Origins: Looking for some Love Henry answers

Subject: Origins: Looking for some Love Henry answers
From: Curtis
Date: 01 Aug 05 - 08:06 PM

Hello all. I just happened by looking for some history on Love Henry, thought I'd join in and see what this is all about. First off, I'm 29, play music myself, and I'm very interested in the history of folk & roots music. I'd like to record a version of Love Henry--somewhere between Dylan's and Nick Cave's renditions, I'd imagine. I'm sure that others have done different, more remarkable recordings of the song, and that is what I'm trying to find out: Are there significant lyrical differences? How old is the song, and where abouts did it originate from? Any help would be much appreciated--don't worry about being long-winded if you've got the time and desire to be, I most always find the information interesting. Thanks folks.

Subject: RE: Origins: Looking for some Love Henry answers
From: Peace
Date: 01 Aug 05 - 08:16 PM

Another song that's had many lives and been through many changes.

Look for "Henry Lee" and "Young Hunting".

Subject: RE: Origins: Looking for some Love Henry answers
From: Susan of DT
Date: 01 Aug 05 - 08:53 PM

search for [Child #68] to see 5 versions of this Child ballad in the Digital Tradition.

Subject: RE: Origins: Looking for some Love Henry answers
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 01 Aug 05 - 09:02 PM

Start with this earlier discussion, which will also provide you with links to others, and to the examples in the DT (not all of which, unfortunately, are properly credited):

Line from 'Henry Lee' (Young Hunting)

There are a lot of traditional forms of the song, with plenty of variant titles. It appears to have started out in Scotland; we have no evidence of it before the mid-to-late 18th century. Most examples found in oral currency have been American; though often fragmentary.