Origins: My Dearest Dear & Blackest Crow conect

Subject: My Dearest Dear /Blackest Crow conect
From: GUEST,Guy Wolff On Lap top
Date: 30 Jul 08 - 07:50 PM

I have been listening and watching at youtube a bunch lately and I found a wonderful version of "The Blackest Crow" played by Bruce Moilski and after listening a few times I realized the words were very close to those of My Dearest Dear .. a song I had learned from a AFS student returning from Finland in 1975who had learned it from a Finish Bluegrass band who learned it in Ireland .. Can any of the experts here give me an idea if My Dearest dear is olderl ?? Is it Irish or scotch or English ?? .. I have heard The Blackest Crow was from the American Civil War .

Subject: RE: Origins: My Dearest Dear & Blackest Crow cone
From: GUEST
Date: 30 Jul 08 - 07:53 PM

Bruce Molski and friends playing The Blackest Crow

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d6jh1vqNvMs

Subject: RE: Origins: My Dearest Dear & Blackest Crow cone
From: GUEST,guy wolff On Lap top
Date: 30 Jul 08 - 07:55 PM

My Dearest dear : Guy Wolff as remembered from 1975

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WfD0YaJkrj0

Subject: RE: Origins: My Dearest Dear & Blackest Crow conect
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 31 Jul 08 - 01:53 AM

Various past discussions here, but see in particular

Breast of Glass
The Blackest Crow: meaning?

Some at least of the material in these related songs is to be found in English broadside ballads of the 17th century.

Subject: RE: Origins: My Dearest Dear & Blackest Crow cone
From: GUEST,Guy Wolff On Lap top
Date: 31 Jul 08 - 09:23 AM

Yes in the version I learnt She says " with a pen and parchment near pray send a line to me ".. I thought using pen and parchment was a pretty ancient description . Thanks Malcolm .. Al the best , Guy

Subject: RE: Origins: My Dearest Dear & Blackest Crow conect
From: Banjovey
Date: 31 Jul 08 - 11:06 AM

Tommy Jarroll does a fine version of this playing banjo. Its on one of the County Clawhammer banjo CDs and tabbed in Brad Leftwich's book on Round Peak banjo playing

Subject: RE: Origins: My Dearest Dear & Blackest Crow cone
From: GUEST,guy Wolff On Lap top
Date: 31 Jul 08 - 04:35 PM

I think Ive read that thats the source for Bruce's version .

Subject: RE: Origins: My Dearest Dear & Blackest Crow conect
From: GUEST,garthman
Date: 04 Aug 08 - 03:30 PM

I believe that "My Dearest Dear" originates from Yorkshire, probably mid 18th century. It was recorded as "lost" in England but was rediscovered, c. early 20th century, in the Appalachian mountains whence it had been taken by emigrants.

Subject: RE: Origins: My Dearest Dear & Blackest Crow conect
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 04 Aug 08 - 06:31 PM

'Recorded as lost'? By whom? When? Where? Why Yorkshire? See links above for a London broadside of the late 17th / early 18th century.