Birthing Songs- Are there any?

Subject: RE: Birthing Songs- Are there any?
From: JennieG
Date: 15 Dec 14 - 05:47 PM

Don't forget the verse (sung with great feeling by the about-to-be-mother to the about-to-be-father) which goes:

"If I get out of this alive you are never coming near me again, you bastard........"

I remember it well, although it was nigh on 39 years ago.

Subject: RE: Birthing Songs- Are there any?
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 15 Dec 14 - 04:39 PM

Birthing is a non-word like parenting. It will always be "giving birth" and "in labour" as far as I am concerned.

Subject: RE: Birthing Songs- Are there any?
From: bubblyrat
Date: 15 Dec 14 - 08:53 AM

Funny word, "birthing" , and not taught in MY school in the 1950s !! Anyway, I do play not a "birthing " song but a birthing tune , on the guitar,which is a "Christening Waltz" ( a Scandinavian tradition, I believe ) called "Josephina's Waltz ,by ,( I THINK !) Roger Tallroth, and it is usually very well received,being a beautiful tune .Sadly , I often get it mixed up with "Margerita's Waltz " by Wim Poesen , but that's much harder to play !!

Subject: RE: Birthing Songs- Are there any?
From: Bert
Date: 14 Dec 14 - 11:28 PM

The ultimate birthing song.

A farrowing song, sung to sows when they are pushing out those little piglets. The sound effects are to make her feel that she is among friends.



The Old Sow Song, from Somerset.

Subject: RE: Birthing Songs- Are there any?
From: Joe_F
Date: 14 Dec 14 - 08:29 PM

The Reel of Stumpie goes thru the whole story in feverish order, the wanton loon & cutty stool (charming Presbyterian custom!) before, the caudle during, the gossip cup & the cradle after.

Subject: RE: Birthing Songs- Are there any?
From: GUEST,Rahere
Date: 14 Dec 14 - 08:00 PM

Must be why so many quacks play rugby, practicing receiving a pass for a bub arriving like a rocket...
In general, there are far too many real things happening for it to be in any way a good idea. If necessary, write your own?

Subject: RE: Birthing Songs- Are there any?
From: oldhippie
Date: 14 Dec 14 - 06:56 PM

Check out the new CD by Peruquois, "The Original Essence". There is a trilogy of songs: "Birthing Prayer", "Birthing Chant", and "Birthday Song". More info at peruquois.com

Subject: RE: Birthing Songs- Are there any?
From: mg
Date: 20 Jul 13 - 01:27 AM

childbirth..wasn't queen jane or queen eleanor in labor for a long time and something had to be done....

what about mary hamilton...put a little baby out to sea...

Subject: RE: Birthing Songs- Are there any?
From: ChanteyLass
Date: 19 Jul 13 - 11:12 PM

Glad you liked Circle of the Sun. I hesitated to suggest it because it is about so much more than the birthing day. However, songwriter Sally Rogers is a regional treasure and I'd recently heard her sing it again at the New Bedford Folk Festival.

Odd that I didn't make blue clickies for those links. For the song cover video, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C6KAByualg8 For the lyrics, @displaysong.cfm?SongID=1197

Subject: RE: Birthing Songs- Are there any?
From: GUEST
Date: 16 Jul 13 - 10:56 PM

In my mind it was

Oh shit, oh shit, oh shit
Is it here yet?
Damn all damn all
Push more is it here yet

Pant pant pant PUSH! Pant pant pant PUSH

Oh shit, oh shit
GODDAMN YOU MAN!

Is it here yet?
SHIT......and then......POOOF and WHOOSH! It's here!
Was sort of like a champagne cork popping out.....

(forget all the ohshitgoddamn...it's HIM! FINALLY)


Seriously, I think this chant needs to be
In, out, In out...breathe breathe breathe
Push girl push, Push I say
Push girl push...

Etc....

Subject: RE: Birthing Songs- Are there any?
From: GUEST,DoulaLady
Date: 16 Jul 13 - 10:43 PM

Chanteylass, I love that Circle of the Sun song. I am going to learn it just to sing with my kids . Thanks

Subject: RE: Birthing Songs- Are there any?
From: GUEST
Date: 16 Jul 13 - 10:36 PM

Gargoyle, I am sorry but I don't understand.

Thanks for making that clear Gibb. I will definitely post an update when/if I find something. I am glad to hear people are interested since I have never heard anything about it myself.

Someone told me that there are Japanese call and response songs sung for labor, but I have yet to find them.

I will keep looking. Maybe I will write to The Farm in Tennessee and see if they use any songs for laboring women.

Best, Doulalady

Subject: RE: Birthing Songs- Are there any?
From: GUEST,.gargoyle
Date: 16 Jul 13 - 10:21 PM

RUGBY SONG
(potential OFFENSIVE)

Read No More if sensitive in nature.

....



Why were they born so beautiful?
Why we're they born at all?
They are no F++king use to anyone...
They are no F++king use at all.

They may bring joy to their mother...
But they are a pain in the A++hole to me.

Sincerely,
Gargoyle



http://www.mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=100786

Subject: RE: Birthing Songs- Are there any?
From: Gibb Sahib
Date: 16 Jul 13 - 07:51 PM

Thanks for coming back to check in and clarify!


To clarify from my end, I was just noting that the Punjabi tradition (especially the songs of women) seems to have songs for "everything" and yet *doesn't* have birthing songs (that I know of - and I am in a pretty good position to know)—so don't look there! :)

Let us know what you find—especially in the English tradition. I think this sort of thing is under-discussed on Mudcat, and I think I speak for some others in saying that we'd be interested to see more.

Gibb

Subject: RE: Birthing Songs- Are there any?
From: GUEST,DoualLady
Date: 16 Jul 13 - 07:44 PM

Thanks for your input everyone.

I realized after I posted , that my question was sort of general. Gibb Sahib, that is exactly what I am talking about. I was thinking of English folk tradition, but I am interested in any that exist because I feel there are basic sounds that would be pleasing or calming or empowering to a woman who is laboring.

It has occurred to me that maybe they would be chanties. I will look into Punjab tradition. I love the intricate rhythms of Indian music I have heard, they are so smooth. I don't know if that would be Punjab music.

Joybell, laboring music can certainly be a song that she connects with.

Subject: RE: Birthing Songs- Are there any?
From: GUEST
Date: 15 Jul 13 - 12:27 PM

Pop Goes the Weasel
The Hokey Cokey

Subject: RE: Birthing Songs- Are there any?
From: Gibb Sahib
Date: 15 Jul 13 - 02:16 AM

songs that may have been sung while a woman is laboring?

From this, I take it she is not talking about joke songs, parodies, songs composed about the topic of giving birth, or songs that happen to have been in one's head while giving birth. The language implies some kind of "traditional" or customary songs.

What I can't figure, Doulalady, is what linguistic or cultural background you are looking for. Is it English-language speaking culture that you need?

If so, I can't think of anything traditional to the Anglo culture (though I'd be happy to be corrected)...in fact, English culture seems to have little, in recent centuries, in the way of (traditional) "life cycle" songs tied to events and rituals and functions like that. (Even chanties had to be borrowed by the Anglos from the African-Americans :P )
However, look outside that culture, and examples abound. I know a lot about the songs from Punjab (~Northern India), in which case there seem to be / have been customary songs attached to each stage (of many) in weddings, as well as births, deaths, etc. None that I've heard of to be sung during the actual labor though (the songs are sung just after the birth). But during-labor songs—after a quick internet search—look like they might be there in Laotian culture, in Navajo, and more.

My answer in short is, yes, there are many such songs, though I have not heard of anything in English. Good luck on the search!

Subject: RE: Birthing Songs- Are there any?
From: Phil Cooper
Date: 15 Jul 13 - 01:19 AM

Pat Sky's song "Dirge to Love Gone By" would fit the category, but you don't want to go there.

Subject: RE: Birthing Songs- Are there any?
From: ChanteyLass
Date: 14 Jul 13 - 11:06 PM

There's Sally Rogers' Circle of the Sun. Here's a video of a cover of it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C6KAByualg8 The lyrics are here. http://www.mudcat.org/@displaysong.cfm?SongID=1197

Subject: RE: Birthing Songs- Are there any?
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 14 Jul 13 - 08:19 PM

Incidentally, I see "Bear Down" is tye official motto of the University of Arizona...

Subject: RE: Birthing Songs- Are there any?
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 14 Jul 13 - 08:15 PM

I just found that shanty Dick mentioned - to the tune of Go Down you BLood Red Roses, by Sisters Unlimited

For nine months I've been tired and sick
Childbirth's no bed of roses- bear down
Swollen up like Moby Dick
Childbirth's no bed of roses- bear down
Bursting out of all my clotheses
Childbirth's no bed of roses- bear down

Am I having con-trac-ti-on
Or wind or cons-sti-pa-ti-on
"Call me an ambulance" she groanses

Razor shaves off all your hair
Watch your bloody cold hands down there
Used to have a beard like Moses

Then they come and clear your bowels
I'm glad I don't have to wash the towels
Clean me down with pressure hoses

It's legs akimbo, miles apart
I hope I don't freak or faint or f-feeze(fart)
Gas and air to comatose us

Just one more push and that'll do
Head and shoulders soon be through
Oh- it's feet and toeses – she breaches!
My baby's born with one last shove
Thats what you call a labour of love
I'd do it again though – I supposes
Childbirth's no bed of roses – bear down

(Davis/Kerr/Russell/Webb)

Subject: RE: Birthing Songs- Are there any?
From: Joybell
Date: 14 Jul 13 - 07:56 PM

I have songs going on in my head all the time. I can't recall which ones they were during my two labours. Probably songs triggered by what people said.
Or maybe "I wish my baby it was born". "Hard aint it hard"
Joy

Subject: RE: Birthing Songs- Are there any?
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 14 Jul 13 - 06:59 PM

Someone wrote a birthing chantey (I don't recall the author nor the words) with the chorus "Bear Down"

Subject: RE: Birthing Songs- Are there any?
From: GUEST
Date: 14 Jul 13 - 06:16 PM

Ginny Reilly of Reilly and Maloney recorded an album of original songs called "Doodle Lee Do'in." She wrote a number of songs dealing with this subject, including "When You Come Out and Play" and "The Baby Inside of Me Blues." They're all on YouTube now:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ct1qjM9HHiM
-Adam Miller
Folksinging.org

Subject: RE: Birthing Songs- Are there any?
From: Gurney
Date: 14 Jul 13 - 05:46 PM

Not what you're asking for, but Cyril Tawney wrote a song called 'Bitter Sweet Bed,' about a woman giving birth to the child of a runaway lover.

Welcome to this world?

Subject: RE: Birthing Songs- Are there any?
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 14 Jul 13 - 03:39 PM

Sort of pushing shanty maybe.

Subject: RE: Birthing Songs- Are there any?
From: GUEST,Autoharper
Date: 14 Jul 13 - 03:26 PM

"Welcome to the World" by Si Kahn. Recorded on Rounder 4017 "Signs ogf the Times."

Pick me out an old-time song
Sing it right and sing it wrong
Play a tune that's nine months long
Welcome to the World
Take my fiddle and my bow
Play you every tune I know
Keep you dancing while you grow
Welcome to the World

We've got diapers by the pail
Mama's skinny as a rail
Got the whole world by the tail
Welcome to the World
Listen to that baby squall
Must be nearly ten feet tall
And you'd think he'd done it all
Welcome to the World

In my mind I see you clear
Changing through the days and years
And we're glad you're finally here
Welcome to the World
May you grow up proud and strong
May your life be rich and long
May your nights be filled with song
Welcome to the World

-Adam Miller
Folksinging.org

Subject: RE: Birthing Songs- Are there any?
From: oldhippie
Date: 14 Jul 13 - 11:52 AM

Don't know if its exactly what you are looking for but try the recording "The Maternity Sessions" by Kate Barclay. Solstice Records St Albans VT 1997

Subject: Birthing Songs- Are there any?
From: GUEST,DoulaLady
Date: 14 Jul 13 - 10:05 AM

I am looking for songs that may have been sung while a woman is laboring? I have searched around and haven't come up with anything yet.