Trad Songs Background

Subject: RE: Trad Songs Background
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 05 Sep 00 - 08:47 PM

"Mini Me" took Catrin's advice and started separate threads for these two questions. ÿHere they are:

History of the song ' Blackbird '

History on ' House Carpenter '

Further specific comments would best be addressed to those threads.

Malcolm

Subject: RE: Trad Songs Background
From: GUEST,Annraoi
Date: 05 Sep 00 - 08:30 PM

Every song has a story behind it, and I don't mean the academic approach "I collected this song from a blind beggar on the back road to Toledo in 19xx. It's connected to Childe NumberXXX and has echoes of the Igbo tradition of XXXXX." No, valuable as that approach is, in terms of singing in its natural context, every song was introduced by telling the story that led to the composition of the song and then the song was sung. This was the Irish tradition in my father's time - even moreso in my grandfather's time. Unfortunately the modern desire for instant gratification leaves no time for such niceties. The result has been the loss of a huge amount of information. How many people who sing "Úna Bhán" actually know the tragic story behind the song much less be in a position to tell it?
Annraoi

Subject: RE: Trad Songs Background
From: katlaughing
Date: 05 Sep 00 - 07:07 PM

Mini Me, I am a bit confused. I see that you already started two different threads, one for each song, and received answers from some of our best historians.

kat

Subject: RE: Trad Songs Background
From: Mbo
Date: 05 Sep 00 - 07:07 PM

Silly Wizard does the male-oriented version, and I must say I prefer it over the others.

Subject: RE: Trad Songs Background
From: GUEST,JTT
Date: 05 Sep 00 - 07:03 PM

I think If I Were A Blackbird is an Irish song; Delia Murphy recorded it, and I *think* it's in Dublin Street Ballads collected by Colm O Lochlainn.

My favourite verse:

"His parents do spite me, nor will they agree That I and my sailor boy married should be But let them deride me, and do what they will While there's breath in my body, it's him I love still"

Subject: RE: Trad Songs Background
From: Susan of DT
Date: 05 Sep 00 - 06:54 PM

House Carpenter is Child #243, so you can look up th eballad in Child or various other ballad books. My volume 4 of Child is hiding at the moment...

Subject: RE: Trad Songs Background
From: Catrin
Date: 05 Sep 00 - 11:14 AM

MiniMi,

I think you might get a lot more response if you put the name of the song you are interested in in the title of the thread (eg. - info request 'house carpenter') This is because, in my experience, people will look in threads they have an interest in - you'd be much more likely to attract 'Housecarpenter' or 'blackbird' enthusiasts by doing this.

Another suggestion is that you start two threads, one for each song, otherwise the discussion can become confusing.

Good luck,

Catrin

Subject: Trad Songs Background
From: Mini Me
Date: 05 Sep 00 - 08:34 AM

Dear 'Catters, I will be performing the following 2 songs and wondered if you might help me with the historical background of these. Information such as ; what country the song originated in, possibly how old the song is, if the song is true or myth , etc. The first song is : 1) House Carpenter

2) If I were a Blackbird

Thank you !