Lyr Req: songs about the Kennedy assassination

Subject: RE: Kennedy Assassination
From: GUEST,Art Thieme
Date: 02 Jun 04 - 05:41 PM

UMH,

Thanks so much for those songs. I'd never seen them before. The collection just keeps on growing. ----------- And a big thank you to those who have found other songs on JFK that I'd not heard. Now that I cannot drive or travel much I don't get around to look for these real documents. But the www has made it possible for me to keep on keepin' on with it. I wish I could figure out a way to selectively print out songs and portions of these threads. Whenever I try to do that my printer seems to think I want it to print EVERYTHING-- and it's almost impossible to get it to quit without a hot shutdown. Once I was told to highlight the thing I want to print first---but that doesn't seem to work for me.---- Oh, well, that's life.

By the way, the whole basic main collection is now at the LIBRARY OF CONGRESS ARCHIVE OF FOLK CULTURE. It looks like I'll definitely have to update that.

Again, thanks !!!

Art Thieme

Subject: RE: Kennedy Assassination
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 02 Jun 04 - 05:54 PM

When I want to print anything from the threads, I highlight it, copy it, and then paste it in Word, or something, and print from that.
...................

But I find it strange in a way that there seem to be so few songs about Bobby's assassination than John's. There was a sort of dramatic inevitability about the event that gave it the feeling of a borde ballad.

Subject: RE: Kennedy Assassination
From: GUEST,Art Thieme
Date: 03 Jun 04 - 09:12 PM

McGrath, Hello--

Yes, there really is that much difference between the man in the office of president of the USA and one who just wants that post. It's like the Queen Bee as opposed to just a very good worker bee. And it is also very difficult to imagine the very real affection Americans felt for JFK----especially now---after Nixon and Watergate, and Johnson and Viet Nam, and Reaganomics, and Bush's assault on the things that made others look up to American ideals -- if not Americans. And the monumentally huge and insane mob action onslaught of people who crucified Bill Clinton just for sayin', "No, dad, I never had sex with her." But there really was a huge spontaneous outpouring of emotion that people needed to "get out"---and so all these songs. Bobby was promise---but JFK was like having Cary Grant in the White House. (That's interesting---another Kerry !!! History DOES repeat I guess. It just costs twice as much every time around.) ;-) Bobby did have promise---but he was no John Kennedy.

Art

Subject: RE: Kennedy Assassination
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 04 Jun 04 - 01:10 PM

Two myths in play here - one is the King who is killed after victory. The other is the Hero who is defeated on the eve of victory.

Agammemnon or Achilles.

Subject: RE: Kennedy Assassination
From: GUEST,Mark Anthony
Date: 31 Jul 04 - 03:33 PM

Just read through the thread from 1997. Very,very interesting.
Art Thieme has done a great job!
My favorite JFK song (so far anyway) is the "Children of the New Frontier" by John Stewart.
Aside from "Can't Keep from Crying" are there any other JFK related song compilations?

Thanks,

Mark

Subject: RE: Kennedy Assassination
From: GUEST,Eric
Date: 01 Aug 04 - 02:52 PM

John Stewart's Last Campaign album is themed around Bobby Kennedy - it is a putting together a lot of John's songs which were influenced by his time on the road with RFK in the 1968 campaign as well as the one he wrote just after the assassination [Clack, Clack]. There are some great songs there. For more info on John look at http://www.bitemyfoot.co.uk.

Eric

Subject: RE: Kennedy Assassination
From: GUEST,Art Thieme
Date: 08 Aug 04 - 01:14 AM

Thanks to you all for the insights.


Art

Subject: RE: Kennedy Assassination
From: GUEST,Art Thieme
Date: 22 Nov 04 - 09:05 PM

Nov. 22, 1963

REFRESH

Subject: RE: Kennedy Assassination
From: Peace
Date: 22 Nov 04 - 09:43 PM

Good one, Art. Thank you.

Subject: RE: Kennedy Assassination
From: GUEST
Date: 25 Jan 05 - 12:17 AM

Hello

I seach any information where I could find the song "November 22nd, 1963" by Jimmy Newman (Art Thieme posted the lyrics above). I searched the web and several record shops. I know it was on a compilation album. But I have no more informations. Can somebody please help ?

Thanx in advance

Subject: RE: Kennedy Assassination
From: GUEST,Art Thieme
Date: 25 Jan 05 - 07:44 PM

We are about to move and my Kennedy songs collection and allied materials are all packed up. I'm not sure when I'll be getting to 'em again. A copy of the whole thing is available at the U.S. Library Of Congress--Washington D.C.---in the Archive Of Folk Culture (formerly The Archive Of Folk Song). Sorry--for now.

Art Thieme

Subject: RE: Kennedy Assassination
From: GUEST,Guest
Date: 12 Feb 05 - 09:41 PM

Folks,

I'm looking for lyrics to a JFK assassination song I remember, but which I don't see here.

It was on a 45 RPM record we had when I was a kid, so I'm thinking it had to be from the 60's or maybe early 70's.

it pronounced out "On November twenty-second, Ninteen-hundred sixty-three..."

I remember the words, "...slayer's bullet took his precious life."

I'm trying to remember more to nail it down, but I just have these bits and pieces.

Anyone know an artist and title?

Thanks!

Subject: RE: Kennedy Assassination
From: GUEST,Art Thieme
Date: 12 Feb 05 - 10:51 PM

It sounds very familiar, but we are still packed up. I'll get to the collection eventually.

Art

Subject: RE: Kennedy Assassination
From: GUEST,Art Thieme
Date: 24 Feb 06 - 12:46 AM

refresh

Subject: RE: Kennedy Assassination
From: KenBrock
Date: 24 Feb 06 - 10:48 AM

"The Warmth of the Sun" was written by Brian Wilson because of the JFK assassination, though it is not mentioned, and recorded by The Beach Boys. It is about the loss of a friend.

The Kingston Trio changed the setting of "Big Ball in Town" from Nashville to Boston (adding a pretty good JFK impersonation), in celebration of the JFK inaugural.

Subject: RE: Kennedy Assassination
From: GUEST,guest
Date: 24 Feb 06 - 11:02 AM

I have a signed autograph of JFK an original..Is it worth much ..

Subject: RE: Kennedy Assassination
From: GUEST,guest
Date: 24 Feb 06 - 11:05 AM

sorry it should have read..a letter from his secretary..also signed by JFK..plus a colour photograph also signed by jfk

Subject: RE: Kennedy Assassination
From: Louie Roy
Date: 24 Feb 06 - 09:41 PM

It has been a long time since November the 22nd 1963.At that time Iwas the Elected State Chaplain of the Veterans Of foreign Wars and I got a letter from President Johnson for all Chaplains of the Veterans of foreign wars to have a special tribute or program honoring this PresidentI did put together some inspiring words and I had the State Department Commander to call a special meeting of the Department Council members and we did honor John Fitzgerald Kennnedy witht the proper ceremony.I also sent this memorial to a Natiomal Orginiziation and was awarded $600.00 for the best memorial or essay that was submitted.I will not bore the members of something I wrote 43 years ago.I also have the book honoring him called the Passing Of The Torch Plus and 2 different Newspapers with all the gory details.Louie Roy

Subject: RE: Kennedy Assassination
From: GUEST,Art Thieme
Date: 24 Feb 06 - 11:50 PM

Louie Roy,

A very nice remembrance. Like the individual songs, you have shown us another glimpse into those times.

Art Thieme

Subject: RE: Kennedy Assassination
From: Louie Roy
Date: 25 Feb 06 - 01:23 PM

Than you Art for the kind words.I remember where I was at and what I was doing when I first heard the news about JFK.I'm sure at least 95% of every man woman or child who was alive that day also remember where they were and what they were doing.It was hard for us to believe that such a tragity could occurr in this great country,but that just shows even today we all live under an allusion

Subject: RE: Kennedy Assassination
From: GUEST
Date: 22 Nov 06 - 10:01 PM

refresh

Subject: RE: Kennedy Assassination
From: Little Robyn
Date: 23 Nov 06 - 02:19 PM

Most people remember where they were and what they were doing when they heard the news.
I heard a song about this a few years back (I think Debbie Gillanders sang it but I can't find it on tape).
It covered things that were happening at the time, when she was just a kid, but her memories were different from other people's memories.
She couldn't figure out how that was, until she realised that the Kennedy she'd heard about was actually Bobby, while everyone else was talking about John.
I don't know where Debbie is these days, to ask her about it.
Robyn

Subject: RE: Kennedy Assassination
From: Little Hawk
Date: 23 Nov 06 - 02:26 PM

I remember both of them. Like it was yesterday.

Subject: RE: Kennedy Assassination
From: Janie
Date: 23 Nov 06 - 09:19 PM

We were talking about this at work yesterday. One person compared the national shock and horror as matched only by that of 9/11. I think I agree.

The assassination of a national leader today would not cause nearly as strong a reaction....an understandable but sad comment on how our perception of ourselves and our society have changed. We probably have a more realistic view of ourselves as a nation. It has made us cynical.

Janie

Subject: RE: Kennedy Assassination
From: GUEST,Art Thieme
Date: 09 May 07 - 11:37 PM

Here are some murder ballads.

Art

Subject: RE: Kennedy Assassination
From: GUEST,Mike B.
Date: 10 May 07 - 01:30 AM

I think Steve Gillette wrote a song focusing on the conspiracy theories surrounding the assassination - can't recall the title, however.

Subject: RE: Kennedy Assassination
From: GUEST,Waco Jacko
Date: 10 May 07 - 03:29 AM

British heavy rock band Saxon, recorded "Dallas 1pm" which was a stand out track (and great riff) at their live shows.

Subject: Lyr Add: IN THE SUMMER OF HIS YEARS
From: GUEST,edthefolkie
Date: 10 May 07 - 07:08 AM

Don't know if Art is still looking at this thread....

One of the early postings is the Herbert Kretzmer/Dave Lee song "In The Summer Of His Years" which Millicent Martin performed on the BBC's TW3 the weekend of JFK's assassination. The song stuck in my mind and I was sure there was another verse. A trawl of the Web revealed a fuller version:

A young man rode with his head held high,
Under the Texas sun,
And no one guessed,
That a man so blessed,
Would perish by the gun,
Lord, would perish by the gun.

A shot rang out like a Southern shout,
And Heaven held its breath,
For the dream of a multitude of men
Rode with him to his death
Lord, rode with him to his death

Yes, the heart of the world weighed heavy
With the helplessness of tears
For the man cut down in a Texas town
In the summer of his years
In the summer of his years

And we who stay mustn't ever lose,
The victories that he's won,
For wherever "man" looks to Freedom's past,
His soul goes riding on,
Lord, his soul goes riding on!

Apparently Connie Francis and Mahalia Jackson and others recorded versions of this song and it's on a BBC album somewhere too. ALL the versions I can find are different - folk process again.

Ed

Subject: RE: Kennedy Assassination
From: GUEST,Art Thieme
Date: 10 May 07 - 10:24 AM

Guest Edith Folk,
I do remember that verse. Actually I taped the song off USA TV when the "That Was The Week That Was" program was shown on American TV. I remember David Frost being the host.

Art

Subject: RE: Kennedy Assassination
From: GUEST,edthefolkie
Date: 10 May 07 - 11:18 AM

I was 16 when JFK was shot so was at an impressionable age.

Lots of us at our rather staid school used to watch TW3 every week - it was like a breath of fresh air, along with Dylan, the Beatles etc, and was required viewing. So when the programme started that Saturday night (it was live by the way)we all expected them to speak for us - and they did.

Kretzmer and Lee must have written that lyric and tune extremely quickly - it still stands up today, which is remarkable. I know Millicent Martin was nearly overcome with tears when she had to sing it.

I don't care about all the dirt which has (supposedly) been unearthed about JFK since his death - the world was a much worse place after he went; a lot of hopes died with him.

Ed

Subject: RE: Kennedy Assassination
From: GUEST,Art Thieme
Date: 10 May 07 - 07:52 PM

Aye, you are correct. I lost a bunch of my youth that day.
And now I see that it wasn't Edith Fowke---it was Ed The Folk. I see the pun of things even when it's not there. My cross to bare.

Just a thought: What is worse, Kennedy acting out sexually, as we all did in the '60s because that's the way things went down then. Why? Because we could, and it was fun.

And there was no HIV. It was a whole other ethic. To judge it from here and now seems a bit insane. Things are what they are at any given point in history. Endure it all, be glad it didn't kill you, and move on.

So there!

Art

Subject: RE: Kennedy Assassination
From: Jack Campin
Date: 10 May 07 - 09:18 PM

Somebody remind me what the anti-Polaris song was that Folkways wouldn't include on their LP because it attacked Kennedy?

Some of us were not particularly grieved to see the comeuppance of a overprivileged trigger-happy nutter who had presided over the invasion of Vietnam and came within a hairsbreadth of turning the earth into a radioactive hell.

Subject: RE: Kennedy Assassination
From: GUEST,Ken Brock
Date: 11 May 07 - 10:25 AM

I think the Beatles "I Am the Walrus" should be considered, because of the dialogue from Act IV, Scene 6 of King Lear that is heard during the fadeout:

OSWALD

    Slave, thou hast slain me: villain, take my purse:
    If ever thou wilt thrive, bury my body;
    And give the letters which thou find'st about me
    To Edmund earl of Gloucester; seek him out
    Upon the British party: O, untimely death!

    Dies

EDGAR

    I know thee well: a serviceable villain;
    As duteous to the vices of thy mistress
    As badness would desire.

GLOUCESTER

    What, is he dead?

EDGAR

    Sit you down, father; rest you

Subject: RE: Kennedy Assassination
From: Art Thieme
Date: 23 Nov 07 - 09:52 PM

refish for anniversary of the deed

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: songs about the Kennedy assassination
From: GUEST
Date: 22 Nov 10 - 08:29 PM

there was a song about Bobby in the 60's, i dont know the title but
some of the verses was, sock it to me Bobby; sock it to me Bobby if you have any info. on this song would you please shear it with me   

                                     thanks a lot
                                           Don
                                  my email address [e-mail]

Subject: "In The Summer Of His Years" - Mahalia Jackson
From: Genie
Date: 22 Nov 10 - 09:02 PM

Here's "The Summer Of His Years" sung by Mahalia Jackson.

I really liked the Chad Mitchell Trio recording, but this one is much, much more haunting.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: songs about the Kennedy assassination
From: Effsee
Date: 22 Nov 10 - 10:15 PM

Subject: RE: Kennedy Assassination
From: Jack Campin - PM
Date: 10 May 07 - 09:18 PM

Some of us were not particularly grieved to see the comeuppance of a overprivileged trigger-happy nutter who had presided over the invasion of Vietnam and came within a hairsbreadth of turning the earth into a radioactive hell.


Jack, you're assessment of Kennedy's policy does not stand up to historical evidence. It would seem more likely that his assasination was because of his policy of withdrawal from Vietnam.
I know it's 3 years since your last comment...but times move on eh?

Subject: Lyr Add: HOMENAJE A JOHN F. KENNEDY (Jose Morante)
From: TonyA
Date: 22 Nov 10 - 10:38 PM

HOMENAJE A JOHN F. KENNEDY
by Jose Morante, of the conjunto band Los Conquistadores, of San Antonio.

(JFK was serenaded in San Antonio the day before he died, and this song was written immediately after his death. Morante was born in 1918, recorded on Bluebird in the mid-30's, later on Decca, Columbia, Ideal, and his own Norteño label. The recording of this song was re-issued as part of the 1976 12-LP album "Folk Music in America" issued by the Library of Congress.)

Como homenaje sincero, canto su vida y su muerte,
del hombre que el mundo llora, porque fue un gran Presidente.
Kennedy tuvo la dicha de demonstrar su valor
en la guerra que pasara el año cuarenta y dos.
Fue commandante de un barco en las islas del Oriente.
nunca soñaba que un dia podria a ser el Presidente.
Anduvo por todo el mundo. No hubo enemigo capaz
de atentar contra su vida de este gigante de paz.
En la Alemania cautiva, sobre el cercado se vio,
brindarle un gran homenaje por la esperanza que dio.
Mexico le abrio sus brazos como a ninguno jamas.
Kennedy hizo justicia, regresando el Chamizal.
Kennedy se vino a Texas, y a San Antonio llego;
entre homenajes y fiestas el pueblo lo cautivo.
Iba por Austin y Houston a saludar su nacion,
porque era grande de todo, sobrado de corazon.
El ventidos de noviembre no se me podra olvidar,
porque sin causa o razones su destino fue fatal.
En Dallas se le esperaba, lo grand de la ocasion
nunca hubo presentimiento de una horrorosa traicion.
En su carro iba su esposa y el señor Gobernador;        
los dos iban saludando cuando un balazo, se oyo.
Alzo los brazos al cielo, sin saber que le pego;
se oyo otra bala certera, y el Presidente cayo.
Su fiel esposa al momento con su cuerpo lo cubrio,
y al senor Gobernador la otra bala le pego.
Esta es la historia mas negra que al mundo entero enluto,
cuando la vida de un grande un aesino trunco.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: songs about the Kennedy assassination
From: GUEST,November 22nd, 1963
Date: 20 May 13 - 10:53 PM

Please someone tell me who recorded this song?

When you sing this song be brave and sing it loud and strong and clear,
John F. Kennedy was not a man to ever speak in fear,
Pick up the flag, march on in peace and pray that there will be
More men like John Fitzgerald Kennedy.

On November 22nd, nineteen-hundred-sixty-three,
A sunny day in Texas in a town they call Big D,
A man was killed who changed the course of history,
His name was John Fitzgerald Kennedy.

He was riding in a motorcade that sad and fateful day,
Mrs. Connally turned to him with a voice so proud and gay,
She pointed out that people here had treated him real nice,
Minutes later bullets took his precious life.

Mrs. Kennedy cried, "O, no." and she caught him as he fell,
What the world lost at that moment only history can tell,
They rushed him to the hospital---took five minutes on the way,
As the word flashed 'round the world to stop and pray.

It was over in just minutes; John F. Kennedy was dead,
Disbelief, shock and sorrow; the people bowed their heads,
Mrs. Kennedy stood by him as the tears came to her eyes,
Put her ring upon his hand and then kissed him goodbye.

The pens of man will scribble on in sad futility,
Perhaps a paragraph or two will touch reality,
John Kennedy was proud and brave and his story has been told,
May his home be blessed and may God rest his soul.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: songs about the Kennedy assassination
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 21 May 13 - 12:14 AM

G'day

Art Thieme posted it (Date: 18 Mar 04 - 12:59 PM) well up above The song you are looking for. It was written by TOM T. HALL. Here are the words as sung and recorded by Jimmy Newman.

November 22nd, 1963

When you sing this song be brave and sing it loud and strong and clear,
John F. Kennedy was not a man to ever speak in fear,
Pick up the flag, march on in peace and pray that there will be
More men like John Fitzgerald Kennedy.

On November 22nd, nineteen-hundred-sixty-three,
A sunny day in Texas in a town they call Big D,
A man was killed who changed the course of history,
His name was John Fitzgerald Kennedy.

He was riding in a motorcade that sad and fateful day,
Mrs. Connelley turned to him with a voice so proud and gay,
She pointed out that people here had treated him real nice,
Minutes later bullets took his precious life.

Mrs. Kennedy cried, "O, no." and she caught him as he fell,
What the world lost at that moment only history can tell,
They rushed him to the hospital---took five minutes on the way,
As the word flashed 'round the world to stop and pray.

It was over in just minutes; John F. Kennedy was dead,
Disbelief, shock and sorrow; the people bowed their heads,
Mrs. Kennedy stood by him as the tears came to her eyes,
Put her ring upon his hand and then kissed him goodbye.

The pens of man will scribble on in sad futility,
Perhaps a paragraph or two will touch reality,
John Kennedy was proud and brave and his story has been told,
May his home be blessed and may God rest his soul.

Sing the first verse once more.

Art Thieme--I hope this helps you out

Regards,

BobB

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: songs about the Kennedy assassination
From: GerryM
Date: 17 Sep 20 - 06:29 AM

The Millicent Martin performance of In the Summer of His Years starts 2 minutes in, at https://youtu.be/h56_IbHqTIo (blue clicky maker wasn't working)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: songs about the Kennedy assassination
From: Joe_F
Date: 17 Sep 20 - 05:31 PM

I wish we said "President Kennedy's assassination" (something that happened to a human being) rather than "the Kennedy assassination" (one of the assassinations we keep in stock for our customers' entertainment). But journalese has triumphed.

---

A spammer has decided to occupy this thread. If you wish to post musical content, ask a moderator to reopen it for you. ---mudelf