Lyr Req: Looking for looooong songs please!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Looking for looooong songs please!
From: GUEST,RJM
Date: 27 Nov 23 - 12:40 PM

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Looking for looooong songs please!
From: Felipa
Date: 23 Nov 23 - 03:26 PM

Jim Carroll posted the following on 22 Nov 20223 on a facebook group "The Ballad Tree: Traditional Folk Ballads":

"Martin Reidy of Tullochaboy, Connonlly, West Clare had the longest songs we ever recorded.
He once said 'A song isn't worth singing unless it has a few verses in it, I wouldn't give you tuppence for a short song' - his longest lasted over 15 minutes.
A shortened version: https://www.clarelibrary.ie/eolas/coclare/songs/cmc/the_true_lovers_discussion_mreidy.htm "

(there is more about Martin Reidy in Jim Carroll's fb post and at The Clare County Library website)
I would choose songs on the basis of an interesting story or interesting tune. Jim once described me on this forum as a talentless moron.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Looking for looooong songs please!
From: Bill D
Date: 27 Nov 23 - 01:01 PM

Just in case anyone would like to hear all 456 verses...

A Gest

an hour and 10 minutes...

You're welcome... ;>)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Looking for looooong songs please!
From: Robert B. Waltz
Date: 27 Nov 23 - 01:49 PM

Bill D wrote:

Just in case anyone would like to hear all 456 verses...

A Gest

an hour and 10 minutes...

You're welcome... ;>)

It is nice to confirm that my 90 minute estimate for actual performance time is about right. :-)

Two warnings and a reminder:

First, that is not the Gest. It's a modernization. (No, I didn't listen to the whole thing. It took me less than a couplet to know that it was a modernization. Admittedly the notes say as much, but I didn't have to read them.) Of course, I edited the Gest, so I'm obsessive on that point. :-) I want the Middle English. :-) Or at least my modernization, since mine is better. :-p

Second, there is no tune for the Gest. In all likelihood, it used multiple tunes to prevent absolute boredom -- or perhaps no tune at all, being just a recitation. But if it used one tune, and that tune is preserved, and it's a Robin Hood tune (three very weak assumptions), the best bet for the tune is "Robin Hood and the Curtal Friar" (which is the tune I used for my length estimate).

Third, the Gest is not a ballad; it's a romance. There is no sharp dividing line, as I've said many times here, but you can tell the extremes, and the Gest is on the romance side.

Oh, and I strongly suggest that there are 457 stanzas, not 456. There is one corrupted stanza that cannot be fixed except by breaking it up into two. Sadly, there are also a few lines missing.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Looking for looooong songs please!
From: GUEST,Jim Knowledge
Date: 02 Dec 23 - 12:43 PM

I `ad that "Minstrel Mike" in my cab the other day. `e was on `is way to a BBC competition for `oo could sing the longest song. `e was doing all right, `e had got through to the semi-finals but things were getting serious now.
`e said, "ere Jim. You`ve been doing all sorts of songs with your lot for ages.`ave you got any suggestions? I`m up against people `oo `ave access to posh libraries and all.
I said, " Why not try that Mary Chapin Carpenter one? I reckon that might take some beating".
`e said. "Go on. What ones that then?"
I said, " 10,000 Miles!!!"


Whaddam I Like??