Help: Song about killing 'Death' anyone?

Subject: Help: Song about killing 'Death' anyone?
From: GUEST,Jude
Date: 06 Jun 04 - 07:31 PM

Hello - I'm in the UK, if that matters.

I heard a song at a folk club once - solo singer - played concertina (I think) - but it was a long time ago. He sang a song about a man who wrestled with 'death' and won - but it turned out bad, because then he couldn't find anything to eat and there were no seasons and he had to put it right again. It really made me think.

Trouble is - I can't remember who he was or what the song was - let alone find the words

Can anyone help?

I will check back for reply - thank you in advance

Jude

Subject: RE: Help: Song about killing 'Death' anyone?
From: s&r
Date: 06 Jun 04 - 07:44 PM

We were once asked to perform a programme at the local Hospice, but not to have any songs about dying or death.
Ninety percent of a folkie's repertoire gone...

Stu

Subject: RE: Help: Song about killing 'Death' anyone?
From: Jon Bartlett
Date: 06 Jun 04 - 09:37 PM

... sounds like the story the Pardoner tells in Canterbury Tales...

Subject: RE: Help: Song about killing 'Death' anyone?
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 07 Jun 04 - 09:53 AM

That'd be Death in a Nut, a song version by concertina player Tim Laycock, of a story told by the Scottish storyteller Duncan Williamson, and passed on through Taffy Thomas. Taffy has got the story on one of his tapes; and Tim Laycock has the song on one of his.

This post by Jim Dixon has links to both those records.

Subject: RE: Help: Song about killing 'Death' anyone?
From: Dave Sutherland
Date: 07 Jun 04 - 04:35 PM

Yes certainly Tim Laycock. However if you ever see Roy Harris in a storytelling session his "Jack And The Sack" tells a similar tale.

Subject: RE: Help: Song about killing 'Death' anyone?
From: Cuilionn
Date: 07 Jun 04 - 10:03 PM

Anither grait sang on this topic is Hamish Henderson's "The Flyting o Life & Daith." Alison McMorland gies a fine rendition on the tribute album, "A' the Bairns o Adam", (GreenTrax CDTRAX244). It's alsae on ane o Alison's albums in the "Tradition Bearer" series, but Ah cannae reca whilk ane-- either "Ballad Tree" or "Cloudberry Day".

--Cuilionn

Subject: RE: Help: Song about killing 'Death' anyone?
From: GUEST,Pete Peterson
Date: 07 Jun 04 - 10:23 PM

I know I'm on the wrong track. . . sounds like a great song! when I saw the thread title I immeidately thought of the last verse to Northfield:

"His own soft hands shall wipe the tear
From every weeping eye
And pain and woe and grief and fear
And death itself shall die"

(which we sing as the last verse to My Name is Written There)

and HAVE sung at nursing homes