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Folksongs about journeys/travel
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Subject: Folksongs about journeys/travel From: GUEST,Claire Date: 11 Sep 17 - 12:35 PM Hi all, I'm looking to do a project on songs about journeys/travel. Most of those I have already are rather depressing, and of the 'broken hearted woman as man has gone off to war/sea' variety! Any suggestions would be really appreciated! Many thanks in advance, Claire |
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Subject: RE: Folksongs about journeys/travel From: GUEST,Claire Date: 11 Sep 17 - 12:39 PM Forgot to add...preferably traditional/no known author. |
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Subject: RE: Folksongs about journeys/travel From: GUEST,henryp Date: 11 Sep 17 - 01:47 PM Traditional songs are going to describe travel before the age of motor vehicles, aeroplanes and space rockets. "Lord Franklin" tells of the search for the North West Passage; his ships were fitted with steam engines. With a hundred seamen he sailed away To the frozen ocean in the month of May To seek a passage around the pole Where we poor sailors do sometimes go In "North West Passage", Stan Rogers made the journey across Canada by land; Three centuries thereafter, I take passage overland In the footsteps of brave Kelso, where his "sea of flowers" began Watching cities rise before me, then behind me sink again This tardiest explorer, driving hard across the plain. And through the night, behind the wheel, the mileage clicking west I think upon Mackenzie, David Thompson and the rest Who cracked the mountain ramparts and did show a path for me To race the roaring Fraser to the sea. |
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Subject: Lyr Add: FARMER MICHAEL HAYES From: Jim Carroll Date: 11 Sep 17 - 01:49 PM You might try this Claire It is interesting because of the circumstances and also the distance covered Two versions of it can be head on 'The Carroll Mackenzie Collection at Clare County library website I've added the introduction to the Clare Library version I used the song at a talk I gave a few months ago - I have also included my introduction for that A fascinating song Jim Carroll FARMER MICHAEL HAYES (The Fox Chase) (Roud 5226) John Lyons, Newmarket-on-Fergus, Recorded in London, April, 1974 I am a bold undaunted fox that never was before in tramp. My rent, rates and taxes I was willing for to pay; I made my name in fine good land, between Tipp'rary and Knocklong, Where my forefathers lived and died a thousand years or so. Ah but then of late I was betrayed by one who was a fool I know, He told me I should leave the place and show my face no more. As soon as he evicted me I thought it time that I should flee, So late one night, I took his life and left him lying low. But by telegraph they did insert the great reward for my arrest, My figure, size and form, my name without mistake. They broke their brogues, one thousand pair, this great reward for to obtain, But still their search was all in vain, for farmer Michael Hayes. They searched Tipp'rary o'er and o'er, the corn fields near Galtymore, They went across to Wexford then, but did not long delay. By Ballyhale and Stridemore strand, they searched the woods as they came on, Then they were hungry, wet and cold at the approach of day. And round the coast they made a steer from Poolbeg lighthouse to Cape Clear, Killarney Town and sweet Tralee, they then crossed into Clare. And when they landed on the shore, they searched Kilrush from top to toe, The searched the baths near sweet Lisdoon, likewise Miltown Malbay. And Connemara being remote they thought 'twas there I might resort, When they were getting weary, they resolved to try Mayo. In Swinford town as I lay down I heard a dreadful cry of hounds, So I lay there in the manger till the approach of day. Then to Dublin town I made my way, and then to Cobh and Americay, And left the hounds to search away, for farmer Michael Hayes. And as the moon began to shine, I thought I'd make a foreign clime, Now I'm in the Land of Liberty, and fig for all my foes. John Lyons spoke before singing the song: "This song, I got the tune of it years ago, from Willie Clancy and I had the words all the time collected from an old scrapbook I had, but I didn't actually hear the tune until later. The song was Farmer Michael Hayes." It's a song about a true incident about a tenant farmer who killed his landlord in a Tipperary hotel when he was evicted, and he went on the run and he finally escaped to America where, I believe, he was never caught. As a young man, Tom Lenihan heard the ballad of Farmer Michael Hayes sung by his father and by local ballad seller, Bully Nevin, but never knew more than a few verses. In 1972 he obtained a full text, adapted it to what he already knew and put it to a variation of the tune he had heard. We believe it to be one of the best narrative Irish ballads we have ever come across; Tom makes a magnificent job of it. The story, based on real events, tells of how a farmer/land agent with a reputation for harshness is evicted from his land and takes his revenge on the landlord, in some cases by shooting him, and in Tom's version by also killing off the landlord's livestock. He takes off in an epic flight, closely followed by police with hounds and is chased around the coast of Ireland as far as Mayo where he finally escapes to America. We worked out once that the reported chase is over five hundred miles of rough ground. Tradition has it that he eventually returned home to die in Ireland. As Georges Zimmerman points out, this ballad shows how a probably hateful character could become a gallant hero in the eyes of the oppressed peasants. It is a rare song in the tradition, but we know it was sung in Kerry in the 1930s; Caherciveen Traveller Mikeen McCarthy gave us just line of it: "I am a bold "indaunted" fox that never was before on tramp" My rents, rates and taxes I was willing for to pay. When he heard it sung in full in a London folk club he said, "That's just how my father sang it". Ref; Songs of Irish Rebellion; Georges-Denis Zimmermann 1967 Introrduction from talk - 'Sing me a Story Willie Clancy Summer School July 2017 I'll end up with what I believe to be one of the finest the finest examples of Irish made narrative songs, certainly in our experience. It is based on a real incident which occurred in Tipperary in 1862, when a farmer and land agent, Michael Hayes, with a reputation for viciousness towards the tenants he deals with, is evicted from his own land and takes his revenge on the landlord by shooting him. The manhunt that followed took place mainly around Tipperary and Limerick, but the ballad expands it into an epic flight around the coast of Ireland as far as Mayo where Hayes is finally said to escape to America. We worked out once that the reported chase covers over five hundred miles of rough ground. Hayes was never caught, but tradition has it that he eventually returned home to die in Ireland. The song was once popular in this area; Tom Lenihan, who you heard earlier, learned it from hearing his father and also itinerant ballad seller, Bully Nevin sing it. This is our friend, John Lyons version of it; John says he first heard the tune played by Willie Clancy and put the words together from a written text in an old scrapbook. |
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Subject: RE: Folksongs about journeys/travel From: GUEST,henryp Date: 11 Sep 17 - 02:05 PM A song about whalermen returning from the Kamchatka Sea; Rolling Down to Old Maui It's a damn tough life full of toil and strife We whalermen undergo. And we don't give a damn when the gale is done How hard the winds did blow. 'cause we're homeward bound from the Arctic ground With a good ship, taut and free And we won't give a damn when we drink our rum With the girls of Old Maui. |
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Subject: RE: Folksongs about journeys/travel From: GUEST Date: 11 Sep 17 - 02:24 PM An old song about travel by train; The Oxford and Hampton Railway O come and listen to my song And I will not detain you long, About the folks, they all did throng To the Oxford and 'Ampton Railway. Chorus: Ri-fan, Ti-fan, mirth and fun, Don't you wonder how it's done? Carriages without horses run On the Oxford and 'Ampton Railway. And a modern one; City of New Orleans by Steve Goodman Riding on the City Of New Orleans Illinois Central, Monday morning rail Fifteen cars and fifteen restless riders Three Conductors; twenty-five sacks of mail All along the southbound odyssey The train pulls out of Kankakee And rolls along past houses, farms and fields Passing trains that have no name, And freight yards full of old black men And the graveyards of the rusted automobiles |
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Subject: RE: Folksongs about journeys/travel From: Steve Gardham Date: 11 Sep 17 - 03:08 PM various versions of 'The Roving Journeyman'. |
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Subject: RE: Folksongs about journeys/travel From: GUEST,henryp Date: 11 Sep 17 - 04:05 PM Spencer the Rover from the Copper Family These words were composed by Spencer the Rover Who had travelled Great Britain and most parts of Wales. He had been so reduced which caused great confusion And that was the reason he went on the roam. |
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Subject: Lyr Add: THE NIGHT THE GOAT BROKE LOOSE ON GRAND P From: The Sandman Date: 11 Sep 17 - 05:26 PM Cork Songs
THE NIGHT THE GOAT BROKE LOOSE ON GRAND PARADE
Well, Paddy McGinty bought a house, and lived in Sunday's Well |
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Subject: Lyr Add: THE DINGLE PUCK GOAT From: The Sandman Date: 11 Sep 17 - 05:31 PM THE DINGLE PUCK GOAT
I am a young jobber who was foolish and airy,
I made my appearance to the dealer who held him,
The old man departed and I went for starting,
When he came into Bandon I thought it was London.
When he came on the strand he hastily ran on to Clounnagal,
When I heard the goat speaking, my heart commenced beating,
In the town of Tralee he cooly meanders - |
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Subject: RE: Folksongs about journeys/travel From: Joe_F Date: 11 Sep 17 - 06:27 PM Cosher (Crayshaw) Bailey: On the first run up from Gower, She made 20 mile an hour. When she whistled through the station, Lord, she frightened half the nation. |
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Subject: RE: Folksongs about journeys/travel From: GUEST,henryp Date: 11 Sep 17 - 07:57 PM My own story of the Unknown Sailor who set out on the Portsmouth Road The sailor's leave was over So from his home he strode Back to his ship he made his trip Upon the Portsmouth Road At the village inn in Thursley He stopped to buy a round And there three men he did befriend They too were Portsmouth bound On the lonely climb up Hind Head Those men made their attack There with a knife they took his life And ran off with his pack A stone stands at the roadside To mark where he was killed As travellers know no grass will grow Where that red blood was spilled Those cut-throats hang in irons On the top of Gibbet Hill To tell us all what fate befalls Men who treat others ill At peace in Thursley churchyard That unknown sailor sleeps His kin still yearn for his return From sailing on the deep As you venture on life's journey You'll meet your fellow man But take great care for while you share Others take what they can |
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Subject: RE: Folksongs about journeys/travel From: GUEST,Lin Date: 11 Sep 17 - 08:59 PM Perhaps not exactly a travel song in what you are looking for but I just thought of this one Donovan song called "Ballad of Geraldine" Donovan sings in one line or so, "I traveled my life without take care. Ah, but all my love I was saving." I was born with the name Geraldine. With hair coal black as the raven. I traveled my life without take care. Ah, all my love I was saving." So in a sense Donovan sings and writes this song about traveling but was saving his love for that special one. |
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Subject: RE: Folksongs about journeys/travel From: GUEST,henryp Date: 12 Sep 17 - 07:18 AM BBC RADIO BALLADS The Travelling People first transmitted on 17 April 1964 The final radio ballad took as its subject the gypsy and tinker population of Britain. The bulk of the recording fell to MacColl and Seeger, who were already familiar with traveller families from earlier collecting sessions. They spent almost a month in tents, kitchens and caravans, at horse fairs and around campfires in Glasgow, Blairgowrie, Montrose and Aberdeen, Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire, Birmingham, London, Hampshire and Dorset. Songs written by MacColl include The Moving On Song (Go! Move! Shift!) and The Thirty Foot Trailer. |
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Subject: RE: Folksongs about journeys/travel From: GUEST,henryp Date: 12 Sep 17 - 07:34 AM Ten Thousand Miles Away From Wikipedia; A song about transportation to Australia, Ten Thousand Miles Away is attributed to Joseph B. Geoghegan. The lyrics as given in The Scottish Students' Song Book of 1897 are as follows: Sing Ho! for a brave and a valiant bark, And a brisk and lively breeze, A jovial crew and a Captain too, to carry me over the seas, To carry me over the seas, my boys, To my true love so gay, She has taken a trip on a gallant ship, Ten thousand miles away. Refrain So blow the winds, Heigh-ho; A roving I will go, I'll stay no more on England's shore, So let the music play! I'll start by the morning train, To cross the raging main, For I'm on the move to my own true love, Ten thousand miles away. |
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Subject: RE: Folksongs about journeys/travel From: GUEST,henryp Date: 13 Sep 17 - 06:20 AM Two songs of the Underground Railroad - leading escaped slaves north to safety in free states and Canada Follow the Drinking Gourd Follow the drinking gourd Follow the drinking gourd For the old man is a waiting For to carry you to freedom Follow the drinking gourd Harriet Tubman by Walter Robinson Hundreds of miles we travelled onward gathering slaves from town to town Seeking every lost and found, setting those free that once were bound Finally my heart was growing weaker, I fell by the wayside sinking sand Firmly did this woman stand, she lifted me up and took my hand Who are these children dressed in red? They must be the ones that Moses led Who are these children dressed in red? They must be the ones that Sister Moses led |
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Subject: RE: Folksongs about journeys/travel From: GUEST,henryp Date: 13 Sep 17 - 06:50 AM "Shenandoah" appears to have originated with Canadian and American voyageurs or fur traders travelling down the Missouri River in canoes. By the mid 1800s versions of the song had become a sea shanty heard or sung by sailors in various parts of the world. Lyrics from prior to 1860, as given in Sea Songs and Shanties, collected by W.B. Whall, Master Mariner (1910,) were reported as follows: Missouri, she's a mighty river. Away you rolling river. The redskins' camp, lies on its borders. Ah-ha, I'm bound away, 'Cross the wide Missouri From Wikipedia |
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Subject: RE: Folksongs about journeys/travel From: GUEST,henryp Date: 13 Sep 17 - 07:07 AM Shirley Collins sings Higher Germanie So, dearest Polly, the war it has begun, And I must march along by the beating of the drum. Come dress yourself all in your best and sail away with me; I'll take you to the wars, my love, in Higher Germanie. I'll buy Polly a pony and on it she shall ride, I'll buy Polly a pony to ride all by my side. We'll stop at every alehouse and drink when we get dry, We'll be true to one each other and marry by and by. From Mainly Norfolk And the song translated to America - Across the Blue Mountains One morning, one morning, one morning in May I heard a married man to a young girl say, Oh rise you up pretty Katy and go along with me, Across the Blue Mountain to the Allegheny. l'll buy you a horse, love, and saddle to ride, I'll buy myself another to ride by your side. We'll stop at every tavern and drink when we're dry Across the Blue Mountain go Katy and I. |
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Subject: RE: Folksongs about journeys/travel From: GUEST,henryp Date: 14 Sep 17 - 01:39 AM Two songs of farewell; Farewell to Tarwathie - a song about the West Greenland right whale fishing by miller George Scroggie of Federate, near Aberdeen, around the middle of the 19th century. Farewell to Tarwathie, adieu Mormond Hills, And the dear land of Crimond, I bid ye farewell. We're bound out for Greenland and ready to sail, In hopes to find riches in hunting the whale. The Leaving of Liverpool - W. Doerflinger got this nostalgic song from a well-known shanty singer, 'Captain' Dick Maitland, who learnt it from a Liverpool man when he was bosun on the General Knox about 1885. Fare-thee-well the Princess Landing Stage, River Mersey fare-thee-well. I am bound for California. That's a place I know right well. Thanks to Mainly Norfolk |
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Subject: Lyr Add: THE TRAVELLER ALL OVER THE WORLD From: Jim Carroll Date: 14 Sep 17 - 05:44 AM Fairly comprehensive one here There's a version of the great Frank Harte singing it somewhere on the web Jim Carroll THE TRAVELLER ALL OVER THE WORLD Come all you fellow travelling men of every rank and station And hear this short oration which as yet remains untold You might have been an Austrian, a German or a Bulgarian But sit ye sios-in-aice-liom, and the truth I will unfold You'll hear of great disunity unveiled to the community So take this opportunity of listening to me You'll hear of foreign nations and of youthful expectations And of a few relations in that beauty spot Glenlea I went to see the world's rage, being only sixteen years of age A steerage passage I engaged on a ship called the Iron Duke I went on board at Dublin's wall, being southward bound for the Transvaal I had a friend from Annascaul, and one from Donnybrook Our noble ship had scarcely steamed when in my mind sad memories gleamed I thought of my dear neighbours and their loving company I though about my brothers and our love for one another And of my grey haired mother there at home in Sweet Glenlea We landed safe but suddenly in that British spot Cape Colony In search of manual labour I travelled near and far I crossed the Orange River, among Hottentots and Kaffirs And I was made Grand Master on the Isle of Zanzibar A Dutchman high who admired me ways took me to see the Himalays And Boys o Boys was I amazed, their awful heights to see We wandered on through Hindustan, along the River Ganges And though it was a grand place, still the fairest was Glenlea This Dutchman suffered health's decline, he heard of cures in Palestine Persuaded me with him combine and along with him to go We landed safe at Jaffa and we journeyed to Jerusalem Thee ancient city of Hebron and the ruins of Jericho The surrounding mountains highest peaks, just like McGillicuddy's Reeks And from their summit you could see the Lake of Gallilee Likewise the River Jordan and the province of Samaria But though it sounds contrary - the fairest was Glenlea These doleful times soon drifted by till this faithful Dutchman friend and I Were for I stood forlorn upon the quay as the ship that bore him sailed away His memory in my mind will stay till life's long days are o'er Still Providence had willed its way and therefore conscience must obey I went on board and sailed away when my friend did me forsake But often meditation made me turn for recreation And go home in contemplation to that beauty spot Glenlea In Palestine I made some coin, I heard of San Francisco's mine For to invest me capital I thought a good idee I landed safe in Frisco when the trees were blooming beautiful It was on that same evening that there was a great earthquake I was in my bed and sleeping sound, I woke to find things moving round But after that I heard no sound, no pain affected me And on the following morning when I'd recovered consciousness I wrote of all the consequence to my home in sweet Glenlea I told them in the letter how I lost the situation It was my earthly station and I wanted to go home And I hoped their generosity would aid my transportation And I went o I got the cash to pay my way without disaster or delay And landed safe at Queenstown Quay, on board the Chimpanzee And after an excursion of some five long hours duration I reached the little station on the road to sweet Glenlea As we approached the terminus I viewed with consternation The awful congregation there assembled in the rain And I hoped some other personage of worldly estimation To heed their expectation was coming on by train As I scanned each individual's face, friends and neighbours, old time mates Assembled in their hundreds with a welcome home for me Oh they shouted with elation and they shook with great vibration The surrounding elevation on the road to sweet Glenlea And now I live contentedly among these friends and neighbours Endowed with all the favours of good fortune and delight And I've found among the multitude a charming little creature She's full of admiration, she's my lovely Irish wife And when we meet at Sunday's noon, at that cozy spot called Top-o'-Coom Where songs and stories do abouud Among that grand old company of lovely friends and neighbours We're never tired of praising that beauty spot Glenlea. |
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Subject: Lyr Add: JOHNNY DOYLE From: Jim Carroll Date: 14 Sep 17 - 05:48 AM Nice feminine touch in this one Jim Carroll JOHNNY DOYLE You sons of Dan O'Connell's Isle Pray pay attention to my ditty For it's all about a fair young man His birthplace it was Dublin city My song is for to demonstrate A story with a pius moral Beginning by the Carlisle bridge And ending on the Isles of Coral A scooner stood by George's Quay With sails all furled one saltry season A maiden paced upon that quay She wept like one bereft of reason Oh Johnny Doyle's me love it's true It's true but full of deep contrition For what will all the neighbours say About yourself and my condition Well the sails unfurled while the capstan turned The schooner scudded down the Liffey The maid she gave one piercing wail She was a mother in a jiffy They sailed across the harbour bar And headed east for foreign waters To China where they think they're wise And drown at birth their surplus daughters Now years and yeas had come and gone 'Till Mary's child grew self supporting But how her poor old heart would break When that young buck went out a-courting He leaved me all alone she said He leaved me alone in melancoly I'll dress meself in man's attire And sail the seven seas for Johnny She signed on board of a pirate barque That raided 'round the hot equator And with them hairy buccaneers There sailed a sweet and virtuos creature Well the captain thought her name was Bill His caracter it was nefarious And with them hairy buccaneers Her situation was precarious Now in the Saragosa sea Two rakish barques were idly lollin' And Mary on the quarterdeck The middle watch was she patrolling She gazed upon the neighbouring barque And suddenly became exclaiment For there upon that gilded poop Stood Johhny Doyle in gorgeous raiment They're happy now in sweet Ringsend The jewl that sparkles on the dodder They lead a peaceful merchants life A do a trade in oats and fodder By marriage lines she's Mrs Doyle She keeps a store of periwinkles When she says she's in thay way again His one good eye with joy it twinkles |
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Subject: Lyr Add: THE TWO TRAVELLERS (C. J. Boland) From: GUEST,henryp Date: 14 Sep 17 - 07:07 AM And this is a wonderful Irish poem! THE TWO TRAVELLERS by C.J BOLAND "All over the world," the traveller said, "In my peregrinations I've been; And there's nothing remarkable, living or dead, But these eyes of mine have seen. From the land of the ape and the marmoset, To the tents of the Fellaheen." Said the other, " I'll lay you an even bet You were never in Farranalleen." II "I've hunted in woods near Seringapatam, And sailed in the Polar Seas, I fished for a week in the Gulf of Siam And lunched on the Chersonese. I've lived in the valleys of fair Cashmere, Under Himalay's snowy ridge." Then the other impatiently said, "See here, Were you ever at Laffan's Bridge?" III "I've lived in the land where tobacco is grown, In the suburbs of Santiago; And I spent two years in Sierra Leone, And one in Del Fuego. I walked across Panama all in a day, Ah me! But the road was rocky." The other replied, "Will you kindly say, Were you ever at Horse-and-Jockey?" IV "I've borne my part in a savage fray, When I got this wound from a Lascar; We were bound just then from Mandalay For the Island of Madagascar. Ah! The sun never tired of shining there, And the trees canaries sang in." "What of that?" said the other, "Sure I've a pair, And there's lots of them in Drangan." V "And I've hunted the tigers in Turkestan, In Australia the kangaroos; And I lived six months as medicine man To a tribe of the Kathmandoos. And I've stood on the scene of Olympic games, Where the Grecians showed their paces." The other replied, "Now tell me, James, Were you ever at Fethard Races?" VI "Don't talk of your hunting in Yucatan, Or your fishing off St. Helena; I'd rather see young fellows hunting the 'wren' In the hedges of Tobberaheena. No doubt the scenes of a Swiss Canton Have a passable sort of charm; Give me a sunset on Slievnamon From the head at Hackett's Farm. VII "And I'd rather be strolling along the quay, And watching the river flow, Than growing tea with the cute Chinee, Or mining in Mexico. And I wouldn't much care for Sierra Leone, If I hadn't seen Killenaule, And the man that was never in Mullinahone Shouldn't say he had travelled at all." |
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Subject: RE: Folksongs about journeys/travel From: Jim Carroll Date: 14 Sep 17 - 07:10 AM Nice one Henry Who? Jim Carroll |
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Subject: RE: Folksongs about journeys/travel From: GUEST,henryp Date: 14 Sep 17 - 07:25 AM Ciarán Mac Mathúna would play this on 'Mo Cheol Thú', his Sunday morning RTE 1 programme. The Two Travellers |
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Subject: RE: Folksongs about journeys/travel From: Jim Carroll Date: 14 Sep 17 - 07:44 AM Thanks Henry - the clip has no sound but Seán Mac Réamoinn was what I was after Best Jim |
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Subject: RE: Folksongs about journeys/travel From: GUEST,henryp Date: 14 Sep 17 - 08:02 AM Search for the site on Google, Jim. It's worth hearing it too. |
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Subject: Lyr Add: THE LOCK-KEEPER (Stan Rogers) From: GUEST,henryp Date: 14 Sep 17 - 08:37 AM Here's another piece that contrasts travel with staying at home; The Lock-Keeper by Stan Rogers You say, "Well-met again, Lock-keeper! We're laden even deeper than the time before Oriental oils and tea brought down from Singapore." As we wait for my lock to cycle I say, "My wife has given me a son." "A son!" you cry, "Is that all that you've done?" She wears bougainvillea blossoms You pluck 'em from her hair and toss 'em in the tide Sweep her in your arms and carry her inside Her sighs catch on your shoulder; Her moonlit eyes grow bold and wiser through her tears And I say, "How could you stand to leave her for a year?" "Then come with me," you say, "to where the Southern Cross Rides high upon your shoulder." "Come with me!" you cry "Each day you tend this lock, you're one day older While your blood runs colder." But that anchor chain's a fetter And with it you are tethered to the foam And I wouldn't trade your life for one hour of home. Sure I'm stuck here on the Seaway While you compensate for leeway through the Trades; And you shoot the stars to see the miles you've made And you laugh at hearts you've riven But which of these has given us more love of life You, your tropic maids, or me, my wife? "Then come with me," you say, "to where the Southern Cross Rides high upon your shoulder." "Ah come with me!" you cry "Each day you tend this lock, you're one day older While your blood runs colder." But that anchor chain's a fetter And with it you are tethered to the foam And I wouldn't trade your life for one hour of home. Ah your anchor chain's a fetter And with it you are tethered to the foam And I wouldn't trade your whole life for just one hour of home. |
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Subject: Lyr Add: CANADEE-I-O + THE BANKS OF GREEN WILLOW From: GUEST,henryp Date: 14 Sep 17 - 09:45 AM Two songs about women on board sailing ships - with contrasting fortunes; CANADEE-I-O - as sung by Nic Jones It's of a fair and handsome girl, she's all in her tender years She fell in love with a sailor boy and it's true that she loved him well For to go off to sea with him, like she did not know how She longed to see that seaport town, called Canadee-i-o. So she bargained with a young sailor boy, it's all for a piece of gold Straightway then he led her all down into the hold Saying, I'll dress you up in sailor's clothes, your jacket shall be blue You'll see that seaport town, called Canadee-i-o. Now, when the other sailors heard the news, they fell into a rage And with all the whole ship's company, they were willing to engage Saying, We'll tie her hands and feet me boys, overboard we'll throw her And she'll never see that seaport town, called Canadee-i-o. Now, when the captain he's heard the news, well he too fell into a rage And with his whole ship's company, he was willing to engage Saying, She'll stay all in sailor's clothes, her collar shall be blue She'll see that seaport town, called Canadee-i-0. Now when they came down to Canada, scarcely above half a year She's married this bold captain, who called her his dear She's dressed in silks and satins now, and she cuts a gallant show She's the finest of the ladies down in Canadee-i-o. Come all you fair and tender girls, wheresoever you may be I'd have you follow your own true love when he goes out on the sea For if the sailors prove false to you, well the captain he might prove true To see the honour that I have gained by the wearing of the blue. THE BANKS OF GREEN WILLOW - as sung by Brian Peters Oh it's of a sea captain lived by the sea-side And he's courted of a lady till she's proved by child "Go and fetch some of your father's gold and some of your mother's money To sail across the ocean along with young Johnny." Now they hadn't been a-sailing six days, no, not many Before she needed woman's help but could not get any And they hadn't been a-sailing a mile, or not many Before she was delivered of a beautiful baby Now they hadn't sailed on for today and tomorrow She was wringing of her hands, she was crying with sorrow But, oh, says the captain, "My ship will not sail for me Though the sails are outspread she lies still on the salt sea." "O Captain, O Captain, here's fifty gold pounds To take me back safe again, to turn the ship round "Oh no," says the captain, "Such a thing it never can be For 'tis better to lose two lives than it is to lose many." "Then bring me a silk napkin and bind my head easy And throw me right overboard, both me and my baby." So he's brought a silk napkin and bound it so softly And he's thrown her right overboard both her and her baby "Oh, fetch me the lifeboat and row her back to me Oh, bring my love back again, both she and her baby Ah, but see, boys, how she do tumble and see how she do taver I'm afraid that she is drowning, which makes my heart quaver "Well, I will write me a letter, tell her friends that my love is drowned And she shall have a coffin if she ever is found And her coffin shall be made of the gold shining yellow And she will be buried on the banks of green willow." And her coffin shall be made of the gold shining yellow And she will be buried on the banks of green willow |
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Subject: RE: Folksongs about journeys/travel From: GUEST,henryp Date: 14 Sep 17 - 04:32 PM And then there is The Transports. A new production of the Ballad-Opera will run in 2017/18 featuring some of the leading folk musicians of today which promises incredible music with spell-binding story-telling. The production features musical arrangements by Paul Sartin of Bellowhead and Faustus who said: This is perhaps Peter Bellamy's greatest legacy – an immensely powerful, beautiful and haunting collection of songs and texts crafted in a traditional English idiom. Unique in its conception, it is unified by a narrative which speaks with immediacy and passion and demands both musical and human responses. Two-time BBC Folk Award winners The Young'uns bring their trademark live dynamism. Further musical excellence comes from Nancy Kerr, Bellowhead's Rachael McShane, Faustus' Benji Kirkpatrick and Saul Rose, and Greg Russell. Storyteller Matthew Crampton (author of HUMAN CARGO: Stories and Songs of Emigration, Slavery and Transportation) will create fresh narrative elements to tell more fully the extraordinary story behind The Transports. 10/01/2018 Cheltenham Town Hall 11/01/2018 The Union Chapel, London 12/01/2018 Octagon Theatre, Yeovil 13/01/2018 The Dancehouse Theatre, Manchester 14/01/2018 The Guild Hall, Preston 16/01/2018 The Apex, Bury St Edmunds 17/01/2018 The Artrix, Bromsgrove 18/01/2018 G Live, Guildford 19/01/2018 Turner Sims Concert Hall, Southampton 20/01/2018 The Winding Wheel, Chesterfield 21/01/2018 City Varieties, Leeds 22/01/2018 Gala Theatre, Durham 23/01/2018 The Maltings Theatre, Berwick 24/01/2018 Maddermarket Theatre, Norwich |
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Subject: RE: Folksongs about journeys/travel From: GUEST,henryp Date: 15 Sep 17 - 04:53 AM Two songs about transportation to Van Diemen's Land (Tasmania); Van Diemen's Land - from the singing of Shirley Collins Come all you gallant poachers that ramble void of care That walk out on a moonlight night with your dog, your gun and snare The harmless hare and pheasant you have at your command Not thinking of your last career out on Van Diemen's Land As I lay on the deck last night a-dreaming of my home I dreamed I was in Harbouree, the fields and woods among With my true love beside me and a jug of ale in hand But I woke quite brokenhearted out in Van Diemen's Land. Bound for Van Diemen's Land - written by Jock Purdon And as we sail, blows wild the gale, Dark shadows guard the grill; They try in vain our minds to chain, Our thoughts of freedom kill, And as we sulk in convict hulk, Aye, shackled feet and hand, But men be free who poachers be Bound for Van Diemen's land. Bound for Van Diemen's land, brave boys, Far, far across the sea; If you don't stand with cap in hand, Transported you will be. |
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Subject: RE: Folksongs about journeys/travel From: GUEST,henryp Date: 17 Sep 17 - 06:28 PM Sometimes there may be a choice of routes. There are different explanations for this song. The Bonny Banks of Loch Lomond By yon bonny banks and by yon bonny braes Where the sun shines bright on Loch Lomond Me and my true love were ever wont to gae On the bonny, bonny banks of Loch Lomond Ye'll tak' the high road and I'll tak' the low road And I'll be in Scotland afore ye But me and my true love will never meet again On the bonny, bonny banks of Loch Lomond |
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Subject: Lyr Add: HOW CAN YOU KEEP ON MOVING? From: GUEST,henryp Date: 05 Oct 17 - 06:58 PM During the late 1930?s several states, including California, passed laws and posted signs at Ports of Entry stating ?No More Migration. 'There were armed guards used to enforce the law and turn away migrants. The typical remark was ?Just keep on moving.?'Sis Cunningham took this a step further in this song by asking ?How can you keep on moving, unless you migrate too?? HOW CAN YOU KEEP ON MOVING? How can you keep on moving unless you migrate too? They tell ya to keep on moving but migrate, you must not do The only reason for moving and the reason why I roam To move to a new location and find myself a home I can't go back to the homestead, the shack no longer stands They said I was unneeded, had no claim to the land They said, "Come on, get moving, it's the only thing for you" But how can you keep moving unless you migrate too? Now if you pitch your little tent along the broad highway The board of sanitation says, "Sorry, you can't stay" "Come on, come on, get moving," it's their everlasting cry Can't stay, can't go back, can't migrate, so where the hell am I? How can you keep on moving unless you migrate too? They tell ya to keep on moving but migrate, you must not do The only reason for moving and the reason why I roam To move to a new location and find myself a home |
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Subject: RE: Folksongs about journeys/travel From: GUEST,Wally Macnow Date: 06 Oct 17 - 11:57 AM Eight More Miles to Louisville cho: Eight more miles and Louisville will come into my view Eight more miles on this old road, I'll never more be blue. I knew someday that I'd return. I knew it from the start. Eight more miles to Louisville, the hometown of my heart. |
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Subject: RE: Folksongs about journeys/travel From: rich-joy Date: 07 Oct 17 - 07:41 PM Hi Claire, back in 2002, on the long interstate drive returning from the National Folk Festival, my late husband and I started planning a workshop ("themed presentation") entitled : “The Road Goes Ever On : Songs of The Journey” to be interspersed with poetry and sayings from the World’s Wisdom .... We used descriptors such as these to jog our memory : Journey / Path / Route / Direction / Walk / Ramble / Stroll / March / Voyage / Travel / Sail / Fly / Train / Moving On / etc etc Sadly, it never got past that early planning stage! The Songs, a mix of traditional and contemporary, that our long drive brought to mind (we had to sing each one!) were: 500 Miles x 2 Canaan’s Land Coal Tattoo Coshieville Follow the Drinkin’ Gourd Freight Train Blues Hobo’s Lullaby Home Is Where the Heart Is Homeless Man I’m A Freeborn Man I’ve Been Doing Some Hard Traveling Iron Road, The I’m On My Way To Kingdom Land I’m Marching Forward to Freedom Land It’s Good To See You Jolly Waggoner, The Mingulay Boat Song Moving On Song O’er the Water To Charlie October Song Please Come To Boston Rambling Boy Rank Stranger Rock and Row Me Over Rosebay Ferry So Long, It’s Been Good To Know You Spencer the Rover Step By Step Tentpoles Are Rotten, The Thirsty Boots Time Is A Tempest (and We Are All Travellers) Toorak Tram Travellin’ Man Travellin’ Shoes x 3 Travelling Down the Castlereagh Vaudeville Man Walkin’ Blues Where I’m Bound You’ll Never Walk Alone We always intended to continue our quest for songs and poetry/prose, and Make It All Happen. Needless to say, once back in the "Real World" :( it all slid to the Back Shelf of Life - and here it is 2017 and my Beloved has now made his journey to Beyond the Veil ..... Well, hope it's of some use to YOU now! Cheers! Rich-Joy Down Under |
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Subject: RE: Folksongs about journeys/travel From: rich-joy Date: 07 Oct 17 - 08:09 PM I should have mentioned above, that we had just taken part at said festival, in one of Paul Stewart's famed presentations (he's "Stewie" of Mudcat fame), entitled "The Devil's Bargain (Mining Songs from North America)". Stewie has a long history of producing fabulous "themed presentations" at various festivals around the country, which make for great entertainment AND dissemination of knowledge / history / songs / poetry / prose AND an interesting variety of performers. [ IMHO, better than just a straight concert of an artist any day and befitting of a "Folk Festival"!! ] Nowadays, he mostly presents at the Georgetown (Tasmania) and the Top Half (Northern Territory) festivals in Australia. Cheers! R-J |
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