Songs of Vengeance

Subject: Lyr Add: JOHNNY SANDS (Appalachian)
From: GUEST,emily rain at the U Dub
Date: 24 Jan 00 - 01:10 PM

I'm in the midst of writing a song of revenge, and finding it terrifically cathartic. What's your favorite ballad of hot-blooded vengeance? Is it:

JOHNNY SANDS
(Appalachian)

There was a man named Johnny Sands
He married a Betsy Hague
Although she was a lovin' wife
She proved a terrible plague

Although she was a lovin' wife
Full of caprice and whim
He said that he was tired of life
And she was tired of him

I think I'll go down and drown meself
The river it runs below
She said, pray do, you silly oaf
I wished it long ago

For fear that I the courage lack
And try to save me life
You tie me hands behind me back
I will, replied his wife

So she tied his hands behind his back
And when securely done
'Tis I shall stand here on the brink
And you prepare to run

So over the hill this lovin' wife
Ran with all her force
To push him in; he stepped aside,
And in she fell of course

Splashin' round just like a fish
Cried, save me, Johnny Sands
I would me dear for much I wish
But you have tied my hands

----

Or is it NO IRISH NEED APPLY?

Subject: RE: Songs of Vengeance
From: catspaw49
Date: 24 Jan 00 - 01:15 PM

I think for just simple "ya git whatcha' give," its hard to beat "East Texas Red."

S[aw

Subject: RE: Songs of Vengeance
From: GUEST,asamauve
Date: 24 Jan 00 - 01:19 PM

...reminds me of "Marrowbones", it does.

but for vengence?

"Sir James the Rose" or "The Brown Girl".

Subject: RE: Songs of Vengeance
From: GUEST,emily rain at U Dub
Date: 24 Jan 00 - 01:22 PM

oops, i almost forgot:

www.dogdoo.com

Subject: RE: Songs of Vengeance
From: Doctor John
Date: 24 Jan 00 - 01:37 PM

That's about the best I know 'Spaw; but for a ballad try Beau Lamkin or Childe Owlet. Both very bloodthirsty. Dr John

Subject: RE: Songs of Vengeance
From: M. Ted (inactive)
Date: 24 Jan 00 - 02:00 PM

Emily, I am not sure that vengence is quite the right word for Johnny Sands--it is more of a turnabout or some kind--However,I would be interested in song that you are writing...up until now, I hadn't thought of you and a vengeful person--

Ted

Subject: RE: Songs of Vengeance
From: GUEST,Mbo
Date: 24 Jan 00 - 02:39 PM

Since I use old poetry for lyrics, a few of the songs I have written are vengeful--songs about oppressed Irish and Scots. Things like "MacGregor's Gathering," "The O'Neil's War Song," "Fontenoy," "The Sword," "The Blades of Harden," etc. I also enjoy many songs like this, like "The Haughs of Cromdale," and "Johnny Cope." Though I do enjoy them, I am not a vengeful person at all, in fact most of all the songs I write are love songs, or songs of home. Since I pick out the poems I want to make into songs, and the majority being love songs, seems to reveal my true nature.

--Mbo

Subject: RE: Songs of Vengeance
From: BDenz
Date: 24 Jan 00 - 02:42 PM

There's a Swedish traditional song [yes, I have the lyrics and meant to give it to you, Em] called "Vengeance" or "Retribution" in English. Basically about getting even with an evil stepmother. That's my favorite right now. I have others ... it's a favorite topic of mine. [nudge nudge, wink wink]

MBO --Ah yes, Johnny Cope is a good one and another one I'd like our group to do.

Subject: RE: Songs of Vengeance
From: Áine
Date: 24 Jan 00 - 02:51 PM

Well, gee, the last time I was thinking about a song of 'vengence', I listened to Aimee Mann's 'You're With Stupid Now.' Made me feel a lot better at the time . . .

-- Áine

Subject: RE: Songs of Vengeance
From: GUEST,emily rain at the U Dub
Date: 24 Jan 00 - 03:50 PM

M. Ted: there's a lot you don't know about me. bwaHAHAHAHAHAHAHAha ha ha... uh. okay, actually, i'm very forgiving. which is why i'm writing this song. just my little "boost" up to forgiveness.

Doctor John: oh, my lord! those are terrible/wonderful/shudderingly delicious. i love them.

'spaw: i'm not familiar with "east texas red". how does it go?

Subject: RE: Songs of Vengeance
From: Caitrin
Date: 24 Jan 00 - 04:51 PM

I, too, love Johnny Cope. One of my favorites just for pure anger value (though I don't suppose it's folk) is the Dixie Chicks' "Goodbye Earl." *ducks to avoid projectiles being lobbed at her for her lack of taste* : )

Subject: RE: Songs of Vengeance
From: KathWestra
Date: 24 Jan 00 - 05:00 PM

Andrew Lammie, where the brother takes his revenge on his sister Annie for having the nerve to fall in love with Andrew-of-low-degree instead of the more lucrative match, Lord Fyvie.

The Cruel Brother, who kills his sister on her wedding day because her groom failed to get bro's permission to marry his sis -- and the dying bride who gets the last word in vengeance, bequeathing her brother "the gallows tree to hang him on" and the brother's wife "a widow's weeds and a quiet life."

Subject: RE: Songs of Vengeance
From: lamarca
Date: 24 Jan 00 - 06:09 PM

There are several ballads where the young sailor betrays his true love and kills her; her ghost follows the ship out to sea and rips him up into teeny, weeny pieces, and good riddance.

Willy/William Taylor, where the abandoned lover dresses as a sailor and follows her "true" love to sea; on finding that he's married another, she shoots him and his bride and is made captain of the ship for her forthrightness and valor...

Long Lankin/Beau Lamkin mentioned above is wonderfully bloodthirsty (Plot synopsis:Lord refuses to pay his stone mason, who creeps into his house and murders his wife and son in revenge...); Child Owlet is just gruesome (Plot synopsis:Child Owlet refuses to sleep with his lord's wife, so she cuts herself and accuses him of rape just to watch him burn/hang)

East Texas Red is a Woody Guthrie song about a railroad bull (cop) who kicks over a hobo's bucket of stew out of sheer meanness, and gets what's coming to him a year later.

Subject: RE: Songs of Vengeance
From: GUEST,emily rain
Date: 24 Jan 00 - 06:41 PM

ooooooooh, yeah! i remember now. used to have a recording of arlo singing that song.

i like the teeny weeny pieces theme. so satisfying.

Subject: RE: Songs of Vengeance
From: Mbo
Date: 24 Jan 00 - 08:24 PM

BTW check out Andy M. Stewart's version of "The Haughs O' Cromdale." When he gets to the part about "making their heads tae dance" he does this nasty voice change--oooh it just gives me goosebumps everytime I hear it. Ooops, did I forgie tae mention on of my favorite songs of all time? "Scots Wha Hae." I like to sing it out so angrily that I've got tears in my eyes by the time I get to "Lay the proud usurper low/ tyrants fall in every foe/ liberty's in every blow/ let us DO or DIE!

--Mbo

Subject: RE: Songs of Vengeance
From: SeanM
Date: 24 Jan 00 - 09:03 PM

I've always been rather fond of OLD WOMAN FROM WEXFORD. Not many "Man gets revenge on murderous wife" songs out there...

M

Subject: RE: Songs of Vengeance
From: JenEllen
Date: 24 Jan 00 - 09:04 PM

Sorry to sully such a lovely thread...but I dearly love "Frankie and Johnny" for the sheer oomph of revenge...

Subject: RE: Songs of Vengeance
From: Amos
Date: 24 Jan 00 - 09:23 PM

Not about vengeance realized, but vowed, is the wonderful last verse from Lord Randel, best sung throwing back the head and howling in minor tones:

What do ye leave your sweetheart, my son? What do you leave her, my pretty young one?
A rooooope from Heeeellllllll to HANG herrrrrr! (2x)
Ah, make my bed soon, for I'm sick to the heart
And I faiiiiin would lie dooooooooon...... (gasp)

(He dies).

Subject: RE: Songs of Vengeance
From: Mbo
Date: 24 Jan 00 - 09:26 PM

Oooh, another good one is Paul Brady's "Nothing But The Same Old Story": "But look out--'cause I'll tear you into pieces if you cross me!" Man that's a good song. Angry singing and angry guitar playing. Oh YEAH!

--Mbo

Subject: RE: Songs of Vengeance
From: Owlkat
Date: 24 Jan 00 - 11:29 PM

Hi hi,
One of my faves of songs of vengeance has long been the Ry Cooder song: That's the Way the Girls Are In Texas.
Cheers, Owl.

Subject: RE: Songs of Vengeance
From: GUEST,_gargoyle
Date: 25 Jan 00 - 12:07 AM

Vengence is mine sayeth the Lord....I will repay.

Never, take your own revenge beloveth, but leave room for the wrath of God. For in do so, you will heep burning coals upon the head of thine enemy.

Address forgotten.

Subject: RE: Songs of Vengeance
From: GUEST,margaret
Date: 25 Jan 00 - 12:37 AM

Half revenge and half self-defense is Gillian Welch's song "Caleb Myers," in which a woman murders a would-be rapist and warns him that his ghost's rattling chains better not disturb her peaceful sleep. Very compelling!

Subject: RE: Songs of Vengeance
From: John in Brisbane
Date: 25 Jan 00 - 02:24 AM

For sheer bloody vengeance and hatred it is hard to go past 'THE RANGER FIGHT SONG". I find it quite disturbing, and it's in the DT.

There a dozen or so songs listed under @revenge.

There's also a country(ish) song about getting even with Sergeant (?) Black. Is it Australian?

Regards, John

Subject: RE: Songs of Vengeance
From: Marki
Date: 25 Jan 00 - 02:22 PM

I don't know if this really counts, but how about "The Ballad of William Bloat"? I first heard this on a Phil Coulter CD, and laughed myself silly over it. I think it's a good one of attempted vengeance.

Subject: RE: Songs of Vengeance
From: GUEST,emily rain at the U Dub
Date: 25 Jan 00 - 02:29 PM

i'll see yer "frankie and johnny", JenEllen, and raise ya the michelle shocked version "hold me back"

Subject: RE: Songs of Vengeance
From: sophocleese
Date: 25 Jan 00 - 02:30 PM

I like Jake Thackery's "Jolly Sea Captain" at least I think that's the title.

Subject: RE: Songs of Vengeance
From: Susanne (skw)
Date: 25 Jan 00 - 05:24 PM

'A Stitch In Time' by Mike Waterson, about a battered wife finally fighting back. It was mentioned in a thread last year, so our marvellous new power search ought to find it. - Susanne

Subject: RE: Songs of Vengeance
From: Helen
Date: 25 Jan 00 - 05:44 PM

Thanks Susanne,

I can never remember the name of that song and it's just the one I was thinking of to mention here.

John-i-B, isn't that one about Sergeant Small? Yes, I think it's Australian.

Helen

Subject: RE: Songs of Vengeance
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 25 Jan 00 - 08:28 PM

How could we pass over that great Scottish ballad--not really sure of the name in detail-- "The Burning of Auchindoon"?

Dave Oesterreich

Subject: RE: Songs of Vengeance
From: BK
Date: 25 Jan 00 - 09:02 PM

Phil Oaks (if I remember correctly, tho I remember it being sung by someone else - Rod Mckuen) had an almost erie little number called "People Change" about - sort of - revenge in regards to a lover. Also for anger & being bent on revenge, it's hard to beat "Come Out Ye Black & Tans."

Cheers, BK

Subject: RE: Songs of Vengeance
From: DonMeixner
Date: 25 Jan 00 - 09:13 PM

I have always rather liked The Kingston Trio's "The Shape of Things"

Don

Subject: RE: Songs of Vengeance
From: Caitrin
Date: 25 Jan 00 - 09:18 PM

_gargoyle...
Life for life,eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burning for burning, wound for wound, stripe for stripe.
And by the way, the devil can cite scripture for his purpose.

Subject: RE: Songs of Vengeance
From: GUEST,_gargoyle
Date: 25 Jan 00 - 09:38 PM

I place a HAT on the KAT

I place a HAT on the KAT

Good Lord willin'

She is... a...ill'in

I place a HAT on the KAT!!!!

Learned this incantation...from a stone dark Haitian healer

Subject: RE: Songs of Vengeance
From: Amos
Date: 25 Jan 00 - 10:07 PM

Gargoyle, g'wan wicha. The Kat don't have no truck with spellin'. Besides she's already got a cat on her head, no room for a hat.

A.

Subject: RE: Songs of Vengeance
From: GUEST,John Gray / Australia
Date: 25 Jan 00 - 10:40 PM

Yes John in Brisbane & Helen, the Sergeant Small song is Australian. Macca sings it on Australia All Over. I think the lyric is ; "back to Western Queensland to beat up Seargeant Small"

But hey, for revenge, give me Cows With Guns !

Subject: RE: Songs of Vengeance
From: GUEST,Leprechaun
Date: 26 Jan 00 - 01:31 AM

A lovely song of revenge not necessarily carried out is May The Bird of Paradise Fly Up Your Nose. Another is Nell Flaherty's Drake.

Subject: RE: Songs of Vengeance
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 26 Jan 00 - 03:44 AM

I'm rather fond of the Corrs first hit, 'I never loved you anyway!', a jolly little ditty, which lists the chaps' faults and offenses and hopes that the lady to whom he has run won't get tired of them either. Nice.

But my all time favourite vengeance song just has to be 'A Stitch in Time', wish I'd thought of that one.

There is another that I heard a long time ago, called 'None of my own, or the cuckolded lullaby', as sung by a man rocking a cradle in which is his wife's baby which is not his, whilst she is out on the razz again. I guess I'm going to have to post to get all the words again...

Show of Hands do a great one about a curse, that goes down nicely in a mostly male gathering...... Then there is 'Dunlavin Green' - may the widow's curse bite you.....

But the best revenge story just has to be 'Cruel was the snow', about the massacre at Glencoe - McDonalds have been getting their own back for years now!

LTS (whoreallydoesactuallylikeeatingatMcDonalds,sorry....)

Subject: Lyr Add: POSITIVELY 4TH STREET (Bob Dylan)
From: Terry Allan Hall
Date: 26 Jan 00 - 10:13 AM

OK, how about Dylan's "Positively 4th Street"?

POSITIVELY 4TH STREET
(Bob Dylan)

You got a lotta nerve
To say you are my friend
When I was down
You just stood there grinning

You got a lotta nerve
To say you gota helping hand to lend
You just want to be on
The side that's winning

You say I let you down
You know it's not like that
If you're so hurt
Why then don't you show it

You say you lost your faith
But that's not where it's at
You had no faith to lose
And you know it

I know the reason
That you talk behind my back
I used to be among the crowd
You're in with

Do you take me for such a fool
To think I'd make contact
With the one who tries to hide
What he don't know to begin with

You see me on the street
You always act surprised
You say, "How are you?" "Good luck"
But you don't mean it

When you know as well as me
You'd rather see me paralyzed
Why don't you just come out once
And scream it

No, I do not feel that good
When I see the heartbreaks you embrace
If I was a master thief
Perhaps I'd rob them

And now I know you're dissatisfied
With your position and your place
Don't you understand
It's not my problem

I wish that for just one time
You could stand inside my shoes
And just for that one moment
I could be you

Yes, I wish that for just one time
You could stand inside my shoes
You'd know what a drag it is
To see you.

HTML line breaks added. --JoeClone, 6-Apr-03.

Subject: RE: Songs of Vengeance
From: sophocleese
Date: 26 Jan 00 - 11:18 AM

Alistair Brown sings an updated version of 'Will ye Gang Love", words by Jacquie Lauder. The liner notes of the CD say:"Here's a tonic for everyone who gets tired of the learned helplessness displayed by jilted lovers in folk songs. This one doesn't get mad, or sad - she gets a lawyer!"

Subject: RE: Songs of Vengeance
From: InOBU
Date: 26 Jan 00 - 12:13 PM

Hi Folks:
KathWestra mentions Andrew Lammie, the Trumpeter of Fivie, In Scotland, in the seventies, I heard the rest of the story behind the ballad, and there is a good dose more revenge in it.
After the death of Annie, Andrew fled to Canada, where he died shortly thierafter. When the Lord of Fivie was asleep one night, there was a trumpet blast heard throughout the hall, and his ex-Trumpeter apeared at the foot of his bed. The Lord gave up the ghost - dropped dead - died, as well you might expect, at all the excitment, and from that time until the latest lord of Fivie died, I think in the 1960s there is a trumpet heard in the hall on the night before he dies...
Let no one say, the Scots don t do revenge well...
Larry

Subject: RE: Songs of Vengeance
From: Midchuck
Date: 26 Jan 00 - 12:15 PM

Tom Russell's "The Sky Above, The Mud Below."

Peter

Subject: Lyr Add: BLACKJACK COUNTY CHAIN^^^
From: Art Thieme
Date: 26 Jan 00 - 02:30 PM

a country song from the 1970s:

"BLACKJACK COUNTY CHAIN"
from singing of Tex Williams

I was settin' by the road in Blackjack County
Not knowin' that the sheriff paid a bounty,
For men like me who haven't got a penny to their name
And he locked my legs in 35 pounds of Blackjack County chain.

And all we had to eat was bread and water,
Each day we built that road a mile and a quarter,
And a blacksnake whip would tear our backs if some poor fool complained,
And you couldn't fight back wearing 35 pounds of Blackjack County chain.

And then one night while the sheriff, he was a-sleepin',
We all gathered round him midnight creepin'
And heaven help me forget that night out in the cold cold rain,
When we beat him to death with 35 pounds of Blackjack County chain.

Now the whip marks are all healed and I'm thankful,
There's nothin' but a scar around my ankle,
Most of all I'm glad no man is gonna be a slave again
To a blacksnake whip and 35 pounds of Blackjack County chain.

Art Thieme

Subject: RE: Songs of Vengeance
From: Susanne (skw)
Date: 26 Jan 00 - 06:08 PM

Larry, in the version I know the laird of Fyvie has nothing to do with Annie's death. Her father is the bad guy, and Andrew doesn't flee farther than Edinburgh. Where did you get your story from? - Susanne

Subject: RE: Songs of Vengeance
From: lamarca
Date: 26 Jan 00 - 09:31 PM

Forgot one of my favorite blues revenge songs - "Jones, Oh Jones" originally done by Caribbean Blind Blake (as opposed to Georgia Blind Blake) - it details exactly what the singer wants to do to Jones when he catches up with him - and it ain't nice! Paul Geremia does a wonderful rendition on one of his early albums, and Gordon Bok sings it on his newest (I don't think Gordon sounds bloodthirsty enough, myself...)

Subject: RE: Songs of Vengeance
From: GUEST,Lyle
Date: 26 Jan 00 - 10:57 PM

Thanks, Art, for the lyrics.

This thread is great, but would be sooooooooooo much better if you knowledgeable people would include the lyrics to these songs, or at least a source to find the lyrics.

Lyle

Subject: RE: Songs of Vengeance
From: GUEST,_gargoyle
Date: 26 Jan 00 - 11:09 PM

You have not provided the correct incantation for revelation of their sophistication.

Subject: RE: Songs of Vengeance
From: emily rain
Date: 27 Jan 00 - 12:58 PM

i'm with you Lyle.

ah, but it does my heart good to see all this gore.

yours in wickedness,
emily

Subject: RE: Songs of Vengeance
From: BDenz
Date: 27 Jan 00 - 02:17 PM

Okay. Lyrics you shall have, and you can pick the language for Garmarna's Vengeance.

See here. [Let's see if the link works. Been awhile since I've written HTML code.

Barb

Subject: RE: Songs of Vengeance
From: GUEST,FP
Date: 27 Jan 00 - 02:55 PM

I don't suppose MacPherson's rant is really a song of vengeance, as he dies before he gets to do anything about it: 'It was by a woman's treacherous hand That I am condemned to die; It burns my heart that I must depart And no avenged be...'

Or how about The Death of Parcy Reed? I can't remember what the revenge is for - something pretty insignificant I think - but there's a lot of blood blinding his e'e, and legs and arms getting hacked off.

Subject: RE: Songs of Vengeance
From: MK
Date: 27 Jan 00 - 08:40 PM

...David Bromberg's version of
Send Me to the 'Lectric Chair