womens songs

Subject: womens songs
From: Emmie
Date: 03 Dec 13 - 03:09 PM

I have recently started performing with another women singer doing traditional songs in vocal harmony. we also play between us flute, bodhran and ukulele! I was wondering if anyone out there could suggest some interesting songs written by or for women to sing: things like work songs or songs from a female perspective! Thanks mudcatters!

Subject: RE: womens songs
From: Bert
Date: 03 Dec 13 - 09:47 PM

Mum used to sing...

Washing up, washing up, washing up
we're at it hours and hours each day
every plate, every saucer, every cup
we'd like to fling them miles away
we can't enjoy the way we should
a single bite or sup
for we realize with pain
that we have to start again
washing up, washing up, washing up.

I remember her performing it with a few of her friends for our local Coronation Celebration. That takes you back a bit doesn't it.

Another one they did was a strip tease to This old hat of mine. It brought the house down seeing half a dozen young middle aged women stripped down to their 'combs'

Subject: RE: womens songs
From: GUEST,Erich
Date: 04 Dec 13 - 02:48 AM

What about Leon Rosselsons "Don't Get Married, Girls". I always liked this one.

Subject: RE: womens songs
From: r.padgett
Date: 04 Dec 13 - 03:38 AM

Lynne Heraud and Pat Turner have avery funny and well observed collection of women's songs, very cheeky stuff

Ray

Subject: RE: womens songs
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 04 Dec 13 - 04:25 AM

Maids When You're Young Never Wed An Old Man
Old Maid In A Garret
Come All Ye Fair And Tender Ladies

&c&c&c&c&c......

Subject: RE: womens songs
From: Jim Carroll
Date: 04 Dec 13 - 06:32 AM

Housewife's Lament

(G) C - F C / G - G7 C / C - F C / G - G7 C

One day I was walking, I heard a complaining
And saw an old woman the picture of gloom
She gazed at the mud on her doorstep ('twas raining)
And this was her song as she wielded her broom

C C7 E E7 / F D7 G G7 / C - F C / G - G7 C

Life is a trial and love is a trouble
Beauty will fade and riches will flee
Pleasures they dwindle and prices they double
And nothing is as I would wish it to be.

There's too much of worriment goes to a bonnet
There's too much of ironing goes to a shirt
There's nothing that pays for the time you waste on it
There's nothing that last us but trouble and dirt.

CHORUS

In March it is mud, it is slush in December
The midsummer breezes are loaded with dust
In fall the leaves litter, in muddy September
The wall paper rots and the candlesticks rust

CHORUS

There are worms on the cherries and slugs on the roses
And ants in the sugar and mice in the pies
The rubbish of spiders no mortal supposes
And ravaging roaches and damaging flies

CHORUS

It's sweeping at six and it's dusting at seven
It's victuals at eight and it's dishes at nine
It's potting and panning form ten to eleven
We scarce break our fast till we plan how to dine

CHORUS

With grease and with grime from corner to center
Forever at war and forever alert
No rest for a day lest the enemy enter
I spend my whole life in struggle with dirt

CHORUS

Last night in my dreams I was stationed forever
On a far distant isle in the midst of the sea
My one chance of life was a ceaseless endeavor
To sweep off the waves as they swept over me

Alas! Twas no dream; ahead I behold it
I see I am helpless my fate to avert
She lay down her broom, her apron she folded
She lay down and died and was buried in dirt.

CHORUS

Traditional

extra verse by Marion Wade

We're still chasing dirt but we're not just complaining
We stand up for our rights and we ask men to share
We fight with them sometimes, sometimes we're "explaining"
If we'd all stop to listen, someday we might dare
To make life worth its toil and love worth its troubles
Though beauty and riches may stay or may flee
And pleasures they'll triple or certainly double
When things will be as we would wish them to be

alternate last verse and chorus from Hilda Thomas of
Vancouver:

"Alas, 'twas no dream - ahead I behold it,
But I am not helpless my fate to avert."
She laid down her broom, her apron she folded -
"If this doesn't stop, someone's gonna get hurt!"

"Oh, life is a toil and love is a trouble,
Beauty will fade and riches will flee,
But I'm damned if I'll live with oppression that's double,
I'm damned if I'll wait any more to be free!"


recorded by Peggy Seeger on Penelope's Not Waiting
and Frankie Armstrong Female Frolic
DC, JB

Subject: RE: womens songs
From: GUEST,Peter
Date: 04 Dec 13 - 07:07 AM

Anything sung by Sisters Unlimited

Subject: RE: womens songs
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 04 Dec 13 - 07:15 AM

If you can get hold of a copy of "My Song is my Own" there's 100 of them....

Kitty

Subject: RE: womens songs
From: topical tom
Date: 04 Dec 13 - 10:18 AM

I Want to be an Engineer by Peggy Seeger.

Subject: RE: womens songs
From: ChanteyLass
Date: 04 Dec 13 - 11:11 PM

Topical Tom's suggested song is here. @displaysong.cfm?SongID=2980 You might also like this one. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RqKlrGHHhoY

Subject: RE: womens songs
From: Emmie
Date: 06 Dec 13 - 06:54 PM

Thanks everyone. Some great suggestions here, I shall start listening to them now.

Subject: RE: womens songs
From: Emmie
Date: 06 Dec 13 - 07:08 PM

Brilliant. Great to discover Lynne Heraud and Pat Turner who are fantastic-just been listening to some of their songs on itunes.I'm off to listen to sisters unlimited now. I am a big Sandra Kerr fan and can't believe I hadn't heard of this group-very exciting!

Subject: RE: womens songs
From: Emmie
Date: 06 Dec 13 - 07:26 PM

I definitely need to buy "my song is my own". It seems really sad that it is no longer printed!