Lyr Req: 'Faithless is womankind'

Subject: Lyr Req: 'Faithless is womankind'
From: Thompson
Date: 19 Jun 14 - 12:33 PM

I've just come across a reference to a Citizen Army man in St Stephen's Green in 1916 refusing to sing a nationalist song for fear he'd hurt the feelings of the British soldiers he was guarding; instead he sang Faithless is Womankind.
Does anyone know what this song is? I was wondering if it might be an opera tune - Ireland was cracked on opera that time. Or possibly music hall?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Faithless is womankind'
From: Thompson
Date: 22 Jun 14 - 07:09 AM

Anyone?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Faithless is womankind'
From: GUEST,#
Date: 22 Jun 14 - 07:34 AM

Hi, Thompson. I spent a good 45 minutes looking and came up empty. Keep the thread going for another few days and perhaps someone will recognize it. The only two places on the web the phrase occurs (dedicated Google search) is in a book--nothing to do with your search--and here at Mudcat.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Faithless is womankind'
From: Thompson
Date: 22 Jun 14 - 07:47 AM

I have a feeling it must be an operatic reference, and this was the translation current at the time - maybe Cosi Fan Tutti…

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Faithless is womankind'
From: Thompson
Date: 22 Jun 14 - 07:54 AM

Aaah, I think I know what it must be - La Dona è Mobile - very popular in Ireland at the time and recorded by John McCormack.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Faithless is womankind'
From: GUEST,#
Date: 22 Jun 14 - 07:59 AM

http://classicalmusic.about.com/od/opera/qt/ladonnaemobile.htm

Certainly the theme of 'faithless woman' is established early on.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Faithless is womankind'
From: Thompson
Date: 22 Jun 14 - 08:05 AM

Also, the title translates, and the rhythm of the phrase is the same; I wonder was there an English translation sung in the same cadence.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Faithless is womankind'
From: GUEST,#
Date: 22 Jun 14 - 08:28 AM

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_donna_%C3%A8_mobile

Worth a look.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Faithless is womankind'
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 22 Jun 14 - 04:57 PM

Notice also that "Faithless is Womankind" has exactly the same prosodic quantity, so can be perfectly sung to the same tune, as "La Donna è Mobile".

~M~

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Faithless is womankind'
From: GUEST,#
Date: 22 Jun 14 - 05:33 PM

MtheGM: see post five.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Faithless is womankind'
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 22 Jun 14 - 08:14 PM

Yes, Mr Sharp; what of it? I was just pointing out how this translation of that first line [which, note, is not one that appears in any of the English versions ref'd] fits the rhythm of the air, thus adding further confirmation that the Verdi is almost certainly the correct identification requested by OP. Can't quite see the point of your would-be putdown?

~M~

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Faithless is womankind'
From: GUEST,Eliza
Date: 23 Jun 14 - 04:16 AM

Oh dear, this made me smile. We used to sing a rude song to that tune, which began,

"Arseholes are cheap today,
Cheaper than yesterday!
Little ones are half-a-crown
Standing up or lying down..."

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Faithless is womankind'
From: Thompson
Date: 08 Nov 15 - 01:41 PM

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