Romantic Songs

Subject: Romantic Songs
From: tradsteve
Date: 12 Mar 00 - 04:11 AM

Just wondering, which folk songs do you think are the most romantic you have ever heard? This should be an interesting thread.

Subject: RE: Romantic Songs
From: Dave (the ancient mariner)
Date: 12 Mar 00 - 08:10 AM

Finbar Furey singing I Will Love You. and Sweet Sixteen Silver Threads Amongst The Gold are my favourites.. But I really like My Love Is Like a Red Red Rose. Yours,Aye.Dave

Subject: RE: Romantic Songs
From: kendall
Date: 12 Mar 00 - 08:29 AM

Unchained Melody.
Annies Song

Subject: RE: Romantic Songs
From: TerriM
Date: 12 Mar 00 - 09:49 AM

I think Paul Williams writes a good, sentimental love song,'We've only just Begun' always makes me sniffle, as does 'Believe me, if all those Endearing Young Charms'

Subject: RE: Romantic Songs
From: Mbo
Date: 12 Mar 00 - 01:35 PM

Ahh...these are the kinds of song I love the most...

Give Me Your Hand
Is Ar Eireann Ni Nosfain Ce Hi

Oh, I need some more time to think about this...

--Mbo

Subject: RE: Romantic Songs
From: pastorpest
Date: 12 Mar 00 - 01:37 PM

Hey, Dave(the ancient mariner), you listed my first choice, My Love Is Like a Red Red Rose. And Burns wrote to a friend that he would have to publish that one himself because neither of his publishers would like it. Burns was right. The First Time Ever I Saw your Face, Eileen Aroon, and Lagan Love, are right up there. Breaking the rules of the thread and stepping outside "folk songs" the Italian art song O Sole Mio is about as romantic as a song can get.

Subject: RE: Romantic Songs
From: Kara
Date: 12 Mar 00 - 01:47 PM

The Silver Tassy , sends shivers down my spine, a man who loves his women more than a good old fight for his country, if only there were more of those about.

Subject: RE: Romantic Songs
From: Amos
Date: 12 Mar 00 - 01:50 PM

Water Is Wide, and "I'm Just a Country Boy", if that's its proper title. (Woody knows nuffin but pecking on the bow....)

Subject: RE: Romantic Songs
From: kendall
Date: 12 Mar 00 - 02:04 PM

How about Fond Affection? ...and henceforth we will meet as strangers, but, I will never say "Farewell.."

Subject: RE: Romantic Songs
From: Chocolate Pi
Date: 12 Mar 00 - 02:34 PM

Red Is the Rose That in Yonder Garden Grows
Moscow Nights
Believe Me, If all Those Endearing Young Charms
Kisses Sweeter than Wine
Two Sleepy People
basically any waltz

folk?
Give Yourself to Love (Kate Wolf)
If We Only Have Love (Jacques Brel, trans. Shuman & Blau)
Somewhere (West Side Story)
Mistress Mine, Where are You Roaming
(what is love? 'Tis not hereafter,
Present mirth hath present laughter
So come and kiss me sweet and twenty,
Life's a stuff 'twill not endure.)
(in Shakespeare somewhere, possibly Twelfth Night)
a half-remembered song from summer camp
("We've shared this time together
A joy-and-grief time, a falling-leaf time.
Though you may doubt me, I love you.
You'll live without me, but I love you.
Much more than we ever could have guessed...")

songs which are personally romantic due to context first heard in:
The Sun (They Might be Giants)
some awful trite pop thing about "sweet dreams of taking over/ dreams of dancing through the night."
Mahler's 8th symphony
Closer (Nine Inch Nails)
Red is the Rose goes in this category too
Actually, this could branch into an interesting thread on its own: Life's Soundtracks, or, What was playing when ...

Chocolate Pi (feeling all warm and gooshy inside)

Subject: RE: Romantic Songs
From: Night Owl
Date: 12 Mar 00 - 03:13 PM

This month "The Dutchman" and Bill Staines "Lord, Fill My Thirst". Consistently over the last few years...Bill Staines "Music To Me". Consistently over the last few decades "Plaisir D'Amour".

Subject: RE: Romantic Songs
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 12 Mar 00 - 05:07 PM

I take it that you're confining your question to love/romantic as opposed to drama/adventure/romantic.

Dave Oesterreich

Subject: RE: Romantic Songs
From: Caitrin
Date: 12 Mar 00 - 05:19 PM

I'm quite fond of "Red is the Rose," and "My luve is like a red, red rose", too. My other picks for Most Romantic would be "Blue Sky" and "Song to Celia."

Subject: RE: Romantic Songs
From: Clinton Hammond2
Date: 12 Mar 00 - 05:36 PM

The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face, Perferably sung by Christy Moore
Shut Up And Kiss Me, by Mary Chapin-Carpenter
The Enfolding, by Loui Collins
Fires At Midnight, by Jethro Tull
Sweetheart Like You, by Bob Dylan
You Can't Stay Here, by Stan Rogers... at least it is when my wife is in the audience, and I'm singing it to another woman... {~`
If I Were A Feather Bed, by John Mckutchen (sp?)
Heart Of Your Home, by Douggie MacLean
Which Way Does The River Run, by Lenny Gallant
About a million songs from Leonard Cohen, like I'm Your Man, Dance Me To The End Of Love, Take This Waltz, Chelsea Hotel #2, Famous Blue Raincoat, and the list goes on...
I have a similar long list for Garnet Rogers, like Stars In Their Crown, Let Me Count The Ways (but my wife hates when I play this one when she's around! LOL!!), Roman Coin, Summer Lightning, All That Is, and... ect ect...
I Never Was To Africa, by Ferron
Coryanna, by Stephen Fearing

At least thats my list off the top of my head...

{~`

Subject: RE: Romantic Songs
From: Ely
Date: 12 Mar 00 - 05:45 PM

Hot Buttered Rum (Red Clay Ramblers)

Midnight on the Water (I've got the Kate Wolf version. I love the melody, even though the words are "post-romantic")

Colorado Girl & Brand-New Companion (Townes Van Zandt)

Peaceful, Easy Feeling (Eagles)

Amelia's (Bob McQuillan: has no words but is one of the most beautiful pieces of music I've ever heard, and I don't like many waltzes)

Ookpik Waltz

Not too bad a list--I tend to know a lot more anti- or post-romantic songs. I wonder what that says about me.

Subject: RE: Romantic Songs
From: Mbo
Date: 12 Mar 00 - 06:05 PM

Ok, got more!

I Have To Say I Love You In A Song--Jim Croce
I Need You--America
King of Morning, Queen of Night--The Horslips
Take Her In Your Arms--Andy M. Stewart
I Love My Jean (Of All The Airts That Blaw)--Robert Burns
Catch the Wind--Donovan
She Will Find Me--Dougie MacLean
Look At You Girl--Chris Ledoux
Our Love Was Meant to Be--Boy Howdy
The Long & Winding Road--The Beatles
When You and I Were Young, Maggie--Sydney Devine

As many as I can glean from me teeming brain right now...

--Mbo

Subject: RE: Romantic Songs
From: Crowhugger
Date: 12 Mar 00 - 06:11 PM

pastorpest and Amos, you each listed a fave of mine: The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face, and The Water is Wide.

One of my all-time romantic winners is "This Storm Shall Surely Pass" by Fraser & DeBolt - I'm not sure if it was written by Alan Fraser or Daisy DeBolt. I think I'm dating myself with this one, eh?

There's a beauty, the name of which escapes me completely. It's the last cut on side 2 of Led Zeppelin II. The romantic words I still remember are:

If the sun refused to shine
I would still be loving you.
When all the mountains crumble to the sea
There will still be you and me.

Sniff, sniff. We had this as part of the music in our wedding ceremony, the recessional I think, or the paperwork part, I can't recall until I play the tape again.

Last but not least, "Summer Four a.m." by Meg Christian. It is a delightful foray into the frights and delights of admitting you want to share your life with another. Meg's angle is presumably the difficulties associated with finding oneself head over heels in same-sex love, but the lyrics don't restrict the audience you can sing it to. It's just full of the truth, genders irrelevant.

I'm sure there are more, but these come to mind for now.

Subject: RE: Romantic Songs
From: Lanfranc
Date: 12 Mar 00 - 06:44 PM

Amen to The First Time Ever, My Love is Like a Red Red Rose, Catch the Wind, I Have to say I Love You in a Song especially of those already cited, and how about:

"She's a Lady" by John Sebastian ; "My Lady's a Wild Flying Dove", "I give you the morning" and "Every Time" by Tom Paxton ; "Only Love will Endure" by Pat Sky ; "Autumn Song " by Harvey Andrews ; "Syracuse and Albany" by Allan Taylor ; "Last Year's Love" by Mike Ball ; "Love minus Zero / No Limit" by Bob Dylan ; "Time in a Bottle" by Jim Croce ; "Michelle" by Lennon & McCartney ; "Tin Angel" and "Urge for Going" by Joni Mitchell ; "She's Like a Swallow" by Trad.

... there are more, but it's late!

Subject: RE: Romantic Songs
From: Mbo
Date: 12 Mar 00 - 06:47 PM

Crow, the song is "Thank You", a thing of beauty on Led Zeppelin II. "The Rain Song" is also so awesomely beautiful and romantic....it's one of my favorite songs in the whole world.

--Mbo

Subject: RE: Romantic Songs
From: Wavestar
Date: 12 Mar 00 - 09:38 PM

This will be interesting, because I'm very very sleepy, and so my brain is highly fuzzy.

Give yourself to Love, Kate Wolf

So Far Away - Carole King

Roseville Fair - Bill Staines

For my Lady - Moody Blues

Bramble and the Rose - err? Barbara someone.

John Andeson - Robert Burns

A couple of odd ones... I know they are depressing, but how about I am Stretched on your Grave? Kate rusby does a lovely version... obesses and wierd, but romantic in it's way. Also Shooting Star, by Harry Chapin... Does anyone else anywhere sing the original ending to that? It's more depressing but I like it better....

-Jessica the fuzzicated.

Subject: RE: Romantic Songs
From: Bugsy
Date: 12 Mar 00 - 10:09 PM

Almost anything recorded by Harry Nilson.

Cheers

bugsy

Subject: RE: Romantic Songs
From: Dan Evergreen
Date: 13 Mar 00 - 10:52 AM

"The Rose of Allendale" How can you beat, "My life had been a wilderness/Unblessed by Fortune's gales/Had fate not linked my lot to her/The Rose of Allendale" or, "One maiden warm withstood the storm..."?

Subject: RE: Romantic Songs
From: Amos
Date: 13 Mar 00 - 11:03 AM

Well, in the classic Romantic sense, "Lord Lovell" is hard to beat. And "The Rose Of Tralee" can make any stoneheart soften up, done right. "The Mountains of Mourne" is rampant romanticism. And there are scads of others. But this is probably not what is meant by the thread-name.

Subject: RE: Romantic Songs
From: KathWestra
Date: 13 Mar 00 - 02:10 PM

The Waters of Tyne -- especially when you add the verse written by Norman and Betty MacDonald to the end:

And when I am over upon yonder shore,
And the waters of Tyne run between us no more,
I'll remember the boatman who ferried me o'er,
And me and my hinny will never part more.

sigh! I do love a happy ending!

Also Jean Ritchie's "Still I Love Him," especially if you hear it after hearing her talk about why/when she wrote it for her parents, still in love after decades of marriage and her father's slippage into dementia. "...some folks call him old and funny. Don't they know him? He's my Johnny. Still I love him, still I love him/Though he knows it, still I tell him,/Every morning, again at evening/Night and nooning, still I love him."

Subject: RE: Romantic Songs
From: Peg
Date: 13 Mar 00 - 04:00 PM

like the "Fires at Midnight" suggestion; other Tull songs in this category that are not too hard-rockin' might include "The Whistler" and "Acres Wild" but then it may be getting into sex territory there somewhat...
as for traditional songs and folk:
Westlin' Winds
Red is the Rose
Call and Answer (De Danaan did this; I have sung it at two weddings)
I Love my Love
Kellswater
Star of the County Down (ballad version)
The Trees They Do Grow High
Queen Among the Heather (June Tabor does this nicely)
(If I Were a) Blackbird
Searching for Lambs
Ca' the Yowes

torch songs:
Since I Fell for You
Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man
Stormy Weather

peg

Subject: RE: Romantic Songs
From: Mbo
Date: 13 Mar 00 - 04:51 PM

Ummm...Peg? Last time I checked, "Westlin' Winds" was a protest on the unsavoryness of hunting game birds. Or is this a different song and I'm mixing up titles?

--Mbo

Subject: RE: Romantic Songs
From: Crowhugger
Date: 13 Mar 00 - 05:35 PM

Aha, I knew there was another:

"Have You Got Any News of the Iceberg?"

Yes, it's officially a poem, but I've heard it sung and I'm working it up myself. Such a charming tear-jerker for those who fear the worst, and a cheer-raiser for those who hope for the best.

I love it.

Subject: RE: Romantic Songs
From: Clinton Hammond2
Date: 13 Mar 00 - 07:24 PM

Last verse of Westlin' Winds

Well gently walk and sweetly talk
Till The silent moon shines clearly
I'll grasp thy waist and fondly press
Swear how I love thee dearly
Not vernal showers to budding flowers
Not autumn to the farmer
So dear can be as thou to me
My fair, my lovely charmer

Pretty dang romantic, even if the rest of the song is, as you mentioned, an anti-hunting song... Another one Iget a lot of miles out of... Kinda surprised myself that I didn't put it on my list...

{~`

Subject: RE: Romantic Songs
From: Mbo
Date: 13 Mar 00 - 07:37 PM

Ok, I get it now! Thanks! Well, I'll just have to say now that "Gloomy Winters New Awa'" by James Hogg (The Ettrick Shepherd) is also very romantic, especially when Dougie MacLean or Chantan do it.

--Mbo

Subject: Lyr Add: Mary in the Morning^^
From: Mary in Kentucky
Date: 13 Mar 00 - 07:54 PM

I vote for this one. (hehe)

Mary in the Morning

Nothing's quite as pretty as Mary in the morning
When through the sleepy haze I see her lying there
Soft as the rain that falls on summer flowers
Warm as the sunlight shining on her head

When I awake and see her there so close beside me
I want to take her in my arms,
The ache is there so deep inside me

Nothing's quite as pretty as Mary in the morning
Chasing the rainbow in her dreams so far away
And when she turns to touch me I kiss her fingers so softly
And then my Mary wakes to love and love again

And Mary's there in summer days or stormy weather
She doesn't care how right or wrong the love we share,
We share together

Nothing's quite as pretty as Mary in the evening
Kissed by the shade of night and starlight in her hair
And as we walk, I hold her close beside me
All our tomorrows for a lifetime we will share

Subject: RE: Romantic Songs
From: Mbo
Date: 13 Mar 00 - 08:10 PM

Oh MY that's gorgeous! Where can I hear this song? I'd also like to say that a lot of my own songs are very romantic...sorry, no self-plugging here....I just write the music. The lyrics are beautiful old poems from Irish & Scottish poets. I look for romantic lyrics in particular--if you want to see any of them, I'd be happy to oblige.

--Mbo

Subject: RE: Romantic Songs
From: Big Mick
Date: 13 Mar 00 - 09:21 PM

Man, you could get into a lot of trouble with this one. One that comes to mind quickly is about the love of women.....Green Grow the Rashes, Oh. Old Robbie had a way with it, didn't he?

THE FAIR ONE turned me onto a very romantic and sexy song called "The Hiring Fair" by Ralph McTell. Great lyric and interpretation by him.

There are so many more that I will have to think it through. Damn, I need to find someone to hug.

All the best,

Big Mick

Subject: RE: Romantic Songs
From:
Date: 13 Mar 00 - 09:57 PM

Amos and Crowhugger, re: Water is Wide

I assume you DO NOT mean that song is romantic based on the usual verses that get sung to it?

"I leaned my back against an oak," or "My love is handsome". Both of those verses along with the one about the pricked finger are more about heartbreak rather than love fulfilled.

Which verses are you thinking of?

Subject: RE: Romantic Songs
From: Callie
Date: 13 Mar 00 - 11:34 PM

Luka Bloom "I Believe In You" & "Be Well" Van Morrison "Tupelo Honey" Ray Charles singing "You DOn't Know Me" Purcell's "If Music Be The Food of Love" The Beatles "And I Love Her" Elvis Costello's "Human Hands" "Our Love is Here to Stay"

--Callie

Subject: RE: Romantic Songs
From: Callie
Date: 13 Mar 00 - 11:34 PM

Luka Bloom "I Believe In You" & "Be Well" Van Morrison "Tupelo Honey" Ray Charles singing "You DOn't Know Me" Purcell's "If Music Be The Food of Love" The Beatles "And I Love Her" Elvis Costello's "Human Hands" "Our Love is Here to Stay"

--Callie

Subject: RE: Romantic Songs
From: Amos
Date: 14 Mar 00 - 01:39 AM

There is a ship
SHe sails the sea
Loaded as deep,
As deep may be
But not as deep
As the love I'm in
And know not how
I sink or swim

A

Subject: RE: Romantic Songs
From: alison
Date: 14 Mar 00 - 02:50 AM

Here I am Mick ready for that hug.....

"The Hiring Fair" wins for me too... wonderful song..

Also "One, I love" as done by Karan Casey.....

slainte

alison

Subject: RE: Romantic Songs
From: KathWestra
Date: 14 Mar 00 - 01:39 PM

Karan Casey's voice (WOW!) can make any song sound romantic. "One I Love," which she sings on her solo CD, was written by Jean Ritchie.

Subject: RE: Romantic Songs
From: Clinton Hammond2
Date: 14 Mar 00 - 01:58 PM

Folks?

Is that the same Hiring Fair that Fairport Convention recorded on an album who's name has escaped me for the moment....
must.. have .... more.. coffeeee.....

{~`

Subject: RE: Romantic Songs
From: annamill
Date: 14 Mar 00 - 02:13 PM

MBO, "Thank You" is going to be our wedding song. We're going to dance in the middle of the floor to this song, and when the song is over (it has a very odd ending;it goes away and comes back) and everyone is in tears, we're going right into Mony, Mony. I was going to say Zepp, but I wasn't sure it was appropriate here. I'm also putting the first verse on our invitations.

"If the sun refused to shine, I will still be loving you"

"If mountains crumble into the sea, there will still be you and me"

Love, annap

Subject: RE: Romantic Songs
From: Bert
Date: 14 Mar 00 - 02:29 PM

'Softly, softly' sung by Ruby Murray

Subject: RE: Romantic Songs
From: JenEllen
Date: 14 Mar 00 - 05:56 PM

"King of Mercy Canyon" Dave Carter and Tracy Grammer
"Radio Sweethearts" Kate Rusby
"Just Because" Mary Chapin-Carpenter
"Lucky in Love" Gregg Scott
"Some of Shelleys Blues" Mike Nesmith
"Rippling Waters" NGDB
"Red-Headed Stranger" ol'Willie
....I'm sure this isn't a definitive listing...

Subject: RE: Romantic Songs
From: Big Mick
Date: 15 Mar 00 - 02:27 AM

AAAAAAHHHHHHHHH but life is good...........THE FAIR ONE wants a hug from little ole me..........Damn, one would think we had spent time together in the last month or so.....

The Rose of Clare is another that is great when it is done right.......or maybe I should sing it as The Rose of Belfast......

Big Mick

Subject: RE: Romantic Songs
From: alison
Date: 15 Mar 00 - 03:02 AM

yep clinton.. Ralph McTell wrote it for Fairport Convention... but his own version of it is beautiful....

sssshhhh Mick... they're beginning to suspect......

slainte

alison

Subject: RE: Romantic Songs
From: GUEST,Shona
Date: 15 Mar 00 - 08:44 AM

Robert Burns was definately king of romantic (as well as bawdy)! How about 'O Lay Thy Loof in Mine Lass' or Afton Water or Ae Fond Kiss. I could go on for a long time but, lets face it, nobody wrote like love songs like him, even if he was a scoundrel.

Subject: RE: Romantic Songs
From: Peg
Date: 15 Mar 00 - 11:26 AM

Mbo and Clinton;
what i love about Westlin' Winds is its complexity, and its simplicity. It really can be seen as two different songs, or as one which allows different worldfs to come crashing together.
Burns' horror at the brutality of hunting season is overshadowed by his love for a young woman (Peggy), and his joy in the changing autumnal landscape is overshadowed by the murder he sees of his beloved forest birds...
I think the beauty of the poetry, so profound, the passion of the anger and outrage, and the gentleness of his tender emotions towards his love, combine to make this one of the most evocative and wonderful traditional songs out there!

peg
who has been really into this song lately...

Subject: RE: Romantic Songs
From: GUEST,Sharon
Date: 15 Mar 00 - 02:16 PM

Where can you hear Westlin Winds sung?

Subject: RE: Romantic Songs
From: Clinton Hammond2
Date: 15 Mar 00 - 03:10 PM

My favorite version is still Garnet Rogers... It's on his first, self titled album.... But It's a thousand time's better if ya can get him to play it fer ya live! {~`

Subject: RE: Romantic Songs
From: Peg
Date: 15 Mar 00 - 03:34 PM

Anam's most recent CD has a nice version, a bit treacly (female vocal with male harmony);I like Dick Gaughan's version a lot, too...
I hope to record it myself when I next do a studio project, hopefully this year...

peg

Subject: RE: Romantic Songs
From: Dan Evergreen
Date: 15 Mar 00 - 04:04 PM

Good little thread. All I really care about IS romantic songs. Can somebody suggest some albums or other sources where I can just overdose?