searching for song-ManDiesToSaveWifeFromJudge

Subject: searching for song
From: GUEST,magb
Date: 30 Jul 10 - 10:17 AM

I'm trying to help a friend to track down a particular song. Great if anyone here can help. Here is his message

The song was about a man being jailed for stealing bread for his
> family and on the night he is offered freedom by the English judge in
> return for a night with his wife. The judge is notorious for doing
> terrible things with women... so the husband goes honourably to his
> death rather than give up his wife for one night. It's a beautiful
> sad, song and story... and have been looking everywhere for it... and
> i want it sung as part of the play by one of the actors.
> I appreciate that this might be looking for a needle in a haystack but
> thinking hats on ...

thanks
maggie

Subject: RE: searching for song
From: MMario
Date: 30 Jul 10 - 10:22 AM

well - it isn't "Grace"

Though 'Grace' is likewise a hauntingly beautiful and sad song about a man jailed, and his wife...

Subject: RE: searching for song
From: Fred McCormick
Date: 30 Jul 10 - 10:33 AM

It sounds as though your friend is thinking of a Hungarian ballad called Laszlo Feya (well, approximate spelling) and there's an English translation by Bert Lloyd.

In Laszlo Feya though, the guy steals a horse and is sentenced to death. The judge offers to commute the sentence if his sister Anna Feya will sleep with him. She agrees, despite her brother's warning that the judge will devour her maidenhood and then hang him anyway.

While she is lying in the judge's bed, she hears the gallows groaning, realises that her brother was right and issues a curse which goes something like.

"Cursed be that judge so cruel.
Thirteen years may he lie bleeding,
Thirteen ........................,
Thirteen shelves of drugs can't heal him."

I'm fairly certain that it's been discussed on Mudcat before, so a bit of searching around may turn up the complete words.

Subject: RE: searching for song-ManDiesToSaveWifeFromJudge
From: katlaughing
Date: 30 Jul 10 - 10:49 AM

You're right, Fred. A quick search turns up many threads with some discussion, including This Posting which provides more clues. I haven't had the time to check all of them for full lyrics, but that should get you started, Guest,magb. I'll bet there are full lyrics somewhere on here. Good luck!

kat

Subject: RE: searching for song-ManDiesToSaveWifeFromJudge
From: GUEST,magb
Date: 30 Jul 10 - 11:26 AM

thanks all for your amazingly speedy and helpful responses. found youtube of Judy Collins singing Anathea. Will forward ..
thanks again
maggie

Subject: RE: searching for song-ManDiesToSaveWifeFromJudge
From: Dave Sutherland
Date: 30 Jul 10 - 11:59 AM

Beat me to it as I was going to suggest, from Fred's suggestion, that you Googled "Seven Curses" which could point you further in the direction of the song that you were looking for. Judy Collins is featured there.

Subject: RE: searching for song-ManDiesToSaveWifeFromJudge
From: katlaughing
Date: 30 Jul 10 - 03:03 PM

Kewl!

Subject: RE: searching for song-ManDiesToSaveWifeFromJudge
From: GUEST
Date: 30 Jul 10 - 06:01 PM

Hi Dave
Long time no see. Really interesting to see Dylan's re-write. Thanks
Maggiex

Subject: RE: searching for song-ManDiesToSaveWifeFromJudge
From: Susan of DT
Date: 30 Jul 10 - 07:45 PM

I don't know why the Geordies are attached to the thread. In Geordie the wife just tries to buy his freedom from a poaching charge with no sex involved. But do look at the Anna Thea threads and song.