Lyr Req: Rainbow Mid Life's Willows (Almeda Riddle

Subject: Lyr Req: rainbow mid the willow
From: GUEST,anais
Date: 09 Jul 03 - 12:52 AM

I encountered several variants of "locks and bolts"
on the DT but none are the one i seek, as sung by Almeda
Riddle, in which she makes reference to a "stalwart brother"
anybody know this one?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: rainbow mid the willow
From: Joe Offer
Date: 09 Jul 03 - 02:35 AM

Hi, Anais - I looked, but I got confused. Note that I added crosslings above to the Digital Tradition entry and to the thread on Locks & Bolts. In the thread, the traditional Ballad Index says "Rainbow 'Mid Life's Willows" is on Alan Lomax Collection: "Southern Journey Vol. 7: Ozark Frontier," Rounder CD 1707 (1997), and also on a Vanguard LP.
What confuses me is that I have a book called A Singer and Her Songs: Almeda Riddle's Book of Ballads (Louisiana State University Press, 1970). There isn't a very good index in the book, so I looked through the whole darn (wonderful) book and didn't find the song. However, there's an appendix which has an index for "Contents of Ballet Book." It has the song, but I can't figure out what "ballet book" they're talking about if it isn't the one I have.
So, I'm vexed.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: rainbow mid the willow
From: katlaughing
Date: 09 Jul 03 - 02:36 AM

While waiting for someone who might knows that version to post, you might find this of interest: Folk Index. If you scroll down to Locks and Bolts, then click on Almeda's name it will take you to a complete listing of her recordings of the song.

kat

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: rainbow mid the willow
From: katlaughing
Date: 09 Jul 03 - 02:39 AM

Oops, sorry, that should say it leads to a list of recordings she is on, not necessarily that song. Sorry. Might be helpful in the names of her song books, though.

Subject: DTADD: Rainbow Mid Life's Willows
From: Joe Offer
Date: 09 Jul 03 - 03:02 AM

OK, here's my attempt at a transcription from Almeda Riddle's recording on Southern Journey Volume 7 (I don't have the CD booklet).
-Joe Offer-

RAINBOW MID LIFE'S WILLOWS

Last night I dreamed of my true love
All in my arms I held her
But I awoke, she was not there
Now I must live without her

Her yellow hair, like strands of gold
Was streaming over my pillow
Oh, she's the only one I love
My rainbow mid the willow

I searched for (far?) high and I searched for low
And I made some low inquiries
But they all said, "No, we've seen no such
We would have no such in our keeping"

But when she heard from me those words
She whispered low at her window
"Oh darling I'd be in your company
But locks and chains doth hinder"

Now when I heard those words of hers
I swore that room I would enter
Or I would (prayer???) know the reason why
She was locked and chained within there

Up stepped her father, stern and wise
Likewise two stalwart brothers
"Before you enter that locked room
In your life's blood you'll wallow"

They've taken away my own true love
And tears now wet my pillow
Oh, she's the only one I love
My rainbow mid life's willow


(from the singing of Almeda Riddle)

---

I transcribed what I heard, and I think I have it down quite well - Riddle sings quite clearly. I have no idea what that word is in "I would ... know the reason why." sounds like "prayer," but that doesn't make sense. as for searching, it sounds like "I searched far high and I searched far low" to me.
It's a great song.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: rainbow mid the willow
From: GUEST,anais
Date: 09 Jul 03 - 10:39 AM

ain't it? thanks for transcribing it. i used to have a record
of almeda, but its gone to scratches and skips. all i had
left for ages was the melody and the image of the stalwart
brothers, which stuck in my head in childhood. it always seemed
to me that robin williamson lifted lines ( or at least ideas)
from "locks and bolts" for his "by weary well"
my curses on the carpenter
who built the door so strong
that she and me might parted be
and parted be for long...
it's possible the former influenced the latter in any case.
thanks.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: rainbow mid the willow
From: masato sakurai
Date: 09 Jul 03 - 10:58 AM

From the notes to Southern Journey, vol. 7:

I search for high and I search for low

Or I would pray know the reason why

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: rainbow mid the willow
From: Joe Offer
Date: 09 Jul 03 - 03:01 PM

Thanks, Masato - not exactly what I hear, but it makes sense.
-Joe-

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Rainbow Mid Life's Willows (Almeda Riddle
From: GUEST
Date: 29 Nov 22 - 12:53 PM

I believe she could be singing “I would frail know the reason why.”

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Rainbow Mid Life's Willows (Almeda Riddle
From: cnd
Date: 29 Nov 22 - 04:39 PM

The line rendered above as Or I would (prayer???) know the reason why is, as I hear it, "Or I would forever know the reason why"

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Rainbow Mid Life's Willows (Almeda Riddle
From: GUEST,RA
Date: 15 Dec 22 - 01:01 PM

Perhaps it was originally 'I would fain know the reason why' but has become garbled.