Origin: Judas and Mary (Sydney Carter)

Subject: Judas&Mary (Sydney Carter) - trad tune?
From: GUEST,Ian cookieless
Date: 22 Mar 08 - 02:13 PM

Some years ago I listened to an album of trad. Irish songs and realised I was listening to a tune virtually identical to Sydney Carter's 'Judas & Mary' - perhaps his source for the tune? Frustratingly, I now cannot locate that trad. Irish song in my memory or my music collection. Anyone help, please?

Subject: RE: Judas&Mary (Sydney Carter) - trad tune?
From: Jim McLean
Date: 22 Mar 08 - 03:11 PM

Hi Ian,
Just aa quick thought, I think the original song had a line in it about 'The salt sea, the salt sea'.
It might jag a few memories.

Subject: RE: Judas&Mary (Sydney Carter) - trad tune?
From: Newport Boy
Date: 22 Mar 08 - 05:06 PM

Must be "Henry Martin" - Irish or elsewhere.

Phil

Subject: RE: Judas&Mary (Sydney Carter) - trad tune?
From: GUEST,Ian cookieless
Date: 23 Mar 08 - 02:58 AM

Jim, I think you're remembering a different song.

The first verse is:

Said Judas to Mary, 'Now what will you do
With your ointment so rich and so rare?'
'I'll pour it all over the feet of my Lord
And wipe it away with my hair', she said,
'Wipe it away with my hair'

Subject: RE: Judas&Mary (Sydney Carter) - trad tune?
From: GUEST,Ian cookieless
Date: 23 Mar 08 - 03:03 AM

Thanks, Newport Boy, Sydney Carter's tune is indeed very close to that of Henry Martin, so I cannot have recognised the similarity while listening to an Irish album. Oh for the memory I had in my youth.

Subject: RE: Judas&Mary (Sydney Carter) - trad tune?
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 23 Mar 08 - 04:36 AM

I was thinking much the same thing, but more on the lines of 'oh for the Youth I had in my memory'...

LTS

Subject: RE: Judas&Mary (Sydney Carter) - trad tune?
From: GUEST,Ian cookieless
Date: 23 Mar 08 - 04:51 AM

Yes, Liz, I wish I had both!

Subject: RE: Judas&Mary (Sydney Carter) - trad tune?
From: Jim McLean
Date: 23 Mar 08 - 07:00 AM

Hi Ian, What I meant was the lyrics to the tune Sydney used had 'salt sea, salt sea' within them and this is borne out by the answers which point to Henry martin. I couldn't remember the title of the song but those words were going round in my head.

Subject: RE: Judas&Mary (Sydney Carter) - trad tune?
From: GUEST,Ian cookieless
Date: 23 Mar 08 - 08:30 AM

Ah! Yes, Jim! I see exactly what you mean, now!

Cheers
Ian

Subject: RE: Judas&Mary (Sydney Carter) - trad tune?
From: GUEST,aida1200
Date: 24 Mar 08 - 09:14 PM