Songs about singing

Subject: RE: Songs about singing
From: GUEST,Heather
Date: 18 Aug 12 - 02:10 PM

what about Jean Ritchie's Early Fields?
as I went out o'er early fields I heard a song a borningI
it fell around me like the dew that washes off the morning
chorus
I love the pipes and I love the drum
I love the wild harp ringing
but there's naught on earth that can match the sound of one clear voice singing.

I have the score if anyone wants it the tune is fab and three more verses

Subject: RE: Songs about singing
From: Elmore
Date: 18 Aug 12 - 12:19 AM

Attn: Bob Clayton. I googled " no Telling" to death, and as far as Ican tell, it was written by Linda Thompson. Regards, Elmore

Subject: RE: Songs about singing
From: quokka
Date: 17 Aug 12 - 11:59 PM

Bob Dylan's 'Lay Down Your Weary Tune'

Subject: RE: Songs about singing
From: GUEST,songbob
Date: 17 Aug 12 - 11:12 PM

Tell me the tales that once were so dear,
Long, long ago, long, long ago.
Sing me the songs I delighted to hear,
Long, long ago, long, long ago....

...

No Telling What a Love Song Will Do (Richard Thompson)

...

Hmmm... I thought I had a bunch, but it seems I can't actually remember so many, and most that come to mind are not traditional AND have been mentioned.

Sigh

Bob Clayton

Subject: RE: Songs about singing
From: Elmore
Date: 17 Aug 12 - 04:18 PM

Sorry Dauv, nothing happening. However, since everybody else has ignored the term ,"traditional", I'd like to mention two of my favorites." Sweet Song from Yesterday" by Bob Zentz, and the obscure "Old Songs" written by David Hassi, and sung by Margaret MacArthur on her album, The Old Songs.

Subject: RE: Songs about singing
From: GUEST,Dauv Miner
Date: 17 Aug 12 - 08:36 AM

I distinctly remember some of the words from an English 'class' song from my High School days in the late Forties! Can anyone help with the Title and the Words?   Here is a snippet!

"Still lies the starry night and still lies the lagoon.
   The echoes ring soft as the breezes arrive.
   Then hasten I pray thee - tis all for thine own.
   How I thrill with delight when I think thou art near!"

I have been trying to rediscover this song for many years.

Any response would be appreciated!

Dauv Miner.

Subject: RE: Songs about singing
From: GUEST,et
Date: 25 Mar 10 - 12:01 PM

hey can you send me the score for land of music?

Subject: RE: Songs about singing
From: GUEST,Guest from Sanity
Date: 09 Oct 09 - 02:37 AM

Well, if it was sung enough...it would be 'traditional'(?)..If you could sing it! All you songwriters should love it!!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PjCh_Bk2L7s

Subject: RE: Songs about singing
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 08 Oct 09 - 10:04 AM

And oh I say
We was that gay
You should have heard us how we sang,
"With a way hey hey
Get out of the way
Of the four-horse sharrybang!"

Corney Grain 1885

Subject: RE: Songs about singing
From: Mr Happy
Date: 08 Oct 09 - 09:30 AM

Subject: RE: Songs about singing
From: GUEST,Pattie
Date: 08 Oct 09 - 06:22 AM

Second verse of 'for the joy of the singing', though there are a couple of words I'm not sure of. I think I'll sing it in my Folkie Singaround!

Who listens to the song that we raise Their own (hearts?) should be (baring?) To speed on it's way as best they may This song that was made for sharing. There are times for hearing others singing, There are times for learning how; Times as well for a song of our own, And the best of them all is NOW! So sing, sing Music Makers, A song for the joy of the singing. For the joy of the singing!

Any help on the missing words would be appreciated.

Subject: RE: Songs about singing
From: Bert
Date: 19 Jun 09 - 10:04 PM

Uh Oh!

another of mine

Subject: RE: Songs about singing
From: GUEST
Date: 19 Jun 09 - 07:11 PM

Come music makers, rouse up a song
To set the echoes ringing
A song of truth in the heart of youth
A song for the joy of singing
For the birds make music and the trees sing
And the wind joins song with the sea
All the world has a song of its own
And so in our turn have we.
So sing, sing, music makers
A song for the joy of the singing
For the joy of the singing.

Subject: RE: Songs about singing
From: Haruo
Date: 01 Mar 09 - 02:36 AM

Just off the top of my head "Key of R" and "Chariots" (the Christmas one) come to mind. "When We All Get to Heaven".

Haruo

Subject: RE: Songs about singing
From: Joybell
Date: 01 Mar 09 - 01:08 AM

Ring Down the Curtain I Can't Sing Tonight.

Subject: RE: Songs about singing
From: Clontarf83
Date: 01 Mar 09 - 12:01 AM

dougie mclean; singing land?? (been a while since i heard it)

Subject: RE: Songs about singing
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 28 Feb 09 - 11:47 PM

Too many to list here, but if you look in the DT for "sing" or "singing" you'll find much more than a few.

Subject: Lyr Add: ALL THE TUNES IN THE WORLD
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 28 Feb 09 - 08:51 PM

A song about singing and playing!

ALL THE TUNES IN THE WORLD
Words by Ewan McVicar
Tune: Southwind

Lay down the borrowed guitar
Lay down the fiddle and bow
You'd like one more drink at the bar
But the manager says you must go.
Chorus
And all the tunes in the world
Are dancing around in your head
But the clock on the gantry says play-time is o'er
You'll just have to sing them instead

Lay down the jig and the reel
Lay down the planxty and slide
Everyone knows how you feel
But there's no time to take one more ride.

The barmaid has put on her coat
And the barman has emptied the slops
And the manager's friends are afraid
The music will bring in the cops.

Everyone here feels the same
Oh yes you deserve one more tune
but you know the rules of the game,
It's time to go howl at the moon.

Subject: RE: Songs about singing
From: GUEST,Gerry
Date: 28 Feb 09 - 05:43 PM

Is Whoopee-Ti-Yi-Yo traditional?

As I was a-walkin' one mornin' for pleasure/I spied a cowpuncher a-lopin' along/His hat was throwed back and his spurs were a-janglin'/And as he approached, he was singin' this song/Whoopee ti-yi-yo, get along little dogies/For you know that Wyoming will be your new home/etc.

Although I guess technically that's only a song about singin'.

Subject: RE: Songs about singing
From: mg
Date: 28 Feb 09 - 02:04 PM

I have a new one that was supposed to be about a boardinghouse owner for fishermen..but she starts talking about the fishermen who knit nets in her attic..she is Swedish and they are??? Baltic? Amernian? Albanian? Greek? Somewhere around there....they sing an old Catholic hymn in Latin to save them from the perils of the sea..Ave Maris Stella..which I didn't know until just now but supposedly a promise was made to St. Bridget of Sweden that if people sing this as a group they will be saved from danger.

From the rafters nets are hung
From the nails the twine is strung
As they knit their songs are sung
Ave Maris Stella

And when the candlelight grows dim
They finish with their evening hymn
I sometimes sing along with them
Ave Maris Stella

Subject: RE: Songs about singing
From: GUEST,Blair Robinson
Date: 28 Feb 09 - 12:13 PM

for (dum-di-dum) read "in our turn,"

...And so, in our turn, have we...

The second verse started

Who listens to the song that we raise
His owm part may be bearing
A song of the truth, in the heart of Youth,
A song for the joy of sharing

For the earth... (as verse 1) as far as I remember.

THanks for the memories

Blair Robinson.
York

Subject: RE: Songs about singing
From: JohnB
Date: 07 Jun 06 - 11:36 AM

Jolly Wagoner, chorus;
Sing Whoa my lads sing Whoa
Drive on my lads drive on
Who wouldn't be for all this world
A Jolly Wagoner
Must be in the DT.
JohnB

Subject: RE: Songs about singing
From: Charmain
Date: 06 Jun 06 - 07:01 PM

Heave away Cheerily-o
(Four 'n' Aft - "Running Free")

well the chorus mentions singing anyway

Subject: RE: Songs about singing
From: thespionage
Date: 06 Jun 06 - 06:30 PM

"The Rainbow Connection"

Subject: RE: Songs about singing
From: GUEST,thurg
Date: 06 Jun 06 - 09:59 AM

Then there's:

I woke up in the morning sick and sore, boys,
Belayin' pins were flyin' 'round the deck;
The mate came up and grabbed me by the collar,
Sayin' If you don't sing a song, I'll break your neck.

So when we got to hoistin' up the mains'l,
Not a man among the bunch could sing a lick;
I got up and gave a verse of Reuben Ronzo,
The answer that I got would make you sick.


- from Paddy, Lay Back

Subject: RE: Songs about singing
From: GUEST
Date: 06 Jun 06 - 07:34 AM

Many Scots and Ulster trad songs at least mention singing. Two favourites of mine are The Next Market Day, where the maid gets waylaid on the way to market and sung to (hem hem), and which ends:


The maid she went home and she went up to bed
And the song that he sang her still rang in her head
She said "I'll go find him by land or by sea
Till he learns me the song called The Next Market Day"

And Hatton Woods, which finishes:

Oh my blessings on yon bonny lass wherever she might be
I wish no evil unto her although she slighted me
But I only hope that she might say, some time before she'll dee
Och I wish I'd wed yon plooman lad, as sang sae sweet tae me.

Subject: Lyr Add: SING OUT
From: thespionage
Date: 06 Jun 06 - 12:35 AM

"SING OUT," the song for which Sing Out! magazine is named.

Chorus:
You gotta sing out if you want to get to heaven.
You gotta sing out, join in and pray.
Sing out if you want to get to heaven.
Ask the Lord to show you the way
and He'll show you if you pray!

Well, I can sing my title clear
to mansions in the sky.
I'll bid farewell to ev'ry fear
and wipe my weepin' eye.

Chorus

Wake up by the trumpet sound,
I from the grave shall rise
to see the judge with the glory crown,
a view from flaming sky.

Chorus x2

Subject: RE: Songs about singing
From: Carol
Date: 05 Sep 05 - 09:25 AM

I have only read from about 1/2 way through but has anyone mentioned 'how can I keep from Singing?'
I think it's a 'Shaker Hymn' but i still love singing it even as a confirmed athiest!

Subject: Lyr Add: SONG FOR JOHN
From: GUEST,Lady Policeman
Date: 04 Sep 05 - 11:30 AM

Sorry not a traditional song but still a good song about singing -   
             Song For John by Mick Ryan.

                        SONG FOR JOHN.

When I was a younger man I did my very best
I worked with young ambition, with little time for rest
They were days of great endeavour they were full and they were long,
And I'm happy now if I can sing my song.

Chorus:
         Sing my song, sing my song,
         I'm happy in the place where I belong
         If I can sing the songs I love and old friends sing along
         I'm happy now if I can sing my song.

I've had my disappointments, I've been high and I've been low,
The good times and the bad times, I watch them come and go,
But I've been blessed with many things and fate the meaner on
And I'm happy now if I can sing my song.
If I can watch my dogs run with a long and lovely stride,
They fill my eyes with pleasure and my heart with harmless pride.
They give me love and welcome in the place where I belong
And I'm happy now if I can sing my song.

If I can take a piece of wood and smooth it with my hands,
I'd build a sense of order in a world I understand
And what I make will mark my passing when I'm dead and gone
And I'm happy now that I can sing my song.
Each voice one day must fade away and so I say to you,
Sing out sing up and sing with me what better could we do
Sing tenor, bass or baritone, sing feeble or sing strong
Be happy for the day you sing your song.

Chorus.
   Sing your song; sing your song,
   Be happy if you find where you belong
   If you can sing the songs you love and old friends sing along
   Be happy for the day you sing your song



Kath

Subject: Lyr Add: THE NUTTING GIRL
From: GUEST,Barrie Roberts
Date: 03 Sep 05 - 10:42 PM

What about 'THE NUTTING GIRL'?

Come all you jovial maidens, listen to my song,
'Tis just a little ditty that will not detain you long,
'Tis of a fair young maiden, she lived down in Kent,
Arose one summer's morning, and she a-nutting went.

Chorus: And she a-nutting went,
       Arose one summer's morning, and she a-nutting went,
       With my fal-lal, to me ral-tal-lal,
       Wait for the dear old day,
       And what few nuts that poor girl had she threw them all away.

'Tis of a brisk young plouighboy, who as he ploughed did sing,
His voice was so melodious it made the valleys ring,
It charmed her where she stood, till she could no longer stay,
And what few nuts that poor girl had, she thre them all away.

She went up to young Johnny, where he sits by his plough,
Said she, 'Young man, I really feel I cannot tell you how'.
He took her to some shady broom and there he laid her down,
Said she, 'Oh John, I think I feel the world go round and round!'

So all you pretty maidens, a warning by me take,
And if you must a-nutting go, make sure don't stay too late,
For if you stay too late to hear that ploughboy sing
You might have a young farmer to nurse up in the spring.

Subject: RE: Songs about singing
From: GUEST,Frances Wade
Date: 03 Sep 05 - 07:41 PM

Oh rats - sorry about that repeat. FW

Subject: RE: Songs about singing
From: GUEST,Frances Wade
Date: 03 Sep 05 - 07:39 PM

Eric Bogle's 'I Just Won't Sing Any Bob Dylan' (I think that's the title).
And goodness - here comes an ancient memory from primary school singing class! I think I've still got the words of the first verse almost right. You couldn't help but learn a song off by heart if you had to wait till next term for a new one. I think it was called 'Music Makers'.

Come music makers, rouse up a song
A song for the joy of singing
A song of truth in the heart of youth
To set the echoes ringing
For the birds make music and the trees sing
And the wind joins song with the sea
All the world has a song of its own
And so (dum-de-dum) have we.
So sing, sing, music makers
A song for the joy of the singing
For the joy of the singing.

Which is very similar in spirit and content to 'Air Fa La Lo'.

And here's another one, which I'd like to track down myself. I heard Frankie Armstrong sing it years ago, and I think it may have been written by Malvina Reynolds. It begins: 'I've got a song, it's about this long ...'

Subject: RE: Songs about singing
From: Desert Dancer
Date: 03 Sep 05 - 01:44 PM

Transcribing this one today (then finally finding it in the DT), I thought of this thread.

The Carter

My feet they grow weary walking by their side
I said to my mate,"I will get up and ride."
And as I was riding, I made a new song
And as I did sing it, you must learn it along.

I once was a bold fellow and went with my team,
And all my delight was a keeping them clean,
With brushes and curries I'd show their bright colour,
And the name that they gave me was a "hearty good fellow".


(I've corrected this from "curties" to "curries," as I've never heard the first, but a "curry comb" is a very stiff rubber, metal, or plastic sort of a brush used for cleaning horses.)

~ Becky in Tucson

Subject: RE: Songs about singing
From: RobbieWilson
Date: 22 May 05 - 04:15 PM

Thre gypsies came tae oor ha' door
and oh, but they sang sae bonny
they sang sae sweet and sae complete
that they won the heart o' a lady

Subject: RE: Songs about singing
From: RobbieWilson
Date: 22 May 05 - 04:14 PM

I played the blackbird
old roneys glory,
the stacks of Barley
and the foggy dew
she sang each note like
an Irish Linnet
and tears rolled down
from those eyes of blue

Subject: Lyr Add: A GIFT OF SONG (Mason Williams)
From: Barry T
Date: 22 May 05 - 01:37 PM

I'd recommend Mason William's 'Gift of Song' for the list. It's in the Digital Traditions library...

A GIFT OF SONG
(Mason Williams)

A gift of song is a gift of love,
Though how this is I cannot say.
But who receives a gift of love,
Must send it freely on its way
As I receive, so let me give,
And live in joy my whole life through

A gift of song, is a gift of love
Here comes a gift of love for you

A gift of song is a gift of love
It falls to earth, we know not where
But who receives a gift of love
It follows then that he must share
As I receive, so let me give,
And live in joy my whole life through.
@love @music
filename[ GIFTLOVE
SS

Subject: RE: Songs about singing
From: GUEST,Jeanie
Date: 22 May 05 - 05:59 AM

There's also this one (Music Hall - so not strictly "traditional"):
"It's a Fine Thing to Sing", words and music by Willie Cochrane and Harry Lauder on this website

I've only ever heard this song once, and had no idea where it came from until I searched for it on the net just now. I heard it sung by a guest male/female duo ("big names" in folk at the time - no idea now who it could have been) over 30 years ago, but the chorus and melody and memory of such a roof-raising time singing it have stayed with me and I often find myself humming it. Thanks for prompting me to search for it !

- jeanie

Subject: RE: Songs about singing
From: frogprince
Date: 21 May 05 - 07:09 PM

Just picked up a CD with a vintage Shel Silverstein/Bob Gibson song, "Sing for the Song".
You could also check www.geocities.com/jadelapeer/thisonepage.html
for one you won't have heard elsewhere.

Subject: RE: Songs about singing
From: GUEST,cromdubh
Date: 21 May 05 - 05:59 PM

There is a great parady of Eric Bogle´s Green Fields of France. It´s about how Irish Singers are constantly called apon to the one about Willie McBride. Don´t know expactly who wrote it.

Subject: Lyr Add: HERE'S TO THE SINGER
From: rich-joy
Date: 20 May 05 - 08:35 PM

I posted on the 23rd June last year (yes yes, as I sat weaving all at my loom - of course!!!!) that I would source the following lyrics from me old mate Jeff Corfield, from Perth and Darwin Folk Daze, (who now lives in Townsville) :


HERE'S TO THE SINGER
03.05.1999 by Jeff Corfield of Queensland, Australia


There's songs that are written and songs that are played
To keep the cash registers ringing,
But give me a song that the people have made
A song that's been made for the singing,
There's songs about work and there's songs about play
There's songs about struggle and glory
Ah give me a song where the folk have their say
A song that can tell us a story

CHORUS :
So here's to the singers and here's to the songs
That down through the decades come ringing,
May the gift of your tunes with the people belong
And long may the people keep singing

Be you Paddy from Ireland or Joe from Geelong
Be you Russian or French or Swahili
The people have long put their lives into song
With a passion delivered so freely
For a song is a wild bird, a song is a dove
That soars in the heavens before us
With the laughter, the freedom, the joy and the love
Of humanity woven in chorus

CHORUS
                        
In times when this world's full of trouble and pain
And freedoms long fought for are waning
Just remember those struggles that led to the gains
And the songs that recall the campaigning
For a song on its own cannot right all that's wrong
One singer, the storm cannot weather
But the people united will always be strong
Whether working or singing together

CHORUS
                        
So sing us a song about hauling a rope
Sing of a sloop that's still sailing
Sing us a song, full of life, full of hope
Oh, long may your banjo keep frailing
Sing of one people, the whole world around
And the joys of those freedom bells ringing
May the songs that you taught us forever resound
And long may the people keep singing

CHORUS x 2

                        
Jeff says :   " I wrote it originally in honour of Pete Seeger's 80th birthday, in May 1999, after we had visited him, following our week on Clearwater back in 1997. So, in one sense it's a bit specific (2nd verse reference to Swahili is a Seeger in-joke and also last verse reference to The Clearwater) though I also wrote it as a celebration of all the songs and singers we love. Like many of my efforts it's a bit sentimental and clichéd, and the tune "adapted" from a hotch-potch of traditional songs (esp "All the Good Times"!), but the chorus is robust and folks seem to like it. What it really needs is to grow, change and adapt, in true folk style, to become more generic, so I pass it on to you with that in mind. "


ENJOY!!


Cheers! R-J

PS    sorry, I don't do "music" stuff :~)))

Subject: Flash Company-All the Day Singing
From: GUEST,karzarian
Date: 02 Jan 05 - 01:27 PM

You wrote a verse to All the Day Singing back in June.
Please tell me other verses and where the song comes from?

Subject: Lyr Add: THE PEOPLE HAVE SONGS
From: freda underhill
Date: 02 Jan 05 - 09:25 AM

THE PEOPLE HAVE SONGS
by Miguel Heatwole

Here voices are tuned to each other in gladness
To all here in common affection belongs
Here joy and laughter meet keening and sadness
Here tyranny's cursed for the people have songs

Let us set the room ringing with the sound of our singing
When we come to the end let us hold the chord long
Hear the harmonies rise and all close our eyes
'Til the last cadence dies the people have songs

Here is war parting sweethearts
Here are strong sweating sailors
And poets for beauty who ardently long
Here are people at work singing loud at their labours
Here are marriage and drinking for the people have songs

Respect for each other gives each one a hearing
And whether the voice be uncertain or strong
We listen with love if the heart is endearing
Supported in harmony the people have songs

Disdaining oppression like others before us
Our gentleness angered by history's wrongs
Our tradition endures, and our voices in chorus
Are lifted in hope for the people have songs!

Subject: RE: Songs about singing
From: GUEST,Singer
Date: 01 Jan 05 - 11:50 AM

Wesley S refers to "Who will sing for me?", and gives its author as John Thomas Ely. I'd always understood that it was by Carter Stanley, and certainly any references on the net that I found while trying to find out about the song before starting to sing it in public seem to give his name as author - does anybody out there know which is correct??

Subject: RE: Songs about singing
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 01 Jan 05 - 11:38 AM

The happy wanderer. "And as I go, I love to sing, my knapsack on my back."

Subject: RE: Songs about singing
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 01 Jan 05 - 11:27 AM

The Whiffenpoof Song. (We're poor little lambs that have lost our way, ba ba ba)

Subject: RE: Songs about singing
From: Georgiansilver
Date: 01 Jan 05 - 03:59 AM

69

Subject: RE: Songs about singing
From: Georgiansilver
Date: 01 Jan 05 - 03:58 AM

My favourite song about singing is in a Gilbert and Sullivan opera but I can't remember which one....it goes:-
"I've got a somg to sing-o", "what is your song-o?", It's a song to the moon by a lovelorn loon" etc etc
Best wishes.

Subject: RE: Songs about singing
From: kytrad (Jean Ritchie)
Date: 31 Dec 04 - 06:41 PM

Karen K., This is not a traditional song, but an art song I heard along life's road somewhere. Don't know composer, but you-all can find out. I like what it says:

Nay, thank me not that songs I sing thee.
Thanks shall there be, but they'll be mine;
Twas thou that gav'st- I do but bring thee
What was and ever shall be thine.

I've looked in thy dear eyes, and taken
The truth that there alone belongs...
Then tell me not I was mistaken-
Dos't thou not know thine own sweet songs?

Subject: RE: Songs about singing
From: sixtieschick
Date: 31 Dec 04 - 05:00 PM

Gilbert and Sullivan, "The Mikado": I've got a song to sing, O. What is your song, O?

Sing a song of sixpence, pocket full of rye

And Joni Mitchell's "For Free"--one of the best.
Now me I sing for fortunes
And those velvet curtain calls,   etc.

Subject: RE: Songs about singing
From: GUEST,karzarian
Date: 31 Dec 04 - 04:05 PM

I'd like to know more verses to this song. Would you please writethem or direct me to them? Where does this song come from?