Lyr Req: Freeborn Man (Ewan MacColl)

Subject: 'Freeborn Man' by Ewan MacColl -
From: GUEST,Joseph C.
Date: 20 Dec 01 - 07:48 AM

I once heard an "extra" verse for the song which started "I have known life hard and I've Known life easy..." Does anyone know if it is a real verse or just musical static in my own head?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Freeborn Man' by Ewan MacColl -
From: GUEST,Greg F.
Date: 20 Dec 01 - 08:05 AM

That verse WAS sung & recorded by Liam Clancy more than 20 years ago- whether it is authored by McColl I'm afraid I can'r say.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Freeborn Man' by Ewan MacColl -
From: GUEST,Roger the skiffler
Date: 20 Dec 01 - 08:26 AM

The version without this verse is in the DT and on Dick Gaughan's website, with the extra verse it appears on Liam Clancy's website but with no credit other than to MacColl. I'm certainly familiar with that verse so it must be on the Clancy Brothers'records I have if it isn't on the MacColl one, as my folk collection is small compared with most Mudcatters'. Another version turned up by a Google search gives it as "I've ken'd life hard..." which suggests a further Scottish version. ?Corries or or Hall & MacGregor?
RtS (folk process in action...)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Freeborn Man' by Ewan MacColl -
From: Wolfgang
Date: 20 Dec 01 - 09:24 AM

here is the verse in question (copied from another website):

Well, I've known life hard and I've known it easy;
And I've cursed the life when winter's days were dawning;
But I've laughed and sung through the whole night long;
Seen the summer sunrise in the morning.

Wolfgang

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Freeborn Man' by Ewan MacColl -
From: curmudgeon
Date: 20 Dec 01 - 10:43 AM

If one listens to enough of the recordings and reads enough of the song collections of Ewan MacColl, one will encounter differing settings and/or verses for the same song. It really makes for a challenging and worthwhile quest for completeness.

Happy Yuletide -- Tom

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Freeborn Man' by Ewan MacColl -
From: GUEST,Philippa
Date: 22 Dec 01 - 05:08 AM

I think Luke Kelly sang that verse too. It's one of my favourite verses in the song, not one I'd choose to leave out.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Freeborn Man' by Ewan MacColl -
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 22 Dec 01 - 08:57 AM

G'day Joseph C,

It is late at night, here in Australia, and I have just looked into Mudcat before collapsing into bed after a Christmas Carol session at a friend' house ... but I am sure I have heard that verse sung by Ewan McColl himself.

I will try to find it in the light of tomorrow ... It may well have been one of the detached verses on the recording of The Travelling People - I have that on CD now, so it should not be quite as hard to search for it.

Regards,

Bob Bolton

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Freeborn Man' by Ewan MacColl -
From: GUEST
Date: 22 Dec 01 - 09:03 AM

Like Bob, I'm sure I've heard MacColl do that verse too... can't remember where, but I'll have a look through my collection.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Freeborn Man' by Ewan MacColl -
From: Keith A of Hertford
Date: 22 Dec 01 - 10:08 AM

I have an old album called The World of Ewan MacCol and PeggySeeger. He sings Freeborn Man with above verse.
They were good old days....
Keith.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Freeborn Man' by Ewan MacColl -
From: Stewie
Date: 22 Dec 01 - 10:12 AM

MacColl sings this stanza on the radio ballad. It is 4.40 into track 5 of the CD [Topic TSCD 808] - 'Don't I wish the old times would come back again ...':

Oh I've ken't life hard and I've ken't it easy
And I've cursed the life when winter days was dawnin'
But I've danced and sang through the whole nacht lang
Seen the summer sun rise in the mornin'

There is also another stanza that I don't recall hearing elsewhere. Here's how I hear it - it may need some correction. 'Well a'' could be an adjective 'wella' - is there such a word? I took 'happed' to be past tense of 'hap', meaning to cover or wrap.

I've made well a' creels and the heather besoms
Lifted tatties, pu'd the berries and ga'ed hawkin'
And I've lain there spent, happed up in the tent
And I've listened to the old folks talkin'

--Stewie.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Freeborn Man' by Ewan MacColl -
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 22 Dec 01 - 09:36 PM

G'day Stewie (and 'GUEST'),

Thanks for coming up with those references ... pretty much what I remember ... but I had not yet dug out the CD and gone hunting!

Regard(les)s,

Bob Bolton

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Freeborn Man' by Ewan MacColl -
From: Stewie
Date: 23 Dec 01 - 04:01 AM

My pleasure, Bob. I had the CD handy. When Jill packed in Sandstock, I bought, at a very acceptable price, the 5 radio ballads that interested me. But they, and a pile of other stuff from her closing sale, are still awaiting proper filing in my collection - shows you how slack I am. Have a great Yuletide season.

Cheers, Stewie.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Freeborn Man' by Ewan MacColl -
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 23 Dec 01 - 07:26 AM

G'day again Stewie,

I bought all bar one in Jill's earlier sale ... so they are sorted and catalogued ... I just felt too hot and Chrismassed-out to go dig them out and do the work!

Thanks again.

Regards,

Bob Bolton

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Freeborn Man' by Ewan MacColl -
From: Newport Boy
Date: 16 Dec 07 - 06:43 AM

I looked at this 6-year-old thread while I was listening to the Radio Ballad yesterday. Stewie posted the 2 verses that MacColl sings which are not in DT and most published versions. He had a couple of uncertain words, which I think I've sorted. Stewie's post and my notes below.

Oh I've ken't life hard and I've ken't it easy
And I've cursed the life when winter days was dawnin'
But I've danced and sang through the whole nacht lang    #1
Seen the summer sun rise in the mornin'

There is also another stanza that I don't recall hearing elsewhere. Here's how I hear it - it may need some correction. 'Well a'' could be an adjective 'wella' - is there such a word? I took 'happed' to be past tense of 'hap', meaning to cover or wrap.

I've made well a' creels and the heather besoms    #2
Lifted tatties, pu'd the berries and ga'ed hawkin'
And I've lain there spent, happed up in the tent
And I've listened to the old folks talkin'

#1 MacColl sings "the hale nicht lang" - which I think are the same words, but a different pronunciation.

#2 It's "willow creels", pronounced "willa"

and "happed" is right - wrapped, covered or cloaked. From Old English, and still in use in late 1800s.

Phil

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Freeborn Man' by Ewan MacColl -
From: Tootler
Date: 16 Dec 07 - 03:41 PM

Here's a You Tube Clip of Luke Kelly singing "Freeborn Man"