Folk Songs to Ditch

Subject: RE: FOLK SONGS TO DITCH
From: Little Hawk
Date: 01 Sep 00 - 09:00 PM

One of the first songs I ever learned to play on the guitar was the early Dylan song "He Was A Friend Of Mine", a lament about a penniless friend who dies on the street. I got tired of it after awhile, especially in the light of about 300 other Dylan songs that were immeasureably better than that one. I can fairly much do without it.

One thing about this song...the lyrics can be pretty repetitive (unusual for Dylan), so it's important if you do play it to introduce some lyrical variety, which can and has been done. I'll be glad to supply tips on that.

Take note, flattop. Ya-ha-ha!

Subject: RE: FOLK SONGS TO DITCH
From: simon-pierre
Date: 01 Sep 00 - 09:09 PM

There's a song on the Harry Smith Anthology I can't absolutely stand and makes me wish I'll never have a better english. I don't have it near me, but I think it's called ®Single girl, married girl¯; I've read that the criminals who sang that end their carreer by singing in Disneyland. No need to tell more. Here's your new french word for today, qualifying things like this: cochonnerie.

SP

Subject: RE: FOLK SONGS TO DITCH
From: Little Hawk
Date: 01 Sep 00 - 09:54 PM

simon-pierre - does that mean "little pig"? Or "little pig pen"? Where are you located? Are you in France?

Subject: RE: FOLK SONGS TO DITCH
From: simon-pierre
Date: 01 Sep 00 - 10:05 PM

I don't know exactly what is a "little pig pen", but "cochonnerie" may be translated by "bullsh*t" or any other lovely word. I'm from Qu‚bec city.

(how did I made that encircled R?...)

SP

Subject: RE: FOLK SONGS TO DITCH
From: Little Hawk
Date: 01 Sep 00 - 10:18 PM

Ah...good to know...thanks!

Subject: RE: FOLK SONGS TO DITCH
From: sophocleese
Date: 01 Sep 00 - 10:24 PM

Well first time I've sat down and read this whole thread. Interesting stuff.

First of all in defence of pipers around the world; a lot of them don't like playing Amazing Grace but, astonishingly enough, many people request it. A few years ago I saw a documentary on the song and was surprised that in all the different times they showed people singing and playing the song not once did they show it being played by a piper(it was an American documentary).

I am torn between my love of finding a new (to me) version of a song and my delight in having people sing along with me. So I try to make a mix of songs when I'm singing.

Folk Songs to ditch? How about a category: humourous songs done more than three times. However hilarious a song is when you first hear it it loses its humour far faster than a decent song with a good melody loses its charm. People are still singing Two Sisters and Little Musgrave because tragedy endures but humour is ephemeral and spontaneous.

Subject: RE: FOLK SONGS TO DITCH
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 02 Sep 00 - 01:57 PM

"humourous songs done more than three times" - three times a night>? three times in a lifetime?

There are funny songs, and there are humourous songs. Most humourous songs aren't actually funny, they get by on novelty, and that wears out pretty quickly.

Subject: RE: FOLK SONGS TO DITCH
From: Mr Happy
Date: 21 Jul 15 - 01:50 PM

The Sick Note!!

Subject: RE: FOLK SONGS TO DITCH
From: Mr Happy
Date: 21 Jul 15 - 01:50 PM

The Sick Note!!

Subject: RE: FOLK SONGS TO DITCH
From: Mr Happy
Date: 21 Jul 15 - 01:50 PM

The Sick Note!!

Subject: RE: FOLK SONGS TO DITCH
From: GUEST,Olddude
Date: 21 Jul 15 - 02:17 PM

Where have all the flowers gone. The song lasts two years with the endless verses and same monotonous melody

Subject: RE: FOLK SONGS TO DITCH
From: Joe_F
Date: 21 Jul 15 - 03:16 PM

Olddude: You might prefer "Where have all the flowers gone" as Pete Seeger originally wrote it, before it was extended into a cycle of posies by Joe Hickerson. It is short, it has a point, and there is even a variation in the tune. Look it up.

Subject: RE: FOLK SONGS TO DITCH
From: GUEST,just a-passin' through
Date: 21 Jul 15 - 04:30 PM

How about songs like "This Land Is Your Land" and other songs with political and/or otherwise radical lyrics that people don't sing? The songbook publishers when we were in school always left out the people starving, the sign that was one-sided, etc.

Subject: RE: FOLK SONGS TO DITCH
From: GUEST,Olddude
Date: 21 Jul 15 - 04:44 PM

Thanks Joe i never heard that version I will look it up

Subject: RE: FOLK SONGS TO DITCH
From: GUEST,HiLo
Date: 21 Jul 15 - 10:17 PM

Maries bloody wedding.i do wish she had stayed single and left us in peace.i also wish to hear The Wild Rover again......no nay never!

Subject: RE: FOLK SONGS TO DITCH
From: GUEST,Rossey
Date: 21 Jul 15 - 11:15 PM

Not a folk song, but has had words set to it. The tune Highland bloody Catherdral!   Bombastic, overblown and dreary and that's just without the words.   I truly hate this allegedly anthemic dirge!   But every piper loves the thing and it's ubiquitous. Heck, I wish I'd written it for the royalty payments - when it's not stolen as trad. Apologies to the writers.

A folk song to ditch... the Riddle song. Why?   If anybody watches the party scene in National Lampoon's Animal House, it makes sense.

Subject: RE: FOLK SONGS TO DITCH
From: LadyJean
Date: 21 Jul 15 - 11:53 PM

"Don't Laugh At Me", number one on my hate parade. "Imperfect" people with disabilities, deserve respect, not pity.

Subject: RE: FOLK SONGS TO DITCH
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 22 Jul 15 - 01:42 AM

disgraceful thread!

the recent death of Theodore Bikel reminds me that he was the act immediately preceding Koerner, Ray and Glover at the time of their breakthrough gig at Newport. how inclusive and beautiful the scene was in those days.!

today the loudest voices on mudcat are full of self righteous certainty that certain things aren't folk music.

so many of the songs herein mentioned have enchanted audiences. have elicited a creative response from musicians. have enabled musicians to earn a living - and that has given them the money to dedicate the rest of their existence to more esoteric forms of folk music.

Subject: RE: FOLK SONGS TO DITCH
From: Will Fly
Date: 22 Jul 15 - 04:11 AM

Al, if you go right back to the opening posts in this thread, it's quite clear that they were written with tongue firmly in cheek.

today the loudest voices on mudcat are full of self righteous certainty that certain things aren't folk music.

Yes, but it's just Mudcat, isn't it? It's one of thousands of forums on the internet, even a major one, perhaps, but it's not the real world.

In the real world, people go out and play and perform just what they want to play and perform - and, if lucky, they find the venues where they can play their music - just like you and I have done for the last (in my case) 50 years. Fashions and tastes come and go - I've seen rock'n roll reinvented at least twice over the years. Only the other day a lass in her twenties was enjoying singing "Maids When You're Young Never Wed An Old Man" at a session. She'd heard it just recently for the first time and thought it was great - and was amazed when I mentioned that it was one of the first songs I'd ever heard at a folk club back in the mid-'60s!

What goes around comes around - play what you want to where you can and, if you work at it, someone will always want your music. There may be ups and downs in it all, and you have to live with them.

Subject: RE: FOLK SONGS TO DITCH
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 22 Jul 15 - 05:04 AM

ofcourse you're right Will.

however to assuage the smart arses perhaps we ought to make attending a folk club a degree only profession.

Subject: RE: Folk Songs to Ditch
From: The Sandman
Date: 22 Jul 15 - 05:15 AM

more important to sing songs. also young people should be organising folk events

Subject: RE: Folk Songs to Ditch
From: Jack Campin
Date: 22 Jul 15 - 05:59 AM

I quite like Highland Cathedral. Not at all Scottish but I don't think it's trying to be.

But Sonny, please go away.