connections-Jenny's Gone Away

Subject: Response and Answer Songs
From: GUEST,Ian Kirkpatrick
Date: 05 Aug 21 - 12:31 PM

Does anyone know if there is any connection between the traditional North Carolina song "Jenny's Gone Away" seen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=790PuJ0OJm4

And the 1960s Roger Whittaker song "Jenny's Gone" seen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l1rl04Q5uJQ

Even if Whittaker wasn't influenced by the traditional tune, I find it interesting how similar the two songs are. What other songs can you think of that either intentionally respond to older songs or appear thematically close by accident? I'm thinking along the lines of It Wasn't God Who Made Honkytonk Angels by Kitty Wells or Willie Nelson's Can I Sleep in Your Arms Tonight Lady? Anna Kendrick's remake of You're Gonna Miss Me When I'm Gone by the Carter Family is another aspect to this idea of a response song I think. Changing the genre of the song to make the idea appeal to a new audience. Were there any ballads that did this you can think of?

Subject: RE: Jenny's Gone Away
From: GUEST,Henry Piper (of Ottery )
Date: 06 Aug 21 - 07:24 AM

Roger Whittaker had something of a reputation for "acquiring" songs from others, and performing and passing them off as his own.

Subject: RE: connections-Jenny's Gone Away
From: Joe Offer
Date: 07 Aug 21 - 04:53 PM

The Glenn Yarbrough recording (October 1964) is here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p0r7-in1p6k

It's attributed to Mike Settle and Alan Ribbock. I'd say they're all the same song, and all different - but there's clearly a connection.

This YouTube video attributes songwriting of the Whitaker recording to Settle and Ribbock:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h5I0kJ9eo1M

Mike Settle (1941 — ) was a member of the New Christy Minstrels and Kenny Rogers and the First Edition. Settle also wrote songs recorded by Judy Collins and Peter, Paul and Mary.

Subject: ADD Version: Jenny's Gone and I Don't Care
From: Joe Offer
Date: 08 Aug 21 - 01:18 AM

I guess I first heard "Jenny's Gone and I Don't Care" on the 1964 Highwaymen recording on Homecoming: Recorded Live at Wesleyan University:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IPHqBP9gvqU

JENNY'S GONE AND I DON'T CARE
(Mike Settle and Alan Ribbock)

1
[Verse 1]
Jenny went and ran away
Find a new girl any day
Jenny used to be my friend
Now, she's gone and I pretend

[Chorus]
Lots of girls in love with me
When she comes back she will see
Pretty girls are everywhere
Jenny's gone, and I don't care

[Verse 2]
Why did Jenny run away?
Found a new love so they say
Think she's still in love with me
Should I wait around to see?

[Chorus]
Lots of girls in love with me
When she comes back she will see
Pretty girls are ev'rywhere
Jenny's gone, and I don't care

[Verse 3]
When the rain begins to fall
Think I hear her faintly call
When the sun begins to shine
No, it's just a dream of mine

[Chorus]
Lots of girls in love with me
When she comes back she will see
Pretty girls are everywhere
Jenny's gone, and I don't care
Jenny's gone, and I don't care

Lyrics corrected from https://genius.com/The-highwaymen-folk-jennys-gone-and-i-dont-care-lyrics