful Folk Songs
From: JennyO
Date: 25 Jun 05 - 10:15 AM

What about a cheerful song about death?

Isn't it Grand Boys.

Then there's these:

I Can Hew Boys (and its parody Ike and Hugh)
The Farmer's Toast
Widgegorara Joe
Ugly Dave
Sally Brown
Johnson Girls
Raise 'em
The Merry Ploughboy
Lachlan Tigers
The Apprentice Song
Summer is a'Comin' in
Track Linin' Song
Galway Races
Blaydon Races
The Bonny Black Hare
The Spotted Cow
Bound for South Australia
Jim the Carter Lad
The Jolly Wagoner
Fathom the Bowl
Three Drunken Maidens
The Rambling Rover
Go no more a Rovin' (with you fair maid)
Long Time Ago
Hurrah for the Black Ball Line
No Man's Mama Now
Jug Band Blues
Any Old Iron
What a Mouth
Don't Dilly Dally on the Way
(Going to the fair with) My Old Man
The Holy Ground


.....and that's just for a start.

Subject: RE: Cheerful Folk Songs
From: Le Scaramouche
Date: 25 Jun 05 - 10:11 AM

I posted one last night, the Gallant Hussar.
Daddy Fox.
Dance to Your/Thee Daddy.
A'Begging I Will Go.
Rattlin' Roarin Willie.
Prickle-Eye Bush.
Ramblin' Sailor.
Mad Tom of Bedlam.
Mr Froggie Went A-Courting.
Bonnie Ship the Diamond.
Whisky Your the Divil.
The Sow Took the Measles (yes, the sow dies, so?)
The Utah Iron Horse.
Monymusk Lads.
The Pirate Song.
Old Maid in the Garret.
The Grey Goose.
Hearts of Oak.
The World Turned Upside Down.
Tom Browne.
Captain Ward.

Whiskey in the Jar DOES NOT end on a despairing note, it's rather optimistic.
Why is BRMC borderline folk? It's a classic Hobo song!

Subject: RE: Cheerful Folk Songs
From: *Laura*
Date: 25 Jun 05 - 09:24 AM

Cheerful folk songs? Don't talk daft!

xLx

Subject: RE: Cheerful Folk Songs
From: DMcG
Date: 25 Jun 05 - 04:54 AM

I know the problem, Richard. I have a reputation that every song I sing is about death. I tried "When Spring comes In" from the Coppers ... and the daffy-down-dillies get it. "Daddy Fox" ... and the grey goose is dead. Of course, singing "Digging Graves is my Delight" doesn't necessary help.

Subject: RE: Cheerful Folk Songs
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 25 Jun 05 - 04:28 AM

Unncle Joe's Mint Balls

The Vicar Song

quite a range of DonT's repertoire (excluding most of the folk songs in it ;)   !

Subject: RE: Cheerful Folk Songs
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 25 Jun 05 - 04:23 AM

Yes, YY, some good ones there, and some I even do but never think of when put on the spot.

But surely in the Irish Rover the poor dog was drowned?

And Ilkley Moor is wholly about death and corruption.

And Whiskey in a Jar ends on the despairing note "If anyone can help me, it's me brother in the army..."

I suppose we could add "Fathom the Bowl", and "Byker Hill"

Subject: RE: Cheerful Folk Songs
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 25 Jun 05 - 02:40 AM

Doesn't 'Come write me down' have a verse about being unfaithful? It always makes me smile when sung to newly engaged/wedded couples.....

LTS

Subject: RE: Cheerful Folk Songs
From: YorkshireYankee
Date: 24 Jun 05 - 11:21 PM

I Wish They'd do it Now
Martin Said to His Man
Drinking songs: John Barleycorn (well, it's cheerful at the end), Landlord Fill the Flowing Bowl, Drink Old England Dry, Whiskey in the Jar and many others
The Fox Hunt (unless you're worried about it not being PC)
The Irish Rover
The Wild Rover
John Blunt
Mairie's Wedding
I like to Rise When the Sun She Rises
Farmer's Boy
On Ilkley Moor Bah t'Hat
Come Write Me Down (as well as some other Copper family songs)
Harbour Le Cou

That's it for now -- just the ones I can think of straight away, more later (if I think of 'em)

Subject: RE: Cheerful Folk Songs
From: Deckman
Date: 24 Jun 05 - 10:53 PM

"How do you do", as sung by Rolf Cahn (sp?) Bob

Subject: RE: Cheerful Folk Songs
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 24 Jun 05 - 10:32 PM

I'd think of BRCM as an enjoyable piece of contemporary Americana. Wouldn't suit me, although I've been known to add mandolin if Trevor Stephenson plays and sings it. Very much on the borderline of folk from my perspective, but thanks for the idea.

Subject: RE: Cheerful Folk Songs
From: sixtieschick
Date: 24 Jun 05 - 10:14 PM

The Big Rock Candy Mountain

Subject: Cheerful Folk Songs
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 24 Jun 05 - 10:10 PM

Every so often some smart Alec says "play a cheerful song".

So, let's have some ideas please.

Some rules:

1. Cheerful

2. Folk songs or songs in the style of the tradition, not singer-songwriter or pop.

3. No hymns, no spirituals by request.