Songs of Vengeance

24 Jan 00 - 01:10 PM (#167575)
Subject: Lyr Add: JOHNNY SANDS (Appalachian)
From: GUEST,emily rain at the U Dub

I'm in the midst of writing a song of revenge, and finding it terrifically cathartic. What's your favorite ballad of hot-blooded vengeance? Is it:

JOHNNY SANDS
(Appalachian)

There was a man named Johnny Sands
He married a Betsy Hague
Although she was a lovin' wife
She proved a terrible plague

Although she was a lovin' wife
Full of caprice and whim
He said that he was tired of life
And she was tired of him

I think I'll go down and drown meself
The river it runs below
She said, pray do, you silly oaf
I wished it long ago

For fear that I the courage lack
And try to save me life
You tie me hands behind me back
I will, replied his wife

So she tied his hands behind his back
And when securely done
'Tis I shall stand here on the brink
And you prepare to run

So over the hill this lovin' wife
Ran with all her force
To push him in; he stepped aside,
And in she fell of course

Splashin' round just like a fish
Cried, save me, Johnny Sands
I would me dear for much I wish
But you have tied my hands

----

Or is it NO IRISH NEED APPLY?

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24 Jan 00 - 01:15 PM (#167577)
Subject: RE: Songs of Vengeance
From: catspaw49

I think for just simple "ya git whatcha' give," its hard to beat "East Texas Red."

S[aw

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24 Jan 00 - 01:19 PM (#167582)
Subject: RE: Songs of Vengeance
From: GUEST,asamauve

...reminds me of "Marrowbones", it does.

but for vengence?

"Sir James the Rose" or "The Brown Girl".

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24 Jan 00 - 01:22 PM (#167585)
Subject: RE: Songs of Vengeance
From: GUEST,emily rain at U Dub

oops, i almost forgot:

www.dogdoo.com

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24 Jan 00 - 01:37 PM (#167590)
Subject: RE: Songs of Vengeance
From: Doctor John

That's about the best I know 'Spaw; but for a ballad try Beau Lamkin or Childe Owlet. Both very bloodthirsty. Dr John

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24 Jan 00 - 02:00 PM (#167600)
Subject: RE: Songs of Vengeance
From: M. Ted (inactive)

Emily, I am not sure that vengence is quite the right word for Johnny Sands--it is more of a turnabout or some kind--However,I would be interested in song that you are writing...up until now, I hadn't thought of you and a vengeful person--

Ted

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24 Jan 00 - 02:39 PM (#167625)
Subject: RE: Songs of Vengeance
From: GUEST,Mbo

Since I use old poetry for lyrics, a few of the songs I have written are vengeful--songs about oppressed Irish and Scots. Things like "MacGregor's Gathering," "The O'Neil's War Song," "Fontenoy," "The Sword," "The Blades of Harden," etc. I also enjoy many songs like this, like "The Haughs of Cromdale," and "Johnny Cope." Though I do enjoy them, I am not a vengeful person at all, in fact most of all the songs I write are love songs, or songs of home. Since I pick out the poems I want to make into songs, and the majority being love songs, seems to reveal my true nature.

--Mbo

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24 Jan 00 - 02:42 PM (#167629)
Subject: RE: Songs of Vengeance
From: BDenz

There's a Swedish traditional song [yes, I have the lyrics and meant to give it to you, Em] called "Vengeance" or "Retribution" in English. Basically about getting even with an evil stepmother. That's my favorite right now. I have others ... it's a favorite topic of mine. [nudge nudge, wink wink]

MBO --Ah yes, Johnny Cope is a good one and another one I'd like our group to do.

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24 Jan 00 - 02:51 PM (#167633)
Subject: RE: Songs of Vengeance
From: Áine

Well, gee, the last time I was thinking about a song of 'vengence', I listened to Aimee Mann's 'You're With Stupid Now.' Made me feel a lot better at the time . . .

-- Áine

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24 Jan 00 - 03:50 PM (#167658)
Subject: RE: Songs of Vengeance
From: GUEST,emily rain at the U Dub

M. Ted: there's a lot you don't know about me. bwaHAHAHAHAHAHAHAha ha ha... uh. okay, actually, i'm very forgiving. which is why i'm writing this song. just my little "boost" up to forgiveness.

Doctor John: oh, my lord! those are terrible/wonderful/shudderingly delicious. i love them.

'spaw: i'm not familiar with "east texas red". how does it go?

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24 Jan 00 - 04:51 PM (#167686)
Subject: RE: Songs of Vengeance
From: Caitrin

I, too, love Johnny Cope. One of my favorites just for pure anger value (though I don't suppose it's folk) is the Dixie Chicks' "Goodbye Earl." *ducks to avoid projectiles being lobbed at her for her lack of taste* : )

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24 Jan 00 - 05:00 PM (#167690)
Subject: RE: Songs of Vengeance
From: KathWestra

Andrew Lammie, where the brother takes his revenge on his sister Annie for having the nerve to fall in love with Andrew-of-low-degree instead of the more lucrative match, Lord Fyvie.

The Cruel Brother, who kills his sister on her wedding day because her groom failed to get bro's permission to marry his sis -- and the dying bride who gets the last word in vengeance, bequeathing her brother "the gallows tree to hang him on" and the brother's wife "a widow's weeds and a quiet life."

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24 Jan 00 - 06:09 PM (#167724)
Subject: RE: Songs of Vengeance
From: lamarca

There are several ballads where the young sailor betrays his true love and kills her; her ghost follows the ship out to sea and rips him up into teeny, weeny pieces, and good riddance.

Willy/William Taylor, where the abandoned lover dresses as a sailor and follows her "true" love to sea; on finding that he's married another, she shoots him and his bride and is made captain of the ship for her forthrightness and valor...

Long Lankin/Beau Lamkin mentioned above is wonderfully bloodthirsty (Plot synopsis:Lord refuses to pay his stone mason, who creeps into his house and murders his wife and son in revenge...); Child Owlet is just gruesome (Plot synopsis:Child Owlet refuses to sleep with his lord's wife, so she cuts herself and accuses him of rape just to watch him burn/hang)

East Texas Red is a Woody Guthrie song about a railroad bull (cop) who kicks over a hobo's bucket of stew out of sheer meanness, and gets what's coming to him a year later.

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24 Jan 00 - 06:41 PM (#167735)
Subject: RE: Songs of Vengeance
From: GUEST,emily rain

ooooooooh, yeah! i remember now. used to have a recording of arlo singing that song.

i like the teeny weeny pieces theme. so satisfying.

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24 Jan 00 - 08:24 PM (#167797)
Subject: RE: Songs of Vengeance
From: Mbo

BTW check out Andy M. Stewart's version of "The Haughs O' Cromdale." When he gets to the part about "making their heads tae dance" he does this nasty voice change--oooh it just gives me goosebumps everytime I hear it. Ooops, did I forgie tae mention on of my favorite songs of all time? "Scots Wha Hae." I like to sing it out so angrily that I've got tears in my eyes by the time I get to "Lay the proud usurper low/ tyrants fall in every foe/ liberty's in every blow/ let us DO or DIE!

--Mbo

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24 Jan 00 - 09:03 PM (#167816)
Subject: RE: Songs of Vengeance
From: SeanM

I've always been rather fond of OLD WOMAN FROM WEXFORD. Not many "Man gets revenge on murderous wife" songs out there...

M

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24 Jan 00 - 09:04 PM (#167817)
Subject: RE: Songs of Vengeance
From: JenEllen

Sorry to sully such a lovely thread...but I dearly love "Frankie and Johnny" for the sheer oomph of revenge...

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24 Jan 00 - 09:23 PM (#167825)
Subject: RE: Songs of Vengeance
From: Amos

Not about vengeance realized, but vowed, is the wonderful last verse from Lord Randel, best sung throwing back the head and howling in minor tones:

What do ye leave your sweetheart, my son? What do you leave her, my pretty young one?
A rooooope from Heeeellllllll to HANG herrrrrr! (2x)
Ah, make my bed soon, for I'm sick to the heart
And I faiiiiin would lie dooooooooon...... (gasp)

(He dies).

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24 Jan 00 - 09:26 PM (#167827)
Subject: RE: Songs of Vengeance
From: Mbo

Oooh, another good one is Paul Brady's "Nothing But The Same Old Story": "But look out--'cause I'll tear you into pieces if you cross me!" Man that's a good song. Angry singing and angry guitar playing. Oh YEAH!

--Mbo

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24 Jan 00 - 11:29 PM (#167899)
Subject: RE: Songs of Vengeance
From: Owlkat

Hi hi,
One of my faves of songs of vengeance has long been the Ry Cooder song: That's the Way the Girls Are In Texas.
Cheers, Owl.

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25 Jan 00 - 12:07 AM (#167913)
Subject: RE: Songs of Vengeance
From: GUEST,_gargoyle

Vengence is mine sayeth the Lord....I will repay.

Never, take your own revenge beloveth, but leave room for the wrath of God. For in do so, you will heep burning coals upon the head of thine enemy.

Address forgotten.

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25 Jan 00 - 12:37 AM (#167923)
Subject: RE: Songs of Vengeance
From: GUEST,margaret

Half revenge and half self-defense is Gillian Welch's song "Caleb Myers," in which a woman murders a would-be rapist and warns him that his ghost's rattling chains better not disturb her peaceful sleep. Very compelling!

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25 Jan 00 - 02:24 AM (#167938)
Subject: RE: Songs of Vengeance
From: John in Brisbane

For sheer bloody vengeance and hatred it is hard to go past 'THE RANGER FIGHT SONG". I find it quite disturbing, and it's in the DT.

There a dozen or so songs listed under @revenge.

There's also a country(ish) song about getting even with Sergeant (?) Black. Is it Australian?

Regards, John

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25 Jan 00 - 02:22 PM (#168180)
Subject: RE: Songs of Vengeance
From: Marki

I don't know if this really counts, but how about "The Ballad of William Bloat"? I first heard this on a Phil Coulter CD, and laughed myself silly over it. I think it's a good one of attempted vengeance.

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25 Jan 00 - 02:29 PM (#168184)
Subject: RE: Songs of Vengeance
From: GUEST,emily rain at the U Dub

i'll see yer "frankie and johnny", JenEllen, and raise ya the michelle shocked version "hold me back"

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25 Jan 00 - 02:30 PM (#168185)
Subject: RE: Songs of Vengeance
From: sophocleese

I like Jake Thackery's "Jolly Sea Captain" at least I think that's the title.

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25 Jan 00 - 05:24 PM (#168267)
Subject: RE: Songs of Vengeance
From: Susanne (skw)

'A Stitch In Time' by Mike Waterson, about a battered wife finally fighting back. It was mentioned in a thread last year, so our marvellous new power search ought to find it. - Susanne

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25 Jan 00 - 05:44 PM (#168278)
Subject: RE: Songs of Vengeance
From: Helen

Thanks Susanne,

I can never remember the name of that song and it's just the one I was thinking of to mention here.

John-i-B, isn't that one about Sergeant Small? Yes, I think it's Australian.

Helen

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25 Jan 00 - 08:28 PM (#168350)
Subject: RE: Songs of Vengeance
From: Uncle_DaveO

How could we pass over that great Scottish ballad--not really sure of the name in detail-- "The Burning of Auchindoon"?

Dave Oesterreich

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25 Jan 00 - 09:02 PM (#168372)
Subject: RE: Songs of Vengeance
From: BK

Phil Oaks (if I remember correctly, tho I remember it being sung by someone else - Rod Mckuen) had an almost erie little number called "People Change" about - sort of - revenge in regards to a lover. Also for anger & being bent on revenge, it's hard to beat "Come Out Ye Black & Tans."

Cheers, BK

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25 Jan 00 - 09:13 PM (#168377)
Subject: RE: Songs of Vengeance
From: DonMeixner

I have always rather liked The Kingston Trio's "The Shape of Things"

Don

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25 Jan 00 - 09:18 PM (#168381)
Subject: RE: Songs of Vengeance
From: Caitrin

_gargoyle...
Life for life,eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burning for burning, wound for wound, stripe for stripe.
And by the way, the devil can cite scripture for his purpose.

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25 Jan 00 - 10:07 PM (#168399)
Subject: RE: Songs of Vengeance
From: Amos

Gargoyle, g'wan wicha. The Kat don't have no truck with spellin'. Besides she's already got a cat on her head, no room for a hat.

A.

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25 Jan 00 - 10:40 PM (#168411)
Subject: RE: Songs of Vengeance
From: GUEST,John Gray / Australia

Yes John in Brisbane & Helen, the Sergeant Small song is Australian. Macca sings it on Australia All Over. I think the lyric is ; "back to Western Queensland to beat up Seargeant Small"

But hey, for revenge, give me Cows With Guns !

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26 Jan 00 - 01:31 AM (#168472)
Subject: RE: Songs of Vengeance
From: GUEST,Leprechaun

A lovely song of revenge not necessarily carried out is May The Bird of Paradise Fly Up Your Nose. Another is Nell Flaherty's Drake.

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26 Jan 00 - 03:44 AM (#168488)
Subject: RE: Songs of Vengeance
From: Liz the Squeak

I'm rather fond of the Corrs first hit, 'I never loved you anyway!', a jolly little ditty, which lists the chaps' faults and offenses and hopes that the lady to whom he has run won't get tired of them either. Nice.

But my all time favourite vengeance song just has to be 'A Stitch in Time', wish I'd thought of that one.

There is another that I heard a long time ago, called 'None of my own, or the cuckolded lullaby', as sung by a man rocking a cradle in which is his wife's baby which is not his, whilst she is out on the razz again. I guess I'm going to have to post to get all the words again...

Show of Hands do a great one about a curse, that goes down nicely in a mostly male gathering...... Then there is 'Dunlavin Green' - may the widow's curse bite you.....

But the best revenge story just has to be 'Cruel was the snow', about the massacre at Glencoe - McDonalds have been getting their own back for years now!

LTS (whoreallydoesactuallylikeeatingatMcDonalds,sorry....)

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26 Jan 00 - 11:18 AM (#168615)
Subject: RE: Songs of Vengeance
From: sophocleese

Alistair Brown sings an updated version of 'Will ye Gang Love", words by Jacquie Lauder. The liner notes of the CD say:"Here's a tonic for everyone who gets tired of the learned helplessness displayed by jilted lovers in folk songs. This one doesn't get mad, or sad - she gets a lawyer!"

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26 Jan 00 - 12:13 PM (#168642)
Subject: RE: Songs of Vengeance
From: InOBU

Hi Folks:
KathWestra mentions Andrew Lammie, the Trumpeter of Fivie, In Scotland, in the seventies, I heard the rest of the story behind the ballad, and there is a good dose more revenge in it.
After the death of Annie, Andrew fled to Canada, where he died shortly thierafter. When the Lord of Fivie was asleep one night, there was a trumpet blast heard throughout the hall, and his ex-Trumpeter apeared at the foot of his bed. The Lord gave up the ghost - dropped dead - died, as well you might expect, at all the excitment, and from that time until the latest lord of Fivie died, I think in the 1960s there is a trumpet heard in the hall on the night before he dies...
Let no one say, the Scots don t do revenge well...
Larry

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26 Jan 00 - 12:15 PM (#168644)
Subject: RE: Songs of Vengeance
From: Midchuck

Tom Russell's "The Sky Above, The Mud Below."

Peter

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26 Jan 00 - 02:30 PM (#168693)
Subject: Lyr Add: BLACKJACK COUNTY CHAIN^^^
From: Art Thieme

a country song from the 1970s:

"BLACKJACK COUNTY CHAIN"
from singing of Tex Williams

I was settin' by the road in Blackjack County
Not knowin' that the sheriff paid a bounty,
For men like me who haven't got a penny to their name
And he locked my legs in 35 pounds of Blackjack County chain.

And all we had to eat was bread and water,
Each day we built that road a mile and a quarter,
And a blacksnake whip would tear our backs if some poor fool complained,
And you couldn't fight back wearing 35 pounds of Blackjack County chain.

And then one night while the sheriff, he was a-sleepin',
We all gathered round him midnight creepin'
And heaven help me forget that night out in the cold cold rain,
When we beat him to death with 35 pounds of Blackjack County chain.

Now the whip marks are all healed and I'm thankful,
There's nothin' but a scar around my ankle,
Most of all I'm glad no man is gonna be a slave again
To a blacksnake whip and 35 pounds of Blackjack County chain.

Art Thieme

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26 Jan 00 - 06:08 PM (#168808)
Subject: RE: Songs of Vengeance
From: Susanne (skw)

Larry, in the version I know the laird of Fyvie has nothing to do with Annie's death. Her father is the bad guy, and Andrew doesn't flee farther than Edinburgh. Where did you get your story from? - Susanne

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26 Jan 00 - 09:31 PM (#168927)
Subject: RE: Songs of Vengeance
From: lamarca

Forgot one of my favorite blues revenge songs - "Jones, Oh Jones" originally done by Caribbean Blind Blake (as opposed to Georgia Blind Blake) - it details exactly what the singer wants to do to Jones when he catches up with him - and it ain't nice! Paul Geremia does a wonderful rendition on one of his early albums, and Gordon Bok sings it on his newest (I don't think Gordon sounds bloodthirsty enough, myself...)

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26 Jan 00 - 10:57 PM (#168970)
Subject: RE: Songs of Vengeance
From: GUEST,Lyle

Thanks, Art, for the lyrics.

This thread is great, but would be sooooooooooo much better if you knowledgeable people would include the lyrics to these songs, or at least a source to find the lyrics.

Lyle

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26 Jan 00 - 11:09 PM (#168975)
Subject: RE: Songs of Vengeance
From: GUEST,_gargoyle

You have not provided the correct incantation for revelation of their sophistication.

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27 Jan 00 - 12:58 PM (#169192)
Subject: RE: Songs of Vengeance
From: emily rain

i'm with you Lyle.

ah, but it does my heart good to see all this gore.

yours in wickedness,
emily

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27 Jan 00 - 02:17 PM (#169220)
Subject: RE: Songs of Vengeance
From: BDenz

Okay. Lyrics you shall have, and you can pick the language for Garmarna's Vengeance.

See here. [Let's see if the link works. Been awhile since I've written HTML code.

Barb

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27 Jan 00 - 02:55 PM (#169239)
Subject: RE: Songs of Vengeance
From: GUEST,FP

I don't suppose MacPherson's rant is really a song of vengeance, as he dies before he gets to do anything about it: 'It was by a woman's treacherous hand That I am condemned to die; It burns my heart that I must depart And no avenged be...'

Or how about The Death of Parcy Reed? I can't remember what the revenge is for - something pretty insignificant I think - but there's a lot of blood blinding his e'e, and legs and arms getting hacked off.

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27 Jan 00 - 08:40 PM (#169432)
Subject: RE: Songs of Vengeance
From: MK

...David Bromberg's version of
Send Me to the 'Lectric Chair

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27 Jan 00 - 10:08 PM (#169478)
Subject: RE: Songs of Vengeance
From: Art Thieme

BESSIE SMITH'S original version of "Send Me To The 'Lectric Chair".

Art

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27 Jan 00 - 11:15 PM (#169520)
Subject: RE: Songs of Vengeance
From: bbelle

Caitrin ... heard the Dixie Chicks' "Earl" song the other night, while I was bustling around the house, and had to just sit down and listen. It starts out like it might be a humorous song and then you realize exactly what it's about. I thought it was good. BTW ... they may not be folk, but they have some good tunes and they are talented. Remember ... it ALL kinds of music that make the world go 'round ... moonchild

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27 Jan 00 - 11:25 PM (#169529)
Subject: RE: Songs of Vengeance
From: Mbo

My sister LOVES The Dixie Chicks...they sing some good stuff...nowhere as boring as most folks in country have gotten over the last few years. Blackhawk & Little Texas, where are you? At least they write their own music, instead of most of these folks who sing this cookie-cutter mush that these song mills produce. Ha ha--my sister likes Leann Womack too--she sings this really funny pseudo-vengeance song called "I'll Think Of A Reason Later" where she does nasty doodles on her ex-boyfriend's new girlfriend's picture in the paper (phew! got that?) Funny stuff!

--Mbo

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27 Jan 00 - 11:40 PM (#169534)
Subject: RE: Songs of Vengeance
From: InOBU

Hi Susanne:
I will have to root out the sourse. In the story, as I heard it, the laird of Fyvie is involved in that Andrew and Annie are enguaged, the laird seeks to enforce his right of the first night, Andrew and Annie sleep together to defeat that, causing her family to be angered at their loss of face before their overlord. I forget if it was in some Scotish magazine or another, I did about in my mounds of books and magazines, in case it is something I brought back with me. Unfortunately, my best sourse for old Scotish gossip died a few years ago, a great Campbell woman who ran a book shop in New York. Come to think of it, Alexi Kondratiev of the Celtic league may know... I will give the old boy a call and get back to you all.
Larry

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27 Jan 00 - 11:41 PM (#169535)
Subject: RE: Songs of Vengeance
From: InOBU

That should read, I will DIG about in my books...

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27 Jan 00 - 11:44 PM (#169536)
Subject: RE: Songs of Vengeance
From: Brendy

And 'sourse' of cource!!

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28 Jan 00 - 01:10 AM (#169576)
Subject: RE: Songs of Vengeance
From: TheOldMole

Stagolee

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28 Jan 00 - 05:44 PM (#169922)
Subject: RE: Songs of Vengeance
From: GUEST,emily rain @ U Dub

HOW COULD I FORGET???

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28 Jan 00 - 08:54 PM (#170001)
Subject: RE: Songs of Vengeance
From: GUEST,Lyle

Thanks, BDenz and emily - much appreciated!

Lyle

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28 Jan 00 - 08:55 PM (#170002)
Subject: Lyr Add: SERGEANT SMALL^^
From: John in Brisbane

Here are the lyrics to Sergeant Small as mentioned above. I'll post a MIDI to Alan in the next coupla days. The lyrics and score come from the Australian Folk Song site. I couldn't figure out if there are MIDIs on the site, so I notated it myself. Regards, John

SERGEANT SMALL

I went broke in western Queensland in Nineteen Thirty One
Nobody would employ me so my swag carrying begun
I came down into Charleville through all the western towns
I was on my way to Roma destination Darling Downs

My pants were getting ragged my boots were getting thin
But when I stopped at Mitchell a goods train shunted in
I heard the whistle blowing and looking out could see
She was on her way to Roma it was quite plain to me

Chorus
I wish I was about twenty stone only seven feet tall
I'd go back to western Queensland and beat up Sergeant Small

Now as I sat and watched her inspiration's seed was sown
I remembered the Government slogan: Here's the railway that you own
By this time the sun was setting and the night was getting nigh
So I gathered my belongings and took her on the fly

When we got into Roma I kept my head down low
I heard a voice say "Any room Mate?" I answered "Plenty Bo"
"Come out of there my noble man" came the voice of Sergeant Small
"I have trapped you very nicely - you've ridden for a fall"

The judge was very kind to me he gave me thirty days
Saying "Maybe this will help to cure your rattler jumping ways"
So if you're down and outback boys I'll tell you what I think
Stay off those Queensland goods trains they're a short cut to the clink

From Brad Tate's Down and Outback which is also another title for this song. Brad writes "My setting of a poem by Terry Boylan, chorus by Tex Morton. Boylan's verses appeared in the 'Australasian Express' London 1974. Though not connected with Morton's banned Depression song about a NSW policeman, the themes were so familiar I combined them".

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