Lyr Req: 'girlie' songs

Subject: 'GIRLIE' SONG LYRICS WANTED
From: GUEST,Baba
Date: 15 May 00 - 02:24 AM

Has anyone noticed many of the folk and traditional lyrics pages on the web contain very little in the way of songs by women or in the female voice? Perhaps I am "visiting" the wrong pages. Could you knowledgeable folk perhaps point me to a few good sources of lyrics, as my red little fingers are all typed out with the searching! THANK YOU.

Subject: RE: 'GIRLIE' SONG LYRICS WANTED
From: alison
Date: 15 May 00 - 02:35 AM

Welcome to Mudcat.. you are in the right place, there have been many threads on songs that are good for women to sing......

if you go to the main forum page and use the filter box....

type "female" or "women" in the filter box and set the age to 3 years... you will get the titles of many threads you can then look through and see sugestions...

I'm sure more people will jump in and give you suggestions

slainte

alison

Subject: RE: 'GIRLIE' SONG LYRICS WANTED
From: alison
Date: 15 May 00 - 02:40 AM

here's the most recent thread.....

slainte

alison

Subject: RE: 'GIRLIE' SONG LYRICS WANTED
From: GUEST,Baba
Date: 15 May 00 - 02:50 AM

Oh, thank you Alison for your help and your welcome. I am thrilled to bits. Wonderful! *BABA*

Subject: RE: 'GIRLIE' SONG LYRICS WANTED
From: alison
Date: 15 May 00 - 03:00 AM

No problem Baba... it's the middle of the night in the US but I'm sure once they wake up again they'll give you heaps of help...... so check back every so often.... it's a great site with lots of friendly, helpful people...

slainte

alison

Subject: RE: 'GIRLIE' SONG LYRICS WANTED
From: Midchuck
Date: 15 May 00 - 09:57 AM

You might want to buy Tom Russell's "Song of the West" CD just to get "Hallie Lonigan," even though a guy wrote it...

"Alone with two young kids to raise, out on the western plains
My children harmonized with wolves, and sang just like the rain.
But hauling hay and water were the desperate daily facts,
And the years have carved their memories in the muscles of my back.

.......................

Then I married for convenience' sake, a trader from in town,
A blacksmith, name of Charlie Hawk, who'd court me on his rounds.
But he'd paw me like a wolverine, and there was cheatin' in his blood;
He fell upon my butcher knife and crawled off in the mud..."

Peter.

Subject: RE: 'GIRLIE' SONG LYRICS WANTED
From:
Date: 15 May 00 - 10:48 AM

Many of the OLD songs (many of them Child Ballads), Wraggle Taggle Gypsy for one, were written from the women's point of view. Look up Contemplator Web-site for many of those old Child Ballad material.

It should be on the Help one up on top of the main Mudcat Screen?

Subject: RE: 'GIRLIE' SONG LYRICS WANTED
From:
Date: 15 May 00 - 10:48 AM

Quick Links is the name for those.

Subject: RE: 'GIRLIE' SONG LYRICS WANTED
From: Mbo
Date: 15 May 00 - 11:10 AM

Sometimes I get sad 'cause so many great songs are in a female voice, so I, as a guy, don't get to sing them...I was wondering...in British Isles folk music it's highly common to hear women singing songs from a man's point of view....how approriate do you think it is going the other way? 'Cause I'd REALLY like to sing "Anachie Gordon"!

--Mbo

Subject: RE: 'GIRLIE' SONG LYRICS WANTED
From: Gary T
Date: 15 May 00 - 11:32 AM

I don't know that particular song, Mbo, but here are some general thoughts. Explain that the song is so good you have to sing it, regardless of its point of view. If appropriate, you could throw out a humorous line, like "I used to sing this before my sex-change operation" or "just imagine me in hose and heels, with a curvier figure". You may find no introduction/explanation is needed at all. Generally the audience will catch on that the song's narrator is female and that you are male, and make the necessary psychological adjustment.

Subject: RE: 'GIRLIE' SONG LYRICS WANTED
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 15 May 00 - 11:44 AM

Mbo-

This business about which gender is singing which song is a firly new (and pretty silly) concern. I've heard many men sing "women's" songs and vice versa; if they're good, they work, if they're not, they don't. Sing what you want to.

Subject: RE: 'GIRLIE' SONG LYRICS WANTED
From: SINSULL
Date: 15 May 00 - 11:53 AM

BABA, Check out lyrics to Civil War Songs. About half are mothers, sisters and wives singing about their men gone to war or lost altogether. Faded Coat of Blue They Drafted Him into the Army, etc.

Subject: RE: 'GIRLIE' SONG LYRICS WANTED
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 15 May 00 - 12:45 PM

I've heard Anachie Gordon as often sung by men as women, I'd say.

Dick Greenhaus is(of course)quite right. If a song is a good song it can be sung by a man or a woman. Maybe it takes on a different emphasis and meaning sometimes, but that is all to the good. Even sea-shanties. Listen to Kate Rusby's Bold Riley

I can think of a few songs that I wouldn't like to hear a woman sing. I wouldn't like to hear a man sing them either.

Subject: Lyr Add: COME ALL YE FAIR AND TENDER LADIES
From: Mary in Kentucky
Date: 15 May 00 - 02:09 PM

Hello Baba,

You may not have found this thread about the song Pretty Saro. You'll notice my post about one of my favorite songs, "Hard is the Fortune." This has to be the quintessential "woman's point of view, poor me" song. I really love this tune. It's interesting how some of the same themes and tunes show up in many places.

Don't forget various songs about courtin' and being done wrong!

Waly, Waly (The Water is Wide) in the DT here.
For my true-love has me forsook,
And says he'll never love me mair.

COME ALL YE FAIR AND TENDER LADIES (Couldn't find this in the DT, so I'll try to post it)

Come All Ye Fair and Tender Ladies
Come all ye fair and tender ladies,
Take warning how you court young men;
They're like a star on a summer's morning
They first appear and then they're gone.

They'll tell to you some flattering story,
And swear to God that they love you well,
And away they'll go and court some other,
And leave you here in grief to dwell.

I wish I was some tall mountain,
Where the ivy rock is black as ink;
I would write a letter to my false lover,
Whose cheeks are like the morning pink.

I wish I was some little sparrow,
And one of them that could fly so high;
I would fly away to my true love's dwelling,
And when he would speak I would be close by.

But I am none of those little sparrows,
Or none of those that fly so high,
So I'll sit down in grief and sorrow,
And pass all my troubles by.

...hmmm...Is there a theme here?

Mary

Subject: RE: 'GIRLIE' SONG LYRICS WANTED
From: Bert
Date: 15 May 00 - 03:23 PM

Mbo, I often sing 'Still I love him' without feeling awkward. As Dick says "sing what you want to". Just be confident about it and it will work.

Subject: RE: 'GIRLIE' SONG LYRICS WANTED
From: GUEST,Murray on Saltspring
Date: 15 May 00 - 08:12 PM

One I've always liked is "A' the week your man's awa'", from Ewan MacColl's "Singing the Fishing". It's in the DT.

Subject: RE: 'GIRLIE' SONG LYRICS WANTED
From: GUEST,Baba
Date: 15 May 00 - 08:31 PM

Thanks for the response, I didn't expect it. Many stimulating ideas for me here. Yes, I concede that most songs can be handled by either gender, though I can't help feeling foolish when I sing something like "Arthur McBride", so I never subject others to it. (I can't help but put on a pretend "blokey" voice - you know how you just can't imagine a song any other way - the creative vocals scare the neighbourhood cats). I suppose one must feel comfortable with a song to enjoy it and to sing it effectively.

Thanks again, all. You have been most helpful.

Subject: RE: 'GIRLIE' SONG LYRICS WANTED
From: Irish sergeant
Date: 15 May 00 - 09:33 PM

Baba; Being a big fan of female singers (Joanie Mitchell, Triona Ni Domhnail, Natalie Merchant and Lui Collins being among my favorite) I play and sing songs from a female perspective quite a bit even though I am mere mortal and a male speciman at that. Among some of my favorites are: Broken Hearted I'll Wander; Weeping, Sad and Lonely; The lowlands of Holland; You Turn me on (I'm a Radio); most of Lui Collins stuff including The Silkie. Scratch the service of a Civil War re-enactor who is also a musician and likely you'll find someone singing from the female perspective even if they're not aware of it. Another good one; Johnny Has Gone For A Soldier. Hope this helps. Reguards, Neil (Irish Sergeant)

Subject: RE: 'GIRLIE' SONG LYRICS WANTED
From: Baba
Date: 15 May 00 - 10:35 PM

Thanks, Neil, oh mere mortal male. Aren't you honoured that I have descended from my lofty cloud shrouded in feminine mystery to condescend to read your message? *LOL* Haven't heard of Lui Collins before, but will do a search and check her out. Splendid.

Subject: RE: 'GIRLIE' SONG LYRICS WANTED
From: rangeroger
Date: 16 May 00 - 01:14 AM

Baba,
Very good."Guest" to member in under 24 hrs.Welcome to the Mudcat.
rr

Subject: RE: 'GIRLIE' SONG LYRICS WANTED
From: Baba
Date: 16 May 00 - 01:20 AM

Well, you know how it is. Girl meets strange dark alluring folk discussion forum ... *wink*

Subject: RE: 'GIRLIE' SONG LYRICS WANTED
From: Baba
Date: 16 May 00 - 01:22 AM

Actually, I think it is the "Breasts" thread that made me fall for Mudcat (ahem).

Subject: RE: 'GIRLIE' SONG LYRICS WANTED
From: Saffron_Kerlilox
Date: 16 May 00 - 03:42 PM

I'm wondering if Baba wants some contemporary folk for women, in which case she should seek out the albums of UK singer Frankie Armstrong - see http://www.rootsworld.com/harbourtown/armstrong.html or email be for some specific song suggestions.

Subject: RE: 'GIRLIE' SONG LYRICS WANTED
From: Clinton Hammond2
Date: 16 May 00 - 05:32 PM

The new band is looking at having the women sing Dylan's "Sweetheart Like You" and maybe Gorka's, "Mystery To Me" as well...

Good one Bert though about confidence!! It's 98% of performance I think...

That and standing up eh Mbo!! LOL!!!!

{~`

Subject: RE: 'GIRLIE' SONG LYRICS WANTED
From: Peter T.
Date: 16 May 00 - 05:58 PM

Some women improve men's songs. Emmylou Harris' version of "Ballad of a Runaway Mare" (Leonard Cohen) on Cowgirl's Prayer changes the sex to "Ballad of a Runaway Horse" and the song is much much better (less sexist -- more sexy, and I mean sexy, whew).
yours, Peter T.

Subject: RE: 'GIRLIE' SONG LYRICS WANTED
From: Mbo
Date: 16 May 00 - 06:02 PM

Clinton, if they're REAL "girlie" songs, you may have trouble standing up!

--Mbo

Subject: RE: 'GIRLIE' SONG LYRICS WANTED
From: Irish sergeant
Date: 16 May 00 - 08:36 PM

Baba: Welcome to Mudcat! Lui Collins was recording on Green Linnet. As far as I know, she has three albums out Baptism of Fire, There is a light and Made in New England. I believ she is a Vermont girl. Her stuff was circulating in the 1980's and she did a concert here in Syracuse a couple of years ago. You might also check out Touchstone's album Relativity. There is an excellent song, Susannah Martin on it dealing with the title caracheter's trial during the Salem witch trials. Judy Collins also did one called Bread and Roses back in the '70s and check out her version of The Bonny Ship the Diamond. I'll have to check out the breasts thread. Hmm... If you are in the Syracuse area or plan on it give a yodel via our high tech jungle telegraph. I do Civil War reenactments as A Union Soldier with the 12th Regiment UNited States Infantry. So you might see me at one of those. Have gun and guitar.. will travel, reguards, Neil

Subject: RE: 'GIRLIE' SONG LYRICS WANTED
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 16 May 00 - 08:43 PM

Welcome aboard Baba.

And you can always think about Arthur McBride as taking the walk that morning with his sister.

After all, it wouldn't be the first time a recruiting sergeant ran up against a fierce woman. (Compare the curse in WHITE COCKADE (THEY ADVANCED ME):

Oh may he never prosper, and may he never thrive
On anything he turns his hand as long as he's alive.
May the very ground he treads on, the grass refuse to grow
'Cause he's been the ('Cause he's been the)
'Cause he's been the ('Cause he's been the)
'Cause he's been the only cause of my sorrow,grief and woe.

Subject: RE: 'GIRLIE' SONG LYRICS WANTED
From: Baba
Date: 16 May 00 - 09:45 PM

Thanks Mr McGrath, I like that verse. Have known a few grief causing fellows, I tell you boyo, however I've come to exercise my innate "fierceness" in a subtle way: I INVOLUNTARILY BURST INTO TEARS. Gets 'em every time. *PING* score one for the stricken maiden.

Thanks for the welcome Irish sergeant - 'fraid you won't be seeing me on that side of the globe cheering on your reenactments. Good luck with them.

THANK YOU FOR THE ADVICE AND WELCOMES EVERYONE, I FEEL QUITE CHUFFED.