Greatest love songs...and love generally

Subject: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: Little Hawk
Date: 27 Aug 00 - 03:19 PM

Now that we've had so many mention of various schlock and dreadfully bad songs (in whoever's opinion)...why not go the other way? Nominate the finest love song(s) you know. It can be romantic love, familial love, love of country, love of God, whatever...

What greater courage can there be but to love?...Even in the face of all hardship and misunderstanding.

I nominate:

"Lies" by Stan Rogers
"Every Grain of Sand" by Bob Dylan
"Sweet America" written by Barry Greenfield, recorded by Buffy Sainte-Marie
"The Wedding Song" by Buffy Sainte-Marie
"This Is Love" by Mary Chapin Carpenter

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: CarolC
Date: 27 Aug 00 - 03:24 PM

What a lovely thread, Little Hawk. I'm going to have to spend some time thinking about it.

Carol

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: Pene Azul
Date: 27 Aug 00 - 03:34 PM

"I'm Satisfied" by Mississippi John Hurt. Taj's cover is nice, too.

Jeff

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: Alice
Date: 27 Aug 00 - 03:51 PM

here are a few other threads, too:

Vote for the best Love song Ever

Songs of Lost Love

Any songs for a 50th wedding Anniversary

Need Irish 'love song' for wedding day

Help: wedding song to make you cry!

Wedding song for 2nd time around!

Folksongs Appropriate For A Wedding

The Most Romantic Song You Know???

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: thosp
Date: 27 Aug 00 - 03:51 PM

"Catch the Wind"
"Sara Smile"
"Visions of Johanna"
------ that's just for openers

peace (Y) thosp

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: Benjamin
Date: 27 Aug 00 - 03:55 PM

I'll Write a Song For You by Earth Wind and Fire.

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: Seamus Kennedy
Date: 27 Aug 00 - 04:03 PM

The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face and Sweet Thames Flow Softly, both by Ewan MacColl, and Sinatra singing "All the Way." All the best
Seamus

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: CarolC
Date: 27 Aug 00 - 04:07 PM

Ok, Little Hawk, I've decided (at least for the time being). These may not be love songs in the strictest sense seeing as how they have no words generally, but what the hell.

Love songs (music)-

Any classical music that was written for Romeo and Juliette.

Songs (pieces of music) that tug real hard at my heartstrings-

"The Lark Ascending" by Ralph Vaughan Williams.

Carol

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: kendall
Date: 27 Aug 00 - 05:33 PM

Laras Theme from Dr. Zhivago The First time ever I saw your face Unchained melody Faded Roses (Utah Phillips)

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: wysiwyg
Date: 27 Aug 00 - 09:34 PM

Sea of Love

There's a Place for Us

Picture in a Frame

Too Much to Expect, But Not Too Much to Ask

~S~

Subject: Lyr Add: LOVE CHANGES EVERYTHING^^
From: Mary in Kentucky
Date: 27 Aug 00 - 09:45 PM

LOVE CHANGES EVERYTHING
(Andrew LLoyd Webber)

Love, love changes everything
Hands and faces, earth and sky
Love, love changes everything
How you live and how you die
Love, can make the summer fly
Or a night seem like a lifetime
Yes love, love changes everything
Now I tremble at your name
Nothing in the world will ever be the same

Love, love changes everything
Days are longer, words mean more
Love, love changes everything
Pain is deeper than before
Love will turn your world around
And that world will last forever
Yes love, love changes everything
Brings you glory, brings you shame
Nothing in the world will ever be the same

Off into the world we go
Planning futures, shaping years
Love (comes in) and suddenly all our wisdom disappears
Love makes fools of everyone
All the rules we made are broken
Yes love, love changes everyone
Live or perish in its flame
Love will never never let you be the same
Love will never never let you be the same

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: Mbo
Date: 27 Aug 00 - 09:53 PM

Look at You Girl
You Had Me From Hello
Living For The Love Light In Your Eyes
I'll Still Be Loving You
All My Life
I Live Not Where I Love
**sniff**

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: Mbo
Date: 27 Aug 00 - 10:01 PM

Thanks for including that one, Mary!! I love that one to pieces! Oops I forgot the most important one ever!

All I Ask of You

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: Naemanson
Date: 27 Aug 00 - 10:08 PM

Not qualified to contribute.

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: Mbo
Date: 27 Aug 00 - 10:12 PM

Aw, that's too bad, Brett. Don't worry, the black night will not last forever...

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: Little Hawk
Date: 27 Aug 00 - 10:31 PM

thosp - who did "Sara Smile"?

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: thosp
Date: 27 Aug 00 - 10:44 PM

sara smile by hall & oates

peace (Y) thosp

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: CarolC
Date: 27 Aug 00 - 10:48 PM

...and "Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis" and "Five Variants of "Dives and Lazarus", also by Ralph Vaughan Williams.

I think I just love Ralph Vaughan Williams (except for "Norfolk Rhapsody No. 1", hate that one).

Now there's a man who understands about musical foreplay!

Carol

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: richlmo
Date: 27 Aug 00 - 11:15 PM

I'm still thinking, but while I was thinking," The Moon Is Still Over Her Shoulder," as recorded by Michael Johnson. Mbo ,do you answer every thread?

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: Mbo
Date: 27 Aug 00 - 11:19 PM

Almost every one that is of interest to me.

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: gillymor
Date: 27 Aug 00 - 11:24 PM

From West Side Story "Somewhere", "Tonight" and "One Hand, One Heart"and from Camelot "Before I Gaze at You Again" and Dick Gaughan's rendition of "Now Westlin Winds".
And Carol, I love all that Vaughn Williams and would include Fantasia on Greensleeves.

F

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: CarolC
Date: 27 Aug 00 - 11:32 PM

Frankee, I'm listening to it right now. I think you're right.

Carol

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: The Beanster
Date: 28 Aug 00 - 12:17 AM

Gee that's a tough one. Two friendship songs come to mind that always touched me: "Song for Adam" and "Fire and Rain." Oh! And Oscar Brown, Jr.'s really sweet (not sappy) song, "Dat Dere," for his son.

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: hesperis
Date: 28 Aug 00 - 12:44 AM

Love songs:
"Truly, Madly, Deeply" - Savage Garden. (I know it's kitsch, but I love it!)

"To The Moon & Back" - Savage Garden

"The Goddess in Me" - by my mother. Also "Azure Eyes" and "Running from the Shadows"

"Night Garden" - by me. I'll tell the story of the song later.

"The Power of Love"

"If I Fell"

"Anya" - Deep Purple

"Give me one reason" - Tracy Chapman

"I've got you under my skin"

"With a little help from my friends"

"When I'm 64"

"My Guy"

"My Heart Will Go On"

I'll probably have a lot more for y'all later.

Really sexy songs:
"Lady of the Wood" - by me
"universe" and "I want you" - Savage Garden

"Into the Fire" - Sarah McLachlan

"Temptation" - the Tea Party

Instrumentals:
(Don't get me started here...)

"Silmarian Day and Night" - by Chance Thomas, Soundtrack to Quest for Glory 5. Also the piece about the Dryad Wood, where the voice is used as another instrument.

A piece by Fauré that was arranged for flute, guitar and voice by the guitarist, and played on CBC. I lost the tape! Waaaaah!

"Sonatina coma un fantasia" (Moonlight Sonata) - Beethoven

"North Mountain Pass" - by me. It is a piece about the 'imaginary' Land I created when I was 7 years old.

Flamenco guitar in general.

~*sirepseh*~

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: CarolC
Date: 28 Aug 00 - 12:52 AM

hesperis, is that all you've got?

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: Mbo
Date: 28 Aug 00 - 12:55 AM

Hesp, I think I know what Faure piece you might be alluding to. Oh oh! Truly Madly Deeply! She said that to me once...

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: hesperis
Date: 28 Aug 00 - 02:32 AM

Carol - I need to listen to some folk songs before I have more for this list! *bg*

Mbo - I remembered! "Pavane" by Fauré, wish I could remember the arranger's name now.
It was a much more sparse arrangement than the full choir plus orchestra that Fauré originally had, and was more true to the 'feel' of the melody. (IMHO.)

A couple of my friends say 'witch' when they mean 'bitch' and so, for "Truly, Madly, Deeply" I like to sing it as "I'll be your dream, I'll be your witch, I'll be your fantasy..." Just to annoy them. (That and because I'm bewitching, right? Right.)

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: tradsteve
Date: 28 Aug 00 - 03:03 AM

"Tomorrow Is a Long Time"-Bob Dylan. Fabulous... just lovely. "Man Out Of Time"-Elvis Costello. "Pitseleh"-Elliott Smith.

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: jeffp
Date: 28 Aug 00 - 08:48 AM

Roseville Fair

Red is the Rose

jeffp

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: Whistle Stop
Date: 28 Aug 00 - 09:02 AM

Lots of interesting selections here. "Visions of Johanna" and "Man Out Of Time" are not what springs to my mind when I'm thinking of "love songs," but they're so good that I wouldn't dispute them. Love is a complex emotion, after all.

Along more traditional lines, a few years ago I was asked to play "When You Say Nothing At All" (done by Alison Krauss, written by ?) for my brother's wedding. I thought it was an excellent choice, and would nominate it for inclusion in this growing list.

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: winniemih
Date: 28 Aug 00 - 10:28 AM

Love Chooses You- Laurie Lewis

Subject: Lyr Add: Ettrick^^
From: KathWestra
Date: 28 Aug 00 - 10:59 AM

"Ettrick," as recorded by Archie Fisher. Still breaks my heart after many hearings.

When we first rode down Ettrick,
Our bridles were ringing, our hearts were dancing,
The water was singing, the sun was glancing,
And blithely our voices rang out together,
As we brushed the dew from the blooming heather,
When first we rode down Ettrick.

When we next rode down Ettrick,
The day was dying, the wild birds calling,
The wind was sighing, the leaves were falling,
And tired and weary, but closer together,
We urged our steeds through the faded heather,
When next we rode down Ettrick.

When I last rode down Ettrick,
The wind was shifting, the storm was waking,
The snows were drifting, my heart was breaking,
For never again would we ride together
Through sun or storm on the mountain heather,
When last I rode down Ettrick.

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: GUEST,Russ
Date: 28 Aug 00 - 11:02 AM

Dylan - Love minus zero/no limit Dylan - Tomorrow is a long time Dylan - Tangled up in Blue Staines - Roseville Fair Cohen - Sisters of Mercy MacColl - First time ever

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: kendall
Date: 28 Aug 00 - 11:10 AM

where you been Kathy?

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: Little Hawk
Date: 28 Aug 00 - 12:07 PM

Thanks, people. Wonderful contributions.

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: Mbo
Date: 28 Aug 00 - 12:11 PM

"When You Say Nothing At All" was written by Don Schlitz and one of my personal favorite songwriters, Paul Overstreet. On one HearMe not too long ago, I played all the Paul Overstreet songs as I knew. His music is very positive, a lot about love & families. I lot of people think it's dumb, but I like him. The man who has written the most "I love my wife" kind of songs. Oh yes, Keith Whitley originally sang "When You Say Nothing At All" and (NO OFFENSE) I like his version better.

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: The Shambles
Date: 28 Aug 00 - 01:20 PM

Young Love Old Love

Young love, a desperate duet to be sung
Those eyes, burn like fire, shine like the sun
The beam shines only on what it desires
Leaving dark the forgotten ones

Old love, forgets the words but not the tune
Light travelled to and reflected from the moon
The warm glow falls everywhere
On all, who need to be loved

Roger Gall 1997.

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: Whistle Stop
Date: 28 Aug 00 - 03:20 PM

Thanks Mbo -- no offense taken. I've never heard any version other than Alison Krauss's, but it's a beautiful song. I'll have to give Keith Whitley's version a listen.

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: Stewart
Date: 28 Aug 00 - 03:53 PM

"When you and I were young Maggie" Magnificant rendition by Peter Ostroushko backed up by Dean Magraw on guitar (Red House, 1991, RHR CD 40) Peter says in the liner notes: "They just don't write songs like this anymore. To my mind, this civil war era song is still one of the best love songs ever written."

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: Mbo
Date: 28 Aug 00 - 03:53 PM

OK, if were into self-promotion like Shamb, check out the love songs I wrote that are in the Mudcat Songbook. They tell how I feel.

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: kendall
Date: 28 Aug 00 - 04:03 PM

I like Sandy Patons version of "When you and I were young Maggie"

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: Mbo
Date: 28 Aug 00 - 04:05 PM

I like Scottish singer Sandy Devine's version Oh that high note! Sandy sasy of When You and I Were Young Maggie "This has got to be the greatest song ever!"

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: Bob P
Date: 28 Aug 00 - 04:36 PM

I want to nominate "And I Love You So" by D McLean

I'm sure others will find these lines a bit too simple and corny, but I'm comfortable with:

The book of life is brief, and once a page is read, All but love is dead, that is my belief.

Also:

And you love me to, Your thoughts are just for me, You set my spirit free, I'm happy that you do.

When I think about love in terms of my own mortality, and what I hope to be lucky enough to take with me; these words just seem to work!

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: GUEST,dan evergreen
Date: 28 Aug 00 - 04:40 PM

A truly great love song of great depth and beauty is "The Rose of Allendale." If you're a man, really in love with a woman, you can't hardly sing it to her without wanting to break up on the last stanza.

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: MMario
Date: 28 Aug 00 - 04:56 PM

Scarlet Ribbons

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: Diva
Date: 28 Aug 00 - 05:01 PM

First time ever I saw your face although I'm not fond of McColl. Ae fond Kiss by Burns.....or should that be collected by?

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: Mickey191
Date: 28 Aug 00 - 05:02 PM

Funny this thread isn't getting a lot of responce but the worst song thread is doing all the business. People like to complain I guess. Here are a few of my favorites:

All the Way Time After Time

What'll I Do? For Lost Love The Dance " " " In This Life - Bette Midler Enduring Love The Dutchman - Liam Clancy " " If I Had My Life To " " Live Over- Davey Arthur " " We Had A Life - Ronny Drew " "

And a song in Gaelic by Liam Clancy Which I could Listen to forever. It describes the most beautiful girl in the intro. in English. "She was the Sunday In Every week" The Gaelic Is lovely to hear and the melody is haunting. I sure wish I knew How the affair ended. Anyone speak Gaelic? I almost forgot the title-Ar Eirinu nt neosainn ce' hi'

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: catspaw49
Date: 28 Aug 00 - 05:13 PM

I hope some of you read the threads that Alice linked.....some excellent choices there. On one of them, I had chosen "Catch the Wind" which still ranks at the top group, but on that same thread, Sandy Paton brought up the old chestnut already mentioned here by Stewart and Kendall, "When You and I Were Young." And I am completely convinced he is right. Like many here, I have great respect for Sandy and I had never related much to the song although I'd known it since childhood.

Maybe its because of age or in the living with the one person that was meant for you. Maybe its the feeling the years pass and the future become shorter. Whatever the reason, for my money, THIS is the greatest love song ever written. And I also agree that listening to Sandy sing this one is very special. The album I listened to the most last year in the hospital was the "Golden Ring Reunion," and many times the Patons and the Paras et al did a job that morphine did not. Listening to Sandy sing "When You and I Were Young" was very beautiful to say the least, and it made me very determined to hang in for the Maggie in my life.

Lots of beautiful songs of love..........I could list another ten that are certainly at the top of my list, but "Maggie" stands alone.

Spaw

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: Mbo
Date: 28 Aug 00 - 05:19 PM

Awesome choices, Mickey! Especially "In This Life".

And if it all falls apart
I will know deep in my heart
That the only dream that mattered
Had come true...
In this life, I was loved by you

Talk about making you break down in tears!

BTW Mickey, is that "Is Ar Eireann Ni Neosfain Ce Hi"?

--Matt

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: Bob P
Date: 28 Aug 00 - 05:34 PM

Mention Liam Clancy and I'm reminded of his affection for Michael Smith's song, The Dutchman. If that song doesn't grab at your soul, get your oil checked.

And, how about, "I Remember Loving You"

I look at my brown suitcase and I think of all the places that I've been, Railroad yards, prison guards, the dumpy li'l town along the stem, And the staring of the people, as they watch every move thing that I go through, I remember all these things, but mostly I remember loving you.

Chorus: I remember loving you, back when the world was new, and I think you loved me too,I remember loving you.

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: Bearheart
Date: 28 Aug 00 - 05:38 PM

Well... I resisted, but it was finally too much... My favorite theme. My personal collection of songs starts with a section for the happy ones and then a section for the sad/scornful ones...

Where to start? Thanks guys for mentioning so many of my favorites.

What about?:

Suzanne by Leonard Cohen Boots of Spanish Leather Dylan Spanish is the Loving Tongue(the version I have is by Judy Collins) I Love to Sing Hoyt Axton (now there's a love song!) Queen Amang the Heather Dancing at Whitsun

She's Like the Swallow (traditional) She's like the swallow that flies on high She's like the river that never runs dry She's like the sun, beaming on the lee shore...

I'll Be Seeing You-- June Tabor does this nicely Deep in the Darkest Night-- Rick Kemp/recorded by Maddy Prior

and this is only the beginning...

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From:
Date: 28 Aug 00 - 05:50 PM

I can't get over the lack of mention of Rabbie Burns material, surely one of the all time great romantics. Top of his list, My Love Is Like A Red, Red Rose

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: Groucho Marxist (inactive)
Date: 28 Aug 00 - 05:55 PM

Bob P mentioned "I Remember Loving You." Most people think that's a Utah Phillips original. But Utah's version is really a rewrite of a song written by two old miners from British Columbia. Utah's chorus goes:

I remember loving you Back when the world was new And I think you loved me too I remember loving you.

Utah told me the original chorus is:

I remember loving you Out of all the girls I knew And I've had quite a few I remember loving you.

Not nearly as romantic.

Groucho

Subject: Lyr Add: LOOKING AT YOU, GIRL^^
From: Mbo
Date: 28 Aug 00 - 06:04 PM

Here are the lyrics to "Look at You, Girl" written by Lanty Ross and as sung by Chris Ledoux. SHE cried when I sang it to her, which of course made me cry....

Just look at you, girl
Standin' here beside me
Starlight on your hair
Lookin' like a dream I dreamed somewhere

And look at me, girl
You got me actin' just like a lover
In an old time picture show
And how I got the part -- I just don't know

But it's written all across your face
Plain as it can be
You're the one that I was lookin' for
Now you're all that I can see

You mean everything to me
And I'd do anything to have you stay forever
I'm an ordinary man
But I feel like I could do anything in the world
When I look at you, girl

Just look at you, girl
Walkin' here beside me
Misty morning light
I see my own reflection in your eyes

And just smile at me, girl
With eyes that tell a story
That words can never say
Tellin' me your love is gonna stay

And we're standin' right together now
In everything we do
And if my world should come apart
I'll still be lovin' you

You mean everything to me
And I'd do anything to have you stay forever
I'm an ordinary man
But I feel like I could do anything in the world
When I look at you, girl

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: oggie
Date: 28 Aug 00 - 06:16 PM

'You and I' Words Ewan Macoll, tune Martyn Whyndam-Read.

All the best

Steve

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: Benjamin
Date: 28 Aug 00 - 06:44 PM

To add to my list now (of I'll write a song for you!)

Paul Simon-
Kathy's Song
For Emily, Whenever I May Find Her

James Taylor-
Something in The Way She Moves

Any love song sung by Jr. Walker and the All Stars!

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: bflat
Date: 28 Aug 00 - 07:28 PM

Here's a vote for Eden Abba's "Nature Boy." Quite a lovely and romantic song.

bflat

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: Mickey191
Date: 28 Aug 00 - 08:51 PM

Forgot "And I Love you So," ."Che Gelida Manina," from Aida will finish my list for now.

Matt, you probably were correct on the Gaelic spelling of the song I mentioned. I very carefully copied the name from the cassette cover- and just noticed this- Side B contains" Reid is the Rose." So much for accuracy. It is a Shanachie tape titled "The Makem & Clancy Collection"1987

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: richlmo
Date: 28 Aug 00 - 08:51 PM

We've all heard it a million times, but " Wind Beneath My Wings" , the Gary Morris version, was Awesome the first time I heard it.

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: Mbo
Date: 28 Aug 00 - 09:02 PM

Umm heh heh heh...not to be nit-picky Mickey, but "Che Gelida Manina" is from La Boheme by Puccini...definately a sound choice. My sister loves it!

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: Big Mick
Date: 28 Aug 00 - 09:02 PM

I'm with Bob P. Hands down......it's "The Dutchman".

Mick

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: DougR
Date: 28 Aug 00 - 09:31 PM

"I'll See You in my Dreams," "What'll I do?", "Our Love Is Here To Stay," "Song from Moulan Rouge," "Dear Heart," "I'll Be Seeing You," "Goodnight Sweetheart," from the Pop field. Folk: "I Know Where I'm Going," "Shenandoah," "Foggy Foggy Dew," "Think on Me." Country: "I Really Don't Want To Know," "Help Me Make It Through The Night," "Anytime," "You Don't Know Me." DougR

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: Alice
Date: 28 Aug 00 - 09:46 PM

"La Vie En Rose"

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: thosp
Date: 28 Aug 00 - 10:04 PM

Alice i'd like to add "No Regrets"

peace (Y) thosp

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: Mbo
Date: 28 Aug 00 - 10:07 PM

Hymne L'Amour

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: GUEST,CLETUS
Date: 28 Aug 00 - 10:14 PM

Ime thinkin thet Major Tom song izza reel teer jerker. I know fer a fact thet alotta folks bin jerked by it fer a long time soze I figger thet it muzz be reely grate. I meen like I luv them asternot fellers so sum song abowt one uv em whuts got a screw loose wud hafta be mitey fine.

CLETUS

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: mg
Date: 28 Aug 00 - 10:55 PM

Mary from Dunloe, Jock of Hazeldean, John Anderson my Jo, if I needed you, I can't help falling in love with you and THE WEDDING SONG

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: GUEST,Mickey191
Date: 28 Aug 00 - 11:45 PM

Mbo, I didn't type Aida-I Know I didn't type Aida. A momentary slip of the mind, or perhaps Alzheimers has at last arrived. Of course it is La Boheme, that was my first opera. I love it that "The Dutchman" is doing well. And HE really had Alzheimers.

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: Mbo
Date: 28 Aug 00 - 11:52 PM

Don't worry, Mickey, I know how you feel! My sister will NEVER let me forget the time I inadvertantly put that Scott Joplin was Dixieland Jazz, on a music test. Talk about a mind slip!

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: Mark Cohen
Date: 29 Aug 00 - 12:40 AM

Hey, thanks for starting this, and for all you folks who've reminded me of songs long forgotten. As this divorce gets ugly it's good to remember what love can be. I heard Ewan and Peggy say that "The First Time" was written during a series of transatlantic telephone calls. Now that's romantic...

There's a song by Cosy Sheridan called "88 Keys" which is about old love; like "The Dutchman", it goes deeper into my heart every time I hear it. I have it on a sampler from Waterbug Music. (BIG PLUG: BUY WATERBUG CD'S HERE! YOU WON'T REGRET IT!) Also a song by Kat Eggleston called "Go to the Water" (from her Outside Eden CD, also on Waterbug) that isn't about two people but about love as a force, and I think is fantastic.

OK, another shameless plug: one of mine that didn't make it onto the DT. Still waiting to find the one I really wrote it for...

SOFT IS THE SOUND

(Chorus)
Soft is the sound of your voice as you sing to me
Warm is the touch of your skin
Bright is the morning with you lying next to me
Happier I've never been

Caught in the rush of the everyday comedy
No time to stop for the view
Along comes a song that sounds peaceful and calm to me
I look around and it's you (CHO)

Rain on the windshield and noise on the radio
I'm leaving Philly behind
Though the signs on the turnpike say many more miles to go
You're always near in my mind (CHO)

Off in the distance the mountain is glistening
Lark in the morning flies high
He's singing a song to the whole world that's listening
Listen again, so am I (CHO)

Aloha,
Mark

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: JennieG
Date: 29 Aug 00 - 02:04 AM

I really really like "My love is like a red red rose"; if anyone ever sang it to me I would just melt - I would turn to marshmallow. I have never been serenaded

*sigh*

JennieG

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: GUEST,Michael in Swansea
Date: 29 Aug 00 - 04:47 AM

I'm not letting this thread pass without a mention of "Myfanwy"
Michael

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: GUEST,INA
Date: 29 Aug 00 - 12:10 PM

for example: Terry Callier with Beth Orton: "Love can do" Neil Young: "Only love can break your heart" Bob Dylan: "She belongs to me"

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: Mbo
Date: 29 Aug 00 - 12:19 PM

Poor Jennie! I'll sing it to you if you like...

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: GUEST,see above
Date: 29 Aug 00 - 12:25 PM

...forgot: Tom Waits: "Martha"; "I'll be seeing you" !

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: Jim Krause
Date: 29 Aug 00 - 12:53 PM

Of songs about True Love, I nominate Believe Me, If All Those Endearing Young Charms lyrics by Thomas Moore (1779-1852) air My Lodging's On the Cold Ground traditional Irish.

Of True Love lost, I nominate Spanish Is the Loving Tongue. This last song brings up the question, do we only get one chance at True Love in a lifetime? I don't think I'll bother to find out. I'll stick with the One I have. She's been awful good to me.

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From:
Date: 29 Aug 00 - 12:59 PM

We have a love song on our new cd (Sweet Temptations) called Tu es l'amour that is bilingual in nature. In fact our whole cd is based on love ...We are new but have a unique sound.. lovingly yours Yolanta's Flyght

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: Mbo
Date: 29 Aug 00 - 01:03 PM

I've seen it mentioned here so much.."I'll Be Seeing You", I must agree heartily. That song really means a lot to me these days.

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: GUEST,Ina
Date: 29 Aug 00 - 01:14 PM

btw: "I'll be seeing you" is on June Tabor's new album "A quiet eye" and I read somewhere that she was so moved by the lyrics she had to cry when singing it!

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: Jim Krause
Date: 29 Aug 00 - 01:31 PM

I can't sing and cry at the same time. How does she do it? Also, I'd rather get the audience to do the crying for me.

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: GUEST,Ina
Date: 29 Aug 00 - 01:33 PM

Well, I can't cry and listen at the same time. How do you do it?

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: GUEST,John Bauman
Date: 29 Aug 00 - 03:30 PM

"You looked like a princess the night we met, With your hair piled high, I will never forget... I'm drunk right now, Baby, But I'd have to be, or I never could tell you what you mean to me.

But I loved you the first time I saw you, And I always will love you, Marie. R. Newman

Fascinating, a song where the chorus is absolutely riviting love verse--stays GLUED to your mind. Then you start in with the rest of the words...

One of my FAVORITES!

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: GUEST,Mickey191N.Y.
Date: 29 Aug 00 - 04:00 PM

I was just given Chieftans "Tears of Stone" C.D. and must add one more love (unrequited) song - "Raglan Road"Extra- ordinary.How old is this song? I've heard it sung before but I must not have been Listening.What made me listen was this Great singer -Joan Osborne-she is fantastic. You probably all know her and her work. Any comments or recomendations on her work.I would love to read the opinions of anyone who has heard"Danny Boy" by Diana Krall on this same CD.

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: Kim C
Date: 29 Aug 00 - 04:27 PM

I love the Tears of Stone CD.

Just about any Beatles love song is cool with me - my favorite is In My Life, with If I Fell following a close second. And I like their version of Music Man's Till There Was You.

I had some others but now I can't remember what they were. :)

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: hesperis
Date: 29 Aug 00 - 05:23 PM

I just bought that CD! Listening to "Raglan Road" right now. I like it.

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: Mbo
Date: 29 Aug 00 - 05:34 PM

I like "I Know My Love" that the Chieftains & The Corrs do on Tears of Stone.

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: Tony Burns
Date: 29 Aug 00 - 05:51 PM

Little Hawk:

Lies is at the top of my (ever changing) list. I think I would like to sing this song but fear that I would be reduced to tears of joy before I could finish it. "She looked up in that weathered face that loved hers line for line and saw the maiden shining in his eyes"

Big Mick:

Interesting that you mention The Dutchman. I was listening to it today and realised that it is the parallel song to Lies.

I recently learned how much the setting can mean. At The Woods camp Peggy Seeger sang The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face. While it was not particularly great from a perfomance point of view I sat there stunned thinking that not only was the song written for her but she was there for every event mentioned in the song. At the end of it I was so numb I couldn't clap properly. I was numb for about an hour after, went for a walk and had to force myself back to take part in the dance band. I get chills writing about it now.

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: hesperis
Date: 29 Aug 00 - 06:10 PM

Tony - beautiful.

For love of land, I would like to nominate "Lothlorien" by Enya.
That forest is one of my favorite places.

I choreographed a Circle Dance to this song, the meaning of the steps to me is:

Winds surround me
Earth I hold
Branches reach to heav'n, water to my roots
branches reach to heav'n, water to my roots

The dance ends with hands slowly coming to rest on the heart.

~*sirepseh*~

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: Alice
Date: 29 Aug 00 - 06:41 PM

Un Bel Di, Vedremo - from Madama Butterfly click here

One fine day we'll notice
A thread of smoke arising
On the sea in the far horizon,
And then a ship appearing.

Then the trim white vessel
Glides into the harbour,
Thunders forth her cannon.

See you? now he is coming!
I do not go to meet him, not I!
I stay upon the brow of the hillock
And wait there,
And wait for a long time,
But never weary of the long waiting.

From out of the crowded city there is coming,
A man, a little speck in the distance,
Climbing the hillock.

Can you guess who it is?
And when he's reached the summit,
Can you guess what he'll say?
He will call, "Butterfly," from the distance.

I, without answ'ring,
Hold myself quietly conceal'd;
A bit to tease him
And a bit so as not to die at our first meeting.

And then, a little troubled,
He will call, he will call,
"Dear baby wife of mine,
Dear little orange blossom!"
The names he used to call me when he came here.

This will all come to pass as I tell you,
Banish your idle fears for he will return,
I know it.

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: Don Firth
Date: 29 Aug 00 - 07:04 PM

If we're including opera, how about "E lucevan le stelle" from the final act of Puccini's La Tosca? Mario Cavaradossi is about to be taken out and shot, and he's reminiscing about Floria Tosca's "sweet kisses and languid caresses" and how, now that he is about to die, life has never been so sweet. Give it a listen sometime.

Speaking of tenors about to die, Anthony Kearns, one of the three Irish Tenors sings a song called "Grace." I suspect it's not a folk song, but it does have an Irish folk song quality about it. Never fails to choke me up.

Among folk ballads, I have a CD of Mary Black singing "Annechie Gordon" which has much the same effect.

Jeez! I'm getting maudlin.

It's not necessarily a song of romantic love, but it's a love song nevertheless -- Gordon Bok's "Turning Toward the Morning."

(I need some endorphins. Where did I leave that chocolate bar?)

Don Firth

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: Alice
Date: 29 Aug 00 - 07:35 PM

Yes, I've seen that Anthony Kearns performance - it was taped in Belfast, wasn't it? I'll have to get the video out. I do remember how emotional it was.

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: guinnesschik
Date: 29 Aug 00 - 08:41 PM

Hmmmm. "Indoor Fireworks" by Elvis Costello. "I Hope That I Don't Fall In Love With You" by Tom Waites. "Bridge Over Troubled Water," and I can't remember the name of it, but that Gram parson's song that goes "Twenty thousand roads I've been down, down, down/And they all lead me straight back home to you." I get really misty-eyed when I hear that one.

Oh, and "Crazy Love" by Van Morrison.

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: Mary in Kentucky
Date: 29 Aug 00 - 09:24 PM

...don't get me started on opera. There are just so many extremely emotional songs. But if it has to be love songs, how about Thee I Love (from Carmen, don't know correct name), but just before Carmen dies, she sings Thee I Love, Escamillo. Then of course Vissi D'arte from Tosca, where she sings her heart out while her lover is being tortured off stage. (The sugary song, "Smile Though Your Heart is Breaking" was set to this melody.) Then from La Boheme, Mi chiamano Mimi where she describes seeing the first rays of the April sun as Spring arrives...or the Wedding Sextet from Lucia di Lammermoor where each person describes their thoughts, such a powerful assertion of innermost feelings...

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: richlmo
Date: 29 Aug 00 - 09:51 PM

I think I've got it , but I may think of another, " Where've You Been ", recorded by Kathy Matea, written by her husband and some other folks. Thats love!

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: Mbo
Date: 29 Aug 00 - 10:01 PM

Did you know that song is actually about Kathy's husband's Mother & Father? It's a true story!

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: richlmo
Date: 29 Aug 00 - 10:06 PM

I did Know that. I love her. She records the same sort of songs I like to play and sing. Rare in music today. She has sort of lost it here in the last few years, though.

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: Mbo
Date: 29 Aug 00 - 10:11 PM

When she did "Love Travels", I couldn't believe that someone else out there actually felt like I did. Such a great song.

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: Little Hawk
Date: 29 Aug 00 - 10:16 PM

Lookin' better all the time...

Here is possibly my most enduring song lyric...a popular song around here among my fellow folkies (in Orillia, Ontario):

Love Is A Flame

Love is a flame, I see it burn
Love is a wheel, I watch it turn
Love is a trial of strength, a leap of faith unknown
Love is a flame.
Love is a hawk, I see it fly
Across a blue and shining sky
Love is an angel's face, a depth of grace unknown
Love is a flame

And this love...I give it to you
And this flame will burn strong and true
And your name will ring in my heart and gladden my days
And for you...no river too wide
And for you...no mountain too high
I will stand whatever the price that I have to pay

Love is a flame, I see it burn
Love is a wheel, I watch it turn
Love is a trial of strength, a leap of faith unknown
Love is a flame.
Love is a hawk, I see it fly
Across a blue and shining sky
Love is an angel's face, a depth of grace unknown
Love is a flame
Love is a flame.br>

Copyright c 1993 George Coventry/Dawn Parade Music

Believe it or not, there are some young Cuban musicians singing it now (in English). They learned it from me when I was down there.

It can be used to express any kind of love, romantic or otherwise. This, in fact, is just how much the Great Spirit loves humanity, and all living things.

Little Hawk (GC)

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: Mary in Kentucky
Date: 29 Aug 00 - 10:17 PM

...speaking of writing songs for loved ones...Richard Wagner wrote Siegfried Idyll for his wife's birthday (forget which wife) and surprised her with violinists on the stairway serenading her when she arrived home. Here 'tis: The Classical Midi Connection - Romantic - Wagner - Siegfried Idyll.

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: hesperis
Date: 29 Aug 00 - 11:25 PM

Hey, Little Hawk, have I heard that one? Maybe I should pay more attention to your songs... That is beautiful.

I said I'd post the story of "Night Garden" so here it is:

I really wanted to write a gothic love song, especially after I had found this really awesome website called mAlice's gothic garden, which is all about night-blooming flowers.
Fascinating fact number 1: Night flowers often have much sweeter scent than day flowers, as they attract moths instead of bees.
Fascinating fact number 2: Night flowers are often white or purple, my favorite colors.
So I had to write it about flowers, in some way.

So I closed my eyes, and imagined the most beautiful garden there ever was...

There is an old woman, with long white hair, walking in this garden.
It is night, and the moonlit darkness soothes her heart.
She walks in remembrance of her love, he left a long time ago.
She fought with him, and he went away.
Staying in the garden that reminds her too much of him, she weeps.
But this is the only place he would know to find her. So here she stays.
He left in anger, she thought he would realize that she didn't mean it, she loved him always.
The lonely years have gone by, and he still has not come.

One night, as she is walking in her night-scented garden,
he comes through the overgrown gate, and to the circle at the center.
He tries to apologize for staying away for so long,
and she tries to apologize for the pain she caused him then.

Old, white-haired, still so much in love
they kiss in their garden beneath the moon,
and die in each other's arms.
Home again after all those years.

The next morning, as the night-blooming flowers are drooping,
a pair of youg lovers find the gate where the vines had been disturbed.
They enter the garden, softly, with reverence,
and find the old couple dead in the center of the garden.
In her hand, a note reads:
"To you who find this,
the curse is broken with my death,
this place is yours now.
Fill it with the laughter of children."
And so they did.

This is the song she sings each night, for her love:

Night Garden
Copyright 2000 Chagall Hannah

Often have I walked there
Where lovers love to play
Where flowers fill the darkened air
Now, there I'll stay

Long's the time I've longed for you
Though they say love is blind
Well, so is pride and now I know
Which I'd leave behind

Night garden (night garden)
Fill me with sweet scent
Night garden (night garden)
Help me to forget (you went)

Hesperis and moonflow'rs
Perfume a place I know
There we fought and there you left me
Those long years ago

instrumental verse


Night garden (night garden)
Fill me with sweet scent
Night garden (night garden)
Help me to forget (you went)

bridge

Long's the time I've longed for you
Though they say love is blind
Well, so is pride and now I know
Which I'd leave behind

Night garden (night garden)
Fill me with sweet scent
Night garden (night garden)
Help me to forget (you went)

Often have I walked there
Where lovers love to play
Where flowers fill the darkened air
Now, there I'll stay

Long's the time I've longed for you
Though they say love is blind
Well, so is pride and now I know
Which I'd leave behind

Night garden (night garden)
Fill me with sweet scent
Night garden (night garden)
Help me to forget (you went)

~*sirepseh*~

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: Jim Krause
Date: 30 Aug 00 - 01:33 PM

Thoughtof a couple more, both by Bill Staines Roseville Fair and Prairie Song, and there is yet a third one that starts out
She was born with Missouri sun in her eyes,
that touched her lovely skin
The color of the corn settled down in her hair
The beauty of a flower within
CHORUS
It seems so long ago
Before the ice and snow
Days were long and nights were meant for dreamin'
When her dog ran free, 'round the linden tree
I SANG FOR HER A SONG
There, I knew if I thought long enough I'd remember the title. Reminds me of a time when I was in my early twenties, when I sang for her a song.

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: GUEST,Mbo_at_ECU
Date: 30 Aug 00 - 01:42 PM

From the end of Les Miserables:

And behold, the truth that once was spoken
To love another person is to see the face of God.

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: Little Hawk
Date: 30 Aug 00 - 03:47 PM

That's right, Mbo. And to truly SEE another person is likewise to see the face of God.

Hesperis' Night Garden is also a beautiful song...heard it on Monday night at song circle.

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: Mickey191
Date: 30 Aug 00 - 05:39 PM

The song "Grace" was mentioned by Don Firth with a query about its origins. There is a great song named "Grace" which is the story of Grace Gifford and Joseph Plunkett. They were married in Kilmainham Jail Chapel,Dublin at the time of the Easter uprising. He was executed the next morning. She served time and still to be seen is a painting she did of the Madonna, and also a quilt she made. That is a place to see-you won't forget,like Gettysburg.

Mickey NY Siocain

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: Ely
Date: 30 Aug 00 - 07:23 PM

Tommy Thompson/Red Clay Ramblers "Hot Buttered Rum". "No Lonesome Tune" by Townes Van Zandt has a great verse in it "My daddy said to me, 'Son, it's hard as you can see to find someone upon whom to rely.' In the kitchen, Momma sneezed, and he grinned big as you please, said, 'Bless you,' and a tear come to his eye." Very sweet.

Non-romantic love songs ought to include "Teach Your Children" (CS&N), "Katie Belle Blue" (Townes), and "Beautiful Boy" (J. Lennon).

My mom has always liked the Eagles' "Best of My Love", which is sad and not folk music, but it's still a good song.

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: Robo
Date: 30 Aug 00 - 07:24 PM

"The Town I Love So Well" and "Fields of Athenry," a couple of Irish classics. And then "True Love Ways" by Buddy Holly, "Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye" by the Casinos, "Running Scared" by Roy Orbison, plus "The Dutchman" . . . .

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: SINSULL
Date: 30 Aug 00 - 08:14 PM

"Will You Love Me In December As You Do In May?"

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: Don Firth
Date: 30 Aug 00 - 08:49 PM

To Mickey191:

Thanks for the information. Other than hearing Anthony Kearns sing it during PBS pledge breaks, I didn't know anything about the song. Sounds like that's the one.

Don Firth

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: bflat
Date: 30 Aug 00 - 11:01 PM

Monday night, the 28th, I was with the group in my song circle and I thought about Malvina Reynolds and that it was also marking her birth 100 years earlier. So we sang some of her wonderful, uncluttered, clean and powerful songs. "The Magic Penny" is a terrific love song. Not one of those songs ladden with emotional reverie just the plain truth.

bflat

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: LR Mole
Date: 31 Aug 00 - 11:20 AM

"Before I Gaze At You Again" from "Camelot"(the show,never saw the movie). A real heartbreaker. Quite full, myself, thinking of it here...

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: Diva
Date: 01 Sep 00 - 06:16 PM

I had one of my favourites sung to me last night......and it was lovely......a real melting moment.

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: richlmo
Date: 02 Sep 00 - 01:40 AM

How about " Thorn Tree In The garden ", Derick (sp ) and the Dominoes ?

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: hesperis
Date: 02 Sep 00 - 02:14 PM

"Sally Gardens"
"She's Like The Swallow" is beautiful, thanks for the reminder Bearheart!

I just realized I put an extra verse in my song "Night Garden". Oops. I guess that's what happens when your friend comes over and you forget to triple-check before you post...

"Dream, Dream, Dream"
Little Hawk's "Love is a Flame" is pretty cool. He has some really sweet ones, but I forget the names, sorry.
Some of the stuff on Landmarks - Clannad, is very pretty, but I only just got the CD, so I don't know which they are.

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: Jimmy C
Date: 02 Sep 00 - 06:35 PM

"Unchained melody"
"Rose of Allendale"
"Ye Banks and Braes of bonny Doon"
"Barbara Allen"
"Darcy Farrow"
"Maggie"

Too many to list - my favourite is "Unchained Melody" #1 above.

Nice idea for a thread.

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: Amos
Date: 02 Sep 00 - 06:52 PM

I think two of the greatest segments on the topic from folk songs are these:

There is a ship
She sails the sea.
She's loaded deep,
As deep can be.
But not as deep
As this love I am in,
ANd know not how,
I sink or swim

and:

She was winsome, and fair as the dew on the meadow,
But 't was not her beauty alone that won me;
Oh, no. 'T was the truth in her eyes, ever shining,
That made me love Mary,
The Rose of Tralee.


A.

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: Mbo
Date: 02 Sep 00 - 07:09 PM

Just beautiful, Amos.

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: Little Hawk
Date: 02 Sep 00 - 07:28 PM

Bob Dylan's "Shelter From The Storm" is one of the greatest love songs of all time. I've got a recording of him doing it in Madison Square Garden in 1998, and it is SO beautiful.

"I'm livin' in a foreign country now, but I'm bound to cross the line
Beauty walks a razor's edge, someday I'll make it mine
If I could only turn the clock back to when God and her were born
Come in, she said, I'll give you shelter from the storm

Isn't that what we all want?

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: Mbo
Date: 02 Sep 00 - 07:34 PM

I am here....
You are there...
Love is our cross to bear.

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: thosp
Date: 02 Sep 00 - 07:39 PM

She walks in beauty,like the night
Of cloudless climes and starry skies;
And all that's best of dark and bright
Meet in her aspect and her eyes:
Thus mellowed to that tender light
Which heaven to gaudy day denies

One shade the more,one ray the less,
Had half impaired the nameless grace
Which waves in every raven tress,
Or softly lightens o'er her face;
Where thoughts serenely sweet express
How pure,how dear their dwelling place.

And on that cheek,and o're that brow,
So soft,so calm,yet eloquent,
The smiles that win,the tints that glow,
But tell of days in goodness spent,
A mind at peace with all below,
A heart whose love is innocent!

Lord Byron

peace (Y) thosp
who also likes the Waltons

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: Little Hawk
Date: 02 Sep 00 - 10:51 PM

Mbo - the Beatles said in one song "Love Is All There Is". They were right.

They also said in another one "give me money...that's what I want". They were playing at being cynical, I suppose. Funny thing is, they got more money than anyone could possible know what to do with, and it didn't help much, did it? In the end only the love counted. When John Lennon lay dying on the street, I don't think he had money on his mind. Paul McCartney said that when Linda died, it very nearly killed him too. I believe it.

I've had a lotta money. I've had a few teaspoons full of love. Can you relate to that, Mbo? I bet you can.

I was in Cuba, and I saw more love in one week than I had seen in the previous 5 years, and I'm not talking just boy-girl stuff here, I'm talking about every kind of love. It's the only thing worth living or dying for. It puts the lie to all the other stuff, and you can't buy it. You can buy an imitation of it...a pale one...I've seen that done, but I never did it.

I hope that being back here in the great self-indulgent North American nuthouse doesn't grind me back down again. I can see where it might.

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: WyoWoman
Date: 03 Sep 00 - 12:23 AM

I keep seeing this thread title and the "Greatest Love Songs" -- fine, I can go there. Many of the ones I really love are on this thread already -- and some yummy ones I'd forgotten. But then I see the rest of the thread title -- "And love generally" and I have to admit a big "Thhhhtttpppppttttt" comes to mind.

What a source of misery, this fiction of romantic love ...

ww

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: The Lighthouse
Date: 03 Sep 00 - 12:40 AM

"Dark Eyed Molly" "Sweet Thames Flow Softly" "Unanswered Prayers" "Bridge over Troubled Water" (it can be a love song!) "Red is the Rose" "Gentle Annie" "Loch Tay Boat Song" "And I Love Her"

so many to choose from!

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: catspaw49
Date: 03 Sep 00 - 12:49 AM

Pansy darlin' ... You may be right! But of course the misery is a wonderful source of crappy-ass, starry-eyed, syrupy and sappy, love ditties......many of which have been mentioned here.

Spaw

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: WyoWoman
Date: 03 Sep 00 - 01:26 AM

Well, of course. And they're fun to sing, too. The trouble only starts when you believe them!

ww

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: hesperis
Date: 03 Sep 00 - 01:33 AM

Sometimes romantic love is true. I have seen it.
I have seen it in my mother's eyes when she talks of her love. I have seen it in the jitterish dance my friend Robin makes whenever his girlfriend is around. I have seen it in the calm that fills my friend Blair, and soothes the storms in his soul, when his eyes meet his girlfriend's across the room.

I have seen (and experienced) the opposite.
I have watched people try to manipulate me by sweet words and pretty phrases, and promises that they never had any intention of keeping. I have watched possessiveness masquerade as love.
I have watched people give people emotional scars that may never heal, and say they love them, all in the same breath.

Love itself is true. It is the truest thing there is. And if you have seen it, you know that. And then the silly songs don't seem so silly.
And the misery isn't a twisted misery, but a deepening of your heart.
And these are not just words...

~*sirepseh*~

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: Metchosin
Date: 03 Sep 00 - 02:10 AM

45 Years From Now - Stan Rogers

Fields of Gold - Sting

Lay Lady, Lay - Bob Dylan

Help Me Make it Through the Night - Kris Kristopherson

Closing Time - Leonard Cohen

And.........

Yummy Yummy Yummy, I've Got Love in my Tummy - 1910 Fruit Gum Company (sorry but coming up with a list is really difficult)

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: catspaw49
Date: 03 Sep 00 - 02:19 AM

Hey Mets!!! How ya' been? And where? Glad to see you.

And Hesperis.......the story of Karen and I is all over these threads, so I'll not go into it again......But if you have seen it, have experienced it, have lived it, then the silly songs are still silly. The great ones take on a new lustre.

Spaw

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: Metchosin
Date: 03 Sep 00 - 02:38 AM

Fine Spaw!! Glad to be back.

I was up in the Rockies on a horse for awhile and head down in other more mundane work stuff.

I've been checking out the threads today and you still seem to be in fine form, you and Art had my husband and I doubled up on the Unexplained one. Did you ever get the personal message I sent you sometime near the beginning of August?

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: hesperis
Date: 03 Sep 00 - 03:25 AM

Spaw - ok, that's what I meant to say! *g*
(But then, I probably like a lot of the songs that you think are silly.)

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: Sourdough
Date: 03 Sep 00 - 04:15 AM

REading the song suggestions has been fun, and interesting.

One reason it's been interesting is that so few of these songs have a real history. This isn't to say that I don't like, or am not moved, by these songs but I wonder why we respond to so few of the older, traditional songs. Most of us know lots of traditional ballads about love and death, murders, and violence of other sorts but few traditional love songs.

As for my favorites, I would like to add, "Daisy a Day".

Sourdough

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: catspaw49
Date: 03 Sep 00 - 09:40 AM

Yeah Hesp.....you're right that silly is in the eye of the beholder! I mean, look at Hawk. He likes Major Tom. Lemmee ask ya'..........Has he had an eye exam lately?(:<))

Spaw

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: hesperis
Date: 03 Sep 00 - 12:03 PM

Yeah, he has, and - let's just say that the Little Hawk ain't too hawk-eyed...

(I think I'm in trouble now. Oh, well!)

Two more for the list:
"The Highwayman" - Loreena McKennitt
"Full of Grace" - Sarah McLachlan

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: The Lighthouse
Date: 03 Sep 00 - 06:08 PM

SOURDOUGH

I love "Daisy Day"!!!! Thats a great song of love over the years and beyond. Sorry I forgot that one - thanks for posting it!

"I'll love you until the rivers run still...... And the four winds we know blow away"

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: Little Hawk
Date: 03 Sep 00 - 09:55 PM

Aw, Spaw, hesperis is dead right about mah poor eyes...I used to wear glasses in school, and they were as thick as old time coke bottles. Thank God, contact lenses came along. First the hard ones, which were pretty tough on the old eyes, then the soft ones, which are great. Just like having 20-20 vision again, it was.

As I've said, I'm a spirit hawk, and my spiritual eyes are pretty keen, but my physical eyes...no sir.

Wyo Woman - yeah, that romantic love stuff has caused a whole lot of misery...but when I said "love generally" I meant also love of brother and sister, love of country, love of family, love of community, love of life, love of humanity, love of nature, love of God, love of justice, love of animals, love of truth, love of honesty...love of everything that makes life a triumph in the face of lovelessness. There must be a few thousand more songs to name, with that as one's inspiration.

And as for the romantic love...it can happen, and sometimes does.

I contribute another Dylan song: "I Threw It All Away" is the title, and the bridge says...

"Love is all there is, it makes the world go round, love and only love, it can't be denied. No matter what you think about it, you won't be able to do without it. Take a tip from one who's tried."

And that's the truth. You either love or you die...one little piece at a time.

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: Mbo
Date: 03 Sep 00 - 10:00 PM

They say love is a waterfall
It takes you in, brings you down
It's a sad affair
But you know if you hold back the power there
Without your friends & lovers
You could never go on living...

Romantic love songs may be corny & silly, Wyo, but for some of us, it's all we got.

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: WyoWoman
Date: 03 Sep 00 - 10:55 PM

Well, I have tons of love in my life -- family, friends, friends-who-are-like-family. And Heaven knows I've had my share of that mushy stuff, too. So even though I'm in a sort of bah-humbuggy mood right now, I'm not saying it doesn't exist.

One of the blessings of my life was that I'm the child of a love affair. My mother and father absolutely adored each other and knew it and showed it and were married 50 years and were still in love with each other when he died (12 years ago yesterday as a matter of fact). The night he died, he walked up to Mom while she was doing the dishes, kissed her on the neck and said, "We've had a wonderful life, haven't we?" and then went to bed, went to sleep and slipped away. What a benediction.

And my two kids are absolutely the dearest and best in my life, tethered in my heart with strands of silk and steel and gold, even though they're both physically far away nowadays. So I'm supremely aware of how strong it is when it's true. But also aware of how distracted we get by the need for and belief in romantic love, maybe at the expense of many other and equally important kinds of love. I know this has been true in my life -- longing for That Special Someone when maybe I would have been better off developing myself in important ways and not holding out for the Eternally Hypothetical Him.

But that's just me ... WW

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: catspaw49
Date: 03 Sep 00 - 11:19 PM

I dunno' Pansy....You seem pretty well rounded to me....and I mean that in the best sense of the word....So put down that cell phone you were about to wing at me!

But your advice is still good and to some young people it may be that the songs are all they have, but wouldn't you encourage them to explore the great love found in friendships? I dunno WW........I was in love and out of love many times before I met Karen and neither of us met anything of the other's previous expectations. The years I spent actively not looking brought much love between myself and friends. Longing and mooning for Mr. or Ms. Right will never get you there will it?

Spaw

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: Mbo
Date: 03 Sep 00 - 11:35 PM

Wyo, that's simply beautiful..brought a tear tae me eye. Spaw, if some of us HAD friends, we might have the oppurtunity to expend friendships.

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: The Lighthouse
Date: 04 Sep 00 - 02:16 AM

Wyo wow! That was great!!!!! You got it right on "all other kinds of love" besides romantic. Thats what true love is all about - no one is 100% romantic and mushy through their whole lives and really shouldn't be anyway - that's a bit much! It's the everyday sort of love that we forget is there and makes many believe that real love doesn't exist. Well it does because I have a wonderful wife and 2 wonderful children to prove it!!!!!!!

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: WyoWoman
Date: 04 Sep 00 - 11:45 AM

The keys to unrest of the spirit seem to be unfulfilled expectation and thwarted intention, so it seems to me that one of the best ways to foster inner peace is to reduce the yearning. That doesn't mean I don't think it will be nice if Mr. Special (and I ain't talkin' .38 here) comes along. But one of the things that occurred to me after my Most Spectacular Dumpage a year and a half ago (Gawd, it's been that long! That's when I stumbled into the Mudcat, too. The two items are related.) was that, if I wanted to meet the perfect partner for me, I'd better get busy manifesting some of this hidden potential. If we remain Heroes in our Own Minds, we might just know, deep, deep inside ourselves, that we're the perfect person for So-and-So, or s/he's the perfect onefor us. But if we haven't made good on the deepest and best in ourselves, aren't we more likely to keep attracting thwarted souls?

That's my current thinking, anyway. Let me remain single for another year or so and we'll update this conversation.

He has a pulse? Bring 'im on!!!

WW

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: CarolC
Date: 04 Sep 00 - 08:12 PM

(Re: your last post) Wise words, WyoWoman.

Ok, now I'm going to get sappy. (Please accept my apologies.) I think there is a hell of a lot of love right here in the Mudcat. Ok, now I've said it.

Little Hawk, have you considered doing volunteer work with people who are less fortunate than you? I think you'll find much more than a few teaspoons of love that way.

Best wishes,

Carol

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: Victoria H.
Date: 04 Sep 00 - 10:04 PM

Another vote for "The Dutchman", "Red is the Rose" and Anthony Kearns singing "Grace", but Andy M. Stewart's "Golden Golden" melts me every time! Also love Kate Rusby's "A Rose in April" and Davy Steele's "Long Hellos and short Goodbyes" - Victoria

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: GUEST,The Duck of the Irish
Date: 04 Sep 00 - 11:27 PM

Nice thread! I was pleased to see someone put "Martha" in there. Another great Tom Waits love song is "Ruby's Arms". I did not see "Cavan Girl" here so I'll add that beauty to the list.

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: bflat
Date: 10 Sep 00 - 08:34 PM

In the background I've got a CD playing and there is this beautiful song by Steve Gillette and Rex Benson called "Bed Of Roses," and I am reminded of this thread and thought I should share this with you. So if you have the CD: Steve Gillette & Cindy Mangsen Live in Concert, play this one. If not call up you local station and request it. Just beautiful!

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: GUEST,annabelle
Date: 10 Sep 00 - 11:14 PM

Time in a Bottle -- Jim Croce
America -- Simon and Garfunkel
For Emily, Wherever I May Find Her -- Simon and Garfunkel
When I'm 64 -- Beatles
Forever -- Ben Harper
No Woman No Cry -- Bob Marley
Unchained Melody
Amazing Grace
In My Life -- Beatles
Black Magic Woman -- Santana
Wonderful Tonight -- Eric Clapton
She Belongs to Me -- Bob Dylan
Girl from the North Country -- Bob Dylan
Sugar Magnolia -- Grateful Dead
Scarlet Begonias

Wow-what a grate thread, I could seriously go on forever. Love songs are my favorite, oh, and I think I love this mbo guy. Anna

HTML line breaks added. Also, case fixed. -JoeClone 6-Mar-01.

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: richlmo
Date: 10 Sep 00 - 11:33 PM

Since we're still at it, how about " Longer ", Dan Fogelberg

Subject: Lyr Add: A DAISY A DAY (Jud Strunk)
From:
Date: 04 Jan 03 - 11:21 AM

Speaking of love, I love the web :). I was looking for the Dylan lyrics to Shelter from the Storm here. Along the way I find humor, love, some fine sarcasm, a playful jibe or two and best of all, a boatload of prose and lyrics I've never seen or heard. Daisy Day caught my eye so I went to Leo's Lyrics

Leo's Lyrics

and found this version:

Daisy a Day    Jud Strunk

He remembers the first time he met 'er
He remembers the first thing she said
He remembers the first time he held her
And the night that she came to his bed

He remembers her sweet way of singin'
Honey has somethin' gone wrong
He remembers the fun and the teasin'
And the reason he wrote 'er this song

CHORUS
I'll give you a daisy a day
I'll give you a daisy a day
I'll love you until the rivers run still
And the four winds we know blow away

They would walk down the street in the evenin'
And for years I would see them go by
And their love that was more than the clothes that they wore
Could be seen in the gleam of their eye

As a kid they would take me for candy
And I loved to go taggin' along
We'd hold hands while we walked to the corner
And the old man would sing 'er his song

CHORUS

Now he walks down the street in the evenin'
And he stops by the old candy store
And I somehow believe he's believin'
He's holdin' 'er hand like before

For he feels all her love walkin' with him
And he smiles at the things she might say
Then the old man walks up to the hilltop
And gives her a daisy a day

CHORUS

Peace,
Mike

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: Amos
Date: 04 Jan 03 - 12:37 PM

Trust. Love. Recognition and admiration. The ineffable mutual understanding that breeds mushroom clouds of emotional explosion. The thou-in-me-me-in-thee thing.   The major solace of life in space-time. The eyeball's path to the Infinite. The most permanent impermanence ever conceived by our delicate, beauty-ugliful and adorable species...wow.

Ya gotta love it.

If ever a thread should be Permed, this one is a candidate for sure; and a sterling example of the best stuff the old Cat is capable of turning out when it is in tune.

Thanks, LH!


A

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: TonyK
Date: 04 Jan 03 - 04:22 PM

I agree this is a great thread. I cast another vote for The Dutchman. I would also like to nominate Bill Stains' "Music to Me", Jerry Jeff's "Morning Song For Sally", Jane Oliver's "Stay the Night", Goodman's "I Can't Sleep When I Can't Sleep With You" and a big nod to the Phantom of the Opera's "All I Ask of You". I considered "I'm Hospitalized Over You" by the Chuck-A-Lucks but resisted the temptation.

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: sharyn
Date: 05 Jan 03 - 01:11 AM

Dylan's "Isis" is a good lovesong -- and very well written
Leonard Cohen's "No Cure for Love"
Richard Thompson's "Dimming of the Day"
"Ca' the Yowes Frae the Knowes":

"While water ripples to the sea
While the sun blinks in the heavens sae high
'Til clay cold death shall blind my ee
Ye s'all be my dearie"

"When You and I Were Young, Maggie," and "The Dutchman," as stated above.

Great traditional songs of unrequited love are too numerous to list, but include "Loving Hannah" and "Fond Affection."

In the shameless self-promotion department I submit "Wallflower Waltz,"
"An Early Valentine" and "I am Your Winter Lover" which can be heard on my first recording and "Westron Wind," which will be heard on the next one (I used the famous quatrain as a chorus and wrote six verses for it and a new tune).

Dave Webber's "Bonnet and Shawl" is a lovely and hopeful lovesong.

As for love itself, I can do love of pets and love of friends and even a bit of love of family, but romantic partnership eludes me thus far.

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: mg
Date: 05 Jan 03 - 03:24 AM

I just read this last page of stuff..so maybe I wrote this prevously..don't know. I love love love love songs. I was listening to an old Lennon Sisters special on TV tonight..my those ladies could sing pretty..especially the old love songs..

If I needed you - Townes Van Zandt
Peggy Gordon
Mrs. McDermott's (or is it MacDonald's) lament..Gordon Bok
John Anderson my Jo -- Robert Burns
Nellie was a lady -- Stephen Foster
Rose of Mooncoin
Kathy's Song -- Paul Simon
I followed her into the west -- Tom Paxton
The Drover's Sweetheart - Henry Lawson
When wild war's deadly blast was blawn - Robert Burns
Highland Widow's Lament --maybe Burns maybe not
Suzanne - Leonard Cohen
Save a place for me in your heart - David Levine
Drink to me only with thine eyes -- Thomas Moore
Yellow is the color - Donovan

well, that is all for now. WyoWoman..I believe in the year 2000 you promised us an update..how goes it, if you feel like expounding..

mg

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: boab d
Date: 05 Jan 03 - 11:31 AM

hello all well here it is the absolute best in my opinion
Tha Dan Reed network   Stronger than steel
and here is the words I know that there are a few great songgs but this on is definetly worth the read


I wouldnt build you a castle baby
just to tear it down
when i say i love you girl
it means I'll always be around
I wouldnt tell you promises
just to break your heart
and when i say i love you girl
it means we#ll never be apart

chorus
our love is higher than a mountain
stronger than steel
forever isnt long enough
to show you how I feel
our love is deeper than the ocean
stronger than steel
forever isnt long enough
to show you how i feel


I wouldnt tell you secrets girl
just for words to say
and when i whisper in your ear
it means that nothing will get in the way
and when i look into your waters
you know i wanna drown drown
and when i listen to your heart
you know love is the
only sound


a great song and really nice when you hear it

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: GUEST
Date: 12 Mar 04 - 07:41 AM

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: freightdawg
Date: 07 Dec 04 - 05:17 PM

The 14th anniversary of my father's death is approaching (next week), and I've been thinking a lot about what I think is the most beautiful love song ever written. It's not what most people typically think is a love song, but it is. It is a love song from a son to his father. This song has it all, a great story, wonderful lyrics, and a beautiful guitar accompaniment.

The song is "Leader of the Band" by Dan Fogelberg.

And, dammit, I just wish I would have taken the time to tell my father what he meant to me before he passed away.

"I thank you for the music, and your stories of the road,
I thank you for the freedom when it came my time to go;
I thank you for the kindness, and the times when you got tough,
and Papa I don't think I've said 'I love you' near enough."

A very melancholy and sad,

Freightdawg

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: maeve
Date: 11 Feb 09 - 11:31 PM

This is a good time to revisit this thread. Take a look; there are some lovely words quoted and thoughts expressed. Thanks to Little Hawk and all of those who responded to his request for favorite love songs.

maeve

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: Tim Leaning
Date: 12 Feb 09 - 04:28 AM

The First Time ever I saw your face.
(But also must be the song with some of the worst versions ever.)
And one I rememer Buffy St Marie had on one of her albums.
Dont Ask Why I think its called.
Your not a dream your not and angel your a .....
Beautiful song

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: kendall
Date: 12 Feb 09 - 07:23 AM

The street where you live

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: maeve
Date: 12 Feb 09 - 07:51 AM

Kendall, you are living one of the greatest love songs with Jacqui.

maeve

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: Valmai Goodyear
Date: 12 Feb 09 - 01:44 PM

'Searching for Lambs' (traditional). It's in the Digitrad.

Valmai (Lewes)

Subject: RE: Greatest love songs...and love generally
From: GUEST,TJ in San Diego
Date: 12 Feb 09 - 01:56 PM

From an earlier generation - I have always been touched by the poignant "If I Loved You" from "Carousel." I had the privilege of hearing Gordon MacRae do that one in person many years back. It sent chills through me. It still does.

I also like a couple of Travis Edmonson compositions, "Cloudy Summer Afternoon" and "Truly Do." Bud & Travis also did some wonderful old Mexican Bolero songs that have beautiful melodies - seranades of the old school; "Rayito de Luna" and "Malaguena Salerosa" are two of the best known examples.