Origins: He Was A Friend Of Mine

Subject: RE: Origins: He Was A Friend Of Mine
From: GerryM
Date: 04 Feb 26 - 03:39 PM

I believe there's a recording where van Ronk says, "I learned this song from Bob Dylan ... who learned it from Rick von Schmidt ... who learned it from me."

Subject: RE: Origins: He Was A Friend Of Mine
From: GUEST,gillymor
Date: 04 Feb 26 - 10:56 AM

Another example- Blues Stay Away From Me by The Delmore Brothers.

Subject: RE: Origins: He Was A Friend Of Mine
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 04 Feb 26 - 10:44 AM

Whoever composed it knew the emotional impact of an unusually long first note. The first time I heard it, the word "He" had five beats.

Other examples of long first notes:

Yellow Bird
Tumbling Tumbleweeds
Lord, you have come to the seashore

Subject: RE: Origins: He Was A Friend Of Mine
From: GUEST,gillymor
Date: 04 Feb 26 - 09:09 AM

Here's the Wiki
entry which jives with what I've heard about it.
I first learned the from the Van Ronk recording but I'm partial to the Jerry Jeff Walker version here

Subject: Origins: He Was A Friend Of Mine
From: PHJim
Date: 04 Feb 26 - 07:56 AM

I have heard HE WAS A FRIEND OF MINE sung by Dave Van Ronk, Eric Von Schmidt, Willie Nelson and just yesterday by Bob Dylan. Is this a folk song, or do we know the composer?