HELP! I need a song here, guys!

Subject: HELP! I need a song here, guys!
From: Trinidad
Date: 04 Jan 02 - 06:59 PM

Hey there. Right, I need a song realy quick. I have to find a folk song to sing for my music class that'll get my fellow students to realise folk can be fun. I didn't want to do a total rip off of one of Kate Rusby's songs, but does anyone know of a good song with a simple tune and a good lyric? I really need this. We're like 15-16 years old. Get your ideas in, please? I want to make them hear a good song! Cheers, Trinidad.

Subject: RE: HELP! I need a song here, guys!
From: AliUK
Date: 04 Jan 02 - 07:05 PM

The Nightingale. Elicit sex wrapped up in metaphor, what could a school want more and what 15 year old wouldn't enjoy if they knew the backstory.

Subject: RE: HELP! I need a song here, guys!
From: Amos
Date: 04 Jan 02 - 07:05 PM

You want an existing folk song or are you asking someone to write one for you?

A fun folk song for teenagers? Hmmmmm. Maybe the Good Ship, Venus, or the Balls of Carreighmore, or the Throes of Fornication? Little Ball of Yarn?

A

Subject: RE: HELP! I need a song here, guys!
From: Sorcha
Date: 04 Jan 02 - 07:36 PM

Little Brown Building
Grandma's Feather Bed
Peanut Butter Song (John McCutcheon)
WATERMELON (McCutcheon)

Subject: RE: HELP! I need a song here, guys!
From: Tweed
Date: 04 Jan 02 - 07:56 PM

StackoLee

Subject: RE: HELP! I need a song here, guys!
From: Gareth
Date: 04 Jan 02 - 08:02 PM

Don't now if "Trinidad" equals a geographical location or not but try some calypso ie The mighty Sparrow. Such as (Political) Snakes in the Square, or more commercially the Banana Boat Song.
Or this Click Here or a good old rollicking shanty such as this which spells out what a sailor had to comtemplate before returning to his own true love, and a contrast to this.

All which may be entirely off the mark but we tried.

Gareth

Subject: RE: HELP! I need a song here, guys!
From: katlaughing
Date: 04 Jan 02 - 08:04 PM

Trinidad, click on the DigiTrad database at the top of the Forum page and take a look at the songs listed there, over 8,000. Also, go to Quick Links box on the main Forum page and take a look at Aine's Songbook, plus Alan's Tunebook, there are many really fun original songs by a lot us in there.

If you can get it by your teachers, might I suggest Amos' "Does Your Pickle Glow At Night?" Or, Bert's "Size Doesn't Matter?" True, they may not be "folk," yet, but they have already been going through the "folk process."

Also, take a look at the "Sick Note" or "Paddy's Excuse Note" in the DT.

If you read this, post, again, and tell us more of what you are looking for, okay?

Good luck!

kat

Subject: RE: HELP! I need a song here, guys!
From: Gareth
Date: 04 Jan 02 - 08:06 PM

sorry Trinidad Try This corrected link Banana Boat Song socially relevant.

Gareth

Subject: RE: HELP! I need a song here, guys!
From: Rolfyboy6
Date: 04 Jan 02 - 08:10 PM

I agree with Tweed, a 'badman' ballad would be a really good choice.
Stackolee is a good one, another is Betty and Dupree
And another good one is Duncan and Brady

Subject: RE: HELP! I need a song here, guys!
From: GUEST
Date: 04 Jan 02 - 08:20 PM

An audience participation refrain

Subject: RE: HELP! I need a song here, guys!
From: GUEST,tom
Date: 04 Jan 02 - 09:56 PM

check out on some Arcadian folk songs. If not try Stan Rogers.

Subject: RE: HELP! I need a song here, guys!
From: TeriLu
Date: 04 Jan 02 - 10:55 PM

"Paz Y Libertad" by Jose Luis-Orozco (I think that's how you spell his name) or "All Mixed Up" by Pete Seeger

Subject: RE: HELP! I need a song here, guys!
From: Mr Red
Date: 05 Jan 02 - 07:19 AM

as AliUK says.
eg Just about any genuine shanty, but make it a genuine one so that you can shrug your shoulders in "pained innocence". Just for starters any song with Cape Horn (no I don't need to explain).
then again the "Hanging Johnny" shanty where the singer gets to kill-off his whole family and crewmates, there is scope to weave in the odd character from modern times and claim the "folk process" because it is precisely what the sailors did. Hey! And you are then on the slippery slope to become a songwriter.
Folk is fun, and fairly earthy in parts, it is just not commercial right now.
most of all ENJOY.

Subject: RE: HELP! I need a song here, guys!
From: reble
Date: 05 Jan 02 - 11:27 AM

hi, I,m new to mudcat and fairly new to folk, my suggestion would be a simple one such as Sam Hall, my 14 yr old daughter suggests The reel in the Flickering light, my 15 Yr old loves to hear a song by Leonard Cohen, Who by fire

Subject: RE: HELP! I need a song here, guys!
From: wysiwyg
Date: 05 Jan 02 - 11:56 AM

Welcome to Mudcat, reble!

~Susan

Subject: RE: HELP! I need a song here, guys!
From: Mudlark
Date: 05 Jan 02 - 02:33 PM

The15/16 yrs old I know like Tom Leher's folk send-up Rickety tickety tin...I myself enjoy especially the line...the water tasted bad for a week...and we had to make do with gin...

Subject: RE: HELP! I need a song here, guys!
From: GUEST,KickyC
Date: 05 Jan 02 - 09:51 PM

I teach high school students and we use folk music a lot in history class. I have also performed for some diversity day activities. Some of the songs my students have enjoyed were "Draft Dodger Rag" about deferments during the Viet Nam War, and "Where Have All the Flowers Gone." I was surprised at how many students had never hear "Puff the Magic Dragon"! Some who had thought it was written a few years ago for the movie. They are surprised that it is as old as it is. I was singing it at the diversity day session, and I looked up to see two girls sitting in front of me in tears!

KickyC

Subject: RE: HELP! I need a song here, guys!
From: KickyC
Date: 05 Jan 02 - 10:53 PM

Oh, I just thought of one more they really like. El Condor Pasa. Paul Simon wrote the lyrics, but the song is as old as the Andes!

KickyC

Subject: RE: HELP! I need a song here, guys!
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 06 Jan 02 - 09:39 AM

The Ratcatcher's Daughter
The Cute Little Window
The Young Man Who Wouldn't Hoe Corn
Springfield Mountain (with its last verse,
....Young people all
....This warning take
....And don't get bit
....By a big black snake!

Dave Oesterreich

Subject: RE: HELP! I need a song here, guys!
From: GUEST,Trinidad
Date: 06 Jan 02 - 11:53 AM

Hey again, seeing loads of good suggestions here. Thanks for them all! I did kind of leave the options open, so I think I better give you more of an idea what I want. I'm looking for something like, well not a send up of folk, but just a nice little song. I was thinking of doing The Cobbler's Daughter, to the tune Kate Rusby uses, but I don't know. I wanted to show the guys in my class that folk is good music! I usually just do instrumental stuff, you knowm, so I wasn't sure where to start! But anything you can think of, go on. oh, by the way, I'm in Scotland, and the last thing Scottish kids want to hear is Scottish folk - Burns and that - I like it, it's great stuff, but most kids hardly have adialect any more, and they hate it, so maybe English folk is better.

Subject: RE: HELP! I need a song here, guys!
From: WyoWoman
Date: 06 Jan 02 - 01:20 PM

One of Kate Rusby's that was a big hit last year when I substitute taught high school kids was "I Am Stretched On Your Grave," because the back story -- an ancient Celtic poem written by a young man whose one true love, the girl he had loved since they were children, has died and he says he will stay stretched on her grave forever -- is so compelling and full of yummy angst and a sort of goth sentiment that teens really enjoy. (I know I certainly did -- and still do sometimes.)

WW

Subject: RE: HELP! I need a song here, guys!
From: GUEST,L
Date: 06 Jan 02 - 07:49 PM

How Aboout "Black Velvet Band"? It's a cute little ditty about a pickpocket...."Her eyes they shone like the diamonds...you'd think she was queen of the land. Her hair was thrown over her shoulders ...tied up with a black velvet band"

Subject: RE: HELP! I need a song here, guys!
From: Mudlark
Date: 06 Jan 02 - 09:41 PM

Something for the temperance teens...Away With Rum. A fun sing with a good chorus is The Skye Boat Song. A good nonsense song...I buyed me a little dog, color it was brown...don't know the actual name of it.

Subject: RE: HELP! I need a song here, guys!
From: GUEST
Date: 07 Jan 02 - 04:11 PM

The limeliters (limeliters.com) currently do two in their concerts from the CD titled "UNTIL WE GET IT RIGHT" that would be perfect 1) Generic Uptempo Folk Song

2) Folk rap (a song about folk songs done in pure rap style - prevents people from assuming that "folk" locks into a particular genre).

There are also terrific versions of tunes by Ochs, Chapin and others to let people appreciate how good some of this stuff can be.

I would also recommend that you introduce them to the wonderful work of Kim & Reggie Harris - Songs of the Underground Railroad. Traditional stuff - words & music available at the local library) to let them know that real history (lyrics by Harriet Tubman, for example) can be discovered via the folk song.

Kim and Reggie (kimandreggie.com) happen to be of African decent - that which will let them appreciate, early on, that folk music, being "the peoples' music, is of, for and about all of us.

Good luck

Subject: RE: HELP! I need a song here, guys!
From: Irish sergeant
Date: 07 Jan 02 - 09:12 PM

Trinidad: If you're avoiding Scottish folk music, might I suggest a few from our side of the pond? Johnny has Gone for a Soldier: Stack-o-lee: All for me Grog; Or from your side of the pond; Isn't it Grand, Boys: D-Day Dodgers or Banks of Sicily (Both by Hamish Henderson). Hope the gig goes well for you and everyone has fun. Kindest regards, Neil

Subject: RE: HELP! I need a song here, guys!
From: Bobert
Date: 07 Jan 02 - 09:47 PM

Yo, Trinidad!!! Since you are going to be performing in front of and with other young folks who may not be real polished on their guitars. THE BALLAD OF HOLLIS BROWN, by Bob Dylan. One chord, lots of story and emotion and anyone can play it, even if they have never touched a guitar. Guaretneed. Tell all your frineds to bring their older siblings guitars and lite the place up with folks who have never played or sung folk music in their like. I GUAREN-DOUBLEDAMNED-TEE THIS SONG......................

Subject: RE: HELP! I need a song here, guys!
From: Dan Schatz
Date: 08 Jan 02 - 04:45 PM

Labor songs or sea chanteys might be a good choice - those are the songs I sang in high school that my classmates could "get." "Randy Dandy-o" is a good capstain chantey.

"Heave with a will, you parish rigged bums

Way, hey, roll and go

Take your hands from your pockets and don't suck your thumbs

To me rollicking, randy dandy-o"

In other genres, "Hang on the Bell Nellie," (which used to be a standard in youth groups) and "Are You Shingling the Rum Seller's Roof."

Good luck!

Dan

Subject: RE: HELP! I need a song here, guys!
From: Trinidad
Date: 08 Jan 02 - 05:44 PM

Cheers guys! I still have some times left, and the more suggestions the better! I've been looking up dem songs faster than you can say george Harrison. It's so hard to decide tho! Keeep it comin' guys, keep it comin. I've got till monday.