songs where the woman comes out on top

Subject: RE: songs where the woman comes out on top
From: GUEST,Joe_F
Date: 11 Jun 06 - 08:28 PM

Is it acceptable for the victorious woman to be wicked? If so, then Child Owlet (Child 291) should be included. Lady makes a pass at her husband's nephew, who indignantly refuses. She stabs herself with the usual penknife, and tells her husband that she has incurred the injury defending herself against the nephew's attempted rape. The family resolves to have him torn apart by wild horses, but in the end makes do with tame ones.

--- Joe Fineman    [e-mail]

||: April is the cruellest month, Breeding lilacs out of the dead land, :||

Subject: RE: songs where the woman comes out on top
From: Susanne (skw)
Date: 11 Jun 06 - 08:28 PM

The Sands o' the Shore - well, she's dumped but she reckons she can get a better boyfriend any time.

The Cauldrife Wooer - not wooing enough, in fact, so she dumps him.

Subject: RE: songs where the woman comes out on top
From: muppitz
Date: 12 Jun 06 - 08:21 AM

I can't remember what the song is called but Isambarde do a song about a girl who's mother makes her marry an older man who can't satisfy her so she basically tells him to sod off because she's going to find a younger man who can.
Same sort of theme as "Maids when you're young...."

muppitz x

Subject: RE: songs where the woman comes out on top
From: Keith A of Hertford
Date: 12 Jun 06 - 09:14 AM

The Fair maid of Fyvie reverses the usual trooper and the maid scenario.
She jilts the soldier who dies of a broken heart.

The False Bride leaves a broken hearted swain when she goes to be wed to another.
Keith.

Subject: RE: songs where the woman comes out on top
From: JennyO
Date: 12 Jun 06 - 10:30 AM

This is a rather spooky one, where you could say the woman comes out on top, although it could be argued that by the time that happens, she isn't actually a woman. It's in the DT The Griesly Bride

Subject: RE: songs where the woman comes out on top
From: GUEST,Layla
Date: 14 Jun 06 - 04:36 PM

Keith are you speaking about Charlotte here !

Subject: RE: songs where the woman comes out on top
From: GUEST,Julia
Date: 15 Jun 06 - 09:21 AM

How about King Henry-the old hag in the haunted hall turns out to be not so bad when he "gives her all her will". I think this may be related to the Arthurian Loathly Bride where Gawaine marries the incredibly ugly woman to defend Arthur's honor.
Am enjoying this thread- thanks fols

Julia

Subject: RE: songs where the woman comes out on top
From: Carol
Date: 15 Jun 06 - 09:50 AM

One of my favourites
Daughters of the Revolution
by Berni Armstrong

The great wooden latch closed upon

The men marched away, their guns slung over their shoulders
They looked far too few to stop the British in their stride
Some kissed them farewell, some looked on with their babies
Most turned away and took their children back inside
But what could we do? The men had made the decision
What could we say as they marched out of the glen
No tears stained our eyes, we had too many chores to attend to
For we were 16 unarmed women and they a platoon of fighting men

No sooner had they gone than the Redcoats had us surrounded
Said they'd hold us hostage 'til our men gave up the fight
'We'll billet in the church', their captain gave out the order
But we knew far too well where his men planned to stay the night.
But what could we do? Their captain had given the order
What could we say to hold off these English men?
No tears stainedvour eyes we had too many plans to attend to,
For we were 16 unarmed women and they a platoon of fighting men

Well, Bertha brought them beer and spilled it over their powder.
Mary let the bullocks loose and laughed as they gave chase
Sara, Ruth and Ann seduced two guns from the soldiers
'Twas worth a slimey kiss to see the look upon their face
But what could we do but make our own decisions?
What could we say that would aid us in our fight?
No tears stained our eyes; we had too many plots to attend to
For we were 16 unarmed women and they a platoon of fighting men

Suitably prepared, Kate went to visit their captain.
What a shock he got when she lifted up her skirt
And pulled from underneath his seargent's dueling pistol
Saying, 'Order your men into the church and no-one will get hurt.'
So what could we do but make our own decisions?
What could we say? There could be no turning back.
No tears stained our eyes, we hd prisonrs now to attend to.
For we were 16 armed women and they a platoon of beaten men.

The great wooden latch closed upon the church door.
'We'll burn it to the ground', we said, 'if you try to escape.'
We stood guard 'til dawn 'til our men came back to the valley
Expecting to be heroes who would rescue us from rape
But what could they do? We had made the decision.
What could they say of our bravery that day?
No tears stained our eyes except for tears of laughter,
For we were 16 fighting women and they a platoon of fighting men

Subject: RE: songs where the woman comes out on top
From: frogprince
Date: 15 Jun 06 - 02:02 PM

"Save a Horse, Ride a Cowboy"





(I'll get my stetson....)

Subject: RE: songs where the woman comes out on top
From: Bunnahabhain
Date: 15 Jun 06 - 05:44 PM

Most of my initial thoughts have come up already, but what about Tam Lin - child # 39- In any version I can think of, the heroine comes out on top.

Subject: RE: songs where the woman comes out on top
From: Barry Finn
Date: 15 Jun 06 - 08:41 PM

No one has mentioned the version of Geordie where the maid buys his life back but "the blood would've flowed upon the green before I lost my dearie".
This one the woman is on top & comes out on top.

'She's The Lass I Do Adore'.

It fell all on a clear spring morn
As the sun rose or'e the bloom
The geese & woodcock shook the dew
The fish flew through the foam
I spied a lass that struck my heart
My eyes saw nothing more
It was then that I was lost in love
For she's the lass I do adore

I approached this fair maid for a word
But no words could I speak
The drops of sweat rolled from my brow
My arms & legs did quake
My heart was pierced, I could not speak
Sound gone for ever more
I knew she had my heart & soul
For she's the lass I do adore

She asked if I would walk with her
Through the foggy morn
She led me past the ancient oaks
O're the hills & far beyond
She lightly took me by the hand
My feet felt no forest floor
My heart it soared o're the land
For she's the lass I do adore

Among the purple heather we sat down
The ground did seem to moan
Branch & bough all seemed to bend
As bluebells blew like horns
She left me there upon my back
Till the stars they brightly shone
So amazed in wonder there I lay
For she's the lass I do adore

The years have past before my eyes
Since that day in early spring
Still the view is freah & fair
And still the smell so keen
I've wondered far & traveled wide
In the hopes to see once more
The lovely maid that laid me down
For she's the lass I do adore

copywrite Barry Finn 2000

Barry

Subject: RE: songs where the woman comes out on top
From: HuwG
Date: 16 Jun 06 - 03:23 AM

A slightly rude one: Courting in the Kitchen

And a very rude one: Eskimo Nell

Subject: RE: songs where the woman comes out on top
From: Keith A of Hertford
Date: 16 Jun 06 - 04:19 AM

Martinmas Time.
The girl is forcced to agree to come alone at night the the dragoon barracks.
She keeps her word but comes disguised as a dragoon, and is given cash to go and find lodging in the town.

(and no Layla, I don't think that Charlotte could be that cunning)

Subject: RE: songs where the woman comes out on top
From: ard mhacha
Date: 16 Jun 06 - 04:49 AM

Killyburn Brae, The husband makes a pact with the Devil to take his nagging wife, in the end the wife has the last laugh,

`Says the Devil here`s your wife safe and well

she wouldn`t be kept not even in hell,

For i`ve been a Devil the most of my life

but I was never in hell `til I met with your wife,

So it`s true that the women are worse than the men

when the are sent down to hell they are kicked out again.

Subject: RE: songs where the woman comes out on top
From: GUEST,Pelrad
Date: 16 Jun 06 - 08:29 AM

Short Jacket and White Trousers (from A.L. Lloyd and Louis Killen):

Short jacket and white trousers this young girl she put on
And like some handsome sailor bold went rambling 'round the town,
And she did engage with our Captain Ross a sailor for to be
All for to seek her own true love across the raging sea.

One night as she sat drowsing, she was ready for her bed
When our captain heaved a sigh and said, "Oh, I wish you were a maid.
With your rosy cheeks and your curly hair you have beguiled me,
And I've often wished with all me heart you could me sweetheart be."

"Oh hold your tongue, dear Captain! Such talk is all in vain,
And if our shipmates came to know, they would make sport and game.
And when that we do reach the shore, some pretty girls we'll find
To ramble along with us bold lads, if we're that way inclined."

It was a few days after we docked in Baltimore
And that maid she appeared in her petticoats, which made our Captain roar.
"Oh, a sailor I have been on board, but a maiden I'm going ashore,
And you missed your chance, dear Captain! Adieu forevermore!"



Also, much more dramatically, the heroine of Fairest Flower of Serving Men.

Subject: RE: songs where the woman comes out on top
From: GUEST,Julia
Date: 16 Jun 06 - 09:14 AM

Woo woo Barry!! Nice!!
A bit like "The Queen among the Heather"
Another modern one is Willy- O by Steve Sellors

Girl disguises self as sailor seeking runaway lover,
signs on bark
secret is discovered
turns out the whole crew and captain are also women looking for the same guy

They opened their vests
and out fell their breasts
and who would have guessed
they're all on a quest
for their Willy- O

All the BEST
Julia

Subject: RE: songs where the woman comes out on top
From: GUEST
Date: 16 Jun 06 - 10:30 AM

A belated response to muppitz's post. The song's called 'Whirly Whorl' and the lyrics go like this...

Oh the very first wedding I's bridesmaid at was on a Saturday
There was plenty of lively fun and likewise sporting and play
The bells were rung and us girls we sung and it's to the church went all
And the bride's off to bed with the silly old groom to play at the whirly whorl

Well first she modestly turned her back, and then she turned her front
And long she wished for kindliness, but kindness she got none
At last she took him all in her arms and threw him against the wall
Saying "Are you there, you silly old bugger, you've lost your whirly whorl."

"Oh, woe be to my mother," she said, "she's done to me much ill,
She's married me to this silly old bugger, it's all against my will
But I'll dress myself in my coat of green, my feathery bonnet and all
I'll find a young man all of my own to play at the whirly whorl."

If you need a tune we have a free streamed version on our site.

Chris