Tune Add: Ballad of Accounting

Subject: MUS ADD: Ballad of Accounting
From: John in Brisbane
Date: 25 Nov 98 - 07:19 PM

I always thought that this song was known as Cradle To The Grave, until I went looking for it. I got quite excited when I found that Dick Gaughan's site has not just the words, but quite a nice presentation of the melody line and chords - but unfortunately this applies to only two(ish) out of the collection. The other tune available is Both Sides The Tweed, which I'll notate in the next few days.

The midi below is a bit stiff as writ, so some freer interpretation is required.

Regards
John

MIDI file: account.mid

Timebase: 120

TimeSig: 4/4 24 8
Key: F
Tempo: 100 (600000 microsec/crotchet)
Name: Ballad of Accounting
Start
0120 1 69 110 0058 0 69 000 0002 1 69 110 0058 0 69 000 0002 1 69 110 0058 0 69 000 0002 1 67 110 0100 0 67 000 0020 1 69 110 0058 0 69 000 0002 1 70 110 0058 0 70 000 0002 1 69 110 0100 0 69 000 0020 1 67 110 0058 0 67 000 0002 1 69 110 0058 0 69 000 0002 1 62 110 0390 0 62 000 0030 1 69 110 0058 0 69 000 0002 1 69 110 0058 0 69 000 0002 1 69 110 0058 0 69 000 0002 1 65 110 0058 0 65 000 0002 1 67 110 0100 0 67 000 0020 1 65 110 0100 0 65 000 0020 1 64 110 0058 0 64 000 0002 1 64 110 0058 0 64 000 0002 1 57 110 0330 0 57 000 0030 1 65 110 0058 0 65 000 0002 1 65 110 0160 0 65 000 0020 1 69 110 0160 0 69 000 0020 1 65 110 0058 0 65 000 0002 1 67 110 0058 0 67 000 0002 1 60 110 0270 0 60 000 0030 1 57 110 0058 0 57 000 0002 1 62 110 0058 0 62 000 0002 1 62 110 0058 0 62 000 0002 1 62 110 0058 0 62 000 0002 1 64 110 0058 0 64 000 0002 1 65 110 0100 0 65 000 0020 1 69 110 0058 0 69 000 0002 1 65 110 0058 0 65 000 0002 1 67 110 0058 0 67 000 0002 1 65 110 0058 0 65 000 0002 1 62 110 0058 0 62 000 0002 1 62 110 0058 0 62 000 0002 1 62 110 0210 0 62 000 0030 1 62 110 0058 0 62 000 0002 1 62 110 0058 0 62 000 0002 1 62 110 0058 0 62 000 0002 1 64 110 0058 0 64 000 0002 1 65 110 0058 0 65 000 0002 1 67 110 0058 0 67 000 0002 1 65 110 0058 0 65 000 0002 1 64 110 0058 0 64 000 0002 1 62 110 0058 0 62 000 0002 1 62 110 0058 0 62 000 0002 1 62 110 0058 0 62 000 0002 1 61 110 0058 0 61 000 0002 1 57 110 0160 0 57 000 0020 1 57 110 0058 0 57 000 0002 1 62 110 0058 0 62 000 0002 1 62 110 0058 0 62 000 0002 1 62 110 0058 0 62 000 0002 1 64 110 0058 0 64 000 0002 1 65 110 0058 0 65 000 0002 1 62 110 0100 0 62 000 0020 1 62 110 0058 0 62 000 0002 1 67 110 0058 0 67 000 0002 1 67 110 0058 0 67 000 0002 1 67 110 0058 0 67 000 0002 1 69 110 0058 0 69 000 0002 1 70 110 0160 0 70 000 0020 1 67 110 0058 0 67 000 0002 1 69 110 0058 0 69 000 0002 1 69 110 0058 0 69 000 0002 1 69 110 0058 0 69 000 0002 1 67 110 0058 0 67 000 0002 1 69 110 0058 0 69 000 0002 1 69 110 0058 0 69 000 0002 1 69 110 0058 0 69 000 0002 1 67 110 0058 0 67 000 0002 1 65 110 0058 0 65 000 0002 1 62 110 0058 0 62 000 0002 1 65 110 0058 0 65 000 0002 1 64 110 0058 0 64 000 0002 1 62 110 0058 0 62 000 0002 1 57 110 0058 0 57 000 0002 1 64 110 0058 0 64 000 0002 1 64 110 0058 0 64 000 0002 1 65 110 0058 0 65 000 0002 1 64 110 0058 0 64 000 0002 1 62 110 0058 0 62 000 0002 1 57 110 0058 0 57 000 0002 1 64 110 0058 0 64 000 0002 1 64 110 0058 0 64 000 0002 1 65 110 0058 0 65 000 0002 1 64 110 0058 0 64 000 0002 1 62 110 0330 0 62 000 0270 1 69 110 0058 0 69 000 0002 1 69 110 0058 0 69 000 0002 1 69 110 0058 0 69 000 0002 1 67 110 0100 0 67 000 0020 1 69 110 0058 0 69 000 0002 1 70 110 0058 0 70 000 0002 1 69 110 0100 0 69 000 0020 1 67 110 0058 0 67 000 0002 1 69 110 0058 0 69 000 0002 1 62 110 0390 0 62 000 0030 1 69 110 0058 0 69 000 0002 1 69 110 0058 0 69 000 0002 1 69 110 0058 0 69 000 0002 1 65 110 0058 0 65 000 0002 1 67 110 0100 0 67 000 0020 1 65 110 0100 0 65 000 0020 1 64 110 0058 0 64 000 0002 1 64 110 0058 0 64 000 0002 1 57 110 0330 0 57 000 0030 1 65 110 0058 0 65 000 0002 1 65 110 0160 0 65 000 0020 1 69 110 0160 0 69 000 0020 1 65 110 0058 0 65 000 0002 1 67 110 0058 0 67 000 0002 1 60 110 0270 0 60 000 0030 1 57 110 0058 0 57 000 0002 1 62 110 0058 0 62 000 0002 1 62 110 0058 0 62 000 0002 1 62 110 0058 0 62 000 0002 1 64 110 0058 0 64 000 0002 1 65 110 0100 0 65 000 0020 1 69 110 0058 0 69 000 0002 1 65 110 0058 0 65 000 0002 1 67 110 0058 0 67 000 0002 1 65 110 0058 0 65 000 0002 1 62 110 0058 0 62 000 0002 1 62 110 0058 0 62 000 0002 1 62 110 0210 0 62 000 0030 1 62 110 0058 0 62 000 0002 1 62 110 0058 0 62 000 0002 1 62 110 0058 0 62 000 0002 1 64 110 0058 0 64 000 0002 1 65 110 0058 0 65 000 0002 1 67 110 0058 0 67 000 0002 1 65 110 0058 0 65 000 0002 1 64 110 0058 0 64 000 0002 1 62 110 0058 0 62 000 0002 1 62 110 0058 0 62 000 0002 1 62 110 0058 0 62 000 0002 1 61 110 0058 0 61 000 0002 1 57 110 0160 0 57 000 0020 1 57 110 0058 0 57 000 0002 1 62 110 0058 0 62 000 0002 1 62 110 0058 0 62 000 0002 1 62 110 0058 0 62 000 0002 1 64 110 0058 0 64 000 0002 1 65 110 0058 0 65 000 0002 1 62 110 0100 0 62 000 0020 1 62 110 0058 0 62 000 0002 1 67 110 0058 0 67 000 0002 1 67 110 0058 0 67 000 0002 1 67 110 0058 0 67 000 0002 1 69 110 0058 0 69 000 0002 1 70 110 0160 0 70 000 0020 1 67 110 0058 0 67 000 0002 1 69 110 0058 0 69 000 0002 1 69 110 0058 0 69 000 0002 1 69 110 0058 0 69 000 0002 1 67 110 0058 0 67 000 0002 1 69 110 0058 0 69 000 0002 1 69 110 0058 0 69 000 0002 1 69 110 0058 0 69 000 0002 1 67 110 0058 0 67 000 0002 1 65 110 0058 0 65 000 0002 1 62 110 0058 0 62 000 0002 1 65 110 0058 0 65 000 0002 1 64 110 0058 0 64 000 0002 1 62 110 0058 0 62 000 0002 1 57 110 0058 0 57 000 0002 1 64 110 0058 0 64 000 0002 1 64 110 0058 0 64 000 0002 1 65 110 0058 0 65 000 0002 1 64 110 0058 0 64 000 0002 1 62 110 0058 0 62 000 0002 1 57 110 0058 0 57 000 0002 1 64 110 0058 0 64 000 0002 1 64 110 0058 0 64 000 0002 1 65 110 0058 0 65 000 0002 1 64 110 0058 0 64 000 0002 1 62 110 0330 0 62 000
End

This program is worth the effort of learning it.

To download the March 10 MIDItext 98 software and get instructions on how to use it click here

ABC format:

X:1
T:Ballad of Accounting
M:4/4
Q:1/4=100
K:F
A3AAG2A|BA2GAD3|-D4AAAF|G2F2EEA,2|-A,4FF3|
A3FGC3|-C2A,DDDEF|-FAFGFDDD|-D3DDDEF|GFEDDD_DA,|
-A,2A,DDDEF|D2DGGGAB|-B2GAAAGA|AAGFDFED|A,EEFEDA,E|
EFED5|-D5AAA|G2ABA2GA|D7A|AAFG2F2E|EA,6F|
F3A3FG|C5A,DD|DEF2AFGF|DDD4DD|DEFGFEDD|D_DA,3A,DD|
DEFD2DGG|GAB3GAA|AGAAAGFD|FEDA,EEFE|DA,EEFED2|
-D7/2||

Subject: Copyright
From: GUEST,Kira
Date: 06 Jun 01 - 02:26 AM

Hi. Does anyone know what the status is of the copyright on this song? My band and I would love to perform it and possibly record it on our next CD but we can't seem to get a clear answer on the copyright :( and we don't want to get into trouble.

Thanks

Kira

Subject: RE: MUS ADD: Ballad of Accounting
From: Charley Noble
Date: 06 Jun 01 - 11:37 AM

Probably this song is not the same as the one Ewan MacColl wrote © 1967 by Stormking Music in Oak Publication I'M A FREEBORN MAN but it's difficult to tell without your lyrics in front of me. ;-)

Subject: RE: MUS ADD: Ballad of Accounting
From: Hollowfox
Date: 06 Jun 01 - 11:44 AM

Kira, I'd check with Peggy Seeger at http://www.peggyseeger.com (sorry I haven't mastered the blue clicky yet). I'd assume she holds the rights, but if she doesn't she could point you in the right direction.

Subject: RE: MUS ADD: Ballad of Accounting
From: Francy
Date: 06 Jun 01 - 03:47 PM

I have been doing the song for quite some time... Got the music years ago from an oak publication "folkways songbook" by Ewan Maccoll and my version which i learned from that book is in a minor key all the way.... i could be wrong but check with the Peggy Seeger sight. She will be happy to help you i'm sure.....

Subject: Lyr Add: THE ACCOUNTANCY SHANTY (Monty Python)
From: Trapper
Date: 06 Jun 01 - 04:59 PM

How about this Monty Python version??

THE ACCOUNTANCY SHANTY

It's fun to charter an accountant
And sail the wide accountancy
To find, explore the funds offshore
And skirt the shoals of bankruptcy

It can be manly in insurance
We'll up your premium semi-anually
It's all tax-deductible
We're fairly incorruptible
We're sailing on the wide accountancy

Sorry...

- Al

Subject: RE: MUS ADD: Ballad of Accounting
From: GUEST,avia
Date: 13 Nov 08 - 12:00 PM

hello, anyone know the background to the song? i know it was written by ewan maccoll but i dont know the story behind it.
thanks

Subject: RE: Tune Add: Ballad of Accounting
From: Susanne (skw)
Date: 15 Nov 08 - 10:15 AM

Short info from MacColl album:

[1990:] Written in 1964 as theme music for the BBC radio series 'Landmarks', this is a summing-up song, an accounts sheet. Its Brechtian style and deceptive simplicity mark it as unique among MacColl's compositions. (Notes Ewan MacColl, 'Black and White')

Lyrics are in the DT: The Ballad of Accounting

Subject: RE: Tune Add: Ballad of Accounting
From: Peter the Squeezer
Date: 15 Nov 08 - 10:30 AM

The late lamented Mr McColl would no doubt have great delight in having his work shared amongst any who did not have a financial interest in it. But just in case anybody else has an interest, as Hollowfox says, best to check with Peggy first - she would know if anybody does.

Peter