Your Favorite Folk songs - And Why?

Subject: YOUR FAVORITE FOLK SONGS-AND WHY?
From: MACA
Date: 28 Apr 06 - 08:39 PM

HI...JO MAPES HERE. CAN YOU COME UP WITH YOUR FIVE FAVORITES,OR TEN?, TWENTY,IF ASKED? SOMEONE RECENTLY ASKED ME.THERE ARE SO MANY THAT I LOVE.. HOW TO CATAGORIZE THEM? WHAT IS IT ABOUT A PARTICULAR FOLK SONG THAT WRAPS AROUND YOUR BONES-CLAIMS YOU? IN THINKING OF SOME OF THE SONGS THAT ARE SPECIAL TO ME, I FOUND THAT IT WASN'T THE ARTIST WHO SINGS IT, THE ARRANGEMENT AND SUCH, BUT THE PURE SONG ITSELF- FROM TRADITIONAL, THROUGH THE MUSIC'S HISTORY UNTIL TODAY. OH SURE, THE ENDLESS DEBATE AS TO WHAT A "REAL" FOLK SONG IS, WILL ALWAYS BE AN ONGOING ARGUMENT AS THE MUSIC SPREADS IT'S BRANCHES, BUT LET'S NOT GET TWISTED UP IN THAT HERE. MAYBE IT ALL COMES DOWN TO THE STORY, BECAUSE A SONG, IS A STORY...WITH MUSIC, AS WHEELS TO CARRY IT. IT'S NOT THE MOST IMMPRESIVE GUITAR LICKS OR VOICE. SOME SONGS BENEFIT FROM A GREAT VOICE AND ARRANGEMENT-AND SOME SONGS ARE CRUSHED.

SO-I'M WONDERING WHAT ABOUT A SONG MAKES IT SPECIAL TO US? I'M THINKING RIGHT NOW OF A FAVORITE OF MINE: "STEWBALL", A SONG ABOUT A HORSE, AND JUST PERFECT WITH THREE CHORDS. AND "WALKING IN MEMPHIS", THE lONESTAR VERSION. "SPANISH IS THE LOVING TONGUE" AND "THE LIGHTHOUSE TALE", NICKLE CREEK. GREAT STORIES ABOUT THE HUMAN EXPERIENCE. WHAT ARE SOME OF YOURS?

Subject: RE: YOUR FAVORITE FOLK SONGS-AND WHY?
From: Effsee
Date: 28 Apr 06 - 08:46 PM

There's no need to SHOUT!

Subject: RE: YOUR FAVORITE FOLK SONGS-AND WHY?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 28 Apr 06 - 09:08 PM

Jo, posting in all caps is considered shouting, as it is very hard on the eyes. Most folks just won't read it. Here's a re-post.

~Susan

===========================================

Hi...Jo Mapes here. Can you come up with your five favorites,or ten?, Twenty,if asked? Someone recently asked me.There are so many that I love.. How to catagorize them? What is it about a particular folk song that wraps around your bones-claims you? In thinking of some of the songs that are special to me, I found that it wasn't the artist who sings it, the arrangement and such, but the pure song itself- from traditional, through the music's history until today. Oh sure, the endless debate as to what a "real" folk song is, will always be an ongoing argument as the music spreads it's branches, but let's not get twisted up in that here. Maybe it all comes down to the story, because a song, is a story...with music, as wheels to carry it. It's not the most immpresive guitar licks or voice. Some songs benefit from a great voice and arrangement-and some songs are crushed.

So-I'm wondering what about a song makes it special to us? I'm thinking right now of a favorite of mine: "Stewball", a song about a horse, and just perfect with three chords. And "Walking in Memphis", the Lonestar version. "Spanish is the Loving Tongue" and "The Lighthouse Tale", Nickle Creek. Great stories about the human experience. What are some of yours?

Subject: RE: YOUR FAVORITE FOLK SONGS-AND WHY?
From: katlaughing
Date: 28 Apr 06 - 09:10 PM

(My sister uses all caps because she has macular degeneration.)


I guess I'd start with everything I've heard Art Thieme perform and add in the old cowboy songs my dad did, for startes.:-)

Subject: RE: YOUR FAVORITE FOLK SONGS-AND WHY?
From: kendall
Date: 28 Apr 06 - 09:12 PM

Define folk song

Subject: RE: YOUR FAVORITE FOLK SONGS-AND WHY?
From: Hrothgar
Date: 28 Apr 06 - 09:15 PM

Can I narrow this down to 1,000 songs?

Subject: RE: YOUR FAVORITE FOLK SONGS-AND WHY?
From: John on the Sunset Coast
Date: 28 Apr 06 - 09:28 PM

This is a cop-out, but I guess my favorite song will vary with my mood and time. Once Universal Soldier was a favorite, another time Mary Hamilton, or Golden Apples of the Sun. [sidebar: I no sooner put the period to the last sentence when Apples started playing on Live365. Creep me out!]
Currently I spend a lot of time listening to Cowboy/Western Music. Why? They are the ballads of an iconic way of life, many of which have their roots in English folk music. And they sound damn good.

Subject: RE: YOUR FAVORITE FOLK SONGS-AND WHY?
From: frogprince
Date: 28 Apr 06 - 09:31 PM

5. 10, or 20? You kidding, Ms. Jo? You want any old folky to narrow down to less than a hundred?
Dylan: "Blowing in the Wind", "Don't Think Twice"
Tom Paxton: "Ramblin' Boy", "Can't Help But Wonder Where I'm Bound",
             "Home to Me".
Anne Hills: "Follow that Road", or the ancient "Never Grow Old"
             recorded with Cindy Mangsen.
Gordon Bok: "The World is Always Turning T'ward the Morning"
Kingston Trio, "Tom Dooley"; (the first time I ever realized there
             was something called folk music)
Horse Songs? How about Cisco Houston singing "Zebra Dun"?
I even remember some gal with long blond hair singing "All Around My
         Hat" on television...

Subject: RE: YOUR FAVORITE FOLK SONGS-AND WHY?
From: John O'L
Date: 28 Apr 06 - 09:57 PM

In no particular order (and tomorrow they might all be different):

Flight of Earls
The Jute Mill Song
Donna Donna
Dublin In My Tears (because I like songs about architecture - grin)
Delia
John Of Dreams
The Bard of Armagh
Old Paint
House of the Rising Sun
Sam Hall, Chimneysweep
I also love Walking In Memphis, but I haven't heard the Lonestar version, only Marc Cohn's.

Subject: RE: YOUR FAVORITE FOLK SONGS-AND WHY?
From: Little Hawk
Date: 28 Apr 06 - 10:23 PM

Good lord...there'd have to be hundreds of them.

Geez.

Sometime later when I feel like typing for a hour or two...

Subject: RE: YOUR FAVORITE FOLK SONGS-AND WHY?
From: number 6
Date: 29 Apr 06 - 12:07 AM

"I heard it through the grapevine" ..by me, sIx.

It is a folk song from Detroit circa mid 60's.

seriously ... So many ... what may be my favourite today, may be eclipsed by something else tomorrow ... but one that stuck in my head all through today is a version of "Yellow Bird" sung by Steve Forbert, just him and an accoustic guitar. Or "Hard Times" as song by Stephen Foster, that's a song I prefer to do ... Tennessee Waltze, Leonard Cohen's version is one that comes to mind right now ... you can go on and on about favourites, but I can't pin down just one.

sIx

Subject: RE: YOUR FAVORITE FOLK SONGS-AND WHY?
From: M.Ted
Date: 29 Apr 06 - 12:32 AM

I like the old songs that are so familiar that we don't even associate them with anyone--"Down in the Valley", "Irene, Goodnight", "Red Wing", "I'm Going to Leave Old Texas Now", "Red River Valley"--

Subject: RE: Your Favorite Folk songs - And Why?
From: GUEST,van lingle
Date: 29 Apr 06 - 10:46 AM

Buffalo Skinners because it evokes such vivid, grisly images.

Old Blue because it reminds me of a great little mutt I use to have who would lick my face whenever I sang it to him.

House Carpenter- another great story of lust, passion, betrayal and damnation.

Wagoner's Lad- An early feminist song.

Lots of others. I like a lot of these old songs because, I imagine, the lyrics have been so beautifully refined over centuries and we're left with the gift of great stories told with such eloquence. vl

Subject: RE: Your Favorite Folk songs - And Why?
From: DougR
Date: 29 Apr 06 - 12:47 PM

Burl Ives' "Foggy Dew", "Streets of Laredo", "The Riddle Song", "I know Where I'm goin'", "Lavender's Blue".
Weaver's "Good Night Irene."
Christopher Lynch's "Believe Me if all those Endearing Young Charms," "The Garden where the Praties Grow", "The Rose of Tralee", "The Minstrel Boy"
Morton Downey "Where the River Shannon Flows."

DougR

Subject: RE: Your Favorite Folk songs - And Why?
From: DougR
Date: 29 Apr 06 - 12:49 PM

Oops! I didn't answer the second part of the question. Why? Just because I like 'em.

DougR

Subject: RE: Your Favorite Folk songs - And Why?
From: Once Famous
Date: 29 Apr 06 - 02:03 PM

Jo, one of my favorites that I have performed for years is because of you:

San Francisco Bay Blues

You were the one who introduced me to the song if I am not mistaken on the old Hootenany show and it is still one of my favorites.

Others:

Ramblin' Boy
Last Thing On my Mind

MTA
Early Morning Rain

Jo, in another thread that was about you by Art Thieme I believe, I had asked the question if anyone remembered you doing a TV commercial for I believe Kellog's Raisin Bran cerial. No one responded. But I am almost 100% positive it was you singing. Can you confirm this and maybe elaborate on it? "They come from the grapes, under the sun.........."

Subject: RE: Your Favorite Folk songs - And Why?
From: GUEST,Tunesmith
Date: 29 Apr 06 - 02:40 PM

Raglan Road: I love this song. Words by a real poet, and a trad tune - a perfect mix? I'm surprised this song hasn't been covered more.

Subject: RE: Your Favorite Folk songs - And Why?
From: Bert
Date: 29 Apr 06 - 03:01 PM

Not in any particular order, here's ten.

Cuckoo's Nest
British Workman's Grave
Old Sow Song
Master McGrath (I don't know why, but I always seem to be singing it)
Still I love Him
Three Score and Ten
Harbour Le Cou
Night Visiting Song
Spanish Ladies
Maggie May

Doug R. I like your selection (Are you SURE you're not a Commie?)

Subject: RE: Your Favorite Folk songs - And Why?
From: kendall
Date: 29 Apr 06 - 04:08 PM

Nice to see you here, Doug. I was afraid the liberals had run you off!

Subject: RE: Your Favorite Folk songs - And Why?
From: C. Ham
Date: 29 Apr 06 - 05:01 PM

Tzena Tzena Tzena

Subject: RE: Your Favorite Folk songs - And Why?
From: Once Famous
Date: 30 Apr 06 - 04:13 PM

Jo, I hope you will respond to what I posted above.

Subject: RE: Your Favorite Folk songs - And Why?
From: Little Hawk
Date: 30 Apr 06 - 04:32 PM

DougR, I find it intriguing that the folksingers who naturally come to your mind when naming your favorites are the very first crop of folksingers I focused on when quite young...but they rapidly became somewhat passe to me in the wake of those younger people who followed in their footsteps...such as Dylan, Baez, Buffy Sainte-Marie, Judy Collins, Ian & Sylvia, Leonard Cohen, and various others. You were clearly one generation (or at least half a generation) prior to me in the folk audience.

Subject: RE: Your Favorite Folk songs - And Why?
From: autolycus
Date: 30 Apr 06 - 05:09 PM

First that came to mind

   The Ash Grove

   Greensleeves

   because they are beautiful tunes. For me, the tunes are the priority, the words very secondary.

   I keep a list of favourite popular songs (arranged by composer not lyricist). Hadn't thought of doing the same for folksongs.


   Effcee - LOL


   Ivor

Subject: RE: Your Favorite Folk songs - And Why?
From: melodeonboy
Date: 01 May 06 - 05:35 AM

"The Blacksmith" by Shirley and Dolly Collins from "Anthems in Eden".

Wonderful evocation of simpler times long since gone; unconditional love; passion; betrayal. And sung in the most beautiful voice that God ever gave to a woman.

Heartwarming and heartbreaking at the same time (it reduces me to tears!).

Subject: RE: Your Favorite Folk songs - And Why?
From: ard mhacha
Date: 01 May 06 - 05:58 AM

Doug, I see you are still with the Firestone Irish Tenor, Morton Downey and Christopher Lynch, if I told you that the songs by these Tenors good as they are, would never be heard at an Irish folk session.
Luke Kelly who I have been listening to again never seems dated, Bunclody, The night visting song, Will you come to the bower, Tramps and Hawkers, The Foggy Dew [Irish version],proving that with the right singer most songs will sound good.

Subject: RE: Your Favorite Folk songs - And Why?
From: GUEST
Date: 01 May 06 - 09:37 PM

ard, who cares what is currently de rigueur at sessions. we are allowed to have favorite old folk songs, and if some of them started as parlor songs and are not considered fashionable today, well, you know what, they have still passed into the folk tradition and they can still be our favorites.

Subject: RE: Your Favorite Folk songs - And Why?
From: GUEST,saulgoldie
Date: 01 May 06 - 09:44 PM

Well, I can't really keep it to just ten. But that is a given.

Dylan "Blowing in the Wind" (as sung by almost anyone else, however. PPM is good)

Tom Paxton: "Can't Help But Wonder Where I'm Bound" "Last Thing On My Mind" "Marvelous Toy"

Gordo: "Song for a Winter's Night" "Early Morning Rain"

Limelighters: "Wayfaring Stranger/Hard Travellin/Lonesome Traveler medley"

Wait, I am only getting started...

Tom Dundee (RIP): Dog (as sung by Bryan Bowers)

John Denver: "Country Roads"

Weavers: "Tzena Tzena Tzena"

Eric Bogle: "And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda"

John McCutcheon: "Christmas in the Trenches"

Theodore Bikel (who playes it, anyway): "Oleanna"

Stephen Foster: "Hard Times Come Again No More" as sung by Side by Side (I think)

Phil Ochs: "When I'm Gone"

Arlo: "Alice's Restaurant"

Woodie: "This Land is Your Land"

Bill Staines: "Roseville Fair" "Down the Road"

Stan Rogers: "Field Behind the Plow" "Mary Ellen Carter" "Barrett's Privateers"

Schooner Fare: "Portland Town"

And with little effort I have already exceeded the limit. And I am STILL only getting started. Each song has a melody, words, and/or overall feel to it that really grabs me. My list of songs I would never want to be without is much longer. Sorry, but I can't stay within the ten song limit or even twenty. But this is a start, fer shur. Duzzat help any, MACA?

Subject: RE: Your Favorite Folk songs - And Why?
From: MBSLynne
Date: 02 May 06 - 04:04 AM

"The Hiring Fair" takes me into a state of bliss rivalled by very little else.
"Farewell Farewell" currently performed by Isambarde and I believe on their new CD
"Who knows where the time goes" by Sandy Denny

Those are just the first three that came to mind. I expect I'll think of some more now you've got me started.

Love Lynne

Subject: RE: Your Favorite Folk songs - And Why?
From: ard mhacha
Date: 02 May 06 - 12:25 PM

Subject: RE: Your Favorite Folk songs - And Why?
From: DougR
Date: 02 May 06 - 06:39 PM

ard Mhacha:Yep, I still like Morton Downey, Christopher Lynch, even Dennis Day! I'm curious. Suppose someone were to sing some of their songs at a regular Irish session, what would be the reaction of the group? Would they join in? Respectfully listen? Toss the bugger out of the session :>)?

LH: I was into the the next decade of folksingers and songs, as you were, but I like the older ones best. I've never been a Dylan fan as a performer. As a composer ...differnt tune (so to speak)

McGrath: Nope I don't let the liberals get to me that much anymore.

Bert: Glad you like my selection. I don't worry too much about the politics of the composer or performer ...if I like them.

DougR

Subject: RE: Your Favorite Folk songs - And Why?
From: Charmain
Date: 02 May 06 - 08:07 PM

Oooh Sandy Denny - I think quite a few of my top Ten would be her songs
Who knows Where the Time Goes being the least of them

Quiet Joys of Brotherhood
At the End of The Day
Bushes and Briars
and the superb No End

and from others...
Cyril Tawney's Grey Funnel Line
Ewan Macoll's Shoals of Herring
The Oldham Tinkers' Come Whoam to Thi Childer and Me 9never fails to bring a tear...)
And of course The Dubliners' version of The Seven Drunken Nights

but for real proper folkie-folk songs I would have to go for Lavender's Blue as it has semi-ridiculous lyrics can be sung to about five different tunes and in a round - all at the same time if need be - and is the ultimate lullaby

Subject: RE: Your Favorite Folk songs - And Why?
From: ard mhacha
Date: 03 May 06 - 07:38 AM

Why my comment to the Guest is blank is another Mudcat mystery, I agree entirely with Guest I would listen to both parlour and pig-sty. Doug I would defend his right to sing those irish Tenor numbers,you know we are the last of a dying breed, we are in the dwindling numbers that appreciate real singing.
I was merely stating a fact that those songs Doug and I listen to would not go down well in an Irish folk session.

Subject: RE: Your Favorite Folk songs - And Why?
From: DougR
Date: 03 May 06 - 11:23 AM

I'm sure you know I was just kidding you a bit, ard mhacha.

I thought of a couple of other favorites, though by a artist that I do not in anyway admire (his political views that is) Harry Belefonte: "Delia", and "Go Way from my window."

DougR