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Fifty Songs Everyone Should Know
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Subject: Fifty Songs Everyone Should Know From: Joe Offer Date: 21 Jan 99 - 05:43 PM A year or two ago, I saw a newspaper article about a U.S. organization or government agency that has suggested a list of songs that should be taught in schools, fifty songs that are an essential part of our culture. As I recall, it was a pretty good selection. I lost the article, and I'd be grateful to anyone who can find the list for us and post it. In the meantime, I think it would be a good idea for us to come up with our own list, so I hereby solicit suggestions for the list. Just one rule: the songs have to be ones that most people know already, songs that are an actual part of the mainstream of our culture - not songs we wish people would know. Lists for Canada, Australia, Great Britain, Ireland, New Zealand, and other countries are certainly welcomed and encouraged. I'll probably come back with more later, but here are my first few: Happy Birthday to YouWell, that's a start. What else? -Joe Offer- |
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Subject: RE: Fifty Songs Everyone Should Know From: Tiger Date: 21 Jan 99 - 06:20 PM A couple more.....Tiger
Amazing Grace |
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Subject: RE: Fifty Songs Everyone Should Know From: Sail Date: 21 Jan 99 - 06:47 PM Joe, I have a copy of that article, or one like it, right here in my RUS book. Here's the list of "42" songs the Music Educators Nat'l Conference says every American should know:
Amazing Grace We need to add: Swinging on a Star for one.
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Subject: RE: Fifty Songs Everyone Should Know From: dick greenhaus Date: 21 Jan 99 - 06:50 PM If everyone knew, and sang, fifty songs it wouldn't much matter which ones they were, Unless they're all planning to sing in (shudder) unison. |
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Subject: RE: Fifty Songs Everyone Should Know From: alison Date: 21 Jan 99 - 07:11 PM Hi, Anyone else noticed how many of these double up with the "folk songs to ditch" thread. I'll have a think about the Irish version...So far the only Irish one mentioned has been "I'll take you home again Kathleen"..... ugh.... (sorry... one of my pet hates). Slainte alison |
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Subject: RE: Fifty Songs Everyone Should Know From: dick greenhaus Date: 21 Jan 99 - 07:13 PM And I have no idea why this (epithet deleted) Macintosh insists on truncationg my messages. Please add a terminal "n" to the last one |
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Subject: RE: Fifty Songs Everyone Should Know From: Don Meixner Date: 21 Jan 99 - 07:47 PM Alison, The interesting thing is Kathleen was written by a man named Westendorf, my spellage may be wrong, not your typical Irish name. And if my memory is correct, he wrote it in Canada for his wife who was dying of TB. Here in America we have a great tradition of real Irish songs heving been written by German Jewish guys in New York city. Which is a long way from Irish Catholic guys living in Derry. :-) Don. I would add:
When I'm Gone, by Phil Ochs
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Subject: RE: Fifty Songs Everyone Should Know From: Barbara Shaw Date: 21 Jan 99 - 07:57 PM How about:
Hard Times (O.K., skip the last two). |
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Subject: RE: Fifty Songs Everyone Should Know From: Bill D Date: 21 Jan 99 - 08:06 PM Dunderbeck(or Johnny Rebeck..or 3-4 other names) The Worms Crawl in.... lots of kids camp songs... |
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Subject: RE: Fifty Songs Everyone Should Know From: alison Date: 21 Jan 99 - 08:11 PM Here you go Don, Everything you ever wanted to know, (or not as the case may be......) about Kathleen. Slainte alison |
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Subject: RE: Fifty Songs Everyone Should Know From: Bob Biderman Date: 21 Jan 99 - 08:18 PM One of the songs on Don Meixner's list is The Log Driver's Waltz. That one goes on the Canadian list Don. It was written by Wade Hemsworth, who also wrote The Black Fly Song. Bob |
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Subject: RE: Fifty Songs Everyone Should Know From: catspaw49 Date: 21 Jan 99 - 10:03 PM Hey Great!!! A meaty "thought" type thread. Love the stuff that gives you something to think about while doing the daily grind. Be back later. THANK YOU JOE!!!catspaw |
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Subject: RE: Fifty Songs Everyone Should Know From: Big Mick Date: 21 Jan 99 - 10:06 PM I am tempted to add to both the US and Ireland list. But even with the extensive background that my family, fellow musicians, and friends have blessed me with, I think it would be pretentious of me to speak for the Irish. Oddly enough, I could add more to the Irish list than the US. None the less, I will only add to the US list. This is by no means all I would add, just what comes to mind quickly. I will add more later.
US list: |
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Subject: RE: Fifty Songs Everyone Should Know From: FRANK MCGRATH Date: 21 Jan 99 - 10:21 PM If there is any bit of Paddy in your blood you must learn:
The Rocks of Bawn The Boys of Barr na Sraide She Moved Through the Fair The Croppy Boy Skibereen Fran |
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Subject: RE: Fifty Songs Everyone Should Know From: alison Date: 21 Jan 99 - 10:31 PM Hi, Well here is my attempt at an Irish list of songs to know, most of them will crop up when you get a group of Irish people together…. And yes I know people will disagree…. And take some out or add others in… please feel free… this is just a starting point. I know some of these aren't strictly Irish… some fall into that only sung when very drunk and with lots of tears pouring down your cheeks category, and some of them aren't what I'd chose to sing… but you are likely to hear them…
A nation once again, Slainte alison |
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Subject: RE: Fifty Songs Everyone Should Know From: Don Meixner Date: 21 Jan 99 - 11:36 PM Alison, Thanks for the hook up. Don Bob, I was unaware my list was only suppose to be an American one. I think great songs know no boundries. You'll notice my list also has an Australian song. Alison's list has some Scottish tunes as well. If I thought for one minute that German was a melodic language(*wink*), I'd have some in there from my own, very limited, Austrian ancestory. But, alas, even the tenderest love ballad sound like an invite to an axe catching contest. (Further winks and nudges:-)) I also don't know any. Regards Don |
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Subject: RE: Fifty Songs Everyone Should Know From: katlaughing Date: 22 Jan 99 - 01:46 AM As a "Kathleen" and proud of it, I would just like to say the song always meant going home to Ireland for me, esp. when my dad sang it to me. And, dissillusioned as I might be, it will ever be thus. Thanks Alison for mentioning the Too-a-roo-a-roo-ra (That's An Irish Lullaby). As I leave tomorrow to travel for my mother's final resting, it is good to be reminded of what she sang me to sleep with almost everynight. My sisters and I always cleaned house while listening to show tunes. Anybody think of any, such as: Maria Oklahoma Tomorrow (from Annie) LOTS OF SACCHARIN! Who will buy? from Oliver, as well as several others which I can't remember the names of Did anyone mention Waltzing Matilda, yet? When the caissons go rolling along (Title?) American Pie Streets of Laredo Yellow Submarine Imagine Country Roads This Old Man (nick, knack, paddy-whack song) Little Bunny Foo-Foo Eensy Weensy Spider Summertime House of the Rising Sun Simple Gifts Hey, good looking I'm so lonesome I could cry (Hank Wms.; title?) Don't sit under the apple tree Missouri Waltz w/words Tennessee Waltz w/words Edge of Destruction Some Personal Favorites:Strawberry Roan Zebra Dun Little Joe the Wrangler When the works all done this fall And then, When Johnny Goes Marching off to war Goodbye Old Paint I know there's more; my mind is just kinda numb and blank. This is a great thread! Thanks for the respite. I'll be back next week. kat:-(not much laughing Line breaks <br> added. May your mother rest in peace, Kat. -Joe Offer- |
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Subject: RE: Fifty Songs Everyone Should Know From: katlaughing Date: 22 Jan 99 - 01:48 AM Sorry, I had them all listed down a vertical row. I don't know how they wound up so jumbled. |
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Subject: RE: Fifty Songs Everyone Should Know From: Rasta Date: 22 Jan 99 - 02:21 AM here s my list perhaps not for everyone --summeer wages--Kansas rain--dont think twice--If I had a ship--london homesick blues--early mornin rain--Mother Country--daydream believer--Rhoddy Mc corley--Armstrong yep nothing like playing all the hits--etc --rastaaaaa-- |
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Subject: RE: Fifty Songs Everyone Should Know From: MudGuard Date: 22 Jan 99 - 02:36 AM The Song for Ireland should be added to the Irish list. To claim the "Silent Night" as part of the american culture is very daring - every Austrian will be out to kill you, Joe!!! AndreasW |
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Subject: RE: Fifty Songs Everyone Should Know From: Joe Offer Date: 22 Jan 99 - 06:32 AM Like it or not, Andreas, "Silent Night" is known by most Americans, and it certainly is part of our culture. Many of our ancestors were Europeans, you know. One major problem the U.S. has is that it has forgotten its cultural roots that are not European. I've known "Stille Nacht" in German since I was a kid, and I sing it solo in church every Christmas. Here in California, "Cielito Lindo" should also be on the list, and perhaps "Adelita" and "La Cucaracha" - not to mention "De Colores," which was mentioned above. "Alouette" would be another, especially in the Midwest and Eastern U.S. Perhaps the English version of "Funiculi, Funicula" could be another, but that might be stretching things a bit. -Joe Offer- |
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Subject: RE: Fifty Songs Everyone Should Know From: Big Mick Date: 22 Jan 99 - 08:37 AM Kat, Your mother must have been a special woman, to have raised you. You are one of the people whose postings I always look forward to. God be good to her. Mick |
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Subject: RE: Fifty Songs Everyone Should Know From: alison Date: 23 Jan 99 - 01:17 AM Dear Kat, sorry to hear about your mum, our thoughts and prayers are with you. alison |
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Subject: RE: Fifty Songs Everyone Should Know From: Barbara Shaw Date: 23 Jan 99 - 10:43 AM Dear Kat, So sorry about your mother. Your post reminded me of three songs I used to sing to my kids when they were babies:
I Gave My Love a Cherry How can we keep it to 50 songs? |
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Subject: RE: Fifty Songs Everyone Should Know From: gargoyle Date: 23 Jan 99 - 01:24 PM 50 Campfire Songs That Everyone Knows 1. All Together Again
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Subject: RE: Fifty Songs Everyone Should Know From: alison Date: 23 Jan 99 - 07:39 PM hi,
I submit Slainte alison |
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Subject: RE: Fifty Songs Everyone Should Know From: gargoyle Date: 24 Jan 99 - 12:09 AM I concure.....On Top of Spaghetti is a fine candidate for 49.....however, I have never heard of 40K....in my day we were lucky to reach "six miles high and falling fast."
A DT search brings up Mrs. Robinson for under "40,000." Could you post the words???(Sound like Mr. Joe now) |
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Subject: RE: Fifty Songs Everyone Should Know From: catspaw49 Date: 24 Jan 99 - 12:39 AM This seemed like fun, but every time I come back to this thread, I find my list is there somewhere. This time I brought a very short list and most of it was taken. But for once I'm left with 2 that haven't been mentioned. So howzabout "Ash Grove" and "Dixie". catspaw |
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Subject: RE: Fifty Songs Everyone Should Know From: Laurel the x-girl scout Date: 28 Jan 99 - 06:49 PM Three of my favorite camp songs are.. 1. Linger 2. Bamboo 3. Small Blue Bottle--- at least that is what the song is about. Laurel |
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Subject: RE: Fifty Songs Everyone Should Know From: alison Date: 28 Jan 99 - 07:54 PM Hi Gargoyle, There is a version in the database, not quite the same and I'm sure we've had this in another thread ages ago. The one I learnt is
He jumped from 40,000 feet without a parachute (X3)
they scraped him off the runway like a lump of strawberry jam... slainte alison |
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Subject: RE: Fifty Songs Everyone Should Know From: Laurel Date: 28 Jan 99 - 09:02 PM Don't forget "The Life Of a Voyager"!! Laurel |
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Subject: RE: Fifty Songs Everyone Should Know From: george Henderson NSC Date: 29 Jan 99 - 10:14 AM I used to sing all my kids to sleep with "The Flying Cloud" obtained from the singing of Lou Killen. I don't know whether they dropped off to sleep from boredom or what but it has always been a favourite of mine. |
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Subject: RE: Fifty Songs Everyone Should Know From: Allan C. Date: 19 Jan 00 - 07:16 AM refresh |
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Subject: RE: Fifty Songs Everyone Should Know From: Liz the Squeak Date: 19 Jan 00 - 08:33 AM Well I make that about 437 songs already. Have you noticed how many of these are songs that no one actually writes down and learns, but sort of inherits as a folk memory or acquire by some form of osmosis? I've never sat down to learn 'You are my sunshine', but still, I know it..... We even wrote our own version.
You are my sunshine, my only sunshine, LTS |
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Subject: RE: Fifty Songs Everyone Should Know From: GeorgeH Date: 19 Jan 00 - 08:52 AM Yes, Liz, but how many of those 437 songs would you WISH to know . . . There isn't a single song in Joe's list I wouldn't rather disappeared entirely, even though a number of them are very powerful songs which CAN be performed to great effect. There's no point in promoting something to the status of "cultural essentials" if they're going to be hackneyed (?sp) and cliched in the process. (It doesn't, generally, happen to "Ode to Joy"; why has it happened to "Amazing Grace" in 99% of its performances?) Just my daily ration of sour grapes, folks!! Or can we nominate the defining performance of our cultural essentials? (In which case I nominate Peter Bellamy for Amazing Grace, and upset the USians even further.) G. |
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Subject: RE: Fifty Songs Everyone Should Know From: Mbo Date: 19 Jan 00 - 10:34 AM Oh Alisom, your list was right on target. I love all those songs (except the fake-Irish ones.) Everyone should know all the songs of the Clancy Brothers Greatest Hits. Then theres my 14 volumes (and counting) on the Best of The Thistle & Shamrock I'm assembling. It has over 300 songs & tunes, personally selected by me, that every Celtic lover should know. No one has mentioned the greatest immigration ballad ever "Paddy's Green Shamrock Shore." My mother absolutely loves this song! I assembled from various sources, an 11-minute version, sure to please anyone who can't get enough of this song. Hmm...I don't think I saw "Wild Mountain Thyme," "When You And I Were Young, Maggie," and "The Road to Dundee." --Mbo |
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Subject: RE: Fifty Songs Everyone Should Know From: paddymac Date: 19 Jan 00 - 10:51 AM "Cassions" was noted above for the american list. I think two other "service songs" should certainly be listed: "Marines' Hymn" and "Anchors Aweigh". |
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Subject: RE: Fifty Songs Everyone Should Know From: Grab Date: 19 Jan 00 - 11:27 AM Alison, Off-topic, I know, but in my scout troop the first 2 lines went either Glory, glory what a hell of a way to die x2 or Glory, glory what a hell of a way to die When you're hanging by your braces and you don't know how to fly You usually got both, as some ppl preferred 1 and others preferred the other. Works OK with both anyway. Grab. |
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Subject: RE: Fifty Songs Everyone Should Know From: Night Owl Date: 19 Jan 00 - 11:41 AM Thanks for this thread, Joe. Adding "Quiet Faith of Man" Bill Staines |
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Subject: RE: Fifty Songs Everyone Should Know From: Roger the skiffler Date: 19 Jan 00 - 11:44 AM Joebro, Joebro, is this a penance? It's a great idea except it'll drive me mad & keep me awake at night! I'll not submit a list as most of mine have been mentioned already. At least 50 is a good number, 10 would be impossible to decide! I don't know all the patriotic American anthems and I beg to be excused learning them! RtS |
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Subject: RE: Fifty Songs Everyone Should Know From: MTed Date: 19 Jan 00 - 11:47 AM I couldn't help notice how contrived and patronizing the Music educators list was--and how much it varied from Gargoyle's list, which seems a much more accurate collection of the songs that Americans really do know-- I do have somewhat the same feeling as George, sometimes, that a lot of that stuff that everyone happens to know isn't pleasing to either sing or hear--(I must confess that I also regard the lists of songs that some person or group thinks I should know as being like the bumper stickers that say "Kill your television"--If you want to tell me what to do, I will tell you where to go)-- What would be interesting would be to see a list of the 50 songs that people wished they knew--
P.S. Kat--so sorry to hear about your mother-- |
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Subject: RE: Fifty Songs Everyone Should Know From: Easy Rider Date: 19 Jan 00 - 11:47 AM What about "Glory glory hallelujah", from the Civil War? We all learned that, when we were children, and made up nasty verses to it too. You know... "Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord..." or "Mine eyes have seen the glory of the burning of the school..." |
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Subject: RE: Fifty Songs Everyone Should Know From: Blackcat2 Date: 19 Jan 00 - 01:21 PM I'd love to see what Skarpi would consider to be the 50 Icelandic songs everyone should know! pax yall |
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Subject: RE: Fifty Songs Everyone Should Know From: JenEllen Date: 19 Jan 00 - 03:31 PM UMMMMMMM...How's about: Mairzy Doats Swinging on a Star Toot,toot, Tootsie When You're Smiling Baby Face Don't Sit Under the Apple Tree Cool Water |
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Subject: RE: Fifty Songs Everyone Should Know From: kendall Date: 19 Jan 00 - 03:45 PM I'm not Irish, but, last Saturday night, I had some scotch in me..does that count? In my not so humble opinion, the Irish list must include Kevin Barry. Kat..my warmest best wishes go with you. |
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Subject: RE: Fifty Songs Everyone Should Know From: GUEST,Frank Date: 19 Jan 00 - 03:49 PM How about The City of New Orleans? Or Alice's Restaurant? The above lists are great but I'd have to add those two... Frank |
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Subject: RE: Fifty Songs Everyone Should Know From: Martin _Ryan Date: 19 Jan 00 - 05:10 PM George (Henderson): Jeez, George - they were patient children to lie peacefully through the Flying Cloud, alright! Mine used to get "The Greenland Whale Fishery". They slept in bunks at the time and there was a lot of climbing the rigging, swinging from spars, miming telescopes etc. etc. They basically fell asleep through exhaustion! Regards p.s. Sorry about the thread creep, folks. |
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Subject: RE: Fifty Songs Everyone Should Know From: McGrath of Harlow Date: 19 Jan 00 - 06:26 PM My eyes are getting dizzy skimming through all these lists.
But so far noone seems to have put in Music Hall songs and The Beatles, or George Formby. My Old Man said Follow the Van Daisy, Daisy, give me your answer do. Lily of Laguna. Yellow Submarine. Just a Song at Twilight. I'll Get By with a Little Help from my Friends. I'm Leaning on a Lamp post. And of course, the secret weapon opf all crowds and queues in England, "Why are we waiting?" (to the tune of "Come let us adore him", in case it hasn't made it across the Atlantic).
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Subject: RE: Fifty Songs Everyone Should Know From: GUEST,MTed Date: 19 Jan 00 - 07:55 PM How about lets just say everyone should know at least fifty songs, and leave it up to them which ones? |
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Subject: RE: Fifty Songs Everyone Should Know From: GUEST,ddw Date: 20 Jan 00 - 12:08 AM I haven't seen any mention of:
Wreck of the Old 97 And that's leaving out a lot of the great "bad man" songs about Jesse Jame, Pretty Boy Floyd, and a host of others. cheers david |
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