Origins: Is this a folk song?

Subject: Origins: Is this a folk song?
From: GUEST,Guest
Date: 07 Jul 14 - 01:54 PM

Hey guys, I was watching this documentary about the Jersey Devil from the 1970s:

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x17csqh_mother-leeds-13th-child_shortfilms

At 10:30 a song starts playing, I was wondering if this was based on a real folk song or simply written for the documentary. I know there are some Jersey Devil folk songs, but I'm curious as to whether this is one of them. It comes in again at 18:38. Upon a google search and all I could find was this:
http://www.worldcat.org/title/mother-leeds-13th-child/oclc/80958140
I'm not sure if George Taweel wrote the song or if he just arranged the music.

These are the lyrics I've been able to copy down from the video:

men call me a demon
I roam this land
I pray all the people will understand
I mean no harm,
my people to bring
I come for to ----- them from all ----*Not sure what these lyrics are!
At night when the sounds of storm are near and the wind blows unending I do appear
the child of the one man called prince of night
in the mist of the pines, I take to flight

The 13th of children has been my fate
Now some do regard me with fear and hate
Fiendish or friendly are things I be
Tis all in the eyes of those who see
Men call me a demon I roam this land, I pray all the people will understand
I mean no harm my people to bring, for those will hear these words I sing

Subject: RE: Origins: Is this a folk song?
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 07 Jul 14 - 02:19 PM

I'm sure it is not an old song, because I have never heard an old folk song written from the point of view of a monster, demon, ogre or creature of that ilk. People so unsophisticated that they thought such creatures could be real did not feel empathy with them. They feared them and tried to fend them off with magic.

Subject: RE: Origins: Is this a folk song?
From: GUEST
Date: 07 Jul 14 - 03:54 PM

Thanks for your response!

Do you know anything about the melody?

I think the Jersey Devil is actually a more modern folk song. Perhaps the lyrics are a variation of it written by the music arranger.

Subject: RE: Origins: Is this a folk song?
From: Jack Campin
Date: 07 Jul 14 - 06:46 PM

The lyrics don't look in the least bit traditional in style.

Subject: RE: Origins: Is this a folk song?
From: GUEST
Date: 08 Jul 14 - 12:04 PM

Anyone else have any input?

Subject: RE: Origins: Is this a folk song?
From: Jack Campin
Date: 08 Jul 14 - 12:11 PM

The video just locks up while playing an advert.

Subject: RE: Origins: Is this a folk song?
From: Lighter
Date: 08 Jul 14 - 12:26 PM

I concur with Jack and Leeneia 100%.

Subject: RE: Origins: Is this a folk song?
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 08 Jul 14 - 12:26 PM

There should be credits at the end of the programme and they should identify the song and lyricist/composer if known.

Subject: RE: Origins: Is this a folk song?
From: GUEST
Date: 08 Jul 14 - 02:53 PM

End of the programme (online) cuts off. But a search finds:

https://rucore.libraries.rutgers.edu/rutgers-lib/24155/ - some information about the people involved in the documentary: Wiseman, Jack (narrator), Reed, Bill (director), Reed, Bill (producer), Sheridan, Phil (storyteller), New Jersey Public Broadcasting

Subject: RE: Origins: Is this a folk song?
From: GUEST,JTT
Date: 08 Jul 14 - 03:29 PM

Sorry, post above with link is mine. Bill Reed's LinkedIn page lists him as the owner of Shenandoah Productions:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Shenandoah-Video-Productions-Inc/160033963104

so if you want to find out about the song you could knock off an email to them or ring them.

Subject: RE: Origins: Is this a folk song?
From: GUEST
Date: 09 Jul 14 - 09:26 PM

Thanks, I've been thinking about it. If you guys can't find anything, then I kind of assume it was written for the program.

I did find out some info on his production site, but nothing specific on the song itself