Pretty waltzes with lyrics (songs)

Subject: RE: Pretty waltzes with lyrics
From: Jack Campin
Date: 24 Feb 09 - 08:18 AM

ANNIE McKELVIE

Subject: RE: Pretty waltzes with lyrics
From: Haruo
Date: 24 Feb 09 - 03:44 AM

I've always enjoyed Ĉe Kongresa Balo (MIDI). Don't know who it's by, and the lyrics are in Esperanto (not a drawback for my purposes), and my MIDI doesn't do it justice, but I enjoy it.

Haruo

Subject: RE: Pretty waltzes with lyrics
From: Barry Finn
Date: 23 Feb 09 - 06:38 PM

Here's the lyrics to South Wind it's in the DT Frank.

Barry

Subject: RE: Pretty waltzes with lyrics
From: KathWestra
Date: 23 Feb 09 - 06:36 PM

Stringsinger, there are definitely lyrics to South Wind. Archie Fisher recorded them on his wonderful(and still available)1977(?)Folk-Legacy record, "The Man with the Rhyme."

Glad this thread has been resurrected. I'm leading a workshop at the NEFFA Festival just outside Boston, Mass. in April 2009 called "Waltz Time." I've billed it as "Songs about waltzing--or that you could waltz to". The list is long!

Subject: RE: Pretty waltzes with lyrics
From: Stringsinger
Date: 23 Feb 09 - 05:56 PM

One of the most beautiful folk melodies as a waltz is DOWN IN THE VALLEY.

I've always liked "Beautiful Ohio".

Subject: RE: Pretty waltzes with lyrics
From: Stringsinger
Date: 23 Feb 09 - 05:54 PM

The Irish song GIVE ME YOUR HAND / TABHAIR DOM DO LÁMH has lyrics.

How 'bout ONE MORNING IN MAY (The Nightingale Song)?

Jean Ritchie does a version of THE CUCKOO which could be metered down to a waltz.
There are actually two versions of this that could be waltzed to.

I don't know if there are lyrics to A GHAOTH ANDEAS / SOUTH WIND but it's a pretty tune.

I think "The Rose of Tralee" is 3/4.

Chauncy Olcott's MY WILD IRISH ROSE and he may have written the lyrics for WHEN IRISH EYES ARE SMILING.

Subject: RE: Pretty waltzes with lyrics
From: open mike
Date: 22 Feb 09 - 06:16 PM

GIVE ME THE ROSES WHILE I LIVE sung by the Carter Family..
possibly written by Cornelius

Subject: RE: Pretty waltzes with lyrics
From: GUEST,Al
Date: 23 Nov 02 - 12:22 AM

OK, as promised, here are the lyrics I know to the Cowboy Waltz

Subject: RE: Pretty waltzes with lyrics
From: Merritt
Date: 12 Nov 02 - 12:58 PM

This is too country for some, but it sounds good acousticized and simplyfied - "Too Far Gone" written by Billy Sherill, on Emmylou Harris' Pieces of the Sky album (197?)

- Merritt

Subject: RE: Pretty waltzes with lyrics
From: Genie
Date: 12 Nov 02 - 04:43 AM

I like Neil Diamond's PLAY ME (if you sing "brought" instead of "brang" in that one horrid line). It's a very lilting melody with (excepting that "brang" thing) beautiful lyrics.

Subject: RE: Pretty waltzes with lyrics
From: Janie
Date: 11 Nov 02 - 07:51 PM

The Carter Family's "Kitty Waltz" is a favorite of mine.

Subject: RE: Pretty waltzes with lyrics
From: mg
Date: 11 Nov 02 - 04:38 PM

DARK ISLAND
ROCKS OF MERASHEEN

Subject: RE: Pretty waltzes with lyrics
From: Louie Roy
Date: 11 Nov 02 - 10:47 AM

Starlite Waltz
WALTZING WITH A BROKEN HEART
THE WALTZ YOU SAVED FOR ME
Waltzing with tears in my eyes
Put your sweet lips a little closer to the phone (HE'LL HAVE TO GO)
LET ME CALL YOU SWEETHEART
HUSH-A-BYE, MA BABY (THE MISSOURI WALTZ)
Cabri Waltz

Subject: RE: Pretty waltzes with lyrics
From: Genie
Date: 11 Nov 02 - 04:32 AM

BTW, The Rose Of Tralee is not by Thomas Moore, but by Mordaunt Spencer.

And Scabby, I totally agree that "...Bonnie Doon" is a beautiful waltz.

Subject: RE: Pretty waltzes with lyrics
From: Scabby Douglas
Date: 11 Nov 02 - 04:09 AM

YE BANKS AND BRAES O' BONNIE DOON - when singing it I like to loosen the rhythm a little, but it works well as a waltz

Easy and Slow


Cheers



Steven

Subject: RE: Pretty waltzes with lyrics
From: Genie
Date: 11 Nov 02 - 02:23 AM

Shack, I hesitated to mention "Ashokan Farewell," till now, because, while I find it a beautiful waltz, I did not think it had lyrics. But if you check the various forum threads on that tune/song, you'll find both lyrics (2 "authorized" sets of lyrics) and links to audio files.

Genie

Subject: RE: Pretty waltzes with lyrics
From: Genie
Date: 11 Nov 02 - 12:56 AM

Speaking of state waltzes, "Beautiful Ohio" is a very pretty one. (Yeah, I know it's about the river, not the state.)

There's also CAROLINA MOON and "Allegheny Moon."

A really pretty Irish (?) folk tune waltz is MO MARY.

Genie

Subject: RE: Pretty waltzes with lyrics
From: Mark Clark
Date: 11 Nov 02 - 12:47 AM

Greg Brown's IOWA WALTZ is a very pretty waltz with lyrics. Joe Offer posted that back in 1999 in a thread titled State Waltzes.

      - Mark

Subject: RE: Pretty waltzes with lyrics
From: mg
Date: 10 Nov 02 - 11:43 PM

MOCKIN' BIRD HILL...actually an old Finnish tune I believe..mg

Subject: RE: Pretty waltzes with lyrics
From: Genie
Date: 10 Nov 02 - 03:55 PM

DRINK TO ME ONLY WITH THINE EYES

Subject: RE: Pretty waltzes with lyrics
From: Genie
Date: 09 Nov 02 - 08:52 PM

RAINBOW CONNECTION

Subject: RE: Pretty waltzes with lyrics
From: Jim McLean
Date: 09 Nov 02 - 12:10 PM

I have seen my song MASSACRE OF GLENCOE featured on a few Scottish ceilidh band LPs as a waltz. I think it works.
Jim McLean

Subject: RE: Pretty waltzes with lyrics
From: Genie
Date: 09 Nov 02 - 12:07 PM

Allistair McGillivray's SONG FOR THE MIRA is lovely in both lyric and tune.

Glen, your post reminded me of another French song, "Plaisir D'Amour."

A couple of other from American archives:
MEXICALI ROSE
BEAUTIFUL DREAMER (Stephen Foster)
JUANITA
Wunderbar (from Kiss Me, Kate)

Subject: RE: Pretty waltzes with lyrics
From: Alice
Date: 09 Nov 02 - 11:40 AM

QUEEN MARY'S ESCAPE FROM LOCHLEVEN (aka Arran Boat Song). Sheet music is in the Lester Levy archive.

Subject: RE: Pretty waltzes with lyrics
From: Glen Reid
Date: 09 Nov 02 - 11:27 AM

For my money,the old time waltz, that literally sends chills up my spine is the beautiful PARLEZ-MOI D'AMOUR MON AMOUR (Speak To Me Of Love).
I could be wrong,but I think its French-Canadian in origin and the best version I ever heard was recorded by Catherine McKinnon in her Singalong Jubilee days, on an album called "Voice of an Angle"

Subject: RE: Pretty waltzes with lyrics
From: Amos
Date: 09 Nov 02 - 08:42 AM

Jed Marum's LETTER FROM LILAC ACRES is one of the prettiest set of lyrics you could want and has a very sweet waltz to it.

A

Subject: RE: Pretty waltzes with lyrics
From: Genie
Date: 09 Nov 02 - 02:32 AM

Patty, I guess I read the thread title differently. I took "Pretty waltzes with lyrics" to mean "pretty melodies that also have lyrics to them." In other words, I was focusing on pretty waltz tunes, not pretty poems set to waltz tunes.

As for Rosin The Bow, there are dozens of songs set to it.

If we're also looking for "pretty lyrics," do they have to be inspirational or romantic poetry for the lyrics to be "pretty?"
(I kinda like "Stewball.")

Other pretty waltz tunes that have nice lyrics are:

MR BOJANGLES

A DAISY A DAY (Jud Strunk)

TRY TO REMEMBER (also from The Fantasticks)

Wish Me A Rainbow

Subject: RE: Pretty waltzes with lyrics
From: pattyClink
Date: 08 Nov 02 - 11:57 PM

"They Were You" (when the moon was young, when the month was May) from the Fantasticks, I believe is in waltz time (but I'm rhythmically challenged so doublecheck). Certainly falls into the 'lovely' category. Course, the competition for "pretty lyrics" is fierce around here, what with Stewball and Rosin the Bow contending.

Subject: RE: Pretty waltzes with lyrics
From: Hrothgar
Date: 08 Nov 02 - 11:32 PM

Coalbrook Band in Newcastle (NSW) play a beautiful arrangement of PLAISIR D'AMOUR as a waltz.

Subject: RE: Pretty waltzes with lyrics
From: GUEST,Al
Date: 08 Nov 02 - 11:05 PM

There are some nice verses to the COWBOY WALTZ and they are not in the DT. Maybe tomorrow when I'm not so tired I will post them. Al

Subject: RE: Pretty waltzes with lyrics
From: denise:^)
Date: 08 Nov 02 - 09:49 PM

One of my favorites is KEWEENAW LIGHT (Craig Johnson)--but I find I've got a lot of explaining to do if I try to sing it outside of Michigan...

Subject: RE: Pretty waltzes with lyrics
From: GUEST,Richie
Date: 08 Nov 02 - 09:48 PM

One of my favorites is SWEET BUNCH OF DAISIES which I recorded as a guitar solo for Mel Bay Pub. on American Fiddle Tunes. The lyrics are in the DT somewhere or I can post.

Another good one on American Fiddle Tunes is "Wednesday Night Waltz." I believe Kenny Baker has a version.

-Richie

Subject: RE: Pretty waltzes with lyrics
From: Mudlark
Date: 08 Nov 02 - 09:44 PM

I've always liked the Brand New Tennessee Waltz, by Jesse Winchester...

Subject: RE: Pretty waltzes with lyrics
From: Genie
Date: 08 Nov 02 - 09:32 PM

SWEET IS THE MELODY is a lovely waltz by Iris Dement, which you can hear at prairiehome.org

Other waltz tunes I like are:

Midnight On The Water
SOMEWHERE MY LOVE (LARA'S THEME) from Dr. Zhivago
MY FAVORITE THINGS
TUMBALALAIKA
DIE LORELEI
THE ANNIVERSARY SONG (by Al Jolson et al., based on a waltz by Ivanici)
Ah, Mari! (Oe, Mari!)
ROSIN THE BEAU
COME BACK, PADDY REILLY
MOUNTAINS OF MOURNE
TRAMPS AND HAWKERS
UN CANADIEN ERRANT
Rozhinkes Mit Mandlen - Yiddish
FINJAN (or Hafinjan) -- Hebrew
DE COLORES
MY YIDDISHE MOMME
CIELITO LINDO
SCARBOROUGH FAIR
ALWAYS (Irving Berlin)
THE BAND PLAYED ON
Melody Of Love
Norwegian Wood
NOW IS THE HOUR / HAERE RA
SUNRISE, SUNSET
Matchmaker
Goodnight, My Someone

and some we may not think of as waltzes:
DARK AS A DUNGEON
The Star-Spangled Banner
HOME ON THE RANGE
TAKE ME OUT TO THE BALL GAME



I believe the Austrian title for the "Over The Waves" (Loveliest Night Of The Year) waltz is "Donauwellen," though the composer (not one of the Strausses) escapes my recollection.

Subject: RE: Pretty waltzes with lyrics
From: Kim C
Date: 08 Nov 02 - 04:45 PM

That's Tom Jones singing Tennessee Waltz with the Chieftains.

Star of the County Down was popularly played as a waltz in the 19th century.

Subject: RE: Pretty waltzes with lyrics
From: Midchuck
Date: 08 Nov 02 - 04:41 PM

Stan Rogers' TINY FISH FOR JAPAN.

Peter.

Subject: RE: Pretty waltzes with lyrics
From: Merritt
Date: 08 Nov 02 - 04:05 PM

Here's a mix of old and new:

~ IN THE PINES
~ THE BRAND NEW TENNESSEE WALTZ - Jesse Winchester
~ SWEET BABY JAMES - James Taylor
~ STEWBALL
~ Pocket Full Of Gold - Vince Gill - orig. is just another Nashville cheatin' song with a great tagline; better to write with your own lyrics

- Merritt

Subject: RE: Pretty waltzes with lyrics
From: SINSULL
Date: 08 Nov 02 - 03:44 PM

Jed Marum does a lovely "Maggie" on his CD. So very pretty.

Subject: RE: Pretty waltzes with lyrics
From: GUEST,Whitewater
Date: 08 Nov 02 - 03:13 PM

Believe it or not, the Chieftains did a lovely version of The Tennessee Waltz, although whoever is singing I do not care for.

I also love 'You Look so Good in Love' by George Strait. And there is one by the Judds-- 'Momma, He's Crazy." I'm not sure if it technically IS a waltz but I believe you can sing it to the 1-2-3 rhythm. At least, I think you can!

Whitewater

Subject: RE: Pretty waltzes with lyrics
From: sharyn
Date: 08 Nov 02 - 03:04 PM

Two things:

One, the waltz Pam mentions is called "Wallflower Waltz." It has no chorus (I should know -- I wrote it). It's on my cassette recording I Am Your Winter Lover," which features traditional and original material.

Two, Richard Thompson's WALTZING'S FOR DREAMERS is a good singable waltz.

Subject: RE: Pretty waltzes with lyrics
From: Jory Nash
Date: 10 Jun 99 - 12:16 AM

"No Kinda Dancer" by Robert Earl Keen is a good walting tune. Also "The Waltzing Fool" by Lyle Lovett. Damn, but them Texas songwriters can dance a good song. Cheers, Jory Nash

Subject: RE: Pretty waltzes with lyrics
From: bseed(charleskratz)
Date: 09 Jun 99 - 11:51 PM

Anne Murray has a nice waltz: "COULD I HAVE THIS DANCE (For the Rest of My Life)." It was on the soundtrack of the movie Urban Cowboy. --seed

Subject: RE: Pretty waltzes with lyrics
From: Gloria Tham
Date: 09 Jun 99 - 11:33 PM

I like Frances Black's version of "After the Ball". And I do have English lyrics to "The Blue Danube" so if anyone wants it, give me a holler and I'll post it.. Still looking for lyrics to "Tales from the Vienna Woods" (or that can be sung to it.

Subject: RE: Pretty waltzes with lyrics
From: ddw
Date: 09 Jun 99 - 01:01 AM

I forgot to mention that one of the prettiest of Ian's cowboy waltzes -- tho' he didn't write it -- is NIGHT RIDER'S LAMENT.

Also Marty Robbins did a lot of cowboy songs with waltz rhythms and great lyrics.

ddw

Subject: RE: Pretty waltzes with lyrics
From: ddw in windsor
Date: 09 Jun 99 - 12:52 AM

One of my favorite waltzes has always been SPINNING WHEEL.

Also Ian Tyson does a number of beautiful waltzes on his six Cowboyography albums. I heard somewhere that cows love waltzes and the cowboys used to sing them to calm the animals.

Subject: RE: Pretty waltzes with lyrics
From: Matthew B.
Date: 08 Jun 99 - 10:15 PM

I agree with Star of the County Down as one of my favorite waltzes, but I also happen to think that the sea shanty Rio Grande is just as beautiful and waltzable.

Subject: RE: Pretty waltzes with lyrics
From: Indy Lass
Date: 08 Jun 99 - 11:28 AM

AFTER THE BALL Beautifully sung by Frances Black.

Subject: RE: Pretty waltzes with lyrics
From: pam
Date: 07 Jun 99 - 03:34 PM

At a recent session in Berkeley, someone sang one of the sweetest waltzes I've ever heard. I think it's name was WALLFLOWER WALTZ, and the chorus was something close to...

Teach me to walk on air Moving without a care Dance with me if you dare Teach me to waltz

My apologies to the writer if he/she is in eyeshot, please set me straight. Does anyone recognize this little jewel?

If not, I'll talk to some folks who were at the session and see if I can reconstruct it in Mudville. Believe me, it's worth staying tuned for... :)

Pam

Subject: RE: Pretty waltzes with lyrics
From: Helen
Date: 05 Jun 99 - 03:34 AM

THE ROSE OF TRALEE, and BELIEVE ME IF ALL THOSE ENDEARING YOUNG CHARMS - both by Thomas Moore.

Helen

Subject: RE: Pretty waltzes with lyrics
From: Ron Steed
Date: 05 Jun 99 - 02:15 AM

Well, I stand corrected. Lyrics for the TOMBIGBEE Waltz are in the Mudcat database!