Greatest love songs...and love generally

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: LR Mole
Date: 31 Aug 00 - 11:20 AM

"Before I Gaze At You Again" from "Camelot"(the show,never saw the movie). A real heartbreaker. Quite full, myself, thinking of it here...

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: bflat
Date: 30 Aug 00 - 11:01 PM

Monday night, the 28th, I was with the group in my song circle and I thought about Malvina Reynolds and that it was also marking her birth 100 years earlier. So we sang some of her wonderful, uncluttered, clean and powerful songs. "The Magic Penny" is a terrific love song. Not one of those songs ladden with emotional reverie just the plain truth.

bflat

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: Don Firth
Date: 30 Aug 00 - 08:49 PM

To Mickey191:

Thanks for the information. Other than hearing Anthony Kearns sing it during PBS pledge breaks, I didn't know anything about the song. Sounds like that's the one.

Don Firth

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: SINSULL
Date: 30 Aug 00 - 08:14 PM

"Will You Love Me In December As You Do In May?"

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: Robo
Date: 30 Aug 00 - 07:24 PM

"The Town I Love So Well" and "Fields of Athenry," a couple of Irish classics. And then "True Love Ways" by Buddy Holly, "Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye" by the Casinos, "Running Scared" by Roy Orbison, plus "The Dutchman" . . . .

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: Ely
Date: 30 Aug 00 - 07:23 PM

Tommy Thompson/Red Clay Ramblers "Hot Buttered Rum". "No Lonesome Tune" by Townes Van Zandt has a great verse in it "My daddy said to me, 'Son, it's hard as you can see to find someone upon whom to rely.' In the kitchen, Momma sneezed, and he grinned big as you please, said, 'Bless you,' and a tear come to his eye." Very sweet.

Non-romantic love songs ought to include "Teach Your Children" (CS&N), "Katie Belle Blue" (Townes), and "Beautiful Boy" (J. Lennon).

My mom has always liked the Eagles' "Best of My Love", which is sad and not folk music, but it's still a good song.

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: Mickey191
Date: 30 Aug 00 - 05:39 PM

The song "Grace" was mentioned by Don Firth with a query about its origins. There is a great song named "Grace" which is the story of Grace Gifford and Joseph Plunkett. They were married in Kilmainham Jail Chapel,Dublin at the time of the Easter uprising. He was executed the next morning. She served time and still to be seen is a painting she did of the Madonna, and also a quilt she made. That is a place to see-you won't forget,like Gettysburg.

Mickey NY Siocain

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: Little Hawk
Date: 30 Aug 00 - 03:47 PM

That's right, Mbo. And to truly SEE another person is likewise to see the face of God.

Hesperis' Night Garden is also a beautiful song...heard it on Monday night at song circle.

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: GUEST,Mbo_at_ECU
Date: 30 Aug 00 - 01:42 PM

From the end of Les Miserables:

And behold, the truth that once was spoken
To love another person is to see the face of God.

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: Jim Krause
Date: 30 Aug 00 - 01:33 PM

Thoughtof a couple more, both by Bill Staines Roseville Fair and Prairie Song, and there is yet a third one that starts out
She was born with Missouri sun in her eyes,
that touched her lovely skin
The color of the corn settled down in her hair
The beauty of a flower within
CHORUS
It seems so long ago
Before the ice and snow
Days were long and nights were meant for dreamin'
When her dog ran free, 'round the linden tree
I SANG FOR HER A SONG
There, I knew if I thought long enough I'd remember the title. Reminds me of a time when I was in my early twenties, when I sang for her a song.

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: hesperis
Date: 29 Aug 00 - 11:25 PM

Hey, Little Hawk, have I heard that one? Maybe I should pay more attention to your songs... That is beautiful.

I said I'd post the story of "Night Garden" so here it is:

I really wanted to write a gothic love song, especially after I had found this really awesome website called mAlice's gothic garden, which is all about night-blooming flowers.
Fascinating fact number 1: Night flowers often have much sweeter scent than day flowers, as they attract moths instead of bees.
Fascinating fact number 2: Night flowers are often white or purple, my favorite colors.
So I had to write it about flowers, in some way.

So I closed my eyes, and imagined the most beautiful garden there ever was...

There is an old woman, with long white hair, walking in this garden.
It is night, and the moonlit darkness soothes her heart.
She walks in remembrance of her love, he left a long time ago.
She fought with him, and he went away.
Staying in the garden that reminds her too much of him, she weeps.
But this is the only place he would know to find her. So here she stays.
He left in anger, she thought he would realize that she didn't mean it, she loved him always.
The lonely years have gone by, and he still has not come.

One night, as she is walking in her night-scented garden,
he comes through the overgrown gate, and to the circle at the center.
He tries to apologize for staying away for so long,
and she tries to apologize for the pain she caused him then.

Old, white-haired, still so much in love
they kiss in their garden beneath the moon,
and die in each other's arms.
Home again after all those years.

The next morning, as the night-blooming flowers are drooping,
a pair of youg lovers find the gate where the vines had been disturbed.
They enter the garden, softly, with reverence,
and find the old couple dead in the center of the garden.
In her hand, a note reads:
"To you who find this,
the curse is broken with my death,
this place is yours now.
Fill it with the laughter of children."
And so they did.

This is the song she sings each night, for her love:

Night Garden
Copyright 2000 Chagall Hannah

Often have I walked there
Where lovers love to play
Where flowers fill the darkened air
Now, there I'll stay

Long's the time I've longed for you
Though they say love is blind
Well, so is pride and now I know
Which I'd leave behind

Night garden (night garden)
Fill me with sweet scent
Night garden (night garden)
Help me to forget (you went)

Hesperis and moonflow'rs
Perfume a place I know
There we fought and there you left me
Those long years ago

instrumental verse


Night garden (night garden)
Fill me with sweet scent
Night garden (night garden)
Help me to forget (you went)

bridge

Long's the time I've longed for you
Though they say love is blind
Well, so is pride and now I know
Which I'd leave behind

Night garden (night garden)
Fill me with sweet scent
Night garden (night garden)
Help me to forget (you went)

Often have I walked there
Where lovers love to play
Where flowers fill the darkened air
Now, there I'll stay

Long's the time I've longed for you
Though they say love is blind
Well, so is pride and now I know
Which I'd leave behind

Night garden (night garden)
Fill me with sweet scent
Night garden (night garden)
Help me to forget (you went)

~*sirepseh*~

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: Mary in Kentucky
Date: 29 Aug 00 - 10:17 PM

...speaking of writing songs for loved ones...Richard Wagner wrote Siegfried Idyll for his wife's birthday (forget which wife) and surprised her with violinists on the stairway serenading her when she arrived home. Here 'tis: The Classical Midi Connection - Romantic - Wagner - Siegfried Idyll.

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: Little Hawk
Date: 29 Aug 00 - 10:16 PM

Lookin' better all the time...

Here is possibly my most enduring song lyric...a popular song around here among my fellow folkies (in Orillia, Ontario):

Love Is A Flame

Love is a flame, I see it burn
Love is a wheel, I watch it turn
Love is a trial of strength, a leap of faith unknown
Love is a flame.
Love is a hawk, I see it fly
Across a blue and shining sky
Love is an angel's face, a depth of grace unknown
Love is a flame

And this love...I give it to you
And this flame will burn strong and true
And your name will ring in my heart and gladden my days
And for you...no river too wide
And for you...no mountain too high
I will stand whatever the price that I have to pay

Love is a flame, I see it burn
Love is a wheel, I watch it turn
Love is a trial of strength, a leap of faith unknown
Love is a flame.
Love is a hawk, I see it fly
Across a blue and shining sky
Love is an angel's face, a depth of grace unknown
Love is a flame
Love is a flame.br>

Copyright c 1993 George Coventry/Dawn Parade Music

Believe it or not, there are some young Cuban musicians singing it now (in English). They learned it from me when I was down there.

It can be used to express any kind of love, romantic or otherwise. This, in fact, is just how much the Great Spirit loves humanity, and all living things.

Little Hawk (GC)

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: Mbo
Date: 29 Aug 00 - 10:11 PM

When she did "Love Travels", I couldn't believe that someone else out there actually felt like I did. Such a great song.

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: richlmo
Date: 29 Aug 00 - 10:06 PM

I did Know that. I love her. She records the same sort of songs I like to play and sing. Rare in music today. She has sort of lost it here in the last few years, though.

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: Mbo
Date: 29 Aug 00 - 10:01 PM

Did you know that song is actually about Kathy's husband's Mother & Father? It's a true story!

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: richlmo
Date: 29 Aug 00 - 09:51 PM

I think I've got it , but I may think of another, " Where've You Been ", recorded by Kathy Matea, written by her husband and some other folks. Thats love!

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: Mary in Kentucky
Date: 29 Aug 00 - 09:24 PM

...don't get me started on opera. There are just so many extremely emotional songs. But if it has to be love songs, how about Thee I Love (from Carmen, don't know correct name), but just before Carmen dies, she sings Thee I Love, Escamillo. Then of course Vissi D'arte from Tosca, where she sings her heart out while her lover is being tortured off stage. (The sugary song, "Smile Though Your Heart is Breaking" was set to this melody.) Then from La Boheme, Mi chiamano Mimi where she describes seeing the first rays of the April sun as Spring arrives...or the Wedding Sextet from Lucia di Lammermoor where each person describes their thoughts, such a powerful assertion of innermost feelings...

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: guinnesschik
Date: 29 Aug 00 - 08:41 PM

Hmmmm. "Indoor Fireworks" by Elvis Costello. "I Hope That I Don't Fall In Love With You" by Tom Waites. "Bridge Over Troubled Water," and I can't remember the name of it, but that Gram parson's song that goes "Twenty thousand roads I've been down, down, down/And they all lead me straight back home to you." I get really misty-eyed when I hear that one.

Oh, and "Crazy Love" by Van Morrison.

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: Alice
Date: 29 Aug 00 - 07:35 PM

Yes, I've seen that Anthony Kearns performance - it was taped in Belfast, wasn't it? I'll have to get the video out. I do remember how emotional it was.

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: Don Firth
Date: 29 Aug 00 - 07:04 PM

If we're including opera, how about "E lucevan le stelle" from the final act of Puccini's La Tosca? Mario Cavaradossi is about to be taken out and shot, and he's reminiscing about Floria Tosca's "sweet kisses and languid caresses" and how, now that he is about to die, life has never been so sweet. Give it a listen sometime.

Speaking of tenors about to die, Anthony Kearns, one of the three Irish Tenors sings a song called "Grace." I suspect it's not a folk song, but it does have an Irish folk song quality about it. Never fails to choke me up.

Among folk ballads, I have a CD of Mary Black singing "Annechie Gordon" which has much the same effect.

Jeez! I'm getting maudlin.

It's not necessarily a song of romantic love, but it's a love song nevertheless -- Gordon Bok's "Turning Toward the Morning."

(I need some endorphins. Where did I leave that chocolate bar?)

Don Firth

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: Alice
Date: 29 Aug 00 - 06:41 PM

Un Bel Di, Vedremo - from Madama Butterfly click here

One fine day we'll notice
A thread of smoke arising
On the sea in the far horizon,
And then a ship appearing.

Then the trim white vessel
Glides into the harbour,
Thunders forth her cannon.

See you? now he is coming!
I do not go to meet him, not I!
I stay upon the brow of the hillock
And wait there,
And wait for a long time,
But never weary of the long waiting.

From out of the crowded city there is coming,
A man, a little speck in the distance,
Climbing the hillock.

Can you guess who it is?
And when he's reached the summit,
Can you guess what he'll say?
He will call, "Butterfly," from the distance.

I, without answ'ring,
Hold myself quietly conceal'd;
A bit to tease him
And a bit so as not to die at our first meeting.

And then, a little troubled,
He will call, he will call,
"Dear baby wife of mine,
Dear little orange blossom!"
The names he used to call me when he came here.

This will all come to pass as I tell you,
Banish your idle fears for he will return,
I know it.

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: hesperis
Date: 29 Aug 00 - 06:10 PM

Tony - beautiful.

For love of land, I would like to nominate "Lothlorien" by Enya.
That forest is one of my favorite places.

I choreographed a Circle Dance to this song, the meaning of the steps to me is:

Winds surround me
Earth I hold
Branches reach to heav'n, water to my roots
branches reach to heav'n, water to my roots

The dance ends with hands slowly coming to rest on the heart.

~*sirepseh*~

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: Tony Burns
Date: 29 Aug 00 - 05:51 PM

Little Hawk:

Lies is at the top of my (ever changing) list. I think I would like to sing this song but fear that I would be reduced to tears of joy before I could finish it. "She looked up in that weathered face that loved hers line for line and saw the maiden shining in his eyes"

Big Mick:

Interesting that you mention The Dutchman. I was listening to it today and realised that it is the parallel song to Lies.

I recently learned how much the setting can mean. At The Woods camp Peggy Seeger sang The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face. While it was not particularly great from a perfomance point of view I sat there stunned thinking that not only was the song written for her but she was there for every event mentioned in the song. At the end of it I was so numb I couldn't clap properly. I was numb for about an hour after, went for a walk and had to force myself back to take part in the dance band. I get chills writing about it now.

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: Mbo
Date: 29 Aug 00 - 05:34 PM

I like "I Know My Love" that the Chieftains & The Corrs do on Tears of Stone.

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: hesperis
Date: 29 Aug 00 - 05:23 PM

I just bought that CD! Listening to "Raglan Road" right now. I like it.

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: Kim C
Date: 29 Aug 00 - 04:27 PM

I love the Tears of Stone CD.

Just about any Beatles love song is cool with me - my favorite is In My Life, with If I Fell following a close second. And I like their version of Music Man's Till There Was You.

I had some others but now I can't remember what they were. :)

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: GUEST,Mickey191N.Y.
Date: 29 Aug 00 - 04:00 PM

I was just given Chieftans "Tears of Stone" C.D. and must add one more love (unrequited) song - "Raglan Road"Extra- ordinary.How old is this song? I've heard it sung before but I must not have been Listening.What made me listen was this Great singer -Joan Osborne-she is fantastic. You probably all know her and her work. Any comments or recomendations on her work.I would love to read the opinions of anyone who has heard"Danny Boy" by Diana Krall on this same CD.

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: GUEST,John Bauman
Date: 29 Aug 00 - 03:30 PM

"You looked like a princess the night we met, With your hair piled high, I will never forget... I'm drunk right now, Baby, But I'd have to be, or I never could tell you what you mean to me.

But I loved you the first time I saw you, And I always will love you, Marie. R. Newman

Fascinating, a song where the chorus is absolutely riviting love verse--stays GLUED to your mind. Then you start in with the rest of the words...

One of my FAVORITES!

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: GUEST,Ina
Date: 29 Aug 00 - 01:33 PM

Well, I can't cry and listen at the same time. How do you do it?

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: Jim Krause
Date: 29 Aug 00 - 01:31 PM

I can't sing and cry at the same time. How does she do it? Also, I'd rather get the audience to do the crying for me.

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: GUEST,Ina
Date: 29 Aug 00 - 01:14 PM

btw: "I'll be seeing you" is on June Tabor's new album "A quiet eye" and I read somewhere that she was so moved by the lyrics she had to cry when singing it!

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: Mbo
Date: 29 Aug 00 - 01:03 PM

I've seen it mentioned here so much.."I'll Be Seeing You", I must agree heartily. That song really means a lot to me these days.

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From:
Date: 29 Aug 00 - 12:59 PM

We have a love song on our new cd (Sweet Temptations) called Tu es l'amour that is bilingual in nature. In fact our whole cd is based on love ...We are new but have a unique sound.. lovingly yours Yolanta's Flyght

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: Jim Krause
Date: 29 Aug 00 - 12:53 PM

Of songs about True Love, I nominate Believe Me, If All Those Endearing Young Charms lyrics by Thomas Moore (1779-1852) air My Lodging's On the Cold Ground traditional Irish.

Of True Love lost, I nominate Spanish Is the Loving Tongue. This last song brings up the question, do we only get one chance at True Love in a lifetime? I don't think I'll bother to find out. I'll stick with the One I have. She's been awful good to me.

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: GUEST,see above
Date: 29 Aug 00 - 12:25 PM

...forgot: Tom Waits: "Martha"; "I'll be seeing you" !

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: Mbo
Date: 29 Aug 00 - 12:19 PM

Poor Jennie! I'll sing it to you if you like...

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: GUEST,INA
Date: 29 Aug 00 - 12:10 PM

for example: Terry Callier with Beth Orton: "Love can do" Neil Young: "Only love can break your heart" Bob Dylan: "She belongs to me"

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: GUEST,Michael in Swansea
Date: 29 Aug 00 - 04:47 AM

I'm not letting this thread pass without a mention of "Myfanwy"
Michael

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: JennieG
Date: 29 Aug 00 - 02:04 AM

I really really like "My love is like a red red rose"; if anyone ever sang it to me I would just melt - I would turn to marshmallow. I have never been serenaded

*sigh*

JennieG

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: Mark Cohen
Date: 29 Aug 00 - 12:40 AM

Hey, thanks for starting this, and for all you folks who've reminded me of songs long forgotten. As this divorce gets ugly it's good to remember what love can be. I heard Ewan and Peggy say that "The First Time" was written during a series of transatlantic telephone calls. Now that's romantic...

There's a song by Cosy Sheridan called "88 Keys" which is about old love; like "The Dutchman", it goes deeper into my heart every time I hear it. I have it on a sampler from Waterbug Music. (BIG PLUG: BUY WATERBUG CD'S HERE! YOU WON'T REGRET IT!) Also a song by Kat Eggleston called "Go to the Water" (from her Outside Eden CD, also on Waterbug) that isn't about two people but about love as a force, and I think is fantastic.

OK, another shameless plug: one of mine that didn't make it onto the DT. Still waiting to find the one I really wrote it for...

SOFT IS THE SOUND

(Chorus)
Soft is the sound of your voice as you sing to me
Warm is the touch of your skin
Bright is the morning with you lying next to me
Happier I've never been

Caught in the rush of the everyday comedy
No time to stop for the view
Along comes a song that sounds peaceful and calm to me
I look around and it's you (CHO)

Rain on the windshield and noise on the radio
I'm leaving Philly behind
Though the signs on the turnpike say many more miles to go
You're always near in my mind (CHO)

Off in the distance the mountain is glistening
Lark in the morning flies high
He's singing a song to the whole world that's listening
Listen again, so am I (CHO)

Aloha,
Mark

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: Mbo
Date: 28 Aug 00 - 11:52 PM

Don't worry, Mickey, I know how you feel! My sister will NEVER let me forget the time I inadvertantly put that Scott Joplin was Dixieland Jazz, on a music test. Talk about a mind slip!

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: GUEST,Mickey191
Date: 28 Aug 00 - 11:45 PM

Mbo, I didn't type Aida-I Know I didn't type Aida. A momentary slip of the mind, or perhaps Alzheimers has at last arrived. Of course it is La Boheme, that was my first opera. I love it that "The Dutchman" is doing well. And HE really had Alzheimers.

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: mg
Date: 28 Aug 00 - 10:55 PM

Mary from Dunloe, Jock of Hazeldean, John Anderson my Jo, if I needed you, I can't help falling in love with you and THE WEDDING SONG

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: GUEST,CLETUS
Date: 28 Aug 00 - 10:14 PM

Ime thinkin thet Major Tom song izza reel teer jerker. I know fer a fact thet alotta folks bin jerked by it fer a long time soze I figger thet it muzz be reely grate. I meen like I luv them asternot fellers so sum song abowt one uv em whuts got a screw loose wud hafta be mitey fine.

CLETUS

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: Mbo
Date: 28 Aug 00 - 10:07 PM

Hymne L'Amour

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: thosp
Date: 28 Aug 00 - 10:04 PM

Alice i'd like to add "No Regrets"

peace (Y) thosp

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: Alice
Date: 28 Aug 00 - 09:46 PM

"La Vie En Rose"

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: DougR
Date: 28 Aug 00 - 09:31 PM

"I'll See You in my Dreams," "What'll I do?", "Our Love Is Here To Stay," "Song from Moulan Rouge," "Dear Heart," "I'll Be Seeing You," "Goodnight Sweetheart," from the Pop field. Folk: "I Know Where I'm Going," "Shenandoah," "Foggy Foggy Dew," "Think on Me." Country: "I Really Don't Want To Know," "Help Me Make It Through The Night," "Anytime," "You Don't Know Me." DougR

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: Big Mick
Date: 28 Aug 00 - 09:02 PM

I'm with Bob P. Hands down......it's "The Dutchman".

Mick