Folklore: Is folk song really political?

Subject: RE: Folklore: Is folk song really political?
From: The Borchester Echo
Date: 11 Oct 07 - 03:34 AM

OK, I was wrong. In your case, the personal isn't political nor even personal.
It's nothing but a bag of washing.

And no, I didn't say me and those musicians you mention were drinking together.
We were in the pub . . . 'working'.
You do have this knack of picking up the odd word you recognise and launching off tangentially into orbit, dontcha? As Trevor Carter wrote in The Tower of Babel:

Then the henchmen fetched their flipcharts, they were in no doubt
They could motivate the workforce through discussion frank and full.
But they found that when they tried to speak, these alien words came pouring out
Like something from the arse-end of a bull.

A very political song, all about local government (don't tell Georgina).



And you forgot to say #100.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Is folk song really political?
From: GUEST,theleveller
Date: 11 Oct 07 - 12:25 PM

I like 'personal is political'; that's right at the heart of folk music and a lot of other music as well.

As Oscar Wilde said to Whistler: 'I wish I'd said that'.

And, as Whistler replied: 'You will, Oscar, you will.'

Subject: RE: Folklore: Is folk song really political?
From: GUEST,mg
Date: 11 Oct 07 - 01:37 PM

why don't people listen to lyrics Dame asks..well, I don't especially...I listen to the tune...I enjoy reading the lyrics and I must say that verse of McBride is new to me...if someone had sung it it might have rolled right through my head and out the door...people have different modes of getting information...I am generally left with a vague impression of a shipwreck or someone is in love...but I do believe in the "nice sound" value of music the most..or why bother...just print up the lyrics and pass them out...but I guess that wouldn't work for people who get information auditorily ...they do better hearing something..that probably also explains why some people can listen to ugly tunes and not be bothered..they are probably listening for the information as opposed to the prettiness...who knows...mg