Help: Women outlaw

Subject: RE: Help: Women outlaw
From: Peace
Date: 09 Oct 04 - 05:26 PM

Google

outlaw women american west

LOTS of stuff there.

Subject: RE: Help: Women outlaw
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 09 Oct 04 - 05:16 PM

The Australian song The Banks of the Condamne has a verse where Nancy dearest Nancy declares to her shearewr lover

"Oh I'll cut off my yellow hair and go along with you
I'll dress myself in men's attire and be a shearer too
I'll cook and count your tally, love while, ringer, you will shine?
And I'll wash your greasy moleskins on the banks of the Condamine."

She doesn't actually do it - but the idea is common enough in songs about soldiers and sailors (and this is a version of one such - The Banks of the Nile). If there aren't any American songs in which this theme has been used in a Wild West context, that's a bit strange.

In fact, I'd have thought that in real life, dressing up as a man might have been quite a common thing to do for women obliged to travel alone in wild places in America, and pretty sensible.

Subject: RE: Help: Women outlaw
From: Peace
Date: 09 Oct 04 - 02:50 PM

"Except that Annie Oakley was not an outlaw, and never dressed like a man, to my knowledge."

Strange things happened on Friday nights in the ol' west!

Subject: RE: Help: Women outlaw
From: katlaughing
Date: 09 Oct 04 - 02:29 PM

open mike, that sounds like a great song...maybe start its own thread for LYR REQ?

Looks as though this might be a good book; they include an excerpt from it: Wild Women of the West...not all outlaws, nor trouser-wearing, but it looks good all the same.:-)

Subject: RE: Help: Women outlaw
From: Hollowfox
Date: 09 Oct 04 - 02:06 PM

Except that Annie Oakley was not an outlaw, and never dressed like a man, to my knowledge.

Subject: RE: Help: Women outlaw
From: open mike
Date: 09 Oct 04 - 05:15 AM

hey don't forget Belle Starr and Annie Oakley!

Subject: RE: Help: Women outlaw
From: Peace
Date: 09 Oct 04 - 03:26 AM

Silver Heels, Poker Alice, Cattle Kate, Etta Place, Mattie Silks and Mollie May

Subject: RE: Help: Women outlaw
From: open mike
Date: 09 Oct 04 - 03:17 AM

Does anyone have the rest of the words to this
Chris Williamson song Calamity Jane?
I think she wrote it for a high school musical.

From Billings to Boise, Helltooth to Cheyenne......

       chorus:

        Calamity jane, queen of the plains,

        An angel of mercy riding the range

        Deadwood's favorite daughter,

        White devil of the yellow stone,

        As brave as any woman that the west has ever known.

OH, I ain't got no family, no place to settle down

Just rollin' like a tumbleweed thru them dusty little towns

And the men and the whiskey, they keep me compnay

I'm raising the devil, footloose and fancy free...

there are a couple more verses....I hope someone has the

album and can transcribe...it might be on the Changer and the Changed

or on Country Blessed.

Subject: RE: Help: Women outlaw
From: harpgirl
Date: 13 Aug 02 - 10:52 PM

...ah Kevin you're a pip! I am going to read all about those lady pirates!

Subject: RE: Help: Women outlaw
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 13 Aug 02 - 09:29 PM

Then there's Jessie James...

Subject: Lyr Add: THE FEMALE FROLIC (from Ewan MacColl)
From: harpgirl
Date: 13 Aug 02 - 07:44 PM

...well, I'm, sure this is indexed on Bruce O's site but I thought I'd include the words here since it seems so apt at this moment in time!!!

THE FEMALE FROLIC

or: An account of a young Gentlewoman, who went upon the Road to rob in Man's Cloaths, well mounted on a Mare, Etc.

You Gallants of every Station
Give ear to a frollicksome Song:
The like was ne'er seen in the Nation,
"Twas done by a Female so young.

She bought her a Mare and a Bridle,
A Saddle and Pistols also,
She resolved she would not be idle,
For upon the Pad she did go.

She Cloathed her self in great Splendor,
For Breeches and Sword she had on,
Her body appear'd very slender;
She show'd like a pretty Young-man.

And then like a Padder so witty,
She mounted with speed on her Mare;
She left all her Friends in the City,
And steered her Course towards Ware.

The first she met was a Grocer
Was walking with Cane in his Hand,
She soon to the Spark came up closer,
And boldly she bid him to stand.

She took from him but a Guinea,
And then met a Taylor with Shears,
And because the poor Rogue had no Money,
She genteely clipt of his Ears.

The next she met was a Tanner.
For loss of his money he cry'd,
And because he bawled in this manner,
She handsomely tanned his Hide.

She rode about seven miles farther,
And then a Stage Coach she did Rob;
The passengers all cry'd out Murther;
But this was a fifty pound jobb.

And then she robb'd a Welsh Miller,
She fac'd him and gave him the Word;
Hur Splutter'd and swore hur would kill hur,
If that hur had got but hur Sword.

And then she came up with a Quaker,
She told him, she must have his Coin;
Quoth he, Thou silly Wise-acre
Thou shalt have no money of mine.

She showed him a Pistiol to prove him,
He told her by Yea and by Nay,
That since the good Spirit did move him,
She might take his money away.

And Exise-man she then next accoasted,
And bid him Deliver with speed;
He often of Valour had boasted,
But he was a coward indeed.

She Rifled him then of his Money
Oh! This was a very rich Prize,
She took from him Four-score Guineys,
Which he had receiv'd for Exise.

The next she met was a Padder,
Well mounted upon a bay nag;
Oh! This made her so much the gladder,
She told him she wanted a bag.

He thought she would certainly fight him,
Prepared himself out of hand:
And she was resolved to fright him,
She damn'd him, and bid him to stand.

He presently drew out his rapier
And bid her to stand on her guard;
but quickly away she did Caper,
The High-way-man, follow'd her hard.

He followed and soon overtook her,
And searched her Breeches with speed;
and as he did well overlook her,
He found her a Woman indeed!

The High-way-man stood all amazed;
But she had no cause to complain.
The' with her he did what he pleased,
He gave her the Money again.

From Broadside Ballads (London:1600-1700) Volumt Two Female Frolicks and Politicke

Sung by Ewan MacColl...Folkways Records

a variant of a previously cited son, no doubt and reminded me of our recent Guest!!!

Subject: RE: Help: Women outlaw
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 13 Aug 02 - 07:16 PM

No songs about Calamity Jane? (Well there was the Doris Day movie, but that's a horse of a different colour.)

Or how about Ann Bonny and Mary Read, the female pirates.

If there aren't any there should be. But I'd be surprised if there aren't some from way back.

Subject: RE: Help: Women outlaw
From: harpgirl
Date: 13 Aug 02 - 07:06 PM

...I am reminded of this old thread and would like to revive the discussion. Does anyone have any new songs to add to this thread. I have been reviewing the "outlaw" songs and I don't think we have just the right one to add to my collection.

Subject: RE: Help: Women outlaw
From: CharlieA
Date: 09 Oct 01 - 06:32 AM

try "the Crafty Maids Policy" it's in the DT - i'd do a blickie but don't know how. Cxxx

Subject: RE: Help: Women outlaw
From: Snuffy
Date: 08 Oct 01 - 07:07 PM

Try THE FEMALE HIGHWAYMAN, which is a Vermont version of Sovay and THE MALE FEMALE HIGHWAYMAN which is a Kipper family parody of Sovay (English, I'm afraid, not USAn.

WassaiL! V

Subject: RE: Help: Women outlaw
From: harpgirl
Date: 08 Oct 01 - 02:03 PM

Kathryn

A song I am fond of about female outlaws dressed as men g is "The Female Frollick" which I think is a broadside. We have had a number of discussions about females dressing as males and becoming outlaws on several threads.

Another song that comes to mind is the "Maid on The Shore."

Subject: RE: Help: Women outlaw
From: masato sakurai
Date: 08 Oct 01 - 12:20 PM

Pete Seeger and Jack Elliott sing "Belle Starr" by Woody Guthrie (linked to above) in an attractive 2-LP album with a 69-page illustrated booklet: V.A., The Badmen(Columbia/Legacy L2S 1012).

~Masato

Subject: RE: Help: Women outlaw
From: wysiwyg
Date: 08 Oct 01 - 11:45 AM

BELLE STARR in the DT.

Try finding others in DT-- search on the keyword OUTLAW.

~S~

Subject: RE: Help: Women outlaw
From: The_one_and_only_Dai
Date: 08 Oct 01 - 11:30 AM

Don't know but you might have a look at Sovay which is English...

Subject: Women outlaw
From: Kathryn
Date: 08 Oct 01 - 11:26 AM

More research: I am looking for an American traditional song about women who are outlaws--maybe dress up like men, and maybe not. Know of any such? Thanks in advance for your help

Kathryn