Love songs with happy endings?

Subject: RE: Love songs with happy endings?
From: GUEST,cookie
Date: 15 Apr 06 - 11:21 AM

Two songs from the singing of Lizzie Higgins (daughter of Jeannie Robertson):
The Jolly Beggar (where the beggar doesn't turn out to be James the Sixth but is just a decent ordinary guy) and The Laird o the Dainty Dounbie.

Subject: RE: Love songs with happy endings?
From: GUEST,Jim
Date: 15 Apr 06 - 11:05 AM

I'm not sure who wrote this, but I learned it from the Texas duo TROUT FISHING IN AMERICA.

LUCKY GUY

My old car blew up at the red light,
A screamin' ball of hellacious fire
Ce la Vie, Adios.
I hopped a bus with my bag of groceries
Damn thing busted - green beans, snow peas
Down the isle, look at 'em go.
I threw everything in my overcoat,
Tied the sleeves together and I give 'em a tote,
Come Hell or high water I'm gettin' these groceries home.
'Cause I'm a lucky guy.
I got a woman who loves me so, I'm a lucky guy.
I got a woman who tells me so, I'm a lucky guy.
I'm a lucky guy.

My boss said,"I sure hate to lose you,
But don't you know it's the age of computers?
Have you ever thought much about maintenance work?"
I.R.S.(Revenue Canada) sent me a letter
They're sellin' my house to the highest bidder.
Tell you what boys, You can keep my shirt.
'Cause I'm a lucky guy.
I got a woman who loves me so, I'm a lucky guy.
I got a woman who tells me so, I'm a lucky guy.
I'm a lucky guy.

All my friends want to know
What the Hell am I so happy about?
Why do I glow?
They just can't figure me out.
I may get low, but nothin's gonna keep me down,
'Cause I'm a lucky guy.
'Cause I'm a lucky guy.
I got a woman who loves me so, I'm a lucky guy.
I got a woman who tells me so, I'm a lucky guy.
I got a woman who tells me so, I'm a lucky guy.
I'm a lucky guy.
I'm a lucky guy.

Now that's a love song with a happy ending.

Subject: RE: Love songs with happy endings?
From: Artful Codger
Date: 09 Apr 06 - 10:49 PM

On a more serious note: When a Man's in Love (he feels no cold...) Well, they end up getting married, but only after she forsakes home and family due to his coercive ultimatum, so it might fall more in the "bittersweet" category. Clearly written by a guy.

Subject: RE: Love songs with happy endings?
From: Artful Codger
Date: 09 Apr 06 - 10:10 PM

Hmm, a love song with a happy ending... Would that be the Ballad of Anna Nicole?

Subject: RE: Love songs with happy endings?
From: Songsmith
Date: 09 Apr 06 - 05:09 AM

When a Love is true (© Jim Hanlon)

It was a cold and grey December night as they made the out port town
Time enough to tie her lines when the wind did come around
It bore down now from the northeast head gaining strength from open bay
All hands were glad to be battened down safe from the breakers rage

Now the skipper's name was Jacob Long and a goodly man was he
So the crew all knew before they asked what Jacob's word would be
For a night on sure would be just reward after six long weeks at sea
So with a jar of rum and a hard days pay Jacob granted leave.

The crew all knew the story well of Jacob's painful past
All of the maiden sweet and fair his first love and his last
All of the cruel father who did steal his love away
To a hidden town along a shore with an unforgiving bay

Jacob he always stood the watch he seldom went a shore
So the crew this night did find it all as he made the galley door
He was cleanly shaved and neatly dressed a sparkle lit his eye
He said I've seen this place within a dream it's here my love I'll find

If you believe in destiny if you believe in love
If you believe in miracles and the good Lord up above
If you believe within your heart as only lovers do
A love will know no obstacle when a love is true

They made their way into the night through the bitter winter squall
Jacob led them like a man possessed to a tiny parish hall
Where the town folk all did dance and sing sweet fiddles filled the air
No mortal reason can explain what all did witness there

For the inside the tiny hall stood Jacob's maiden fair
Into each others arms they ran both lost to joyful tears
And at the very moment they embraced as two lost hearts were found
The winter sky grew clear and still or the tiny out port town

If you believe in destiny if you believe in love
If you believe in miracles and the good Lord up above
If you believe within your heart as only lovers do
A love will know no obstacle when a love is true

Subject: RE: Love songs with happy endings?
From: mrsmac
Date: 08 Apr 06 - 03:12 PM

my favourite love song with a happy ending.

"the young servant man"

when the father saw him so tender hearted
twas down he fell on the dungeon floor
sayin' no true lovers should e'er be parted
since love can conquer an iron door
And now they're one to be parted never
and to roll in riches this young couple can
this fair young couple are blessed with pleasure
she's contented now with her young servant man

Subject: RE: Love songs with happy endings?
From: Noreen
Date: 08 Apr 06 - 12:22 PM

Searching for Lambs is my favourite happy love song (I don't sing many of them!)

while Rambling Irishman is a love song, and has a happy ending- but the two things are not connected...

Subject: RE: Love songs with happy endings?
From: Maryrrf
Date: 08 Apr 06 - 09:23 AM

Eppie Morrie - starts out with a kidnapping but in the end the lassie wins out and goes of with her true love, who rescues her. Oh, and "The Laird o'Drum" where the Laird marries a shepherd's daughter, although they do experience class discrimination.

Subject: RE: Love songs with happy endings?
From: TinkerandCrab
Date: 08 Apr 06 - 03:04 AM

Yeah, the version of Geordie that ends happily is the one that June Tabor sings on "Silly Sisters"

"He clasped her by the middle small
And he kissed her lips so rosy
The fairest flower of womankind
Is my sweet bonny lady."

(Tell you the truth, that's the only version of Geordie that I'm familiar with... never heard the one with the hanging.)

A big favorite of mine of the happy-ending ilk is one of those cross-dressing hijinks songs: "Jack-A-Roe". Not just happy, hopeful!

"This couple they got married, so well did they agree...
This couple they got married, so why not you and me?"

:sigh: Maybe I should try dressing up like a soldier to woo the laddies... ;^)

--Catherine

Subject: RE: Love songs with happy endings?
From: Scoville
Date: 07 Apr 06 - 11:07 PM

Not folk but I listen to classic country in the car, so:

"Forever and Ever, Amen" (Randy Travis)
"Deeper than the Holler" (also Randy Travis)
that goofy one about "she keeps the home fires burning" (?)
"I'm A Stand-By-My-Woman Man" (?)




That's about all I know. My brother asked me to put together some music for his wedding and I told him I couldn't because I only knew five non-bloody love songs. I took the pictures instead, and he got a classmate to play the violin.

Subject: RE: Love songs with happy endings?
From: Purple Foxx
Date: 07 Apr 06 - 04:55 PM

Pete Seeger once said the reason why there are so many songs about unrequited love is because when it's requited there are better things to make than music.

Subject: RE: Love songs with happy endings?
From: GUEST,Saroise
Date: 07 Apr 06 - 01:59 PM

Lovely Joan
I Live Not Where I Love
Brigg Fair
Eggs In Her Basket
Feein' Time

All some of my favourites, and all with happy endings (which is quite unusual for me...)

Subject: RE: Love songs with happy endings?
From: Ferrara
Date: 07 Apr 06 - 09:10 AM

Hmm... Found this thread while looking for info on "Johnny Hart." One of the things I like about it is the fine happy ending. How about --

Crooked Bawbee
Rose of Allendale
Lass of Glen Shee
When You and I Were Young, Maggie
Put on Your Old Gray Bonnet
Long, Long Ago (really, it ends happily!)
You Are My Flower (that's blooming in the wildwood so high)

Jock O'Hazeldean is one of my favorite happy-ending love songs.

Subject: RE: Love songs with happy endings?
From: David C. Carter
Date: 25 Feb 06 - 11:17 AM

A couple of Guy Clark songs:

Like A Coat From The Cold
Comfort And Crazy
Good To Love Tou Lady
Anyhow I Love You

Dylan:Down Along The Cove
Willis Alan Ramsey:Angel Eyes
Van Morrison:Tupelo Honey
Dylan:She Belongs To Me

Subject: RE: Love songs with happy endings?
From: Barry Finn
Date: 25 Feb 06 - 12:54 AM

Matt Hyland
Bonnie Jean of Beathilnay (bad job of spelling,sorry)

There is a version of Geordie that has a happy ending
"She has looked blight (spelling) in Geordie face
And said noble Geordie I've bought thee
But the blood would've flowed upon the green
Before I'd lost my dearie"

or something to that effect. Actually it's one of the older versions.

Canada-I-O
Far Away In Australia
Jock O' Hazeldean
Lizzy Lindsay
Bonnnie Mae

Barry,
hey I'm a love song with a happy ending

Subject: RE: Love songs with happy endings?
From: Elmer Fudd
Date: 24 Feb 06 - 10:17 PM

How about that eloquent song at the end of the first talking Charlie Chaplin movie:

It's Love love love love love love love love love love love love love love love;
Love love love love love love love love love love love love love love!

It's love love love love love love love love love love love love love love;
Love love love love love love love love love love love love love love!

Subject: RE: Love songs with happy endings?
From: GUEST,Joe_F
Date: 24 Feb 06 - 09:24 PM

The Half-Hitch Song

--- Joe Fineman    [e-mail]

||: I can state with complete confidence that I'll never amount to anything. :||

Subject: RE: Love songs with happy endings?
From: GUEST,Art Thieme
Date: 24 Feb 06 - 01:17 AM

My song, "That's The Ticket". After the two lovers match up their 2 sundered tokens, they reunite, and it ends with:

This young couple were childhood sweethearts,
She was a child, and he was a hood,
They lived a life of blissful true devotion,
Their song is ended--and I think that's good!

Love to all,

Art

Subject: RE: Love songs with happy endings?
From: Warsaw Ed
Date: 24 Feb 06 - 12:44 AM

Refresh.

Subject: RE: Love songs with happy endings?
From: Warsaw Ed
Date: 23 Feb 06 - 01:46 AM

Anybody know where to find a MIDI or music score to "I Heard the Bluebirds Sing?

Subject: RE: Love songs with happy endings?
From: s6k
Date: 28 Apr 04 - 03:06 PM

Jon Anderson & Vangelis - I'll Find My Way Home

Subject: RE: Love songs with happy endings?
From: semi-submersible
Date: 28 Apr 04 - 06:29 AM

Here's another vote each for "Oh No John No" and "Roseville Fair."

Johnny Cash's "Frankie's Man Johnny" is delightful. For lyrics click here.
.

Subject: RE: Love songs with happy endings?
From: emilyrain
Date: 27 Apr 04 - 12:47 PM

jock o' hazeldean
liza jane
maire's wedding
did someone mention red is the rose?

and the version of geordie found on silly sisters' first album has a happy ending:

she glanced blythe in her geordie's face
says dear i've bought thee geordie
but the blood would've flowed upon the green
before i lost my laddie

he clasped her by the middle small
and he kissed her lips so rosy
the fairest flower of womankind
is my sweet bonny lady

Subject: RE: Love songs with happy endings?
From: el ted
Date: 27 Apr 04 - 12:23 PM

NIB by Black Sabbath.

Subject: RE: Love songs with happy endings?
From: Desert Dancer
Date: 27 Apr 04 - 12:20 PM

In some versions of Froggy, the happy couple do escape to a (presumably) happy ending:

Frog and mouse they went to France...
And that's the end of my romance [as in, "story"]...

~ Becky in Tucson

Subject: RE: Love songs with happy endings?
From: Little Hawk
Date: 27 Apr 04 - 11:25 AM

"Crazy Love" (a great song)

And some Dylan ones:

"You Angel You"
"Tough Mama"
"Love Minus Zero (No Limit)"
"Something There Is About You"
"On a Night Like This"
"I'll Be Your Baby Tonight"
"Hazel"
"Never Say Goodbye"
"Wedding Song"
"If Not For You"
"The Man in Me"
"Winterlude"
"Tonight I'll Be Staying Here With You"
"To Be Alone With You"
"Peggy Day"

- LH

Subject: RE: Love songs with happy endings?
From: Burke
Date: 27 Apr 04 - 11:13 AM

Lovely Agnes by Sally Rogers.

Subject: RE: Love songs with happy endings?
From: Willa
Date: 27 Apr 04 - 11:11 AM

I forgot to add 'The Old Carmarthen Oak' thread.cfm?threadid=17396#168365

Subject: RE: Love songs with happy endings?
From: Grab
Date: 27 Apr 04 - 09:49 AM

Fields of Gold
Girl from Sedgefield Fair
Most Tom Paxton ones
Seven Gypsies (happy for the girl anyway)

Subject: RE: Love songs with happy endings?
From: Big Mick
Date: 27 Apr 04 - 06:05 AM

The Hiring Fair


All were dancing in the lantern light, and music filled the air,
and I thanked my stars for the harvest moon...
and the girl from The Hiring Fair

Thanks to THE FAIR ONE whom I shamelessly pursue over cyber hill and dale.

All the best,

Mick

Subject: RE: Love songs with happy endings?
From: Flash Company
Date: 27 Apr 04 - 05:29 AM

Johnny Hart?

Well done, well done young Hart, he cried
I like your courage well
I'll give you a promotion for the words you boldly tell
I'll put epaulettes on your shoulder
And then you'll be a match
For the foremost farmers daughter to come out of the town of Ross!

FC

Subject: RE: Love songs with happy endings?
From: Amergin
Date: 27 Apr 04 - 12:20 AM

I guess him getting hung is happy....if taken in a different context ;)

Subject: RE: Love songs with happy endings?
From: GUEST,Pete Peterson
Date: 26 Apr 04 - 10:43 PM

GEORDIE???
CHILD 209?
not a happy ending as I know it??!!
How about:
Rose of my Heart
Merry Girl (Such a merry girl am I, and I'll tell you the reason why. . . ) from DaCosta Woltz' Southern Broadcasters
We'll Always be Partners

Subject: RE: Love songs with happy endings?
From: Art Thieme
Date: 26 Apr 04 - 10:24 PM

Froggy Went A-Courtin'

Everybody dies, but that means they must've all gone to heaven, right?---Just like suicide bombers.-------- Whoops, I thought this was the faith thread.   ;-)

Art Thieme

Subject: RE: Love songs with happy endings?
From: michaelr
Date: 26 Apr 04 - 06:54 PM

Mount and Go
Geordie
I Courted a Sailor
One Misty Moisty Morning
Rare's Hill
When I was a Fair Maid

Cheers,
Michael

Subject: RE: Love songs with happy endings?
From: SINSULL
Date: 26 Apr 04 - 06:47 PM

Roseville Fair
Golden Years


and on the cynical side..."Tell Laura I Love Her." How lucky was Laura to get rid of this loser before she accepted a ring and a life of trailer parks and unending pregnancies?

Subject: RE: Love songs with happy endings?
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 26 Apr 04 - 06:39 PM

....always assuming, of course, that marriage is a happy ending.

Subject: RE: Love songs with happy endings?
From: GUEST,amergin
Date: 26 Apr 04 - 04:52 PM

matt hyland

Subject: RE: Love songs with happy endings?
From: Bearheart
Date: 26 Apr 04 - 04:49 PM

Thought I'd throw in a few more just to keep people thinking...

Dark Inseoghain

The Dutchman -- bittersweet perhaps, but still... (don't remember who wrote it but Makem and Clancy did a lovely version years ago)

The Streets of Derry

Rare's Hill


Bekki

Subject: RE: Love songs with happy endings?
From: Peter T.
Date: 25 Apr 04 - 04:01 PM

The Lady Came from Baltimore (Tim Hardin) is pretty blissful.

I Saw Her Standing There ("Now I'll never dance with another, since I saw her standing there"), She's A Woman, I Feel Fine.

I'm Glad There Is You, A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square, The Second Time Around, Around the World in 80 Days.

yours,

Peter T.

Subject: RE: Love songs with happy endings?
From: GUEST,Annie
Date: 25 Apr 04 - 03:45 PM

Annie's Song, by John Denver

Subject: RE: Love songs with happy endings?
From: Mudlark
Date: 25 Apr 04 - 03:41 PM

Trad: Well Met, Pretty Maid; Foggy Foggy Dew;

Contemporary: Small Potatoes' Waltz of the Wallflowers is lovely, and funny, their version of Quartzite is great too, especially as it deals with happy affinity among the senior set.

Subject: RE: Love songs with happy endings?
From: Strollin' Johnny
Date: 25 Apr 04 - 12:54 PM

Stan Rogers' '45 Years' and 'Lies'. Tom Paxton's 'Home For Me'.

Subject: RE: Love songs with happy endings?
From: The Borchester Echo
Date: 25 Apr 04 - 12:24 PM

Rigs o' Rye, Sweet Jayne and, another - along with Lord Bateman - highly unusual among ballads, Willie of Winsbury qualify.

I'm with Desert Dancer on the broken token songs. It's a miracle most end happily after such a stunt.

Subject: RE: Love songs with happy endings?
From: Bearheart
Date: 25 Apr 04 - 12:01 PM

Thanks folks, all good.

Willa, the Welcome Sailor made me remember one I had forgotten- There was a Lady-- same family of songs.
I'll add both.

I don't have a recorded version of Captain Wedderburn's Courtship or the Bleacher Lassie-- please suggest one?

Thanks,

Bekki

Subject: RE: Love songs with happy endings?
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 25 Apr 04 - 04:48 AM

The Bleacher Lassie o' Kelvinhaugh, it's another in the John Riley genre of songs.
John

'An noo this couple they hae got mairrit
And keep an alehoose atween them twa'

Subject: RE: Love songs with happy endings?
From: Joe_F
Date: 24 Apr 04 - 07:12 PM

The False Lover Won Back

Subject: RE: Love songs with happy endings?
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 24 Apr 04 - 06:54 PM

Captain Wedderburn's Courtship qualifies. "And in the parish where they lived, there was not a blither twa".

I had another in my mind when I sat down to write this post. CRS!
If I think of the other I'll be back.

Dave Oesterreich

Subject: RE: Love songs with happy endings?
From: Desert Dancer
Date: 24 Apr 04 - 01:23 PM

Lord Bateman (a ballad with a happy ending!)
All Things Are Quite Silent (ends on an optimistic note, at least)
Dog and Gun (= Golden Glove)
Locks and Bolts

Most of those "broken token" songs end happily (even though she should be slapping him upside the head for pulling a mean trick pretending to be dead)
Claudy Banks - same story, without the token

There's plenty of pleasant pastoral romance in the Copper family repertoire - A Shepherd of the Downs is another prime example, The Wedding Song, and Spencer the Rover having been mentioned already.

No John No

My theory has been the unhappiness is more likely to lead to songs and poetry than happiness. For one, you're busy doing other things if love is going well, instead of sitting around alone.

~ Becky in Tucson

Subject: RE: Love songs with happy endings?
From: GUEST,Puffenkinty
Date: 24 Apr 04 - 11:21 AM

Linda Thompson"s wonderful song
"No Telling What a Love Song Will Do".

Subject: RE: Love songs with happy endings?
From: Willa
Date: 24 Apr 04 - 09:58 AM

... and 'Welcome Sailor'http://www.informatik.uni-hamburg.de/~zierke/watersons/songs/thewelcomesailor.html

Subject: RE: Love songs with happy endings?
From: Willa
Date: 24 Apr 04 - 09:56 AM

Bearheart - here's a link to 'Albion Heart'http://www.mattwhile.fsnet.co.uk/Albion_Heartx.html

Subject: RE: Love songs with happy endings?
From: GUEST,Stephen
Date: 24 Apr 04 - 07:13 AM

Canadee-i-o, Jack-A-Roe...

Subject: Lyr Add: A FLOWER FROM THE FIELDS OF ALABAMA
From: RangerSteve
Date: 24 Apr 04 - 06:18 AM

Flower From the Fields of Alabama

One fine evening long ago, when the sun was sinking low,\
Down in Alabama 'neath the sunny skies,
It was in the month of June when the roses were in bloom
by the roadside you could see them passing by.

Chorus:
She's a flower from the fields of Alabama,
Take her, for she loves you, this I know,
Health and love where e'er you go, are the blessings I bestow,
she's a flower from the fields of Alabam.

For her blessing and consent, on my journey then I went,
to the mother of the girl I longed to wed.
And as I drew near the place, tears ran down her old sweet face
When I asked her for her daughter and she said:

Chorus

Standing by my cottage door thinking of the days of yore
ANd my dear old wife is standing by my side.
In her eyes true love I see, and she means the world to me,
As she did the day I asked her to be mine.

Chorus

This has always been one of my favorites. There have been a few recordings, one that's available is by Burnett and Rutherford on Document Records.

Subject: RE: Love songs with happy endings?
From: Little Robyn
Date: 23 Apr 04 - 05:13 PM

The wedding song and Spencer the Rover spring to mind.
Robyn

Subject: Lyr Add: I HEARD THE BLUEBIRDS SING (Hank Snow...)
From: Ebbie
Date: 23 Apr 04 - 05:09 PM

I Heard the Bluebirds Sing (Hank Snow and Anita Carter)

I met a girl out in the hills who gave my lonely heart a thrill
Her beauty seemed just like a breath of spring
And when I looked into her eyes, I thought of bluer summer skies
And when I held her hand in mine I heard the bluebirds sing

They sang of wondering   (wondering if he loves her)
Will she marry          (marry, if he'll ask her)
Will her heart beat       (heart beat true for him for)
Then and ever more
And when she's lonely    (lonely, is he near her)
When there's sadness   (sadness, will he cheer her)
Will they always         (always be together)
Until in death they part

I courted her for months on end until she promised we would wed
We planned on being married in the spring
All through the long cold winter months, it seemed that spring would never come
And every gloomy winter day I heard the bluebirds sing

They sang of waiting   ( waiting for the flowers)
And of counting         (counting every hour)
'Til the bluebird       ( bluebird chirps its welcome)
Into the world once more
And while we're waiting   (waiting for the sunshine)
We keep hating       ( hating every storm cloud)
That has gathered      ( gathered o'er the mountains)
To keep us far apart

Then when at last spring touched the earth, we married in the village church
Our wedding seemed just like a dream come true
Though many years have come and gone, our love is still as true and strong
As when I found her long ago, and still the bluebirds sing

They sing of loving       (loving every hour)
That I'm married            (married to my flower)
And we're happy         (happy ever after)
Since the day we met
And though we're older   (older love is sweeter)
We grow fonder         (fonder of each other)
We'll be sweethearts    ( sweethearts close together)
Until the end of time

Subject: RE: Love songs with happy endings?
From: Bearheart
Date: 23 Apr 04 - 04:27 PM

Thanks Toadfrog. I do have the New Lost City Ramblers album and used to sing that song. Had forgotten how lovely it is.

Willa, I will look for these.
Bekki

Subject: RE: Love songs with happy endings?
From: toadfrog
Date: 23 Apr 04 - 04:23 PM

MY LITTLE CARPENTER is a magnificent song and my absolute all-time favorite in that genre. As indicated in DT, the NLCR's sing it. Traditional version is available on Kentucky Mountain Music (Yazoo), although I have not heard that.

That NCLR record (or my copy anyway) has no liner notes. Does anyone know more about the bacground of the song.

Queen among the Heather is also a fine song, I had never thought about it in exactly that way before. If John Riley appeals to you, Jack Monroe, Across the Rocky Mountains and Pretty Little Miss out in the Garden are on the same theme, and they gotta be in the DT. Cousin Emmy has a great version of Pretty Little Miss out in the Garden, does anyone know where that can be found.

Subject: RE: Love songs with happy endings?
From: Willa
Date: 23 Apr 04 - 03:49 PM

Albion Hear; Welcome Sailor; John Anderson My Jo; My Love is Like a Red, Red, Rose;Lady of Carlisle;Dark Eyed Sailor;JohnRiley.

Subject: Love songs with happy endings?
From: Bearheart
Date: 23 Apr 04 - 03:37 PM

I swore I would not start another thread so soon, but I did a search for happy love songs (three mentions in threads, no songs) and for love songs with happy endings (one thread, no songs). I think we need a thread like this. The sad love songs in my song book outnumber the happy (52 happy, and that only because I count the ones that turn out alright in the end). 56 sad, and that's because I'm holding back. The Ironical and Comical love songs (23 items currently) include some that could probably go in the sad catagory.

So what are your favorites? I'd like to add a few more and maybe learn some new ones or remember some I'd forgotten about.

Personal faves: Queen Amang the Heather, First Time ever I Saw Your Face, Bonny Jean Cameron, The Gypsy's Wedding, Love and Freedom...

Bekki