Help: Land of Misery (Shenandoah)

Subject: Land of Misery (Shenandoah)
From: toadfrog
Date: 01 Apr 01 - 06:13 PM

This is a version of Shenandoah heard on Prairie Home Companion (maybe) 12 years ago. I know the lyrics, and will submit the tune if I ever figure out how one creates a MIDI file. Does anyone know who sang it and whether it is available as a recording.?

LAND OF MISERY
(Traditional)

Oh Shenandoah I love your daughter.
Chorus:
Hurrah, my rolling river.
Shenandoah, the white Mulatta
Chorus:
We are bound away
From this land of misery.

Verses:

I courted Sally, no pen, no paper.
I courted Sally with foolscap paper.

For seven long years I sailed the ocean.
For seven long years I never wrote her.

Misery! my captain cried out.
Sally forth, my bowman answered.

Nobody knows about my sorrow.
Nobody cares about my danger.

The singer ( who sounded a lot like Odetta) said, this was a song from the Islands, from a time when the British were impressing sailors to fight in a war. "That meant," she said, " they were forcing them onto ships. But they weren't impressed - they didn't like it."

Subject: RE: Help: Land of Misery (Shenandoah)
From: kendall
Date: 01 Apr 01 - 06:49 PM

Folk Legacy records...5 days singing.

Subject: RE: Help: Land of Misery (Shenandoah)
From: Sandy Paton
Date: 01 Apr 01 - 07:09 PM

Thanks, Kendall. You're pretty quick on the draw. It's "World of Misery," sung by Jack Stanesco and the whole Golden Ring group. Jack learned it from whale fishermen on St. Vincent's Island while doing his Peace Corp work there. It's on Five Days Singing, the New Golden Ring - CD-41 - from Folk-Legacy. Click Here. Hope that works.

Sandy

Subject: RE: Help: Land of Misery (Shenandoah)
From: kendall
Date: 01 Apr 01 - 08:32 PM

And, this has to be one of the very top recordings of all time. I would vote republican before I would part with my copy!

Subject: RE: Help: Land of Misery (Shenandoah)
From: Nancy King
Date: 01 Apr 01 - 09:10 PM

Jeez, Kendall -- that might be carrying things a bit too far...

This song is clearly related to "Solid Fas'," recorded by The Boarding Party on another fine Folk-Legacy recording, "'Tis Our Sailing Time," (CD-97, or, in some circles, BP1). It's in the DT. It was collected by Roger Abrahams in the Caribbean island of St. Vincent in 1966, still in use as a rowing shanty. The album notes discuss its relationship to the Stanesco version.

I think the "Shenandoah" family of songs is unusual, because I really like so many different variants.

Cheers, Nancy

Subject: RE: Help: Land of Misery (Shenandoah)
From: toadfrog
Date: 01 Apr 01 - 09:30 PM

Thanks for all the help, folks.

Subject: RE: Help: Land of Misery (Shenandoah)
From: kendall
Date: 01 Apr 01 - 10:30 PM

I have firm opinions.

Subject: RE: Help: Land of Misery (Shenandoah)
From: Sandy Paton
Date: 01 Apr 01 - 11:15 PM

We know, Kendall. I also know you'll never vote Republican. If you're ever tempted, call me! I'll send you another copy of the CD to save you from sin.

Sandy

Subject: RE: Help: Land of Misery (Shenandoah)
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 02 Apr 01 - 12:43 AM

Keep it up Ken. As you get older, firmness is a definite plus.

Subject: RE: Help: Land of Misery (Shenandoah)
From: kendall
Date: 02 Apr 01 - 05:35 PM

any man called "Dick" should know!!