Songs of Months?

Subject: Songs of Months?
From: Mr Happy
Date: 17 Nov 09 - 10:25 AM

I'm after doing some songs which mention the months.

There's loads that go 'in the merry month of May' but seem few on the others.

Any suggestions?

Subject: RE: Songs of Months?
From: beeliner
Date: 17 Nov 09 - 10:33 AM

The first few that come to mind:

"March of the Toys"

"April Come She Will"

"June is Busting Out All Over"

"September Song"

..and of course, Neil Sedaka's "Calendar Girl" covers them all.

Subject: RE: Songs of Months?
From: Jacob B
Date: 17 Nov 09 - 10:37 AM

Both "September Song" and "Try To Remember" are about September (as a metaphor for a certain time of life", and mention December.

The Berrymans have "The February March" and "April May".

"April Come She Will" has a verse for each month from April to September.

John Hartford's song "The Tall Tall Grass" is about August (and late summer romances.)

As I recall, Gordon Bok's "Turning Toward The Morning" starts with a reference to November.

If more come to mind, I'll be back.

Jacob

Subject: RE: Songs of Months?
From: Mr Happy
Date: 17 Nov 09 - 10:38 AM

"March of the Toys" is about the verb, not the month

Subject: RE: Songs of Months?
From: Mr Happy
Date: 17 Nov 09 - 10:39 AM

BTW I have 'October Song' already

Subject: RE: Songs of Months?
From: theleveller
Date: 17 Nov 09 - 10:56 AM

Dave Goulder's January Man.

Subject: RE: Songs of Months?
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 17 Nov 09 - 10:59 AM

Sarah Makem's "It was in the month of January"...

Subject: RE: Songs of Months?
From: The Borchester Echo
Date: 17 Nov 09 - 11:01 AM

Dave Goulder's January Man has them all.

Then there's Robin Dransfield's Fair Maids of February.
All kinds of Marches
Twas On One April Morning
As I Rov'd Out One May Morning
Rosebud In June
Rigs O' Rye ('Twas in the month of sweet July)
Brigg Fair ('Twas on the 5th of August)
Carole King's It Might As Well Rain Until September
Robin Williamson's October Song

There must be some for November and December but I really can't be arsed . . .

Subject: RE: Songs of Months?
From: Jacob B
Date: 17 Nov 09 - 11:02 AM

Tune For November is in the DigiTrad.

Subject: RE: Songs of Months?
From: beeliner
Date: 17 Nov 09 - 11:19 AM

Another song that mentions them all - except December - is "In the Middle of May" (1945, Fred E Ahlert(M) and Al Stillman(W) ).

Subject: RE: Songs of Months?
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 17 Nov 09 - 11:26 AM

The Edmund Fitzgerald sank where 'the gales of November come early.'

Subject: RE: Songs of Months?
From: greg stephens
Date: 17 Nov 09 - 11:40 AM

Here's the lot in one.
"The Months of the Year"
Collected by Baring Gould

1. First comes January
The sun lies very low
I see in the farmer's yard,
The cattle feed on stro'
The weather being so cold
The snow lies on the ground.
There will be another change of the moon
Before the year comes round

2. Next is February
So early in the Spring.
The farmer ploughs the fallows
It is a glorious thing,
The little lambs are playing
Alongside of their dam,
I thought upon the increase,
And thanked God for the same.

3. March is the next month,
So early in the year
Preparing for the harvest
By brewing of strong beer.
It's long before the time,
God knows who'll live to see,
Then a health to the Queen,
And the Royal Family.

4. April is the next month,
So early in the morn,
I saw the cheery farmer
A sowing of his corn
The gallant team came after
A-smoothing of the land.
I hope all things may prosper
Whate'er he takes in hand.

5. In May I walked out,
To hear the birds to sing.
Their note was most delightful,
Paying homage to their King.
It charms my heart to hear them,
As I walk on my way,
Each warble in their notes
As they sat on yon tree.

6. So early in the morning
It was the month of June,
The birds were singing merrily
Were changing note & tune.
The cuckoo is a fine bird
She whistles as she flies,
And as she whistles Cuckoo!
The summer doth draw nigh.

7. Now six months now have I mentioned
The seventh is July.
Come lads & lasses to the fields
The fallows for to try.
Come now let us be merry
And all in Chorus sing
All over the Nation
The bells do farewell ring

8. August brings the harvest,
Come let us now advance.
With meat & liquor plentiful,
The work won't stand no chance.
The farmer says, Well done my lads!
This day will be your friend.
Come let us drink & make good work,
And so the harvest send.

9. By the middle of September,
The harvest lay aside.
The horses wear the breeching
Rich dressing to provide.
To do all things in season
Methinks is just & right,
For summer now is ended,
'Tis cold by day and night.

10. October is a winter month,
I hope you know it all.
The trees will soon be naked
The leaves begin to fall.
The frost will cut them off,
And never more be seen,
For robbéd are the meadows
That were so gay and green.
For further information see www.sbgsongs.org

11. The fifth of November
Is call'd Gunpowder plot,
We keep it in remembrance,
Or it would be forgot.
Come, now let us be merry
And all in chorus sing.
All over the nation
The bells do farewell ring

12. December is the last month,
That I'm going to mention,
I shall not go no further,
It ai'nt my intention.
To conclude, & to be merry boys!
And to be of good cheer.
I wish you a merry Christmas
And a happy New Year.

Subject: RE: Songs of Months?
From: Dave Sutherland
Date: 17 Nov 09 - 11:50 AM

"Oakey Strike Evictions" November
"Blaydon Races"          June (9th)
"Paddy Lay Back"          December
"Manchester Rambler"      April & June

Subject: RE: Songs of Months?
From: GUEST
Date: 17 Nov 09 - 01:23 PM

Sweet Reconciliation - December and April

wr

Subject: RE: Songs of Months?
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 17 Nov 09 - 01:32 PM

Only one in my repertoire - "County Life" (E. trad.)

Subject: RE: Songs of Months?
From: Jack Campin
Date: 17 Nov 09 - 02:13 PM

Oh Bright Dawn of May

Subject: RE: Songs of Months?
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 17 Nov 09 - 02:19 PM

If you can hunt out all the versions of 'London Man o' War' I think the dates in all the versions cover every month of the year.

There is a simple children's song in one of the Purslow books that has a separate short verse on each month.
it starts, 'January brings the snow, makes our feet and fingers glow,
February brings the rain fills the ditches....or something like.

Subject: RE: Songs of Months?
From: Gurney
Date: 17 Nov 09 - 03:56 PM

'A Song of the Weather,' by Michael Flanders, for a lighter look.

Subject: RE: Songs of Months?
From: Gurney
Date: 17 Nov 09 - 03:57 PM

Oops, that's the one from Steve, above.

Subject: RE: Songs of Months?
From: BB
Date: 17 Nov 09 - 04:03 PM

Martin Graebe's 'November Song', and one about November that Pete Coe does - can't remember the title offhand, 'The Eighteenth Day of June', 'Death of Nelson' ('On the 21st of October').

Barbara

Subject: RE: Songs of Months?
From: GUEST
Date: 17 Nov 09 - 05:10 PM

Issy Emeney's 'First of May.'

Subject: RE: Songs of Months?
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 17 Nov 09 - 05:36 PM

On the 14th of February we sailed from the land......' Bold Princess Royal

I use Disney's song 'April Showers' as a dance tune. Bambi I think.(Not the pop song 'April showers)

Subject: RE: Songs of Months?
From: GUEST,Gerry
Date: 17 Nov 09 - 06:43 PM

One day about 15 years ago I played 12 songs on my radio program, the first mentioning January, the second, February, etc. One way to get some ideas is just to type each month in turn into the DT Lyrics search box.

"So please remember, when I leave in December, I told you so in May." From Tom Lehrer, When You Are Old and Gray.

"Let's hope next May is better, and good things will come your way,
and you won't have a feeling of dismay, next May."
From Allan Sherman, God Bless You Jerry Mendelbaum.

February is in American Pie. August is in Cold Missouri Waters. December is in Sweet Baby James.

Subject: RE: Songs of Months?
From: Leadfingers
Date: 17 Nov 09 - 07:11 PM

Gurney - Michal Flander's song is a Parody of the original !

Subject: RE: Songs of Months?
From: Mr Happy
Date: 18 Nov 09 - 06:05 AM

Thanks y'all!

Subject: RE: Songs of Months?
From: Young Buchan
Date: 19 Nov 09 - 06:32 AM

Twas early in the month of June as I was sitting all in my room
Jug of Punch

In June there's a red rose bud and I thought that the flower for me
Sprig of Thyme

As I roved out one evening that was in the month of June
The Three O'Donnells

Here's April and May, here's June and July
What a pleasure to see the corn grow.
In August we will take it, we'll reap, sheath and bind it
Two Brethren

On the twenty-sixth of August the fatal Moss gave way
Donybristle

All around the little bakery on that cold September morn
Kevin Barry

Subject: RE: Songs of Months?
From: melodeonboy
Date: 19 Nov 09 - 07:27 AM

Hal-an-Tow (May)

Subject: RE: Songs of Months?
From: Georgiansilver
Date: 19 Nov 09 - 08:09 AM

Boney M's Calendar Song. Contains all months.

Subject: RE: Songs of Months?
From: Mrs Scarecrow
Date: 19 Nov 09 - 02:19 PM

Just for a bit a of fun I wrote one last week called November seventeen

Subject: RE: Songs of Months?
From: Don(Wyziwyg)T
Date: 19 Nov 09 - 07:24 PM

Flanders and Swan referred to above.

JANUARY

January brings the snow, makes your feet and fingers glow,
February's ice and sleet freeze the toes right off your feet,
Welcome March with wintry wind, would thou were not so unkind,
April brings the sweet spring showers, on and on for hours and hours,
Farmers fear unkindly May, frost by night and hail by day,
June just rains and never stops, thirty days and spoils the crops,
In July the sun is hot, is it shining? NO IT'S NOT,
August, cold, and dank, and wet, brings more rain than any yet,
Bleak September's mist and mud, is enough to chill the blood,
Then October adds a gale, wind, and slush, and rain, and hail,
Dark November brings the fog, should not do it to a dog,
Freezing wet December then, BLOODY JANUARY AGAIN.


I have a recording of it somewhere, if needed.
Don T.

Subject: RE: Songs of Months?
From: Declan
Date: 19 Nov 09 - 07:45 PM

Rocky Road to Dublin starts "In the Merry Month of June" - I've heard this sung as MAy also, but to me June is more correct as you get the internal assonance with Tuam in the next line.

A lot ot the ones I can think of have already been mentioned.

Some slightly dodgy ones...

May You never (John Martyn)
June is bursting out all over (From Carousel??)
Any March with the word in the title.

Subject: RE: Songs of Months?
From: Cuilionn
Date: 19 Nov 09 - 09:48 PM

Vermont singer Dillon Bustin (sp?) put out an album called "Almanac" in 1983 with several seasonal and...well..."monthical" songs. My favourite is "More Wood," a witty and comical ditty about the necessity of dealing with firewood throughout the year, rather then just in the cold months when us Northwoods folk need it most. It's a great song for sing-alongs with funny call-and-response bits.

A quick check of his website (http://www.dillonbustin.net/cd_almanac.html) reveals that the album has, or will soon be, re-released this year. Worth a listen...