The Greatest Folk Love Song Ever? (songs)

Subject: The Greatest Folk Love Song Ever?
From: GUEST,Nick
Date: 12 May 07 - 06:09 PM

This is no doubt not the first incarnation of this question, but I some people think the world has had enough of folkie love songs, but I look around me and I see it isn't so. Oh no.
I figure this will illicit the names of songs I have never heard, and that is pretty much the point.

What do you think the most poingant, aching, heart breaking folk love song to you have ever heard.

For me I go with Stan Rogers Forty Five Years
and for you?....
WFTD
Nick

Subject: RE: The Greatest Folk Love Song Ever?
From: GUEST,Nick
Date: 12 May 07 - 06:10 PM

PS how do the related threads get attatched is that manual by Admin?

Subject: RE: The Greatest Folk Love Song Ever?
From: GUEST,Art Thieme
Date: 12 May 07 - 07:46 PM

Nick, are you new to this music?

Subject: RE: The Greatest Folk Love Song Ever?
From: mg
Date: 12 May 07 - 08:02 PM

Probably Raglan Road...Peggy Gordon...River in the Pines...mg

Subject: RE: The Greatest Folk Love Song Ever?
From: Maryrrf
Date: 12 May 07 - 08:10 PM

"Black is the Color" or "My Dearest Dear" aka 10,000 Miles or The Blackest Crow would be in the running, I think!

Subject: RE: The Greatest Folk Love Song Ever?
From: GUEST,Nick
Date: 12 May 07 - 08:11 PM

Art... assume I am.
Does that change how you would answer the question I posed?

Thanks
Nick

Subject: RE: The Greatest Folk Love Song Ever?
From: Jean(eanjay)
Date: 12 May 07 - 08:15 PM

"I live not where I love."

Subject: RE: The Greatest Folk Love Song Ever?
From: Jim Lad
Date: 12 May 07 - 08:27 PM

I'd be torn between Macushla, Kathleen Mavourneen, Lagan Love & The Lament of the Irish Emmigrant'. Oh but there's more....





....Macushla







Today!

Subject: RE: The Greatest Folk Love Song Ever?
From: SINSULL
Date: 12 May 07 - 08:28 PM

"Honey"

Subject: RE: The Greatest Folk Love Song Ever?
From: Jim Lad
Date: 12 May 07 - 08:29 PM

Oh right:





Honey!




That's my final answer!

Subject: RE: The Greatest Folk Love Song Ever?
From: Jim Lad
Date: 12 May 07 - 08:35 PM

Hey! Look what I found when I was looking up the words to Macushla...

The Irish language origins, mo chroí (my heart), mo chuisle (my
pulse; as in 'a chuisle mo chroí", pulse of my heart - in English
we can call someone a "heart throb")

Pulse of my heart. I did not know that!

Subject: RE: The Greatest Folk Love Song Ever?
From: Effsee
Date: 12 May 07 - 09:11 PM

Robert Burns..."Ae fond kiss"...no contest!

Subject: RE: The Greatest Folk Love Song Ever?
From: Ref
Date: 12 May 07 - 10:20 PM

Stan Rogers' "Lies" or Rosalie Sorrels' "Bramble And the Rose."

Subject: RE: The Greatest Folk Love Song Ever?
From: jacqui.c
Date: 12 May 07 - 11:27 PM

The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face.

Subject: RE: The Greatest Folk Love Song Ever?
From: GUEST,Janie
Date: 12 May 07 - 11:27 PM

My vote is not traditional, but is definitely folk.

The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face

Janie

Subject: RE: The Greatest Folk Love Song Ever?
From: Peace
Date: 12 May 07 - 11:39 PM

Maggie

Whispering Pines

Subject: RE: The Greatest Folk Love Song Ever?
From: frogprince
Date: 12 May 07 - 11:55 PM

Michael Smith's "The Dutchman"
Tom Paxton's "Home, to Me".

Subject: RE: The Greatest Folk Love Song Ever?
From: Amos
Date: 13 May 07 - 12:05 AM

My love is like the red, red rose....


Among others. I think the title of this thread is a meaningless proposition, but if we're voting, there's one.

A

Subject: RE: The Greatest Folk Love Song Ever?
From: Jim Lad
Date: 13 May 07 - 12:14 AM

The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face
Definitely!

Subject: RE: The Greatest Folk Love Song Ever?
From: Sooz
Date: 13 May 07 - 03:57 AM

The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face with The Call and the Answer (Phil Colclough) for seconds.

Subject: RE: The Greatest Folk Love Song Ever?
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 13 May 07 - 04:06 AM

Although a huge Stan Rogers fan, I'd have to rate him second with '45 Years' - Phil & June Colclough's 'The Call and The Answer' gets First Prize for me. FWIW, Tom Paxton's 'Home For Me' makes a close third.

If we're talking Trad, Ae Fond Kiss may well take it.

Subject: RE: The Greatest Folk Love Song Ever?
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 13 May 07 - 04:26 AM

' Take Your Tongue Out Of My Mouth, I'm Kissing You Goodbye '

eric

Subject: RE: The Greatest Folk Love Song Ever?
From: jaze
Date: 13 May 07 - 10:41 AM

Raglan Road or Maggie.

Subject: RE: The Greatest Folk Love Song Ever?
From: GUEST,Gerry
Date: 13 May 07 - 08:11 PM

I Hold Your Hand In Mine.

In the trad division, and seriously, Tam Lin.

Subject: RE: The Greatest Folk Love Song Ever?
From: oldhippie
Date: 13 May 07 - 08:54 PM

We used "Forty Five Years" as background in our wedding video; also Holly Near's "Plain And Simple Love".
Another great love song is Kate Wolf's "The Trumpet Vine".

Subject: RE: The Greatest Folk Love Song Ever?
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 13 May 07 - 09:07 PM

I need to go with Robert Burns, in his wonderful Bonnie Wee Thing.

Especially because singing that song went a long way toward winning my Beautiful Wife, 43 years ago.

Actually, my personal reasons aside, Burns wrote a number of songs any of which might be entitled to the title of "the greatest love song". I immediately think of Jon Anderson, My Jo, which surely has to be somewhere in the front ranks.

Dave Oesterreich

Subject: RE: The Greatest Folk Love Song Ever?
From: Mr Fox
Date: 14 May 07 - 05:24 AM

Traditional? - I Once Loved a Lass (aka The Week Before Easter)

Subject: RE: The Greatest Folk Love Song Ever?
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 14 May 07 - 05:33 AM

It depends on the object of your love.

For the love of home, my favourite is 'Linden Lea' by William Barnes.

Otherwise, I'd say the best love song is a contemporary song by a delightful lady called Moira... 'When you're down, the best way up is chocolate!'

After that, there really isn't anything else worth getting het up over.

LTS

Subject: RE: The Greatest Folk Love Song Ever?
From: Folkiedave
Date: 14 May 07 - 06:17 AM

An Irish song I know as "The Wind that shakes the Barley"

"I sat me in the valley green I sat me with my true love,
And sad my thoughts were torn between the old love and the new love,
The old was her, the new that made me think of Ireland dearly,
And soft the wind blew down the glen, And shook the golden barley".

Subject: RE: The Greatest Folk Love Song Ever?
From: Leadfingers
Date: 14 May 07 - 06:58 AM

Bill Caddick's 'Gibson Girl' does it for me !

Subject: RE: The Greatest Folk Love Song Ever?
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 14 May 07 - 08:21 AM

I guess that 'greatest' will always be a matter of opinion or personal taste unless we define what greatest actauly means. Most listened to? Most popular? Most covered by other people? Bst known? I think by any of these standards the afore mentioned 'First Time' must be in there with a good chance. As it was written by Ewan MacColl I don't think it's pedigree as a folk song can be in any doubt:-)

Cheers

Dave

Subject: RE: The Greatest Folk Love Song Ever?
From: mrmoe
Date: 14 May 07 - 08:43 AM

.....well, perhaps not the greatest, but worth a mention.....Eric Andersen's "come to my bedside".....

Subject: RE: The Greatest Folk Love Song Ever?
From: Derby Ram
Date: 14 May 07 - 09:53 AM

Sorry, I can only get it down to three in the trad category:


Annan Water
Bushes and Briars
Once I Courted a Damsel

Contemporary (or known writers)

Watch this space.....but don't hold your breath...:-)

Subject: RE: The Greatest Folk Love Song Ever?
From: GUEST
Date: 14 May 07 - 10:43 AM

"Who will blow the candle out tonight?" John Tams or "First Time" written by McColl.

Subject: RE: The Greatest Folk Love Song Ever?
From: Midchuck
Date: 14 May 07 - 10:51 AM

I hate being a conformist, but..

The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face. Easy pick.

I think Tom Russell's adaptation of Linda Thompson's No Telling is probably second.

Peter

Subject: RE: The Greatest Folk Love Song Ever?
From: Dave Sutherland
Date: 14 May 07 - 03:43 PM

"The Banks of the Bann"

Subject: RE: The Greatest Folk Love Song Ever?
From: Little Robyn
Date: 14 May 07 - 03:49 PM

I think the singer makes a difference. I've heard some horrible versions of 'First time ever'.
I vote for Patrick Sky's version of Tom Paxton's 'Every Time' or else the Johnston's version of 'The Lambs on the Green Hills', which is another version of Mr Fox's favourite.
Robyn

Subject: RE: The Greatest Folk Love Song Ever?
From: concertina ceol
Date: 14 May 07 - 03:57 PM

Agree little Robyn and I would include Peggy Segger singing it, which is a shame as the song was written for her.

Subject: RE: The Greatest Folk Love Song Ever?
From: PoppaGator
Date: 14 May 07 - 04:31 PM

The only song I know entitled "I Hold Your Hand in Mine" is Tom Lehrer's ode to cannibalism and dismemberment. I realize now that there must be a traditional ballad that he was parodying, but I had never heard,or even heard of, it.

I hold your hand in mine, dear,
I press it to my lips.
I take a healthy bite from
Your dainty fingertips.
My joy would be complete, dear,
If you were only here
But still I hold your hand as
A precious souvenir...

Wish I could remember more...

I'm truly sorry if this is too disturbing for anyone, but I couldn't resist!

On a more serious note, "She Moved Through the Fair" is a favorite of mine that tells a profoundly moving and tragic love story, although it's not a "love song" in the sense of a declaration of love from me to you.

There was a fairly recent thread (or a recently-resurrected one) explaining this wonderful old song more fully than I had previously understood. In any event, it's the music, mood, and overall sound that I've always found so unique and overwhelmingly affecting; learning further interpretations of the lyrics only adds to my appreciation.

Subject: RE: The Greatest Folk Love Song Ever?
From: Bert
Date: 14 May 07 - 04:37 PM

'Believe me if all those Endearing Young Charms' by Thomas Moore.

Subject: RE: The Greatest Folk Love Song Ever?
From: dozy rozy
Date: 14 May 07 - 06:02 PM

"Grace" by Sean frank o'Meara.

Subject: RE: The Greatest Folk Love Song Ever?
From: GUEST
Date: 14 May 07 - 07:22 PM

Some great suggestions notably by Burns and Stan Rogers.

Might I suggest "The Ballad of Mary Magdalene" by Dar Williams

Subject: RE: The Greatest Folk Love Song Ever?
From: GUEST,Gerry
Date: 14 May 07 - 07:58 PM

Yes, PoppaGator, I was referring to the Tom Lehrer song. If you click on it in my earlier message, it takes you to a performance (not by TL) that's been put up on YouTube.

I don't think TL was parodying any particular song when he wrote it - he generally parodied genres, not particular songs (although he made an exception for Clementine).

My nomination of it as The Greatest Folk Love Song Ever was meant to be funny.

Subject: RE: The Greatest Folk Love Song Ever?
From: harpmolly
Date: 15 May 07 - 04:41 AM

There are far too many to choose from, so I'll go with one that has been particularly moving me recently: David Francey's "Green Fields". It has some really bittersweet moments but ends on a wonderfully high note. :)

...And I married out of high school to a girl I knew forever
And we settled down together, and three children came;
And the life that we were livin' was forgive and be forgiven,
But wherever I saw sunshine
She could only see rain.

Left me standing in the cornfield
With the dry land all around me,
And I felt my heart sinking like the setting sun;
And the sky was like the ocean pouring down around me,
I used to be so proud, now I was all undone...

(but later)

But when I was good and ready
When I stood up strong and steady,
Love came with the letters in the morning mail;
And I knew that I had found her
When I put my arms around her;
When I see her now in the morning how that sunrise pales.

Leaves me standing in the cornfield
With the dry land all around me,
And I feel myself rising like the morning sun;
And the sky is like the ocean,
White and blue and rollin'
And I know in my own heart she's the only one.

*shiver*

That's just yummy. :)

Molly

Subject: RE: The Greatest Folk Love Song Ever?
From: GUEST,old salty
Date: 15 May 07 - 06:09 AM

" The Briar and The Rose "   by tom waits .Its a lovely song . :)

Subject: Lyr Add: THE BALLAD OF MARY MAGDALENE (R Shindell)
From: michaelr
Date: 05 Feb 12 - 03:42 PM

I just heard this on the radio and think it should be here.

THE BALLAD OF MARY MAGDALENE(Richard Shindell)

1. My name is Mary Magdalene; I come from Palestine.
Please excuse these rags I'm in, but I've fallen on hard times;
But long ago I had my work when I was in my prime,
But I gave it up, and all for love; It was his career or mine.

CHORUS: Jesus loved me; this I know,
But why on earth did I ever let him go?
He was always faithful; he was always kind,
But he walked off with this heart of mine.

2. But I remember nights we spent whispering our creed:
Our rituals, our sacraments, the stars our canopy.
There beneath an olive tree we'd offer up our plea,
God's creation innocent, his arms surrounding me. CHORUS

3. A love like this will come but once; this I do believe,
And I'll not see his like again as I live and breathe,
And I'm sorry if I might offend, but I will never see
How the tenderness I shared with him became a heresy.

CHORUS: Jesus loved me; This I know,
But why on earth did he ever have to go?
He was always faithful; he was always kind,
But he walked off with this heart of mine.

Subject: RE: The Greatest Folk Love Song Ever?
From: Don Firth
Date: 05 Feb 12 - 03:59 PM

Uh. . . .

Old Blue?

Don Firth

Subject: RE: The Greatest Folk Love Song Ever?
From: alex s
Date: 05 Feb 12 - 04:14 PM

Jock O'Hazeldean

Subject: RE: The Greatest Folk Love Song Ever?
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 05 Feb 12 - 07:14 PM

The Devil and the Feathery Wife.

Dave H

Subject: RE: The Greatest Folk Love Song Ever?
From: PHJim
Date: 06 Feb 12 - 01:11 AM

When You And I Were Young Maggie, especially the second verse. Maggie Johnson died of consumption before the poem was made into a song, so she never got to hear a love song written for her by her husband about growing old together:

They say I am feeble with age, Maggie
My steps are less sprightly than then
My face is a well written page, Maggie
But time alone was the pen.
They say we are aged and grey, Maggie
As spray by the white breakers flung
But to me you're as fair as you were, Maggie
When you and I were young.