Lyr Req: Ballad of Barefoot Harris

Subject: RE: Folklore: Ballad of Barefoot Harris
From: Joe Offer
Date: 12 Nov 09 - 11:17 PM

Is it a folk song? Well....if it were for sale at a record store, the clerks would probably put it in the "folk" bin.

You will see numerous threads pondering the question of "What Is Folk?" and many people get downright angry in those arguments. I think that most people here agree that to be a folk song, a song has to be subjected to the "folk process" - handed down from one person to another, and changing and taking on a life of its own in the process. For this to happen, there has to be an element of timelessness to the song - if the subject has its 15 minutes of fame and is forgotten, the song is likely to have the same fate and never grow up to be a folk song. Its eternal fate may be to be a "singer-songwriter" song.

But if you want to call it a folk song, it's okey-dokey with me. Probably, though, it's better to not even ask if such-and-such is a folk song. Them folkie purists is armed and dangerous. Besides, whether or not it's a good song is a far more pertinent question. I think this will probably be one of those "15 minutes of fame" songs.

-Joe-

Subject: RE: Folklore: Ballad of Barefoot Harris
From: GUEST,Goose Gander
Date: 12 Nov 09 - 10:55 PM

I do not advocate criminal behavior, but this I find interesting.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Ballad of Barefoot Harris
From: GUEST,GOose Gander
Date: 12 Nov 09 - 10:52 PM

BALLAD OF BAREFOOT HARRIS
Written and performed by Michael Mirrielees. 2009

When Barefoot was born
He was born in the woods
With a lockpick in his hand
He was raised on the run
And now he's running still
Taking everything he can

I never knew a boy
With a head in the clouds
So far he flew away
But his fingers work so fast
He stole three planes and crashed
I know he'll make it out someday

Colton he was sly
And colton he was fast
They could never pin him down
But he never hurt a fly
And he never killed a man
And he never will be found

So remember Mr. Lawman
And remember Mr. Crook
Watch close as he slips on by
For every step you take
Old Barefoot's takin' two
So fly on, Colton fly

Now Barefoot grew up and
He skipped right out of town
But he always stuck to his guns
He stole across the states
And he stole into our hearts
And he stole right into Washington

Now Barefoot, he was fair and
Barefoot, he was just
A better man couldn't be found
He never left a trace
Until he won that race
When election time came round

So remember Mr. Lawman
And remember Mr. Crook
Watch close as he slips on by
For every step you take
Old Barefoot's takin' two
So Colton, keep on running
Your mother sends her love
Remember how old Jesse went
So Barefoot Colton watch your back
And fly on, Colton fly

Subject: Folklore: Ballad of Barefoot Harris
From: GUEST,Goose Gander
Date: 12 Nov 09 - 10:51 PM

Is this a folk song?

Ballad of Barefoot Harris

My opinion . . . not yet, but maybe someday?