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Subject: RE: Conversation With Death From: Janie Date: 18 Jun 11 - 08:48 AM Mrs. Chandler, Thank you so much for taking the time to share this information about the origins of the song and your father-in-law with us on Mudcat. If some of us wanted to read your entire essay, how could we go about finding it and obtaining a copy? Would you mind posting the bibliographical information here? |
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Subject: RE: Conversation With Death From: gnu Date: 17 Jun 11 - 06:26 PM Cool. |
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Subject: RE: Conversation With Death From: GUEST,barbara chandler daughter in law of lloyd ch Date: 17 Jun 11 - 06:05 PM My name is barbara chandler I was in lloyd family for 45 years I was his daughter inlaw I first met lloyd when I was nine years old he come to hold a revival at our little country church he stayed that week with us and that's when I first remember hearing lloyd sing a conversation with death. He would come back to visit with each revival we held this was some time in the 1950s many times he talked to me about the song and how it came to be I wrote an essay for the journal of folk lure researsh and was published by the indannia university and am now in the process of writing a book I'm gonna give u some of the highlights of lloyds story in lloyds younger years he drank a lot a was sid to be a mean man around sodom laurel through his drinking years and being a bad man all these things finally caught up to him in a hayloft in sodom laurel him and one of his friends climed into the hayloft to sleep with their jug of liqure as lloyd lay there sleepin something came over him like a vision he described it as a vision of death and if u have ever heard the song that is. What happened to him that night it frightened him so bad that he changed his was begining to preach walking to most places he hitched hiked from church for many years telling people of his vision and how his song came about |
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Subject: RE: Conversation With Death From: Effsee Date: 27 Mar 11 - 10:18 PM On Death Kahlil Gibran You would know the secret of death. But how shall you find it unless you seek it in the heart of life? The owl whose night-bound eyes are blind unto the day cannot unveil the mystery of light. If you would indeed behold the spirit of death, open your heart wide unto the body of life. For life and death are one, even as the river and the sea are one. In the depth of your hopes and desires lies your silent knowledge of the beyond; And like seeds dreaming beneath the snow your heart dreams of spring. Trust the dreams, for in them is hidden the gate to eternity. Your fear of death is but the trembling of the shepherd when he stands before the king whose hand is to be laid upon him in honour. Is the shepherd not joyful beneath his trembling, that he shall wear the mark of the king? Yet is he not more mindful of his trembling? For what is it to die but to stand naked in the wind and to melt into the sun? And what is it to cease breathing, but to free the breath from its restless tides, that it may rise and expand and seek God unencumbered? Only when you drink from the river of silence shall you indeed sing. And when you have reached the mountain top, then you shall begin to climb. And when the earth shall claim your limbs, then shall you truly dance. |
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Subject: RE: Conversation With Death From: Effsee Date: 27 Mar 11 - 09:53 PM ON DEATH Death is nothing at all I have only slipped away into the next room I am I, and you are you whatever we were to each other that we still are. call me by my old familiar name speak to me in the easy way which you always used put no difference in your tone wear no forced air of solemnity or sorrow laugh as we always laughed at the little jokes we enjoyed together pray smile, think of me, pray for me Let my name be ever the household word that it always was Let it be spoken without effort without the trace of a shadow in it Life means all that it ever meant it is the same as it ever was there is unbroken continuity why should I be out of mind because I am out of sight? I am waiting for you somewhere very near just around the corner All is well Henry Scott Holland (1847-1918) |
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Subject: RE: Conversation With Death From: Janie Date: 27 Mar 11 - 09:39 PM Welcome to Mudcat, Wayne. Looks like you have answered Arkie's original inquiry from more than 11 years ago! my grandfather told us many times of how he came about writing this song and how it led his journeys as a travling preacher. Would you share that story with us? |
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Subject: RE: Conversation With Death From: GUEST,wayne allan melton Date: 27 Mar 11 - 06:22 PM lloyd chandler was my grandfather. he wrote the words and tune for the song a conversation with death also known as o death in the year 1916. the family had carl lyndle comfirm this.. and they received the copyright for this song in i think 2004.. but as far as i know they never received any money at for this song which made around twenty million dollars. my grandfather told us many times of how he came about writing this song and how it led his journeys as a travling preacher. |
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Subject: RE: Conversation With Death From: Vic Smith Date: 21 Dec 10 - 02:25 PM Joe Offer wrote above:- I really liked this YouTube video. -Joe- So Joe finds a YouTube version and then comments on a thread that was started more than eleven years ago and had last been added to seven and a half years before! Pretty amazing memory! |
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Subject: RE: Conversation With Death From: Vic Smith Date: 21 Dec 10 - 02:20 PM Death and the Lady Henry Burstow's version. I ought to have added that Lucy Broadwood wrote of this:- It was not standard broadside material, but I did find, in Baring-Gould's personal collection of broadsides, a similar text, so it is likely that a broadsheet had been Burstow's original source for the song. |
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Subject: Lyr Add: DEATH AND THE LADY From: Vic Smith Date: 21 Dec 10 - 02:14 PM At http://www.contemplator.com/england/death.html there is another version of Death And The Lady. The notes about the song on that website say:- This ballad was printed on a broadside by J. Deacon sometime between 1683 and 1700. It was printed as The Great Messenger of Mortality, or a Dialogue betwixt Death and a Lady. A broadside of the ballad appears in the Roxburghe Collection. An earlier version is the second half of Beauties Warning, 1681-2.* Variants of the ballad were in several operas including The Cobler's Opera (1729), The Fashionable Lady (1730) and A New Year's Ode (1737). There are many variations to the tune and lyrics under the same title. This tune is similar to the Deacon tune. This version was collected in Sussex in 1893. The midi covers only the first few verses. The The Dance of Death (conversations between Death and his victims) was a popular theme throughout the 14th and 15th centuries and again in the 18th century. Though mentioning that this version was collected in Sussex in 1893, it should have gone to say that the singer was the great Sussex singer Henry Burstow who was living in the Bishopric in Horsham at that time and that it was collected by Lucy Broadwood. The version on the website also has a MIDI file of the tune and the words are as follows:- DEATH 'Fair Lady, throw those costly robes aside, No longer may you glory in your pride; Take leave of all your carnal vain delight, I'm come to summon you away this night.' LADY 'What bold attempt is this? Pray let me know From whence you come, and whither I must go. Shall I, who am a lady, stoop or bow To such a pale-faced visage? Who art thou?' D. 'Do you not know me? I will tell you then: I am he that conquers all the sons of men, No pitch of honour from my dart is free, My name is Death! Have you not heard of me?' L. 'Yes; I have heard of thee, time after time; But, being in the glory of my prime, I did not think you would have come so soon; Why must my morning sun go down at noon?' D. 'Talk not of noon! you may as well be mute; There is no time at all for vain dispute, Your riches, gold, and garments,jewels bright, Your house, and land, must on new owners light.' L. 'My heart is cold; it trembles at such news! Here's bags of gold, if you will me excuse And seize on those; and finish thou their strife, Who wretched are, and weary of their life. Are there not many bound in prison strong In bitter grief? and souls that languish long, Who could but find the grave a place of rest From all their grief; by which they are opprest. Besides there's many with a hoary head And palsied joints; from whom all joy is fled Release thou them whose sorrows are so great, And spare my life until a later date!' D. 'Though thy vain heart to riches is inclined Yet thou must die and leave them all behind. I come to none before their warrant's sealed, And, when it is, they must submit, and yield. Though some by age be full of grief and pain, Till their appointed time they must remain; I take no bribe, believe me,this is true. Prepare yourself to go; I'm come for you.' L. 'But if, oh! if you could for me obtain A freedom, and a longer life to reign, Fain would I stay, if thou my life wouldst spare. I have a daughter, beautiful and fair, I wish to see her wed, whom I adore; Grant me but this, and I will ask no more?' (The last part of the music must be repeated to fit the extra line) D. 'This is a slender frivolous excuse! I have you fast! I will not let you loose! Leave her to Providence, for you must go Along with me, whether you will or no! If Death commands the King to leave his crown He at my feet must lay his sceptre down; Then, if to Kings I do not favour give But cut them off, can you expect to live Beyond the limits of your time and space? No! I must send you to another place.' (The last part of the music must be repeated to fit the extra line) L. 'Ye learned doctors, now exert your skill, And let not Death on me obtain his will! Prepare your cordials, let me comfort find, My gold shall fly like chaff before the wind!' D. 'Forbear to call! that skill will never do; They are but mortals here as well as you. I give the fatal wound, my dart is sure, And far beyond the doctors' skill to cure. Flow freely you can let your riches fly To purchase life, rather than yield and die! But,while you flourished here with all your store, You would not give one penny to the poor. Though in God's name they sue to you did make You would not spare one penny for His sake. My Lord beheld wherein you did amiss, And calls you hence, to give account of this!' L. 'Oh! heavy news! must I no longer stay? How shall I stand at the great Judgement Day?' Down from her eyes the crystal tears did flow, She says, 'None knows what I now undergo! Upon my bed of sorrow here I lie! My selfish life makes me afraid to die! My sins are great, and manifold,and foul; Lord Jesus Christ have mercy on my soul! Alas! I do deserve a righteous frown! Yet pardon, Lord, and pour a blessing down!' Then with a dying sigh her heart did break, And did the pleasures of this world forsake. Thus may we see the mighty rise and fall, For cruel Death shews no respect at all To those of either high or low degree. The great submit to Death as well as we. Though they are gay, their life is but a span, A lump of clay, so vile a creature's Man! Then happy they whom God hath made his care, And die in God, and ever happy are! The grave's the market place where all must meet Both rich and poor, as well as small and great; If life were merchandise, that gold could buy, The rich would live -- only the poor would die. Henry Burstow's version was first published in English Traditional Songs and Carols Lucy E. Broadwood Boosey and Co. London and New York, 1908 |
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Subject: Lyr Add: DEATH AND THE LADY From: Vic Smith Date: 21 Dec 10 - 01:55 PM This song, Death And The Lady was collected from a Mr Baker of Maidstone in Kent, England in 1946 by Francis Collinson. It became very popular in folk clubs when it was included in the hugely popular Penguin Book Of English Folk Songs edited by Ralph Vaughan Williams and A.L.Lloyd. It was published in 1959 and I have a first edition. The book was republished under the title Classic English Folk Songs in 2003. I sing it with my wife and we have been singing it from time to time over decades.:- Death and the Lady As I walked out one morning in May The birds did sing and the lambs did play The birds did sing and the lambs did play I met an old man, I met an old man I met an old man by the way His head was bald, his beard was grey His coat was of a myrtle shade I asked him what strange countryman Or what strange place, or what strange place Or what strange place he did belong "My name is Death, cannot you see? Lords, dukes, and ladies bow down to me And you are one of those branches three And you fair maid, and you fair maid, And you fair maid must come with me" "I'll give you gold and jewels rare I'll give you costly robes to wear I'll give you all my wealth in store If you'll let me live, if you'll let me live If you'll let me live a few years more" "Fair lady, lay your robes aside No longer glory in your pride And now, sweet maid, make no delay Your time is come, your time is come Your time is come and you must away" And not long after this fair maid died "Write on my tomb," the lady cried, "Here lies a poor distressed maid Whom Death now lately, whom Death now lately Whom Death now lately hath betrayed". There is a MIDI version on the tune that you can hear by clicking here |
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Subject: RE: Conversation With Death From: Little Hawk Date: 21 Dec 10 - 06:19 AM I think Death has warm hands, not icy ones, warm hands that lift you up with love from a tired and heavy body and give you brand new wings of freedom, lightness, and joy. I think Death is a great gift, a trusted friend, a gentle lover, and a new birth of all possibility. |
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Subject: RE: Conversation With Death From: Joe Offer Date: 21 Dec 10 - 04:35 AM I really liked this YouTube video. -Joe- |
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Subject: RE: Conversation With Death From: katlaughing Date: 30 Apr 03 - 12:21 AM That's a great one, Jimmy! Here it is in original form and "standard English" for the uninitiated: Death & Dr. Hornbook. |
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Subject: RE: Conversation With Death From: GUEST,Jimmy Date: 29 Apr 03 - 11:33 PM For a less grim take on the subject, check out Robert Burns' poem "Death and Dr. Hornbook" in which an unwitting slightly tipsy fellow has a conversation with Death. In the poem, a depressed Death laments that despite all his efforts, the village apothecary has been saving everyones' lives. One of Burns' great satirical efforts. |
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Subject: RE: Conversation With Death From: sian, west wales Date: 29 Apr 03 - 07:48 AM Not a conversation, but in a very similar vein (ie. young man trying to escape his fate) is the Welsh "Angau" (Death) sung to a minor key variant of the tune "All Through the Night". (Yes, the one that used to be in all the community song books in the '50s.) Roughly translated: Lying in bed, I couldn't sleep all night doubtless because my mind was dwelling upon my journey. I called for a basin and water to wash myself but before I could get a drop on my cheek, Death was there, sitting on the edge of the basin. I went to the church to pray, thinking that he would not follow me there, but before I could get up from my knees, Death was sitting on the bench. I went to a closed room to hide thinking that he would not follow me there but although the room was closed tight, Death came up from under the ground. I went to the sea and started to row thinking that he wouldn't be able to swim but, before I reached the deep waves, Death was the ship captain. Farewell, girls; farewell, lads. Farewell to the everygreen songs of youth. God forgive me my sins. I must go now to follow Death. sian |
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Subject: RE: Conversation With Death From: Steve Latimer Date: 29 Apr 03 - 07:00 AM I think Ralph Stanley won an Oscar for his a capella version of this song in O Brother Where Art Thou. |
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Subject: Lyr Add: O DEATH From: GUEST,Al59 Date: 29 Apr 03 - 06:43 AM Kaleidoscope's version goes more or less like this (thanks to Rog from ISB@yahoogroups.com for fixing the word to the last verse): Oh Death (traditional?) My name is Death and none can excel, I can open the gates to Heaven or Hell, I can cast aside the flesh of thee, Cast them aside and set you free. Oh-oh Death, Oh-oh-oh Death, Can't you spare me over till another year? I lock their jaws so they can't talk, Stiffen their legs so they can't walk, Close their eyes so they can't see, The chill you feel, all comes from me. Oh-oh Death, Oh-oh-oh Death, Can't you spare me over till another year? Mama, mama, come to my bed And place a cold rag upon my head. My eyes are closed and I cannot see, I feel the sheet pulling over me. Oh-oh Death, Oh-oh-oh Death, Can't you spare me over till another year? My wealth is all at thy command If thou will stay thy (mighty?) hand And if so let me cry for shame For the earth and the worm both have a claim. Oh-oh Death, Oh-oh-oh Death, Can't you spare me over till another year? |
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Subject: Lyr Add: CONVERSATION WITH DEATH (from V Randolph) From: Dicho (Frank Staplin) Date: 26 May 02 - 09:26 PM A "Holy Roller" song, this version collected in 1941, with added or variant verses to "O Death" as sung by Dock Boggs, in the DT. Lyr. Add: CONVERSATION WITH DEATH Oh what is this I cannot see, With icy hands taking hold of me. Oh I am Death, none can excel, I open the doors of Heaven and Hell. Chorus: Oh death, oh death how can it be That I must come and go with thee. Oh death, oh death, how can it be. I'm unprepared for eternity. Yes, I have come to get your soul, To leave your body and leave it cold, To drop the flesh from off your frame, The earth and worms both have their claim. Now death, now death, if this be true, Please give me time to reason with you. From time to time you heard and saw I will close your eyes and lock your jaws. I'll lock your jaws so you can't talk, I'll fix your feet so you can't walk, I'll dim your eyes so you can't see, This very hour now come with me. Now death, now death, consider my age And don't take me in this stage, My wealth now is all at your command If you will only move your icy hand. The old, the young, the rich, the pore, They like you will have to go, No age, no wealth, no silver, no gold, Nothing satisfies me but your poor soul. Now death, now death, please let me see If Christ has turned his back on me. Then you were called and asked to bow, You would not heed and it's too late now. Now death, now death, please give me time To fix my heart and change my mind. Your heart is fixed, your mind is bound. I have the shackles to drag you down. Too late, too late, to all farewell, My doom is fixed, I'm summoned to Hell, As long as God in Heaven shall dwell My pore soul shall burn in Hell. @religion @death Sung by Arlie Freeman, Arkansas, 1941, learned from singers near his home. His wife sang it at "Holy Roller" meetings. Randolph says "A recent "Holy Roller' song, doubtless found in some of the printed songbooks." Vance Randolph, Ozark Folksongs, 1946-50, rep. 1980, Vol. 4, pp. 98-99. This version adds a couple of verses not in the Dock Boggs or Bill Stanley versions and some lines are different. It has a chorus. Thus far, no book has been pointed out that had this song in 1941 or earlier. A similar Negro song is probably from the same source. |
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Subject: RE: Conversation With Death From: katlaughing Date: 10 Aug 99 - 03:32 PM Dearest Sandy, That looks terrific! I wouldn't know where to start because they ALL look so good! Actually.....I'd start with your's and Caroline's and then get the cd's of Golden Circle because I've heard such rave reviews. Then I'd get that one and this one and .....end of the month and at least two of them will be mine:-) I'll talk to you soon. luvya, kat |
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Subject: RE: Conversation With Death From: Sandy Paton Date: 10 Aug 99 - 01:51 PM Sara Ogan Gunning's album is now available (with original booklet of notes and texts) as a "custom cassette" from Folk-Legacy. A percentage goes to Mudcat, too. Check our web site for more information. Click here Folk-Legacy. Then click on "Custom" in the left window and go exploring! Sandy |
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Subject: RE: Conversation With Death From: Date: 10 Aug 99 - 12:50 AM Similar converstation with death may be found in seveal old ballads
"Death and the Lady" was published by J. Deacon (as "The Great Messenger of Mortality, or a Dialogue betwixt Death and a Lady") sometime between 1683 and 1700. An earlier version is the second half of "Beauties Warning=piece", 1681-2.
Death's Uncontrollable Summons; or, The Mortality of Mankind. Being a Dialogue between Death and a Young-Man, was published by P. Brooksby after 1684.
"A pleasant song made by a Souldier" (to "Callino) c 1583, is known, but "Deathes merry answere to the songe of the soldier", entered in the Stationers' Register on July 29, 1583 is lost.
All may be found in the broadside ballad index at www.erols.com/olsonw
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Subject: RE: Conversation With Death From: katlaughing Date: 09 Aug 99 - 10:36 PM Whew! Pretty grim at the last there. You are welcome arkie. I enjoyed looking and reading and it really is beautifully eloquent. kat |
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Subject: Lyr Add: OH DEATH From: Nogs Date: 09 Aug 99 - 06:07 PM Other verses that I have heard: Oh Death Oh Death how can this be |
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Subject: RE: Conversation With Death From: arkie Date: 08 Aug 99 - 10:44 PM Kat, thanks for the Whitman poem. Carl & Malcolm, thanks for the info. My friend, A World Reknown Folklorist, had asked me for help on this. He has as close to a photographic memory as I have ever encountered, and I do take pleasure in providing information that has stumped him. Information with credits that is. Learned a lot as well and expanded my listening a bit in the bargain. Thanks! arkie |
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Subject: RE: Conversation With Death From: CarlZen Date: 08 Aug 99 - 08:34 PM There's also David Lindley's version on the first album by his 60's "folk-rock" group Kaleidoscope. It's an interesting version if you can get a copy of it. I haven't heard the album in years (and years ad -almost- infinitum). That's the only cut from the record I remember. |
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Subject: Lyr Add: O DEATH (Sarah Ogan Gunning) From: Malcolm Douglas Date: 08 Aug 99 - 02:08 PM Sarah Ogan Gunning recorded a version on her 1965 Folk Legacy album, "A Girl of Constant Sorrow": What is this that I can see With icy hands taking hold of me I am death and none can tell I open the door to heaven and hell Oh Death, O Death, please spare me over till another year Death oh Death, consider my age please don't take me in this stage my wealth is all at your command if you would move your icy hand Oh Death, O Death, please spare me over till another year No wealth no land No silver nor gold Nothing satisfies me but your soul Oh Death, O Death, please spare me over till another year Mother come now to my bed Put a cold towel upon my head My head is warm my feet is cold Death put his shackles on my soul Oh Death, O Death, please spare me over till another year Death oh Death please let me see If christ has turned his back on me God's children pray, His preachers preach The time of hope is out of reach Oh Death, O Death, please spare me over till another year The sleeve notes (UK release on Topic Records) say: " Oh Death is found in white and Negro tradition from Texas to the Georgia Sea Islands and is available today in widely contrasting settings: unaccompanied vocal solo, hillbilly duet (with guitars), bluegrass band. This stark conversational piece has attracted a number of short stylized explanations which place the song on the lips of a dying slave beaten by a cruel plantation mistress, or on the lips of a Kentucky hill-preacher stricken by the Lord for ignoring His call. Sarah adds an excellent narrative of her own: Elizabeth, her mother, used to sing this sad song while gathering herbs in the woods. One day she wandered near a concealed underground still. The moonshiners took Aunt Lizzie to be a ghost and in terrible fright abandoned the still (but only temporarily)." A similar dialogue with Death turns up in the traditional English song "Death and the Lady", which may be 16th century in origin. ^^ Malcolm Douglas Line Breaks |
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Subject: RE: Conversation With Death From: CarlZen Date: 08 Aug 99 - 01:44 PM The notes which accompany the reissue CD of the Folkways recordings of Dock Boggs relate that Dock learned the song from Lee Hunsucker, from whom he learned several of the songs recorded on the folkways set. Hunsucker was a singer only, played no instruments, and Dock said that he had a knack for listening to songs and memorizing them nearly word for word on the second listen-through. "Reprints From Sing Out Vol. 9" has the song (also The Collected RFS Vols. 7-12) and notes that another recorded version is on Alan Lomax's "Southern Journey Volume One" performed by Bessie Jones of the Georgia Sea Islands. The only reference is a mention that "The power in the folk poetry of this song matches, I think, the best of the learned poets in its vividness."
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Subject: Lyr Add: DEATH CAROL (Walt Whitman) From: katlaughing Date: 07 Aug 99 - 06:50 PM Boy! I went looking and came up with nada, except Walt Whitman kept coming up, so...I took a look and found this poem. I am sure it's not the one you're looking for info on, but at least it's the same subject. Good luck....kat
"Death Carol" Line Breaks <br> added. |
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Subject: Conversation With Death From: arkie Date: 07 Aug 99 - 05:23 PM Need some information on the song Conversation With Death which was recorded by Lloyd Chandler on High Atmosphere on Rounder, Dock Boggs, as Oh, Death on Verve/Folkways, and Peter Bellemy on his 1983 LP Fair Annie. The only words I have at this point are: Oh, what is this, I cannot see, With icy hands taking hold of me? Oh, I am Death, none can excel, I open doors of Heaven and Hell. Oh Death, O Death how can it be, That I must go with thee? O Death, O death, I am unprepared for eternity. Yes, I have come to get your soul, To leave your body and leave it cold. Your frame, the earth and the worms both have their claim. Would like to know the source of the poem, when it was put to music, who put it to music, and any other information which pertains to the piece. Many thanks. arkie Digital Tradition Lyrics: (click) and (click #2)Click for related thread |
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