Melody - Bunch Of Thyme

Subject: Folklore: Melody - Bunch Of Thyme
From: Leadfingers
Date: 27 May 09 - 04:39 PM

I HAVE posted this query a few years back , and only had comments about the Lyrics . What I want to know is What Relation is there in a TIME Context with the COMMON Melody to Bunch of Time and W C Handy's Careless Love .
Did Handy borrow an old tune ? Or did his melody fit the lyrics and make a better song than a previous melody ?
I have worried about this for TOO Long .

Subject: RE: Folklore: Melody - Bunch Of Thyme
From: The Sandman
Date: 27 May 09 - 05:01 PM

dont even think about it,
pick up your instrument and play,sound sound the instruments of joy.
SoldiersJoy,the only tune found in every country in the world.emancipate yourself from the chains of analysis

Subject: RE: Melody - Bunch Of Thyme
From: Leadfingers
Date: 28 May 09 - 06:46 AM

Thank you for that well thought out answer to my question Dick - NOT

Subject: RE: Melody - Bunch Of Thyme
From: Norman FitzNicely
Date: 28 May 09 - 07:43 AM

When was "Careless love" published? If after 1908, the melody is older. If earlier, do you think that Joseph Taylor would have had access to it? And even if so, would he have changed it from what was obviously a favourite song of his, bearing in mind his age when recorded?
I think the answer must be that the tune is older than WC Handy's song, and he may (but not must) have heard it and liked it.

Sleep easy now, Terry. Ain't you glad I came?

Subject: RE: Melody - Bunch Of Thyme
From: The Sandman
Date: 28 May 09 - 08:33 AM

Terry,to me it is obvious which was first, from studying the lyrics.
Normans points are good ones ,too.
to me it does not matter,they are both good songs.
there are many songs in the tradition that share tunes.

Subject: RE: Melody - Bunch Of Thyme
From: Leadfingers
Date: 28 May 09 - 10:28 AM

Sorry Dick , but I dont see how 'Studying the Lyrics' has any bearing on the actual melody .

Norman - Is the 'Common' tune the same one that was collected ? That was what I was wondering about .

And I am NOT suggesting that W C Handy should be pilloried for what he wrote , its simple curiosity about two damn fine songs .

Subject: RE: Melody - Bunch Of Thyme
From: The Sandman
Date: 29 May 09 - 07:18 AM

,but ,it could give you an idea as to which song was first.

Subject: RE: Melody - Bunch Of Thyme
From: Norman FitzNicely
Date: 15 Jun 09 - 08:46 AM

I think they are closely related - Taylor's tune was old when he was recorded, I think, but it has some commonality with "Careless Love"
And no, Handy should not be "pilloried" - we all nick bits of tunes and ideas, consciously or otherwise, and the tradition carries on that way.

Subject: RE: Melody - Bunch Of Thyme
From: Mr Happy
Date: 15 Jun 09 - 08:55 AM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fg__vNpqFG8

Subject: RE: Melody - Bunch Of Thyme
From: Mr Happy
Date: 15 Jun 09 - 08:59 AM

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Careless_Love

Subject: RE: Melody - Bunch Of Thyme
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 15 Jun 09 - 09:06 AM

is this it?

wild thyme

After listening to that and the Bessie Smith vidoe, I don't think they are enough alike to claim borrowing. The Irish tune has one bluesay half-step, but the rest sounds like a typical, homegrown, pretty tune.