Lyr Req: South African Folk Music

Subject: Lyr Req: South African Folk Music
From: Blackcatter
Date: 13 Jan 03 - 11:15 PM

Greetings all,

I'm looking for songs in the English tradition idiom that are from South Africa. Any help?

Thanks,

Blackcatter

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: South African Folk Music
From: Amos
Date: 14 Jan 03 - 10:49 AM

Blackcatter:

The artists most known for SOuth African folksong collecting are Josef Mirais and his wife Miranda. Their songs include those derived from the English tradition, the Dutch tradition, and a touch of Zulu here and there. From memory, some of their favorite songs:

We've Been Invited to Henrietta's Wedding
Out in the Wide World, Kitty
Oh, Brandy Leave Me Alone
The Zulu Warrior
Around the Corner, Behind the Bush
I'll See My Little Darlin' When the Sun Goes Down
Ian Vidiavitch (sp?)
Tonight All the Folks Will Cut the Corn

...and I have forgotten more than those!

Hope this helps,


A

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: South African Folk Music
From: Joe Offer
Date: 14 Jan 03 - 12:07 PM

It's not traditional music, but take a look at this thread and the crosslinked threads on songs by South African songwriter Jeremy Taylor.
So, Amos, are you going to post those songs you referred to?
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: South African Folk Music
From: Amos
Date: 14 Jan 03 - 01:04 PM

Joe,

I don't have any authoritative sources to hand and reconstructing them from memory, rich with lacunae and idiosyncratic dub-in of words, would not help much. I'll look around for them.

A

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: South African Folk Music
From: Ron Olesko
Date: 14 Jan 03 - 01:15 PM

Marais and Miranda recorded a number of albums of South African music, most of which were adapted, re-written or newly composed by Josef Marais.    My co-host Bill Hahn and I produced a documentary on their life and music last year.   Their children have established a website and a issued a CD from tapes of concerts given in the 1960's at the Idelwild School in California. Check out the website - www.maraisandmiranda.com

Subject: Lyr Add: MA SAYS, PA SAYS (from Marais & Miranda)
From: Amos
Date: 14 Jan 03 - 01:20 PM

MA SAYS, PA SAYS
From the recordings of Josef Marais and Miranda

1) Go tell your mother, you're stepping out with me,
Say that we'll be dancing and you won't be home 'til three..
Go tell your father he needn't pace the floor,
Promise at the stroke of three you'll tip toe through the door.
I told my mother and, I told my father and
They (Yes?), say... (What did they say?)

Ma says, Pa says, we must keep on dancing,
Ma says, Pa says, we must keep on dancing,
For if we keep on dancing, we won't start romancing,
But if we start romancing, we won't keep on dancing.

2) Go tell your mother, ( I'll tell my mother )
I'm taking you to dine ( I'll tell my mother )
Say that at this restaurant the cooking is divine
Go tell your father, ( I'll tell my father )
You've got an appetite ( I'll tell my father )
Say that you're so hungry you could eat all through the
night.
I told my mother and, I told my father and
They( Yes? ), say... ( What did they say? )

Ma says, Pa says, we must keep on eating
Ma says, Pa Says, we must keep on eating
For if we keep on eating, our lips can't be meeting,
But if our lips are meeting, we won't keep on eating.

3) Go tell your mother, tonight you've got a date;
Say that you and I will be attending a debate.
Go tell your father, that I will make a speech
Say the lecture will be held upon a sandy beach.
I told my mother and, I told my father and
They( Yes? ), say... ( What did they say? )

Ma says, Pa says, we must keep on talking
Ma Says, Pa says we must keep on talking
For if we keep on talking, we won't go out walking
But if we go out walking, we won't keep on talking.
Ma says, Pa says,…. Now who cares what they say ?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: South African Folk Music
From: Amos
Date: 14 Jan 03 - 01:25 PM

A discography of their many songs can be found here.

A

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: South African Folk Music
From: Joe Offer
Date: 14 Jan 03 - 01:51 PM

This is great, Ron and Amos!
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: South African Folk Music
From: Blackcatter
Date: 14 Jan 03 - 01:55 PM

I agree! Thanks. I'll look into the links and see what happens.

Blackcatter