If I could perform one song.

Subject: RE: If I could perform one song.
From: Bo
Date: 12 Jan 98 - 01:32 AM

Subject: RE: If I could perform one song.
From: Moira Cameron
Date: 09 Jan 98 - 11:43 AM

I would probably choose the longest Child Ballad I could, just so I wouldn't get bored with it too quickly.

Subject: RE: If I could perform one song.
From: Susan from California
Date: 06 Jan 98 - 04:34 PM

Sheye

That's the way Kathy Matea sings it, but the tape we learned it from did it the other way, so that's the way we still do it :-) Creatures of habit I suppose...

Subject: RE: If I could perform one song.
From: Sheye
Date: 06 Jan 98 - 10:19 AM

Susan: Here are the lyrics to nothing but a child: Check out the last verse, it's different from what you posted.

Nothing But A Child (Steve Earle)

Once upon a time in a far off land Wise men saw a sign and set out aross the sand Songs of praise to sing, they travelled day and night Precious gifts to bring, guided by the light They chased a brand new star, ever towards the west Across the mountains far, but when it came to rest They scarce believed their eyes, they'd come so many miles And the miracle they prized was nothing but a child

Nothing but a child could wash these tears away Or guide a weary world into the light of day And nothing but a child could help erase these miles So once again we all can be children for awhile

Now all around the world, in every Iittle town Everyday is heard a precious little sound And every mother kind and every father proud Looks down in awe to find another chance allowed

Subject: RE: If I could perform one song.
From: dwditty
Date: 06 Jan 98 - 04:54 AM

My one song would be a medley including:

Maria Elena, Statesboro Blues, The Water is Wide, God Bless The Child, If I Had My Way, Corina,Corina, Good Old Wagon, Sportin' Life Blues, The Poet's Game, Shake Sugaree, Love You Like a Man, Lead Me On, Just As I Am, Jesu,Joy of Man's Desiring...

Subject: RE: If I could perform one song.
From: Susan from California
Date: 05 Jan 98 - 02:19 PM

Well, if I could add a new ending to the question and rephrase it to ask "If I could perform one song without crying..." I would say "Nothing But A Child' by Steve Earle. I used to be able to make it all the way through, but the last two times I have tried to do it at church (Christmas Eve) I haven't made it. This year I got smart and had my 9 year old sing with us (My spouse & I) so that if I couldn't finish, the melody would survive. It worked out ok, but I don't think I'll attempt it again. The words, for those of you who don't know it go somethimg like this

Once upon a time, in a far off land Wise men saw a sign, and set out cross the sand Songs of praise to sing, they travelled day and night Precious gifts to bring, guided by the light

Chased a brand new star, ever towards the west Across the mountains far, then they came to rest They scarce believed their eyes, they'd come so many miles This miracle they prized, was nothing but a child

And nothing but a child could wash those tears away And guide a weary world into the night of day Nothing but a child could help erase those miles Till once again we all can be children for awhile

All around the world, in every little town Every day is heard a precious litttle sound Every mother kind, and every father proud Wants town and all to find another chance allowed

Nothing but a child...(repeat chorus)

I seem to cry at the "every mother kind..." part. We learned it off an old Steve Earle tape 6-8 years ago. Kathy Matea does a rendition of it,(tho I have to admit being partial to the leanness of Earle) It is a very simple yet to me a very powerful song.

If however the sentance was left alone, I too would have a hard time choosing but I might have to go with all the verses of "This Land is Your Land" by Woody Guthrie. It is such a wonderfully radical song that I can't resist it for very long.

Subject: RE: If I could perform one song.
From: Paul Jay
Date: 04 Jan 98 - 06:06 PM

Does that go for tunes too? I have always liked "Breakin' up Christmas" on my fiddle cross tuned to AEAE.

Subject: RE: If I could perform one song.
From: Bob Landry
Date: 04 Jan 98 - 11:44 AM

Like the dilemmas faced by Judy, Songster Bob and Selene, my choice would be tough, depending on mood, the day or week. Based on what I've played recently, I'd have to go with "Johnny, I Hardly Knew Ya". A bunch of my Rock 'n Roll buddies really got into this tune when I played it at a jam a few weeks ago - we may have some converts yet.

Subject: RE: If I could perform one song.
From: Bo
Date: 03 Jan 98 - 03:21 AM

All the songs I sing are just one song: repetition is for rhythm, forgotten words are for character development, harmonies and the contribution(s) of others are for (everyone's) relief and the song wont be over or make sense until the day AFTER I die. Then I'm afraid some people wont have seats to hear it finish so I'm gonna come down and start again!

Bo

Subject: RE: If I could perform one song.
From: Jen
Date: 31 Dec 97 - 08:15 PM

Fhear a bata, or something like that. Not sure how its spelled. Its the Boatman, sung by Silly Wizard. I never get tired hearing that.

"Hame, Hame, Hame" would be my second choice.

Jen

Subject: RE: If I could perform one song.
From: Sir
Date: 31 Dec 97 - 07:06 PM

Pickin' one song as a favorite is beyond me. Even pickin' one song out of each style or mood of music is beyond me. (Yep, lot's of things are beyond me) 'Favorite Music' is such a broad topic - "Look down, look down that lonesome road" to Stravinski's "Firebird" and Copland's "Rodeo" to "October Winds" and "The Parting Glass" to any of the more jazz influenced music of the group Chicago or anything by Duke Ellington. Though I can't pick a favorite I would probably want my last song to be one of Charles Wesley's many hymn's - perhaps "And Can It Be" or "Arise, My Soul, Arise". One could do worse than these.

Subject: RE: If I could perform one song.
From: Jaxon
Date: 31 Dec 97 - 03:32 PM

Susan-Marie, Thats normal. Thats why so many professionals change the tempo and timing of their standards periodically. I've heard Dylan do "Tangled Up In Blue" from driving rock to blues to almost a ballad. If a song can only be sung one way I'd get bored with it too. The beauty of folk and traditional is that we're encouraged to try new arrangements. Jack Murray

Subject: RE: If I could perform one song.
From: Susan-Marie
Date: 31 Dec 97 - 03:08 PM

Well, I've thought about it, and I'd have to pick "Don't Cry in Your Sleep" because I love the 3/4 rhythm, the evocative lyrics ("Dreams come a creepin'...), and the fact that it's written from a woman's point of view.

Practically speaking, if I could sing only one song I'd probably end up hating that song. I've found that when I first learn a song, I go through a period of infatuation, singing it over and over again, marvelling at how it sounds and at how much I enjoy singing it. But that always wears off after a couple of weeks. In some cases the infatuation is replaced by an affinity for the song, but sometimes I wish I could recapture the magic of discovering the song for the first time. Do other musicians go through this?

Subject: RE: If I could perform one song.
From: Selene
Date: 30 Dec 97 - 05:28 PM

Hi all

That's a tough one. I think number one would be Simple Gifts, I really like that one. Then again, other ones I like are Leaving on a Jet Plane (John Denver) and another one, a dutch one I think it's "op een onbewoond eiland" (on a deserted island) which I only know half the words to. I guess it would depend on my mood.

Selene

Subject: RE: If I could perform one song.
From: Songster Bob
Date: 30 Dec 97 - 04:43 PM

Well, for me it'd change by the day or the week. There are new songs all the time (I know, I write 'em) and old songs. There are sad and glad and mad and dad songs, funny-once and funny-always and funny-never songs, tear songs and beer songs and deer, dear, and John Deere songs, morning songs and mourning songs, noon-day and June day, Sundays and Mondays and Saturday Night (which everybody loves!). Ballads and blues and laments and lyrics and news and nostalgia and smut and piety and ... it seems the list goes on and on, like the road, forever.

I wouldn't sing 'em if I didn't like 'em, I wouldn't like 'em if I didn't care. I wouldn't care if you didn't listen, There's a lot of good songs out there.

(To quote Bob Zentz).

I do return, however, to some favorites, not all of which I wrote. Of course, whatever I'm currently writing or learning or otherwise working on, polishing, demolishing, trashing or rehashing, gets sung in the odd moment (and my friends know I choose some of the oddest moments), but I never let "Seven Beers" or "Harbors of Home" or "Rambling Boy" or "Ode" get far out of practice. If I were on the gallows, and had to choose only one last request to sing, I'm afraid the hangman would finally just pull the damned lever, 'cause I'd never make up my mind.

Subject: RE: If I could perform one song.
From: Jack mostly folk
Date: 30 Dec 97 - 03:13 AM

Jaxon and mudcatters Playng and singing the same song could be real tough. My choice song is "July, You're a Woman" by John Stewart.Iv'e used it so much already that I have changed the arrangement/style a half a dozen times.I guess thats OK to do, it's still the same song.

Jack mostly folk PS Jax.. Still waiting on mailed package. ? ?

Subject: RE: If I could perform one song.
From: judy
Date: 30 Dec 97 - 01:41 AM

Too hard. How can I choose between my wonderful "children"

judy

Subject: If I could perform one song.
From: Jaxon
Date: 29 Dec 97 - 04:11 PM

One of my sons asked me over the holiday, as I was practicing, if I could only sing one song, what would it be? It's sort of like who would you want to be marooned with on a deserted island. After much thought I decided on "Killing the Blues" by Rollie Salley (?sp). It's relatively easy to play and it seems to fit my vocal abilities real well. I can let loose on this one with full confidence. And I just plain love the piece. There's probably six or seven others that come in a close second but this thread is about the only one. What would your song be?

Jack Murray