People named in songs

Subject: RE: People named in songs
From: katlaughing
Date: 09 Apr 09 - 03:39 PM

Robin of Locksley aka Robin Hood also Maid Marion(Art Thieme sings it)
Little Joe the Wrangler
The Cowboy's Barbara Allen (also Art)

Subject: RE: People named in songs
From: GUEST,mg
Date: 09 Apr 09 - 04:36 PM

Bonnie Wee Jennie McColl..same\
Bridget Flynn..same
Bold Thady Quill..never heard the song
Kate Caffee ..Sullivan's John
Delta Dawn?? is that her last name?


Now I have a whole bunch like General Taylor and Big Bad John that are not full names so I will start another thread

Subject: RE: People named in songs
From: Gweltas
Date: 09 Apr 09 - 10:27 PM

Quote from bseed :-
"Gweltas, I stand corrected on Mary Macree/ma chroi, but your listing of Kris Kristofferson as Canadian--where'd you get that? He's an all-American boy. Check him out in Wikipedia where I found the proof you were right about Mary mo chroí."

Grovelling apologies for posting incorrect information --------- of course bseed(charleskratz) is perfectly correct about Kris Kristofferson being AMERICAN, not Canadian.
Perhaps some very kind Mudcat moderator might look at my last post and correct this unfortunate error ?

Thanks in anticipation !!

Subject: RE: People named in songs
From: GUEST,.gargoyle
Date: 09 Apr 09 - 11:07 PM

Wonderful thread MG. Well Done.

Gweltas

YOU are positively brillant!!!

And B SEED

MARVELOUS ! ! !

Sincerely,
Gargoyle

Without a connection - the name means little . When you start another thread MG ... and I hope you do... soon...learn from this one...TEMPLATE...X-CELL...1090 tax form....etc...give a structure and also an example.... i.e. the best of the above.

Subject: RE: People named in songs
From: Joybell
Date: 09 Apr 09 - 11:49 PM

Myrtle Green and Bracken Brown

Subject: RE: People named in songs
From: mg
Date: 10 Apr 09 - 01:35 AM

Sweet Anna Liffey..Dublin in rare old times
John Brown(s) body..
Sweet Georgia Brown

Subject: RE: People named in songs
From: BobKnight
Date: 10 Apr 09 - 05:08 AM

Joybell: That made me smile - thanks. :)

Subject: RE: People named in songs
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 10 Apr 09 - 06:17 AM

From Graham and Eileen Pratt
John Bull in The Battle of Navarino
Ned and Eileen in Ned of the Hill
Mary of Wallington and Earl of Livingston in Fair Mary of Wallington or Bonny Earl of Livingston

From Maddy Prior
Dives and Lazarus
Jock of Hazeldean
Bold General Wolfe

From Leonord Cohen
Suzanne

From Folly Bridge
Young Simon John
Adieu Sweet Lovely Nancy
Old Molly Metcalf

Subject: RE: People named in songs
From: Snuffy
Date: 10 Apr 09 - 10:14 AM

From Durham and Northumberland

Cushie Butterfield, Tom Grey (Cushie Butterfield)
Sally Gee (The Lass Doon on the Quay)
Sally Wheatley (Sally Wheatley)
Elsie Marley (Elsie Marley)
Dolly Coxon (Dollia)
Sir John Lambton (Lambton Worm)
Bob Thompson, Mary Clarke, Jimmy Green (Keep Your Feet Still, Geordie Hinny)
Geordie Harley, Tim Jones (The Collier Lad)
Geordie Charlton (Byker Hill)
Geordie Black (Geordie Black)
Joseph (23), George (19) & James Burnett (17) (Trimdon Grange Explosion)

Subject: RE: People named in songs
From: bseed(charleskratz)
Date: 10 Apr 09 - 01:14 PM

Garg, thanks for the appreciation. It is a fun thread, all right.

Look for something in the mail via Joe.

Charles

Subject: RE: People named in songs
From: topical tom
Date: 10 Apr 09 - 01:46 PM

I didn't see mentioned "The Ballad of Hollis Brown", by Bob Dylan.

Subject: RE: People named in songs
From: Bill D
Date: 10 Apr 09 - 01:53 PM

Who can forget the kid with double names?

"James James Morrison Morrison" and many more..

"James James Morrison Morrison Weatherby George DuPree "

Subject: RE: People named in songs
From: BobKnight
Date: 10 Apr 09 - 02:19 PM

Sir Patrick Spens (Trad)
John Riley (Trad - Byrds)
Bill Dalton (Eagles)
Panama Red (I've forgotten)
Willie - The one that went tae Melville Castle (Trad)
The Ballad of "Indian" Peter - story of Peter Williamson, written by ME !!!
Sorry folks - really scraping the bottom of the barrel here.

Subject: RE: People named in songs
From: Adrian Owlett
Date: 10 Apr 09 - 02:49 PM

Although this could just be a little off-thread, I had the immense honour, together with the UK DJ John Peel, in having a recorded dedication to us both by Gene Vincent in his 1969 recording "I Heard The Lonsesome Whistle Blow".

I had been a friend of Gene for many years and had during the summenr of 1969 persuaded John Peel to stump up the cash to record, and then to release an LP by Gene. John had been a lifelong fan of Gene and it took no real arm twisting! You may recall that John had just started his own label - Dandelion.

I had always loved the Hank Williams song and had the pleasure of listening to Gene sing it to his own acoustic guitar accompaniment during a memorable private session in 1965.

As we put the album together my suggestion to Gene for him to use this title was heeded and the resulting track emerged - complete with the dedication to John and me. A very great honour indeed.

So there it is, I have been named in a song!

Subject: RE: People named in songs
From: Jack Campin
Date: 10 Apr 09 - 08:03 PM

William Marshall fiddle tunes:

The Marchioness of Normanby
Lady Menzies of Castle Menzies
Sir Charles Forbes of New and Edinglassie
George Forbes, Yr. of New and Edinglassie
Mrs Charles Stewart, Pettyvaich
Mrs Dr Laing
Aberlour's Squeeze
Miss Wilhelmina McDowal's Reel - of Arndilly
Miss Georgina B. Stewart, West Park, Elgin (couldn't he have included her mobile phone number as well?)

Subject: RE: People named in songs
From: Gweltas
Date: 10 Apr 09 - 10:48 PM

Thanks for the kind compliment, Gargoyle !! I had fun compiling that list and exercising my brain (even though I did manage to get Kris Kristofferson's nationality wrong !!)
A. XX

Subject: RE: People named in songs
From: Gweltas
Date: 10 Apr 09 - 11:02 PM

Might I just point out that "Sweet Anna Liffey" is not a PERSON, but is in fact the River Liffey, which flows through Ireland's capital city of Dublin ! The Liffey is also referred to in poetic terms as "Anna Livia Plurabella" --- and frequently in far less complimentary terms when the tide is fully out, on a hot Summer's day !!!!!!!!!!
I foget which post it was in now and I'm feeling too lazy to go and read through all the lists to recall who posted it. It is a very easy mistake to make if one are not very familiar with Irish geography.
A. XX

Subject: RE: People named in songs
From: mg
Date: 11 Apr 09 - 12:41 AM

I posted it and I knew that...

Lili Marlene.

Subject: RE: People named in songs
From: Gweltas
Date: 11 Apr 09 - 01:10 AM

To Add to the lists :~
Hello Patsy Fagan (from the song by Thomas P Keenan)
Michael Finnegan (who "grew whiskers on his chinigin")
Huw Puw, Dafydd Jones & Captain Llong (from the Welsh song "Fflat Huw Puw")
Bryan O'Lynn (from the song of the same name)
Captain Teare (from Hughie Jones' song "The Ellan Vannin Tragedy")
Illiam Dhone (from the trad Manx song of the same name)
Nicholas Raby (from the trad Manx song "Na Kirree Fo Niaghtey" - "The Sheep Under The Snow")
Eleanor Rigby (Beatles song)
Ben Bolt (from the song by Dr. Thomas Dunn and Nelson Kneass)
Little Jimmy Browne (from the song by Jim Ed Browne called "The Three Bells")
Johnny Murray & Albert Mooney (from the trad Irish song "I'll Tell Me Ma")
Captain Kidd (from the trad song "The Ballad of Captain Kidd")
Willie MacIntosh (from the Scottish song "The Burning of Auchindoun")
Parson Hawker (from Cornish songwriter Mike O'Connor's song "The Tregarten Anthem")

That's it folks! I've run dry, for now. Apologies if I've listed names that have already been posted.

I'm catching the ferry to Ireland tonight to firstly visit with my grand children and to represent Cornwall, along with Tom Paddle, Pol Hodge and Jane Ninnis at the Pan Celtic Festival in Donegal Town (April 14th to 19th). If you are in the area check it out !!
I will be attempting to fill in for Cornwall's well known mistress of song, Moe Keast, who was scheduled to be the main Cornish representative at Pan Celtic 2009 (and who has been a previous winner in the song competitions at this festival) but, she is now unable to travel, due to the very sad loss of her mother, earlier this week. Please spare some kind thoughts and prayers for Moe and her family at this sad time in their lives.

One of the songs I will be singing on Moe's behalf, in competition at the festival, was written by Mudcat's very own singer/ songwriter "Hawker" !! Moe fell in love with this song (a great song, called "Hevva"!) and it is a huge disappointment to all of us that she can't be with us in Ireland to sing it as she had planned.

In conclusion may I wish all of you a really Happy and Music filled Easter, wherever you may be.
Anne XX

Subject: RE: People named in songs
From: Snuffy
Date: 11 Apr 09 - 07:14 AM

I'm afraid "llong" is a Welsh word for "ship", so Capten llong is not a name but simply means "ship's captain"

Subject: RE: People named in songs
From: Gweltas
Date: 11 Apr 09 - 11:41 AM

Dear Snuffy,
Not being a Welsh speaker (I am Irish)-- I did wonder about using that one, myself, as the Irish language word for a ship is "long" (same word but spelled with just one letter L, and pronounced as "lung" !) but, as there are also plenty of people with the surname "Long" on both sides of the Irish Sea , I chanced that, combined with the word Captain. it was more likely a surname in this case.
Apologies for guessing wrongly and Ta Muchly for the timely correction, which I really do appreciate as misinformation can be really annoying. I will try to be more careful in future.
God Bless,
Anne XX

Subject: RE: People named in songs
From: Gweltas
Date: 11 Apr 09 - 11:43 AM

Subject: RE: People named in songs
From: Bert
Date: 11 Apr 09 - 11:56 AM

Clifton Plowers (Wolverton Mountain)
Harry Pollitt
John Hardy
Johnny Todd

Subject: RE: People named in songs
From: GUEST
Date: 21 Dec 09 - 04:45 PM

Peter Amberly, aka Peter Emberley (Amberley, etc.) was a real lad from Prince Edward Island who went to work in the lumberwoods of Miramichi, New Brunswick around 1882 (I think). He is buried in Boiestown, New Brunswick where stands a gravestone erected in the early 1960s sometime at the behest of New Brunswick folklorist, Louise Manny and New Brunswick CBC journalist Kenneth Homer. For a tonne of great information about this NB song composed by John Calhoun of Boiestown, see Louise Manny and James Reginald Wilson's excellently-researched book on New Brunswick folksongs, their 1968 monograph "Songs of Miramichi" - or, contact me at [e-mail]

Also, an interesting tidbit about this Eastern Canadian song: apparently Bob Dylan got the idea/inspiration for one of his own songs from the story of Peter Amberley/Emberley. I have heard a (bootleg?) recording of Dylan saying something at the first of one of his songs about Amberley.
: )

Subject: RE: People named in songs
From: JP2
Date: 21 Dec 09 - 06:32 PM

"old John Price" from the song The Jeannie C by Stan Rogers.
It's very strange to be minding your own business in a folk club and hear your own name in a song,very strange.
JP2

Subject: RE: People named in songs
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 21 Dec 09 - 10:29 PM

Folks, here's a story 'bout Minnie-the-Moocher....

Subject: RE: People named in songs
From: GUEST,Allen in Oz
Date: 22 Dec 09 - 12:54 AM

John Peel ( as in "De Ye Ken ?)
Mrs Murphy ( as in "who put the overalls in ...)
AD

Subject: RE: People named in songs
From: BillE
Date: 22 Dec 09 - 02:26 AM

Old Johnny Bugger / Booker / Bucka
Old Mrs ditto
John Blunt (go down and bar the door...)
(My name's) Napoleon Bonaparte
Brave Nelson ??

Happy Christmas

Bill

Subject: RE: People named in songs
From: The Sandman
Date: 22 Dec 09 - 05:16 AM

[Dick] Miles in The Sailors Dream
In the song lisdoonvarna,there are quite a few,includingthe concertina player Chris Droney.

Subject: RE: People named in songs
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 22 Dec 09 - 05:24 AM

A SIMPLE DESULTORY PHILIPPIC
Paul Simon


I been Norman Mailered, Maxwell Taylored.
I been John O'Hara'd, McNamara'd.
I been Rolling Stoned and Beatled till I'm blind.
I been Ayn Randed, nearly branded
Communist, 'cause I'm left-handed.
That's the hand I use, well, never mind!

I been Phil Spectored, resurrected.
I been Lou Adlered, Barry Sadlered.
Well, I paid all the dues I want to pay.
And I learned the truth from Lenny Bruce,
And all my wealth won't buy me health,
So I smoke a pint of tea a day.

I knew a man, his brain so small,
He couldn't think of nothin' at all.
He's not the same as you and me.
He doesn't dig poetry. He's so unhip that
When you say Dylan, he thinks you're talkin' about Dylan Thomas,
Whoever he was.
The man ain't got no culture,
But its alright, ma,
Everybody must get stoned.

I been Mick Jaggered, been silver daggered.
Andy Warhol, won't you please come home?
I been mothered, fathered, aunt and uncled,
Been Roy Halee'd and Art Garfunkel'd.
I just discovered somebody's tapped my phone.


*****


A SIMPLE DESULTORY PHILIPPIC
(or how I was Lyndon Johnsoned into submission)
(alternative version)
Paul Simon - 1965


I was Union Jacked, Kerouac'd
John Birched, stopped and searched
Rolling Stoned and Beatled till I'm blind
I've been Ayn Randed, nearly branded
Communist 'cos I'm lefthanded:
That's the hand they use, well, never mind!

I've been Walt Disneyed, Dis Disleyed
John Lennoned, Krishna Menoned
Walter Brennan punched out Cassius Clay
I've heard the truth from Lenny Bruce
and all my wealth won't buy me health
So I smoke a pint of tea a day

I knew a man his brain so small,
He couldn't think of nothin' at all.
He's not the same as you and me.
He doesn't dig poetry. He's so unhip that
When you say Dylan, he thinks you're talkin' about Dylan
Thomas,
Whoever he is.
The man ain't got no culture,
But its alright, Ma,
It's just sumpthin' I learned over in England.

I've been James Joyced, Rolls Royced
Mick Jaggered, silver daggered
Andy Warhol won't you please come home?
I've been mother, fathered, aunt and uncled
Tom Wilsoned, Art Garfunkled
Barry Kornfeld's mother's on the phone

When in London, do as I do
Find yourself a friendly haiku
Go to sleep for ten or fifteen years

Subject: RE: People named in songs
From: GUEST,John from Elsie`s Band
Date: 22 Dec 09 - 06:00 AM

Not to forget Pete Seeger`s song "Amy McPherson" and her associate Armastad.

Subject: RE: People named in songs
From: GUEST, Sminky
Date: 22 Dec 09 - 06:02 AM

John O'Greenfield
Johnny Green
Miles Weatherill
McCaffer(t)y
Patience Kershaw

Subject: RE: People named in songs
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 22 Dec 09 - 07:39 AM

Apologies if she has been mentioned before

Dolly Parton


:D (eG)

Subject: RE: People named in songs
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 22 Dec 09 - 07:52 AM

Songs named for, or naming, other singers are verging on a sort of incestuous, aren't they?

Cole Porter, with his superb 'lists' songs, was a master of using names - check out You're the Tops, e.g.

"You're the Tops, you're Napoleon Brandy,
You're the Tops, you're Mahatma Gandhi.

You're the rhythm of a melody by Strauss -
You're [someone someone someone someone] -
You're Mickey Mouse."

and so forth...

(From memory, you will gather — but you get the general idea...?)

Subject: RE: People named in songs
From: GUEST,Jon Dudley
Date: 22 Dec 09 - 09:45 AM

Bob Copper -
'Whisky, Bob Copper and me' - Linda Thompson

Subject: RE: People named in songs
From: Genie
Date: 22 Dec 09 - 03:59 PM

Does John Barleycorn count?



As for names that are people's names, how about:
Jenny Jenkins
Christopher Robin*
Bobby Shaftoe
Erica Levine
Jason Metcalf and Joe Bernstein (from "The Ballad of Erica Levine")
Lizzie Borden
Stephen (or is it Steven) Biko
Victor Jara




*No, his last name, Milne, isn't mentioned in Kenny Loggins' song "House At Pooh Corner," but anyone familiar with "Pooh" knows what it is.

Subject: RE: People named in songs
From: Genie
Date: 22 Dec 09 - 04:28 PM

I suppose Nancy Whiskey doesn't count either? ; D


Paddy Reilly
Peter O'Loughlin (Mts. O' Mourne)
Mrs. McGrath's son Ted (or is it Ned?) is mentioned by name in the song.
'Enry The Eighth
Tam Pierce
Sally Goodin
Hilo Hattie (not her real name, but the name she was known by)

Mack Heath, Louie Miller, Lotte Lenya, Sukey Tawdry, Lucy Brown, and Jenny Diver (?) are all mentioned in "Mack The Knife."

Subject: RE: People named in songs
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 22 Dec 09 - 04:48 PM

Sukey Tawdry & Jenny Diver (& Macheath) are all characters from The Beggar's Opera (John Gay 1729); but once start admitting songs from that, & from other such works [to say nothing of operetta, musical comedy, Broadway musicals, musical films ....] to this thread, & where will be the end of it?

Subject: RE: People named in songs
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 22 Dec 09 - 04:58 PM

I confess that I've only skimmed through the above, but in the process I didn't happen to see the following:

Pearl Bryan
John Henry
John Hardy
The Lost Jimmy Whalen
Old Mose Gilbert(and Dandy Bat, too)
Albert Johnson


Dave Oesterreich

Subject: RE: People named in songs
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 22 Dec 09 - 05:00 PM

Jamie Foyers
John MacLean
Leezie Lindsay
Soutar Johnny
Roddy McCorly
Annie McKelvie
Ted McGrath
Willie Moore
Jean McPherson

Subject: RE: People named in songs
From: GUEST,Mike B.
Date: 22 Dec 09 - 06:13 PM

Michael Brown's "The John Birch Society" (performed by the Chad Mitchell Trio) mentions Westbrook Pegler, Rosemary Clooney, Pinky Lee, Red Skelton, Norman Vincent Peale, Earl Warren and Mrs. Nikita Krushchev.

Subject: RE: People named in songs
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 23 Dec 09 - 05:14 AM

Lester Maddox, in 'Rednecks' by Randy Newman.
Hilarious song.

Subject: RE: People named in songs
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 23 Dec 09 - 09:32 AM

Dicey Reilly

Subject: RE: People named in songs
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 23 Dec 09 - 10:15 AM

In the interest of cultural completeness, I must mention Vicki Duggan.

For those young people here who never knew, or those who don't remember, I need to explain who the divine Vicki was.

I had seen the famous photo of her in her ball gown, and it was spectacular. But it was some years later that I heard the Limeliters' great song, Vicki, Turn Your Back on Me. As best I can remember the Limeliters' intro to the song, it went something like this:

"We have a song about a significant event. At (some newsworthy ball) a beautiful actress named Vicki Duggan was seen--and photographed!--in a gown that was back-less! It was cut sooooooo loooooow in back that it revealed . . . A NEW CLEAVAGE! We were disappointed that none of our younger composers had been inspired to celebrate the event in song, so we decided to do it ourselves!"

And then they sang the folk-rock-type song, which included this memorable snippet:

Vicki, turn your back on me
Come on, darlin' don't you see
There is something so revealing
That your gown is not concealing...
Oh! Miss Duggan, you're for me! Oh-oh! Oh-oh! Oh-oh!

Her face was gorgeous, but the "assets" revealed by the gown were outstanding!   Unfortunately, though she got lots of publicity from the photo, it doesn't seem to have done much for her acting career. I never heard of her again, except for the Limeliters' song.

Dave Oesterreich

Subject: RE: People named in songs
From: Genie
Date: 23 Dec 09 - 10:29 AM

How can we forget Viki Duggan? LOL

Or the Limeliters' tribute to the "finest name in gar-bazhe": Max Goulis!

Subject: RE: People named in songs
From: Genie
Date: 23 Dec 09 - 10:58 AM

Darcy Farrrow
Yancy Derringer
Wyatt Earp

Sam McCord, Billy McCord and George Pratt - North To Alaska

Virgil Cane (Caine) and Robert E Lee - The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down

Sean O'Farrell - By The Rising Of The Moon

Gunga Din
Angelina Baker
Rosa Parks

Carole Robertson, Addie Mae Collins, Denise McNair, and Cynthia Wesley (Birminham Sunday)

Abe Lincoln
General Washington and Squire David (Yankee Doodle)
Jim Weaver - (The Ballad Of Weaverville)

Stenka Razin


Wee Sandy Waugh
Wee Tammy Tyrie
Franklin D Roosevelt
Jack Doolan (Donald, Dugan), the Wild Colonial Boy
William Glen
William Grismond
Earl Richard - (Willie and Earl Richard's Daughter)

Subject: RE: People named in songs
From: GUEST,Mike B.
Date: 23 Dec 09 - 12:39 PM

Sam Stone
Little Jackie Paper
John Brown
Harriet Tubman
Captain Kidd
Billy the Kid
Belle Starr
Sarah Palin (mentioned in at least two songs I heard at last year's Takoma Park Folk Festival)

Subject: RE: People named in songs
From: Genie
Date: 23 Dec 09 - 05:41 PM

"There's No One As Irish As Barack O'Bama."

Subject: RE: People named in songs
From: lefthanded guitar
Date: 23 Dec 09 - 05:58 PM

May we also include the esteemed Christine Lavin ditty:

Harrison Ford

"Harrison Harrison Harrison Ford

The only movie star I ever adored"

Quite a touching ballad   ;D

Subject: RE: People named in songs
From: quokka
Date: 23 Dec 09 - 06:49 PM

Ingrid Bergman (words by Woody Guthrie, music Billy Bragg)
Woody Guthrie
Brendan Behan
Penny Evans' husband, Will
Bob and Charlie Ford
Mick Ryan
Edmund Ryan (Ned of the Hill)
Sally McLennane
Jock Stewart
and some from Oz -
Ben Hall
Ned Kelly
Dan Kelly
Kate Kelly
oh all right,the whole Kelly gang
John Boyle O'Reilly
Henry Lawson
Miss Nancy Blair (South Australia)
Jim Jones of Botany Bay
Flash Jack from Gundagai