The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #31848   Message #499463
Posted By: GUEST
05-Jul-01 - 10:01 PM
Thread Name: Lyr Req: Sawney Bean - cannibalistic family
Subject: Tune Add: SAWNEY BEAN (trad. Scottish)
Unfortunately, the vocals on the Sol Invictus versions make transcribing the melody an exercise in conjecture. I know the chords are (the same for each line): one measure (4 beats) of E minor, one of C, one of B minor, half of G, half of F# minor.

In the version on "Trees In Winter", Ian Read mostly sings around E for one measure, something involving G for another, and then is done with the line. The "Black Europe" official bootleg version is sung rather differently by Tony Wakeford. He goes more or less:

(in E minor - one sharp)
F2E2E2F2|G2A2G4|z8|z8|
E2E2E2F2|G8|F2z6|z8|
F2E2E2F2|G2A2G4|z8|z8|
E2E2E2G2|z8|z8|G1G1G2F1F1F2|

Both the rhythm and melody vary considerably between verses, but that's my conjecture as to he might have been intending to sing. If anybody has a better or more accurate melody, I am definitely interested.
Hope my attempt at abc notation is OK - I just quickly read the primer.