Lyr Req: Free born man of travelling people

Subject: Lyric req Free born man of travelling people
From: Helen
Date: 21 Jun 97 - 10:24 PM

Hi all,

I am looking for the lyrics of the song which starts:

I'm a free born man of the travelling people, Got no fixed abode ....

It's about the Romany people (Gypsies) and may have been written or sung by Ewan McColl.

Subject: RE: Lyric req Free born man of travelling people
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 21 Jun 97 - 10:42 PM

It's in the database: look for freeborn.

Subject: RE: Lyric req Free born man of travelling people
From: Helen
Date: 22 Jun 97 - 07:07 AM

Thanks - I tried " free born" two words, and also " travelling" with double-L spelling and it didn't show up.

Should have been more lateral in my search. :-)

BTW - this song, and Goodbye to the 30 foot Trailer are 2 of my all time favourite folk songs.

Helen

Subject: RE: Lyric req Free born man of travelling people
From: GUEST,MichaelI
Date: 05 Feb 00 - 12:31 AM

Ijust made a detailed reply to this reqest for I think I forgot to click on submit.Anyway I have the words if you still want them ....e-mail me:[e-mail]

Subject: RE: Lyric req Free born man of travelling people
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 05 Feb 00 - 11:03 AM

Actually, Helen, I believe that the song is not about the Romany but about the Travelling people, aka tinkers, who still try to maintain their itinerant lives in the UK despite increasing regulations and decreasing open land. My family lore suggests that my mother's dad's people were travellers, and I've been very interested in learning about them.
There's a new cd called Celtic Roads put out by Revels Inc. (click here) with a recording of that song. (If you get the cd and look at the accompanying booklet on the next-to-last page (next to the song, Parting Glass) you'll see me! First lady on the left)

Subject: RE: Lyric req Free born man of travelling people
From: Helen
Date: 05 Feb 00 - 06:24 PM

Thanks Michael, but as Dick pointed out, they are in the database - use the blue search box at the top of the page and be prepared to be amazed at the huge array of wonderful lyrics & tunes you will find there.

Thanks for the info on the Travelling People, animaterra. I never realised that there was a difference.

Helen

Subject: RE: Lyric req Free born man of travelling people
From: Abby Sale
Date: 05 Feb 00 - 07:02 PM

Amimaterra: I believe MacColl, throughout the Radio Ballad from which this song comes, is very clearly referring to all the Travelling peoples: the Tinkers, independent travelers and true Romany. Most, eg, are named in "30-Foot Trailer" from the same show. All of them suffered similar discrimination.

Subject: RE: Lyric req Free born man of travelling people
From: Joe Offer
Date: 05 Feb 00 - 07:33 PM

I never cease to be amazed at how things happen here at the 'Cat. How did Michael come across a thread that hadn't been posted to since June, 1997; and how did he fail to notice that somebody had previously "finished off" the thread by explaining that the lyrics were in the database? Isn't it great that he brought this thread back to life? We are all reminded of this song, and we all get a bit of new information.
Thanks, Michael.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Lyric req Free born man of travelling people
From: GUEST,Michael
Date: 05 Feb 00 - 08:52 PM

Joe, I discovered Mudcafe whilst browsing . I sing folk songs ......what can I say?? I used to sing that song in 1967..... first heard it from aguy called Nigel Denver in the Swiss Cottage folk club in Lincoln, LIncolnshire England about the same time. I was intrigued when following the messages of a woman called Helen......her missives went back to1997.....saw the question.re freeborn man & responded .zzzzzzzzzzzzjoe , lets chat some [e-mail] bye