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09 Jul 03 - 12:52 AM (#979518) Subject: Lyr Req: rainbow mid the willow From: GUEST,anais 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? |
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09 Jul 03 - 02:35 AM (#979543) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: rainbow mid the willow From: Joe Offer 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- |
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09 Jul 03 - 02:36 AM (#979544) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: rainbow mid the willow From: katlaughing 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 |
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09 Jul 03 - 02:39 AM (#979547) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: rainbow mid the willow From: katlaughing 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. |
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09 Jul 03 - 03:02 AM (#979553) Subject: DTADD: Rainbow Mid Life's Willows From: Joe Offer 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- |
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09 Jul 03 - 10:39 AM (#979779) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: rainbow mid the willow From: GUEST,anais 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. |
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09 Jul 03 - 10:58 AM (#979792) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: rainbow mid the willow From: masato sakurai 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 |
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09 Jul 03 - 03:01 PM (#980035) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: rainbow mid the willow From: Joe Offer Thanks, Masato - not exactly what I hear, but it makes sense. -Joe- |
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29 Nov 22 - 12:53 PM (#4159203) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Rainbow Mid Life's Willows (Almeda Riddle From: GUEST I believe she could be singing “I would frail know the reason why.” |
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29 Nov 22 - 04:39 PM (#4159223) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Rainbow Mid Life's Willows (Almeda Riddle From: cnd 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" |
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15 Dec 22 - 01:01 PM (#4159386) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Rainbow Mid Life's Willows (Almeda Riddle From: GUEST,RA Perhaps it was originally 'I would fain know the reason why' but has become garbled. |