 sj |
||
|
||
Fav. Historical Story-songs
|
|
|
Subject: RE: Fav. Historical Story-songs From: Matthew B. Date: 13 Oct 99 - 09:09 AM Llanfair, you sound a bit sarcastic, seeming to imply that the Andrew Rose story never happened. Is that what you're trying to say? |
|
Subject: RE: Fav. Historical Story-songs From: JennyCurtiss Date: 13 Oct 99 - 04:55 AM With so many great ones, it's tough but I'd have to pick 'You Can't Tie an Eagle Down', a remarkably stirring tune about legendary pilot Bob Hoover's battle with the FAA; 'Roll On, Red Thunder' about the tragic death of airshow performer Jan Jones; and 'Bill's First Ride', recounting the first flight of famed aviator Bill Kershner. (All by Barb MacLeod.) There are so many wonderful songs about railroads and shipwrecks, I had to try for a little equal time for us airport bums; we like to sing too. By the way, howdy all. Mudcat is a fantastic resource. I've been sifting through it for hours, so glad I found it. Flyin' Jenny |
|
Subject: RE: Fav. Historical Story-songs From: Marki Date: 12 Oct 99 - 06:27 PM A few of my favorites are: Brennan on the Moor (about an Irish bandit) Admiral William Brown (about an Irish war hero in South America) Bonnets of Bonnie Dundee (about Viscount Claverhouse) Flight of Earls (about the modern "flight" of people from Ireland looking for jobs etc.) Grace (about Grace Gifford, temporary wife & then widow of Joseph Plunket, a leader in the 1916 Uprising) Those are all Irish/Scottish songs. But also Johnny Horton always did a ton of historical songs, i.e.: Battle of New Orleans, SInk the Bismarck, Battle of Bull Run etc. Also Johnny Cash did a few "story" songs like: Wreck of Old '97. This is a great way to learn history. I made a couple of assortment tapes containing "story" songs that I bore my passengers to death with when out driving in my truck. I figure it's good for them to learn a thing or two. |
|
Subject: RE: Fav. Historical Story-songs From: Llanfair Date: 12 Oct 99 - 05:39 PM Poor Andrew Rose!!!!Long Lankin is supposed to be a true story, and I love singing that one. The tale of the Congleton Bear is in the database, too, also the Hartlepool monkey. Aren't the story ballads what folk is all about??? Oral Tradition??? Hwyl, Bron. |
|
Subject: Lyr Add: ANDREW ROSE^^^ From: Matthew B. Date: 12 Oct 99 - 05:26 PM Here's a historical one you might like: "Andrew Rose" (listed in our database). Anyway, anybody familiar with sea shanties will tell you that cruelty at sea was not only widespread and commonplace, but it was even encouraged for the most part. But there was one exception, so brutal, that when the ship returned to Liverpool, the captain was hanged!! But even more significantly, the Mate was sentenced for not intervening (or, as they used to say back then, interposing) on the sailor's behalf. This legal decision had far reaching effects, all the way to Nuremburg, where the excuse of "following orders" doesn't allow a man to commit crimes against humanity.
ANDREW ROSE Andrew Rose, the British sailor CHO: Wasn't that most cruel usage 'Twas on the quarter-deck they laid him, 'Twas up aloft the Captain sent him The captain gave him stuff to swallow; 'Twas in a water-cask they put him; For twenty days they did ill-use him, Come all ye friends and near relations,
|
|
Subject: RE: Fav. Historical Story-songs From: Bert Date: 12 Oct 99 - 02:04 PM Just for starters... When the Alabama's Keel was laid Battle of New Orleans D-Day Dodgers (Dunno if it's true but it's a good story) Come to the Bower (Allen Damron) Heart of the Appaloosa Woad Grace Darling Bert. |
|
Subject: RE: Fav. Historical Story-songs From: Davey Date: 12 Oct 99 - 01:56 PM Check out Lee Murdock's recordings... He specializes in stories and songs about the Great Lakes, and some of his songs date from the 1800s.. |
|
Subject: RE: Fav. Historical Story-songs From: Heather Date: 12 Oct 99 - 09:44 AM A friend of mine does one called Indian Pass that is very good. I can check with him this weekend and see where to get the words and tune if you want. |
|
Subject: RE: Fav. Historical Story-songs From: bseed(charleskratz) Date: 12 Oct 99 - 02:41 AM Nikki, I hope you did glean from somewhere above that many, maybe even most, of these songs are avaiable in the Digitgal Tradition database: You can find them either by typing the name of the song in the box in the upper left or by clicking on the letters of the alphabet and scrolling through the lists. All the titles in the list are links to versions of the songs, many of which have sound files along with the lyrics. --seed |
|
Subject: RE: Fav. Historical Story-songs From: faeryrose Date: 12 Oct 99 - 02:37 AM Whiskey in the Jar is a great Irish drinking song about a man (a bandit) who was betrayed to the authorities by his lady love. |
|
Subject: RE: Fav. Historical Story-songs From: Nikki Hershberger Date: 11 Oct 99 - 09:14 PM Ohboy, ohboy, ohboy!!!! Thanks all! I'm getting extremely excited just looking over these. Nuthin' better than a huge list of songs that I can't wait to track down and learn. |
|
Subject: RE: Fav. Historical Story-songs From: kendall Date: 11 Oct 99 - 07:57 PM Gordon Bok also did a great job on THE PIPERS REFRAIN. When I was in Scotland, I did this one in a number of pubs and folk clubs. Of course they all knew the story, and they were quite pleased to hear the song. |
|
Subject: RE: Fav. Historical Story-songs From: Art Thieme Date: 11 Oct 99 - 07:40 PM Just put up a new thread to posr my favorite story song of all time---"CALIFORNIA JOE" by Captain Jack Ceawford--The Poet Scout of the Black Hills. But ya gotta hear Jim Ringer's rendition of this song. Art |
|
Subject: RE: Fav. Historical Story-songs From: Susan A-R Date: 11 Oct 99 - 06:53 PM The Piper's Refrain tells of a Scotsman who betrayed a kinsman and was cursed to die in Ticondaroga(I don't even guess that my spelling is correct). This name made no sense to him until he ended up over here on Lake Champlain and found out that the fort at the south end of the lake went by that name. The MacArthur family does it beautifully. The Black Family does Those Warlike Lads of Russia, about Bonapart abandoning his armies to the Russians and their winter. The Ballad of Spring Hill i8s a grreat mining disaster song. Is it by Ewan McCall?? Fred Small does a chilling song about a girl growing up in Australia with the usual stereotypes about native peoples, resulting in her fear to go to them, or to bypass their camp in order to fetch help for her dying mother. I believe he draws it from a true story. His Over the Olsund is also an absolutely wonderful song about the Danish efforts to get the Jews out before the Nazi raids. That one makes me cry every time I hear it (Gordon Bok's base harmony on the chorus helps.) In fact, the entire I Will Stand Fast album is full of such stories. Only one or two new agey typ songs. The Blue and the Gray, about the decoration of graves (union and confederate) in Mississippi is one of my current Civil War Favorites. Oops, I see what you mean, you can go on and on. Susan
|
|
Subject: RE: Fav. Historical Story-songs From: Art Thieme Date: 11 Oct 99 - 04:25 PM It's pretty strang---I just started a thread to post the lyrics to "BRACERO" by Leon Payne. It's not particularly my favorite story song but it is sort of a story song--albeit rather truncated. Art |
|
Subject: RE: Fav. Historical Story-songs From: faeryrose Date: 11 Oct 99 - 03:32 PM The Foggy Dew is a song written by Father P. O'Neill in tribute to the men who fought and died in the Easter Rising of 1916 in Dublin and is quite interesting. If you want some interesting filks try Barrett's Privateers... Lord of Caerte is one of a soldier's point of view of his army's fated slaughter.
|
|
Subject: RE: Fav. Historical Story-songs From: kendall Date: 11 Oct 99 - 02:12 PM I agree with everyone who picks The Band Played Waltzing Matilda, but, another of my favorites, in fact one of the first I ever learned was Henry Martin. And, lets not forget Bob Coltman's re write of Sir Patrick Spence. |
|
Subject: RE: Fav. Historical Story-songs From: Doctor John Date: 11 Oct 99 - 02:07 PM Les B refers to "The Thresher" written and recorded by (the greatly underestimated) Phil Ochs. Many of his songs chronicle the times very well. B Seed refers to Woody's "1913 Massacre"; "Ludlow Massacre" and "Harriet Tubman" are excellent too. Nic Jones - never one to give us yet another version of John Barleycorn or Solvey - recorded unusual songs about Napoleon (why's he so popular in English folk song?) and Marlborough - well worth a listen. I wonder what the earliest is? Mine is "Fair Rosamund" about Henry ll. Dr John |
|
Subject: RE: Fav. Historical Story-songs From: Mbo Date: 11 Oct 99 - 09:21 AM What about "Kelly, the Boy from Killane" by The Clancy Brothers, "Summer of '45" by Robin Laing, "Killecrankie," and "Glencoe"? I also think "The Mermaid" is a great song about shipwreck (and also funny.) -Mbo |
|
Subject: RE: Fav. Historical Story-songs From: Pete Peterson Date: 11 Oct 99 - 09:01 AM There are a bunch from the old-timey tradition that are good "historical" songs; some of them look at things from a worms-eye view. Examples of these are Otto Wood the Bandit (original recording the Carolina Buddies) Kenny Wagner (another small-time robber, as told by Ernest Stoneman) The Death of Floyd Collins (Vernon Dahlhart strikes again) on a larger scale there are the various Titanic songs; my personal favorite is the Carter Family's but Down with the Old Canoe is a winner too Battles: The one that always moves me is the Cumberland Crew-- the first ship to learn that under certain conditions, iron floated, and wood sunk. Drummer Boy of Shiloh-- the list goes on! I used to introduce Marching through Georgia in about 1970 by saying you got to hear lots of anti-war songs'; this is about the only pro-war song I know (Still is!) |
|
Subject: RE: Fav. Historical Story-songs From: catspaw49 Date: 11 Oct 99 - 08:05 AM I too like Woody's stuff. 1913 Massacre was a real favorite for awhile. In this category too, I suppose that "Christmas in the Trenches" would sorta' fit. Spaw |
|
Subject: RE: Fav. Historical Story-songs From: roopoo Date: 11 Oct 99 - 01:42 AM I forgot about "Three Score and Ten". It's a belter! mouldy |
|
Subject: RE: Fav. Historical Story-songs From: northfolk/al cholger Date: 10 Oct 99 - 10:11 PM Nobody did this topic better than Woody... Some of my favorites: 1913 Massacre Plane Wreck at Los Gatos Great Historical Bum maybe I'm stretching the category to include a couple of these... Also like the concept of the common man's impact on history...favorite there, Si Kahn's "Bleeding Hearts"...what else? |
|
Subject: RE: Fav. Historical Story-songs From: John in Brisbane Date: 10 Oct 99 - 08:05 PM My Australian favourite is the Ballad of 1891 which in a fairly bloody manner chronicles the battles between shearers and the establishment in order to establish basic working conditions, and the first organised workers union in this country. Unless I'm wrong this is a major omission from the database. I'd be more than happy for anyone to post it please. Regards, John |
|
Subject: RE: Fav. Historical Story-songs From: Date: 10 Oct 99 - 05:45 PM Jennifer, the wife of Songster Bob, lead a workshop on historical songs at the FSGW Getaway this afternoon. Most were civil war songs, the 19th century American one and the 17th century English one, plus Jennifer's one on Napolean, and a some others.
|
|
Subject: RE: Fav. Historical Story-songs From: bseed(charleskratz) Date: 10 Oct 99 - 03:44 PM Woodie Guthrie wrote a few: "The Reuben James," "Deportees," the Bonneville Dam songs, the one about the Union Christmas party where company thugs barred one of the exit doors then shouted FIRE! inside the hall and there was a mad rush for the exit and dozens of people, mostly children, were killed in the crush at the barred door, and "Pretty Boy Floyd," dust bowl ballads such as "Do-Re-Mi," etc. The Civil War era produced songs as diverse as "John Brown's Body," "Marching Through Georgia," and "Goober Peas." Some historical songs are about heroes and great events, others about how common people are affected by the events. Generally, I prefer the latter. --seed |
|
Subject: RE: Fav. Historical Story-songs From: Margo Date: 10 Oct 99 - 02:39 PM I like "Three Score and Ten", a sad account of a terrible storm that took the lives of many fishermen from Grimsby in the 1880's. It is on Lou Killen's "A Seaman's Garland" CD, available here at the Mudcat. There are more notes in the CD sleeve, if you're interested let me know. Margarita |
|
Subject: RE: Fav. Historical Story-songs From: Magpie Date: 10 Oct 99 - 02:39 PM I side with you, Mudjack!!! Magpie |
|
Subject: RE: Fav. Historical Story-songs From: Mudjack Date: 10 Oct 99 - 01:18 PM The Band Played Waltzing Matilda is a mighty strong story of war and visually tells a story with out any glory. As it should be. Mudjack |
|
Subject: RE: Fav. Historical Story-songs From: gulick and maxine Date: 10 Oct 99 - 01:04 PM Our favorite is "The Irish Rover",(about ship wreck) the one with the "10 mil. bales of old nanny goat tails, and 8 mil. sides of blind horses hides". If you dont already have that one, and want the entire lyrics, we can send you them ----- (but later 'cause now we got to dig taters). Another neat song(one about a battle) is "Pea Ridge" a Rebel song.Can send the words for that one too. Happy yodelin' |
|
Subject: RE: Fav. Historical Story-songs From: Stewie Date: 10 Oct 99 - 02:44 AM I reckon one of the greatest of them all is 'The Baron of Brackley' Child 203. A gripping tale of heroism and betrayal. I have a marvellous recording of a composite version by the fine singer from Melbourne, Australia - Danny Spooner. It's in Vol IV of Child's 'English and Scottish Popular Ballads'. |
|
Subject: RE: Fav. Historical Story-songs From: Les B Date: 10 Oct 99 - 02:32 AM In terms of American songs there's "Amelia Earhart's Last Flight," Leadbelly's "Titanic," and lots of train songs like "Wreck of the old 97," "Engine 143," etc. I think there are a couple about submarines going down ("The Thresher" ?) and I've heard that the Russians had some folk songs about a nuclear disaster on a sub, but don't know the titles. |
|
Subject: RE: Fav. Historical Story-songs From: roopoo Date: 09 Oct 99 - 10:27 PM I always liked "Lord Franklin", and whether it was just the arrangement or not, Steeleye Span's version of "Montrose", which takes 15 minutes! But best of all is a lovely song, although not strictly speaking historical (1950s) about a Derbyshire sheepdog who stayed and guarded her master's body after he died in a blizzard one December until they found him in March: "Tip of Derwent". I daresay there are many more which have flowed through my brain over the years, but I'm not a singer and they don't always stay in there! mouldy |
|
Subject: RE: Fav. Historical Story-songs From: Susanne (skw) Date: 09 Oct 99 - 09:31 PM Herald of Free Enterprise was written by Robb Johnson. Spine-chilling! James Keelaghan has some very good songs in this line: Abraham, Kiri's Piano, Hillcrest Mine, Glory Bound, Small Rebellion, Cold Missouri Waters. Brian McNeill's entire 'Back o' the North Wind' CD qualifies, plus qwuite a number of his other songs, e. g. Montrose, Greenland's Icy Waters, The Roving Dies Hard and Seacoalers. And what about all those songs about highwaymen and bushrangers? Which reminds me of Judy Small (again!) whose songs about the role of women in history are usually great. 'Fraid I'll have to stop, or I'll go on all night. - Susanne |
|
Subject: RE: Fav. Historical Story-songs From: wildlone Date: 09 Oct 99 - 06:56 PM Mine are the Agincourt Carol.Brave Lord Willoughby. Defeat of the Spanish Armarda. Admiral Benbow.to name a few Also Bells of Rhymney & The Gresford Disaster |
|
Subject: RE: Fav. Historical Story-songs From: bobby's girl Date: 09 Oct 99 - 04:49 PM In the days when I used to sing in folk clubs, one song I sang which was always very popular was the Ellen Vannin - and there is also The Herald of Free Enterprise which I have on a Roy Bailey CD tho I don't know if he wrote it. |
|
Subject: Fav. Historical Story-songs From: Nikki Hershberger (neh9w@bethelks.edu) Date: 09 Oct 99 - 02:56 PM Hi! I'm getting deeply into ballads about historical events (wrecks, battles, etc...maybe I'm just feeling apocalyptic lately!). I'm looking for songs to enjoy; something along the lines of "Wreck of the You-know-what", except maybe not so OVERPLAYED. Anybody want to suggest some favorites? |
| Share Thread: |