Folk Songs That Hit the Charts as Pop Songs

22 Dec 06 - 01:10 PM (#1916857)
Subject: Folk Songs That Hit the Charts as Pop
From: Joe Offer

The Doris Day recording of "A Guy Is a Guy" came out in 1951, when I was three years old. Until the A Knave Is a Knave thread, I didn't know that "guy" started life as a folk song (well, maybe it wasn't "folk" when iut started, but you know what I mean...). The 1952 Doris Day recording of Sugarbush is another, created by Josef Marais by combining Dutch and African songs. Fireship was another, titled "One of the Roving Kind." Iko Iko is another, which made the charts more recently.

Are there others we can add to this list? I'm not talking about the Kingston Trio and Peter, Paul, and Mary songs that were billed as folk songs and hit the charts. I'm talking about ones where there's an element of surprise that the song had far older roots.

-Joe-

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22 Dec 06 - 01:15 PM (#1916859)
Subject: RE: Folk Songs That Hit the Charts as Pop Songs
From: RTim

I can remember - All Around My Hat by Steeleye Span in the UK hit parade, and they even appeared on Top of the Pops.
But what year was that?

Tim Radford

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22 Dec 06 - 01:40 PM (#1916870)
Subject: RE: Folk Songs That Hit the Charts as Pop Songs
From: greg stephens

Wasn't Elvis' "Wooden Heart" based on a German folksong?

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22 Dec 06 - 01:41 PM (#1916872)
Subject: RE: Folk Songs That Hit the Charts as Pop Songs
From: Joe Offer

Lavender's Blue is another. I don't know if I'd class Steeleye Span songs in this. Certainly, they made the charts and certainly they had pop arrangements - but I think it was well known that Steeleye Span songs had traditional roots. This thread indicates that "Twelfth of Never" may have thraditional roots, too.
-Joe-

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22 Dec 06 - 01:46 PM (#1916879)
Subject: RE: Folk Songs That Hit the Charts as Pop Songs
From: MMario

Loreena McKennit reworks a bunch of traditional stuff - and so do Medieval Babes; but I don't think most of their fans realize it.

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22 Dec 06 - 01:50 PM (#1916883)
Subject: RE: Folk Songs That Hit the Charts as Pop Songs
From: greg stephens

The Stones' first self-penned hit(I think) was "The last time", which was a re-worked spititual.

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22 Dec 06 - 01:51 PM (#1916885)
Subject: RE: Folk Songs That Hit the Charts as Pop Songs
From: Tweed

Like Stack O'Lee, Stag O'Lee, Stack a Lee, Stackerlee, Skeeg O'Lee?

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22 Dec 06 - 01:55 PM (#1916889)
Subject: RE: Folk Songs That Hit the Charts as Pop Songs
From: Peace

"Amazing Grace" by the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards. I was surprised that it caught the imaginations of so many people that it became a #1 hit in lotsa countries.

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22 Dec 06 - 02:03 PM (#1916895)
Subject: RE: Folk Songs That Hit the Charts as Pop Songs
From: Bill D

One of the best examples is Scarbourough Fair. I heard it playing over the radio where I worked about 15 years ago, and the guys didn't believe how old it was till I brought in a book.

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22 Dec 06 - 02:14 PM (#1916899)
Subject: RE: Folk Songs That Hit the Charts as Pop Songs
From: pdq

Here are some songs by The Weavers that were either Pop hits for them or were borrowed by others:

"Goodnight Irene"

"Rock Island Line"

"Kisses Sweeter Than Wine"

"If I Had a Hammer"

"This Land Is Your Land"

Jimmy Rodgers (II) and Trini Lopez were not folksingers, they were Pop stars. Johnny Cash was either Rock'n'Roll or Country, depending on the stage of his career.

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22 Dec 06 - 02:15 PM (#1916900)
Subject: RE: Folk Songs That Hit the Charts as Pop Songs
From: NH Dave

I believe the approximate date for All Around My Hat, in the UK, was the early 70's.

Elvis' Wooden Heart was from Muss I Den

A number of slightly rewritten folk songs were charted by The Weavers during the early 50's, among them On Top of Old Smokey, The Rovin' Kind, Kisses Sweeter than Wine, and Woody Guthrie's Good Night Irene. Most of these were slightly adapted and copyright under the nom de tune of Paul Campbell, the name The Weavers used to copyright arrangements they had adapted.

Dave

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22 Dec 06 - 02:23 PM (#1916904)
Subject: RE: Folk Songs That Hit the Charts as Pop Songs
From: greg stephens

I think we should take note of what Joe Offer is actually looking for. He doesnt want folk songs that became hits in their own right, he wants folk songs that were re-processed into quite different pop songs.

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22 Dec 06 - 02:31 PM (#1916910)
Subject: RE: Folk Songs That Hit the Charts as Pop Songs
From: Goose Gander

I think Boogie Chillun by John Lee Hooker and Can't Be Satisfied by Muddy Waters might qualify (maybe?).

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22 Dec 06 - 02:44 PM (#1916915)
Subject: RE: Folk Songs That Hit the Charts as Pop Songs
From: pdq

Dean Martin had a huge hit with "Memories Are Made of This" which is credited to "Richard Dehr/Terry Gilkyson/Frank Miller". I seem to believe it was another Weaver's song but could be wrong.

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22 Dec 06 - 02:46 PM (#1916916)
Subject: Lyr Add: THE LAST TIME (Rolling Stones)
From: Joe Offer

Greg, tell me more about the roots of "The Last Time." I suppose there are a number of song from the Rolling Stones that have traditional roots. Same with stuff by Led Zeppelin.

Here are the lyrics from "Last Time," copied from Lyrics World:

The Last Time
The Rolling Stones
Mick Jagger and Keith Richard


I've told you once and l've told you twice
You'd better listen to my advice
You don't try very hard to please me
With what you know it should be easy

Well this could be the last time
This could be the last time
May be the last time
I don't know

I'm sorry girl but I can't stay
Feeling like I do to-day
Staying here is too much sorrow
Guess I'll feel the same tomorrow

Well this could be the last time
This could be the last time
May be the last time
I don't know
Oh no

Well this could be the last time
This could be the last time
May be the last time
I don't know
Oh no

I've told you once and I've told you twice
Someone'll have to pay the price
Here's the chance to change your mind
I'll be gone a long long time

Well this could be the last time
This could be the last time
May be the last time
I don't know
Oh no

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22 Dec 06 - 02:58 PM (#1916925)
Subject: RE: Folk Songs That Hit the Charts as Pop Songs
From: MartinRyan

Joe

Don't know about a spiritual root - but I have a vague recollection of hearing an old blues head singing a song on an old 78 recording and thinking to myself "That's surely where The last Time came from. May well have been gospel type setting.

Regards
p.s. Happy Christmas!

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22 Dec 06 - 03:12 PM (#1916940)
Subject: RE: Folk Songs That Hit the Charts as Pop Songs
From: harpmolly

Does it count that "Love Me Tender" stole the melody from "Aura Lee"? ;)

M

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22 Dec 06 - 03:34 PM (#1916960)
Subject: RE: Folk Songs That Hit the Charts as Pop Songs
From: oldhippie

And didn't "Wimoweh" become "The Lion Sleeps Tonight"?

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22 Dec 06 - 03:38 PM (#1916961)
Subject: RE: Folk Songs That Hit the Charts as Pop Songs
From: RTim

I may be thick or something - but I think Steeleye DID re-arrange All Around My Hat into a pop song, I know it is much changed from the original unaccompanied song!!!! - As was Scarborough Fair by Paul Simon and the other guy - Didn't Simon learn it from the singing of Martin Carthy and then copywrite it?
As did Dylan with the melody of Lord Franklin that he uses for ??? oh What is the bloody song?
Yes - All Around My Hat by Steeleye was from 1975 and it reached No. 5 in UK hit parade.
Tim Radford

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22 Dec 06 - 04:32 PM (#1916999)
Subject: RE: Folk Songs That Hit the Charts as Pop Songs
From: Padre

'Michael Row the Boat Ashore' by the Highwaymen reached #10 (I think) in 1961

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22 Dec 06 - 04:48 PM (#1917003)
Subject: RE: Folk Songs That Hit the Charts as Pop Songs
From: Jack Campin

Eartha Kitt's "Uskudar" - a Turkish folksong from the 18th century. She probably got it from a recording by Zeki Muren which had been popular in Turkey a few years before.

I have heard the same tune with Greek words on a collection of field recordings from Crete. The tune doesn't sound either very Greek or very Turkish to me, it wouldn't surprise me if it were originally Egyptian or Palestinian.

A more recent one - "Gallows Pole" by, um, Robert Plant? A version of Macpherson's Farewell. And from the 1990s, wasn't GRiD's "Swamp Thing" based on a real old-time banjo tune?

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22 Dec 06 - 05:53 PM (#1917050)
Subject: RE: Folk Songs That Hit the Charts as Pop Songs
From: Richie

Man of Constant Sorrow (no surprise)
Cotton-Eyed Joe (with a disco dance beat)
Love's in Vain (Stones- who claimed to write it)

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22 Dec 06 - 06:38 PM (#1917073)
Subject: RE: Folk Songs That Hit the Charts as Pop Songs
From: mrdux

Dylan took the "Lord Franklin" tune and set "Bob Dylan's Dream" to it (on Freewheelin').

the Stones' "Prodigal Son" was reworked from the Rev. Robert Wilkins' "That's No Way To Get Along."

all for now.

michael

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22 Dec 06 - 07:32 PM (#1917098)
Subject: RE: Folk Songs That Hit the Charts as Pop Songs
From: GUEST,Barnacle

Bob Dylan also produced a song based on the American trad song "What did the deep sea say"

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22 Dec 06 - 08:15 PM (#1917125)
Subject: RE: Folk Songs That Hit the Charts as Pop Songs
From: GUEST

Plaisir d'amore / Elvis's Can't Help Falling In Love With You

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22 Dec 06 - 10:25 PM (#1917200)
Subject: RE: Folk Songs That Hit the Charts as Pop Songs
From: Joe_F

I seem to remember, in the 1950s, "Dodi Li" coming out of the loudspeakers as an unrelated love song in English.

Likewise, "Down by the River Side", with a change in rhythm that has since corrupted most people's singing of the original spiritual.

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22 Dec 06 - 10:50 PM (#1917217)
Subject: RE: Folk Songs That Hit the Charts as Pop Songs
From: Gypsy

Morning has Broken............covered by Cat Stevens. Might not be quite old enough at 100+ years, but close, yes?

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23 Dec 06 - 02:00 AM (#1917276)
Subject: RE: Folk Songs That Hit the Charts as Pop Songs
From: Bert

From the Forties there was "There is a Tavern in the Town" and "The Old Sow Song"

In the early Fifties there was a remake of "The Crawdad Song" with modernised verses such as

"I'm engaged to marry Sue
Honey
I'm engaged to Marry Sue
Oh Babe
I'm afraid to get undressed
Mary's tattooed on my chest
Honey, Oh Baby, Mine.

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23 Dec 06 - 09:02 AM (#1917396)
Subject: RE: Folk Songs That Hit the Charts as Pop Songs
From: Sir Roger de Beverley

Adam Faith made #5 in the UK charts with "When Johnny comes Marching Home" which was based on "Johnny I hardly knew ye". The Faith recording had a typical John Barry pizzicato string arrangement and a fairly uptempo beat.

R

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23 Dec 06 - 09:02 AM (#1917398)
Subject: RE: Folk Songs That Hit the Charts as Pop Songs
From: Sir Roger de Beverley

Forgot to say that was in 1960

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23 Dec 06 - 10:25 AM (#1917441)
Subject: RE: Folk Songs That Hit the Charts as Pop Songs
From: Rasener

How about Little Red Rooster by the Rolling Stones and written by Willie_Dixon

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23 Dec 06 - 10:31 AM (#1917448)
Subject: RE: Folk Songs That Hit the Charts as Pop Songs
From: GUEST,Hootenanny

Guy Mitchel with "Black Eyed Susie"

Alma Cogan with "Bell Bottom Trousers"

Danny Kaye with a version of "The Lincolnshire Poacher"

    ?       "Dance With a Dolly With a Hole in Her Stocking"

Donegan with "Rock Island Line" of course

Chris Barber had some success with "Bobby Shaftoe"

The Vipers "Don't You Rock Me Daddy-O" from the fiddle tune Darneo/Sally Ann.

I'm sure there are several more.

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23 Dec 06 - 10:54 AM (#1917465)
Subject: RE: Folk Songs That Hit the Charts as Pop Songs
From: Bernard

'Those Were The Days'...

Recorded by Mary Hopkin, and 'written by' Paul McCartney...

Except he bought it from someone who had based the song on a Russian folk song 'The Long Road', if I recall correctly.

Slightly off topic... 'A Groovy Kind Of Love' by the Mindbenders was really a sonatina by Clementi...

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23 Dec 06 - 11:13 AM (#1917475)
Subject: RE: Folk Songs That Hit the Charts as Pop Songs
From: Tootler

"It's Now or Never" and "Surrender" by Elvis Presley.

Both based on Italian songs.

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23 Dec 06 - 01:46 PM (#1917563)
Subject: RE: Folk Songs That Hit the Charts as Pop Songs
From: jonm

Whiskey in the Jar - Thin Lizzy?

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23 Dec 06 - 01:52 PM (#1917564)
Subject: RE: Folk Songs That Hit the Charts as Pop Songs
From: Bert

Hootenanny. It applies to almost everything that Lonnie Donnegan sang.

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23 Dec 06 - 01:55 PM (#1917568)
Subject: RE: Folk Songs That Hit the Charts as Pop Songs
From: pdq

It would be much easier to answer to this question if Joe Offer would explain (in 50 word or less, of course) precisely 'what is a folk song'.

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Never. [grin]
-Joe Offer-

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23 Dec 06 - 02:06 PM (#1917574)
Subject: RE: Folk Songs That Hit the Charts as Pop Songs
From: GUEST

I was sure the stones had credited Robert Johnson with Love in Vain, didn't they.

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23 Dec 06 - 04:01 PM (#1917649)
Subject: RE: Folk Songs That Hit the Charts as Pop Songs
From: Lonesome EJ

The tune for The Great Silkie of Sule Kerry reappeared in the mid sixties on the Byrd's album 5D as the melody for the Hakim Nizmet poem "I Come and Stand at Every Door." I don't know if this was the first appearance of this poem/melody combination. This song was often heard in coffee houses, at protests etc during the 60s, and I didn't realize the tune was traditional until I heard Art Theime sing it on his album "The Older I Get the Better Was".
More on the Nizmet poem here.

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23 Dec 06 - 04:06 PM (#1917652)
Subject: RE: Folk Songs That Hit the Charts as Pop Songs
From: Lonesome EJ

Nazim Hikmet is the poet's name. My dyslexia kicking up again.

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23 Dec 06 - 05:14 PM (#1917708)
Subject: RE: Folk Songs That Hit the Charts as Pop Songs
From: GUEST,Hootenanny

Bert you are quite correct but he was singing a number of them before he had a "POP" hit with that song which was his first success.

I should also have mentioned Guy Mitchell's "Dark and a Roving Eye". I believe the song from which it was lifted was The Fire Ship. Correct me if I am wrong, I'm sure somebody will.

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23 Dec 06 - 05:33 PM (#1917725)
Subject: RE: Folk Songs That Hit the Charts as Pop Songs
From: pdq

Minor point about "Those Were The Days". If it was credited to Paul McCartney at some time past, it is not now. Author credit is one 'Gene Raskin'.

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23 Dec 06 - 05:46 PM (#1917743)
Subject: RE: Folk Songs That Hit the Charts as Pop Songs
From: oldhippie

I believe the correct title for Guy Mitchell's "Dark and a Roving Eye" is "The Roving Kind".

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23 Dec 06 - 06:07 PM (#1917754)
Subject: RE: Folk Songs That Hit the Charts as Pop Songs
From: GUEST

Lonesome EJ-
The tune to "Silkie" that you refer to is by no means traditional (or it least it waasn't when James Waters wrote it). I believe that the copyeight was assigned to someone named Sandy Paton.

It's still not clear whether Johnny I Hardly Knew You came before or after When Johnny Comes Marching Home, but the real popularization of the tune was when they shifted the rhythm a bit and came up with "Ghost Riders In The Sky"

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23 Dec 06 - 06:29 PM (#1917769)
Subject: RE: Folk Songs That Hit the Charts as Pop Songs
From: Rabbi-Sol

Bernard,

"Those Were The Days" was written by Gene and Francesca Raskin, not by Paul McCartney. It was not until Mary Hopkins recorded it that it became famous. My authority for this information is Oscar Brand who had Gene and Francesca at one of his WNYC shows at Cooper Union. I was present that night when they performed this song.

                                              SOL ZELLER

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23 Dec 06 - 06:35 PM (#1917771)
Subject: RE: Folk Songs That Hit the Charts as Pop Songs
From: Rabbi-Sol

Further to my previous post, the only connection between "Those Were The Days" and Paul McCartney was that Mary Hopkins recorded the song on the Apple recording label that was owned by The Beatles.

                                                SOL ZELLER

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23 Dec 06 - 06:54 PM (#1917791)
Subject: RE: Folk Songs That Hit the Charts as Pop Songs
From: John on the Sunset Coast

"If You Want to Be Happy" sung by Jimmy Soul (?) based on the calypso, "Ugly Woman".
"Yellow Bird," the Mills Brothers and "Don't Ever Love Me," Harry Belafonte to a French Haitian melody, "Couchoune". I know that is not the spelling of the French title, but it is something like that.
The Cadence song mentioned by Bert, was from the film "Battle Cry" and was a huge hit for Art Mooney.

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24 Dec 06 - 05:08 AM (#1918006)
Subject: RE: Folk Songs That Hit the Charts as Pop Songs
From: GUEST,Joe Moran

Re: The Stones " The Last Time" was inspired by ( i.e. ripped-off ) a gospel number ( I think, but I'm not sure, it's by The Staple Singers); anyway, a very fine English blues performer, Raphael Callaghan, does a medley of the two numbers in his act.

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24 Dec 06 - 06:27 AM (#1918041)
Subject: RE: Folk Songs That Hit the Charts as Pop Songs
From: Dave the Gnome

And discussed in an earlier thread - The Carnival is over by the New Seekers - Previously the Russian Folk song Stanka Rasin.

Cheers

DtG

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24 Dec 06 - 06:36 AM (#1918044)
Subject: RE: Folk Songs That Hit the Charts as Pop Songs
From: Scrump

The Name Game by Shirley Ellis was I think based on a childrens' song or game - somebody out there might know? I mentioned this in a thread somewhere else, not long ago. And I think her other big hit The Clapping Song was similarly based on a children's song - again I hope somebody out there will know more.

As Guest, Hootenanny said, Guy Mitchell's "Pretty Little Black Eyed Susie" is also based on a folk song - the song is "I'll Tell My Ma", as popularised by the Clancy Bros and Tommy Makem, and the Dubliners, among others.

There are quite a few pop songs that have been based on classical melodies as well as folk songs - as long as they were out of copyright, the authors didn't care... ;-)

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24 Dec 06 - 06:43 AM (#1918046)
Subject: RE: Folk Songs That Hit the Charts as Pop Songs
From: breezy

House of the rising Sun , as recorded by ze animals

On the B side of Lonnie Donegan's 'My Old Man's a Dustman ' is the 'Golden vanity' and a very good version it is too

Trini Lopez had a Hammer

The Highwaymen followed up 'Michael' withe 'the Gypsy Rover'

must be more that Lonnie did that Woodie wrote but thats my bit done

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24 Dec 06 - 06:48 AM (#1918051)
Subject: RE: Folk Songs That Hit the Charts as Pop Songs
From: breezy

Irene was leadbelly not Woodie n'est-ce pas/

Streets of london is a folk song written by army

The Dubliners did come home every day of the week as drunk as they could be, wasnt that a pop hit?

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24 Dec 06 - 06:53 AM (#1918052)
Subject: RE: Folk Songs That Hit the Charts as Pop Songs
From: Common Tater

"The Midnight Hour" (made popular by Wilson Pickett) is a secularized version of the much earlier "The Midnight Hour" Negro Spiritual. I first heard the Spiritual sung by Sam Cooke and the Soul Stirrers (it's about the parousia - the 2nd coming of Christ) .... The Spiritual was being sung in the American South long before Cooke - or even Pickett - recorded it.

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24 Dec 06 - 07:43 AM (#1918071)
Subject: RE: Folk Songs That Hit the Charts as Pop Songs
From: RWJ

When I left school many years ago I joined a Youth Hostel group and they compleatly changed my tast in music . They intrduced to Folk and Rock at the same time and one band that covered both was Led Zeplin the track that first came to mind was Gallows Poll

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24 Dec 06 - 09:01 AM (#1918096)
Subject: RE: Folk Songs That Hit the Charts as Pop Songs
From: Dave Hanson

Jaysus, The Dubliners made the UK top ten with ' Seven Drunken Nights ' and even appeared on Top Of The Pops, they followed up 'Black Velvet Band ' which also made the UK charts, twenty years later they made the charts again with the Pogues and ' The Irish Rover ' which other folk band has had three UK top ten hits.

eric

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24 Dec 06 - 09:40 AM (#1918108)
Subject: RE: Folk Songs That Hit the Charts as Pop Songs
From: Lonesome EJ

Gallows Poll Results
Hang him    48%
Let him go    44%
No Opinion    8%

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24 Dec 06 - 09:48 AM (#1918114)
Subject: RE: Folk Songs That Hit the Charts as Pop Songs
From: GUEST,jaze

This seems too obvious that it is probably not right, but I was thinking of House Of The Rising Sun by the Animals

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24 Dec 06 - 10:50 AM (#1918156)
Subject: RE: Folk Songs That Hit the Charts as Pop Songs
From: Azizi

A number of lines and verses from children's game song, choosing it, jump rope, and handclap rhymes are found in R&B music, Reggae, and other popular music.

Here's two examples of songs which have a children's rhyme as their source.

Bob-A-Needle
In 1964 Chubby Checker, who is best known for his Twist fame, recorded a R&B version of the African American children's game Bob-A-Needle.

See "Hey Bob-a- Needle": Chubby Checker

This game is included in Bessie Jones & Bess Lomax Hawes' book "Step It Down: Games, Plays, Songs & Stories from the Afro-American Heritage {University of Georgia Press, 1972, pps. 163-164}
basong is see for words & comments about the game song.

See this Mudcat thread Origins: Bob-A-Needle

If your interested in doing so, you can also read my comments about this game on http://www.cocojams.com/games_children_play.htm .

**

Green Sally Up

"Green Sally Up" was recorded by Moby in the Album "Play" under the name "Flowers". See http://www.lyricsdepot.com/moby/flower.html

The words to this African American children's game song from the Gullah tradition are also included in Bessie Jones & Bess Lomax Hawes' book "Step It Down". The song is also included on Disc 4 of Alan Lomax's Sounds of the South, A Musical Journey fromt the Georgia Sea Isles to the Mississippi Delta.{Atlantic 787496-2; 1993.

If interested, you can also read my comments about this game song on my Cocojams website.

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24 Dec 06 - 11:19 AM (#1918166)
Subject: RE: Folk Songs That Hit the Charts as Pop Songs
From: Azizi

Correction, the song "Flowers" by Moby was included in the 2000 "Gone in 60 seconds" soundtrack.

Also, from the comment below, it appears that Moby also included a song called "Honey" based on the African American game song "Sometimes" in his 1999 Cd "Play".

"A map to Moby's music using Play as your compass
...Honey - The vocals in Honey are from a song called "Sometimes", sung by Bessie Jones which can be found on a 4CD set named "Sounds of the South". The story behind these southern style vocals is quite long and I won't go into it here. However, "Flower" on the Gone in 60 seconds soundtrack, and also on the V2 records release of Play with added B Sides bonus disc (63881-27085-2) also uses similar vocals. You may also notice old vocals used in other songs on Play. Many of these can be found on that 4CD set mentioned above."

http://www.epinions.com/musc-review-48E1-31E9B107-3A58F0C7-prod2

-snip-

Here is a song clip of the Moby song "Flower":

http://www.amazon.ca/Gone-60-Seconds-Original-Soundtrack/dp/B00004TM2D

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24 Dec 06 - 05:13 PM (#1918353)
Subject: RE: Folk Songs That Hit the Charts as Pop Songs
From: Azizi

Great list, pdq!! Thanks for posting it.

Having said that, with all due respect, I guess I'll be the first person [but maybe not the last person]to quibble over a couple of attributions in that list:

Shouldn't "Amazing Grace" be listed as [words, John Newton, 1779. Music: 19th Century American melody]?

Also shouldn't "Pick a Bale O' Cotton" be listed as [H. Ledbetter, prob trad]?

Best wishes,

Azizi

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24 Dec 06 - 05:23 PM (#1918358)
Subject: RE: Folk Songs That Hit the Charts as Pop Songs
From: pdq

Thank you.

The writer credit was not given by me, although a few minor comments were. List is there "to be discussed".

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24 Dec 06 - 05:24 PM (#1918359)
Subject: RE: Folk Songs That Hit the Charts as Pop Songs
From: John on the Sunset Coast

Ray Charles' "This Little Girl of Mine" from "This Little Light of Mine."

Re: Johnny Cash list. Most were not chart hits, altho' the albums (cds) they were part of may have been.

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24 Dec 06 - 05:43 PM (#1918373)
Subject: RE: Folk Songs That Hit the Charts as Pop Songs
From: Forsh

Again, Amazing Grace, at the Isle of White Pop Festival (1970?) sung into the charts by Judy Covington (?) Vague, but I am getting old, y'know!
AND NOW FOR SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT:
Floral Dance as sung by Terry Wogan? (Arrrrrrghhhhh)

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24 Dec 06 - 05:47 PM (#1918375)
Subject: RE: Folk Songs That Hit the Charts as Pop Songs
From: Forsh

http://www.floraldance.com/
Lyrics here

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25 Dec 06 - 06:05 AM (#1918584)
Subject: RE: Folk Songs That Hit the Charts as Pop Songs
From: Dame Pattie Smith EPNS

3 6 9, the goose drank wine...

Who sung that? That was a kid's skipping rhyme.



Black Betty ex Leadbelly, someone had a hit with that too.


Splott Man at the Dame's

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25 Dec 06 - 09:11 AM (#1918638)
Subject: RE: Folk Songs That Hit the Charts as Pop Songs
From: oggie

Albion Band got to somewhere in the Top 40 or 50 with 'Poor Old Horse' when as a bet one of the Radio 1 DJ's picked it as his record of the week. Be summer 1976 or 1977 I think. Think it peaked in the mid 40's but was long ago so I stand to be corrected.

oggie

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25 Dec 06 - 12:38 PM (#1918711)
Subject: RE: Folk Songs That Hit the Charts as Pop Songs
From: GUEST,Hootenanny

Johny Ray with "Let's Walk This-a-way" from Leadbelly's "Hah Ha This-a-way" Many moons back.

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25 Dec 06 - 02:13 PM (#1918733)
Subject: RE: Folk Songs That Hit the Charts as Pop Songs
From: Bert

Back in the Fifties, Ronnie Ronalde had a hit with "If I was a Blackbird".

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26 Dec 06 - 05:48 AM (#1919049)
Subject: RE: Folk Songs That Hit the Charts as Pop Songs
From: Scrump

3 6 9, the goose drank wine...

Who sung that? That was a kid's skipping rhyme.

That's from The Clapping Song by Shirley Ellis - I mentioned this higher up the thread but so far no-one else has mentioned it.

I heard a record from the 1930s or 40s (I can't find any info on it now) that had similar words ("my auntie told her, I'd kissed a soldier", etc.)

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26 Dec 06 - 09:06 AM (#1919117)
Subject: RE: Folk Songs That Hit the Charts as Pop Songs
From: fat B****rd

Black Betty was by Ram Jam, about 1990.

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26 Dec 06 - 09:10 AM (#1919121)
Subject: RE: Folk Songs That Hit the Charts as Pop Songs
From: fat B****rd

Black Girl by The Pour Pennies, UK 1965 ?

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26 Dec 06 - 10:23 AM (#1919141)
Subject: RE: Folk Songs That Hit the Charts as Pop Songs
From: Matt_R

While not exactly a "folk song" per se, Steeleye Span also charted with the acapella Latin "Gaudete" at No. 11 on the UK charts in 1974.

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26 Dec 06 - 05:06 PM (#1919368)
Subject: RE: Folk Songs That Hit the Charts as Pop Songs
From: Scoville

I don't know that it ever hit the pop charts, exactly, but the Everly Brothers did a pop/rock version of "Muskrat". The lyrics were essentially unchanged from the old versions, but it had pop instrumentation (yes, it was a bad idea).

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26 Dec 06 - 05:36 PM (#1919397)
Subject: RE: Folk Songs That Hit the Charts as Pop Songs
From: GUEST

"You Raise Me Up," a hit for Josh Groban not written by him, uses almost entirely the melody known as "Londonderry Air" or "O Danny Boy."

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27 Dec 06 - 12:55 AM (#1919703)
Subject: RE: Folk Songs That Hit the Charts as Pop Songs
From: mrdux

the Beach Boys took "Sloop John B" -- a traditional West Indies (Bahamian?) song collected by Carl Sandburg and Alan Lomax -- to #3 on the Billboard chart in 1966.

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27 Dec 06 - 06:51 AM (#1919770)
Subject: RE: Folk Songs That Hit the Charts as Pop Songs
From: Nigel Paterson

The Halliard's version of 'Seven Drunken Nights' got into the Spanish charts...must have been about 1967.
                                  Nigel P.

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27 Dec 06 - 07:01 PM (#1920166)
Subject: RE: Folk Songs That Hit the Charts as Pop Songs
From: Lonesome EJ

"Walk Right In (Sit Right Down)" was a pop hit mid-sixties pop hit, and I remember from an old thread that it's based on an old blues tune.

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27 Dec 06 - 07:10 PM (#1920177)
Subject: RE: Folk Songs That Hit the Charts as Pop Songs
From: GUEST,Hootenanny

"Walk Right In" was first recored by Gus Cannon's Jug Stompers in Memphis.

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27 Dec 06 - 07:19 PM (#1920183)
Subject: RE: Folk Songs That Hit the Charts as Pop Songs
From: GUEST,Auldtimer

Antony Newley had a "hit" sometine in the early sixties with Strawberry Fair. Ri-foll Ri-foll fal-de-ridle-ie-doo.

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27 Dec 06 - 09:30 PM (#1920250)
Subject: RE: Folk Songs That Hit the Charts as Pop Songs
From: Elmer Fudd

The Mockingbird Song, by Inez and Charlie Foxx (recorded by James Taylor and Carly Simon much later)

Isn't that a riff on an old lullaby?

Mock (yeah)
ing (yeah)
bird (yeah)
yeah (yeah)
Mockin'bird, now

Everybody have you heard
He's gonna buy me a mockingbird
And if that mockingbird don't sing
He's gonna buy me a diamond ring
And if that diamond ring won't shine
He's gonna surely break this heart of mine
And that's why I keep on tellin' everybody
Say yeah, yeah whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, uh, oh

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16 Jan 07 - 06:20 PM (#1938832)
Subject: RE: Folk Songs That Hit the Charts as Pop Songs
From: GUEST,bardan

I don't know if the trad tunes made it to the charts, but Richard and Linda Thompson/Thomson/however it's spelled got some stuff into the charts didn't they? And they did folk tunes like the one that goes "I'm just a little beggar girl, sally is my name".

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17 Jan 07 - 12:29 AM (#1939086)
Subject: RE: Folk Songs That Hit the Charts as Pop Songs
From: GUEST,Mike Miller

Nice thread.
Back in the 60's the Morman Tabernacle Choir had a Top 10 hit with the "Battle Hymn of the Republic" (If I'm lyin', I'm dyin').
The Benny Goodman Band, featuring Ziggy Elman, covered a classic Klezmer tune as "And The Angels Sing". Also, from the big band era, Ella Fitzgerald, with the Chic Webb Band, doing "A Tisket, A Tasket".
In the 50's, several popular Italian-American artists (including Dean Martin and Perry Como) covered O Sole Mio as There;s No Tomorrow.
Traditional songs have been a source for pop writers for ever.

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17 Apr 11 - 09:15 AM (#3136818)
Subject: RE: Folk Songs That Hit the Charts as Pop Songs
From: GUEST

There are a few songs I can rememberm one being the theme to Z - Cars. This tune entered the charts by Johny Keating in 1962 in the top ten. The tune they used was an English folk song caled 'Johnny Tod'. The only recording I remember was by The Spinners, a Liverpool group who made lots of great songs. Why did Johnny Keating claim he had written the song for the program Z - Cars when he should know that the tune existed long before the program started? In 1950 one song called 'There's No Tomorrow' was sung by 7 folks with Tony Martin having the big hit with it (Christmas 1949 to March 1950). Lots of folk from the 50s have recorded this song knowing that it was based on a tune from Italy. When Elvis made the charts with 4 remembered tunes they were; 'Love Me Tender', from the tune of 'Aura Lee' from 1956, 'It's Now Or Never', already caled 'There's No Tomorrow', and first known as 'O Sole Mio', a song Elvis went to nomber 1 with at the end of 1960, 'Wooden Heart', a German song, and 'Surrender' from 1961, also a song from Italy. The American trilogy was Elvis singing 3 remembered folk songs. The guy who said that Paul McCartney wrote the song 'Those Were The Days' is mistaken because that song was writen in 1963 and first recorded by the folk group The Limelites. The song that McCartney wrote for Mary Hopkin was in 1969 and caled 'Goodbye'. Someone had a hit with 'Wild Mountain Thyme' in 1992 but I do not know the artist who had the UK hit. If any one knows who this was then please let mke know!

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17 Apr 11 - 09:48 AM (#3136829)
Subject: RE: Folk Songs That Hit the Charts as Pop Songs
From: Allan Conn

"Someone had a hit with 'Wild Mountain Thyme' in 1992 but I do not know the artist who had the UK hit."

A Glaswegian band called The Silencers had a recording of it which was used in a commercial in the early 90s. It got lots of airplay but I don't think it made the charts as such!

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17 Apr 11 - 10:39 AM (#3136842)
Subject: RE: Folk Songs That Hit the Charts as Pop Songs
From: GUEST,Lighter

What, no mention of "Tom Dooley"?

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17 Apr 11 - 11:58 AM (#3136873)
Subject: RE: Folk Songs That Hit the Charts as Pop Songs
From: kendall

Lord, how I miss the music of those days. Come to think of it, I miss music period.If not for the CD player in my car I could easily throw the radio onto the dump.

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17 Apr 11 - 12:46 PM (#3136899)
Subject: RE: Folk Songs That Hit the Charts as Pop Songs
From: GUEST,Lighter

Life was simpler and more secure then. The only threat to civilization seemed to be the H-bomb.

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17 Apr 11 - 01:45 PM (#3136916)
Subject: RE: Folk Songs That Hit the Charts as Pop Songs
From: MGM·Lion

pdq - Grandfather's Clock by Henry Clay Work.

Tune of Streets of Laredo came up in early-50s to a song called The Old Homing Waltz.

~Michael~

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17 Apr 11 - 02:30 PM (#3136942)
Subject: RE: Folk Songs That Hit the Charts as Pop Songs
From: Spleen Cringe

Simple Minds' No 1 UK hit from sometime at the end of the 1980s uses the tune of "She Moved Through the Fair"...

Youtube

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17 Apr 11 - 08:52 PM (#3137146)
Subject: RE: Folk Songs That Hit the Charts as Pop Songs
From: Richie

Hi,

Johnny and the Hurricanes recorded a rock and roll instrumental version In 1959 of the song entitled "Red River Rock" which became a hit in both the U.S. (#5) and in the UK (#3). Covered by the Ventures for their 1963 album The Ventures Play Telstar and The Lonely Bull. "Red River Rock" was remade in a synthpop version by Daniel Miller as pseudo-group Silicon Teens first in 1980 and then in 1987, the latter for inclusion on the soundtrack of the film Planes, Trains & Automobiles. (wiki)

Richie

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18 Apr 11 - 10:02 AM (#3137375)
Subject: RE: Folk Songs That Hit the Charts as Pop Songs
From: GUEST,Peter (Guest)

Hoots Mon by Lord Rockingham's XI in 1958? aka Cock o' The North?

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18 Apr 11 - 12:38 PM (#3137492)
Subject: RE: Folk Songs That Hit the Charts as Pop Songs
From: GUEST,John Cunningham

Enjoyed reading through this thread. No-one seems to have mentioned "Coisich a ruin" by Scots band Capercaillie, which is an old gaelic tune that translates as "Walk my beloved" It was a Top 30 hit in about 1991, and they appeared on Top of The Pops, as far as I am aware.

It's the only gaelic tune ever to be a hit, I believe. You can find it on their "Delirium" album, which is highly recommended.

Capercailie are still going and are still fabulous.

---

18 Apr 11 - 12:52 PM (#3137502)
Subject: RE: Folk Songs That Hit the Charts as Pop Songs
From: Musket

Most songs are folk songs, if you ignore the ludicrous 1954 waffle.

Many years ago, Dave Burland made the point by singing the Boomtown Rats song, "I don't like Mondays."

It hits the point on so many levels.

In the meantime, I listen to Seth Lakeman and note that iTunes calls it folk. Yet a band in a local pub the other night played his "Garden of grace" and introduced it, perhaps quite rightly, as a pop song.

Genres can be contentious, and to quote a friend of mine on a thread a few months ago, Willie said that if it is sung in a folk club, its a folk song. QED.

Mind you, to get back to Joe offer's original plea, I would say that I have a recording of Rod Stewart singing "Dirty Old Town." You could add his "Maggie May" but only shares a title.

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18 Apr 11 - 05:51 PM (#3137723)
Subject: RE: Folk Songs That Hit the Charts as Pop Songs
From: GUEST,Allan Conn

"It's the only gaelic tune ever to be a hit, I believe."

It was on an EP of several Gaelic songs by the group which got to #39 in 1992 - though they also had a single in Gaelic called Ailean Duinn which got to #65. Runrig had a song called "Solus Na Madain" which was on the Hearthammer EP which made #25 and they also had a single release called "An Ubhal As Airde" which squeezed into the top 20 itself.

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19 Apr 11 - 09:08 AM (#3138166)
Subject: RE: Folk Songs That Hit the Charts as Pop Songs
From: GUEST,John Cunningham

I stand corrected, Allan. Thanks for the update ;-)

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19 Apr 11 - 09:32 AM (#3138184)
Subject: RE: Folk Songs That Hit the Charts as Pop Songs
From: Allan Conn

John I had the benefit of my wife's Guiness Book Of British Hit Singles! Ask me anything after 2008 though and I'm scuppered

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19 Apr 11 - 11:14 AM (#3138248)
Subject: RE: Folk Songs That Hit the Charts as Pop Songs
From: GUEST,captain farrell

I recently had a bash at Bonaparte`s Retreat some song versions sound alot like I saw her standing there/beatles

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19 Apr 11 - 01:19 PM (#3138316)
Subject: RE: Folk Songs That Hit the Charts as Pop Songs
From: Richard from Liverpool

Nick Cave and PJ Harvey recorded a version of Henry Lee (which is a form of Child #68, Young Hunting); it got to a respectable position in the charts, I think. Certainly the album it was on ("Murder Ballads") was a success in the UK charts.

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19 Apr 11 - 01:36 PM (#3138325)
Subject: RE: Folk Songs That Hit the Charts as Pop Songs
From: Richard from Liverpool

Moby was referred to earlier in this thread (back in 2006); in fact a lot of his album "Play" features samples of folk music.

As Azizi notes, Honey samples Bessie Jones singing "Sometimes"
Natural Blues samples Vera Hall singing "Trouble So Hard"
Run On is the song also known as "God's Gonna Cut You Down", and samples Bill Landford and the Landfordaires.

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19 Apr 11 - 02:10 PM (#3138343)
Subject: RE: Folk Songs That Hit the Charts as Pop Songs
From: Andy Jackson

Thank you Spleen C. Simple minds video made me tingle.
In the right place and time I could wallow in that. I had no idea, we lead such blinkered lives if we are not careful.

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19 Apr 11 - 02:18 PM (#3138344)
Subject: RE: Folk Songs That Hit the Charts as Pop Songs
From: GUEST,Azoic

June Tabor's "Ashore" song "Shipbuilding" should be on the charts.

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19 Apr 11 - 03:05 PM (#3138368)
Subject: RE: Folk Songs That Hit the Charts as Pop Songs
From: Alan Day

A quick mention of "The Floral Dance" Terry Wogan
and run
Al

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19 Apr 11 - 05:57 PM (#3138476)
Subject: RE: Folk Songs That Hit the Charts as Pop Songs
From: saulgoldie

Did I miss it, or did no one mention "Bottle of Wine" by Tom Paxton, which was recorded by Jimmy Gilmer And The Fireballs and played on top 40 radio.

Saul

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20 Apr 11 - 07:05 AM (#3138854)
Subject: RE: Folk Songs That Hit the Charts as Pop Songs
From: Manitas_at_home

"Hoots Mon by Lord Rockingham's XI in 1958? aka Cock o' The North? "

A 100 Pipers.

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21 Apr 11 - 06:22 AM (#3139545)
Subject: RE: Folk Songs That Hit the Charts as Pop Songs
From: GUEST,Patsy

Can pop songs based on old children's rhymes be counted as folk? I remember 'A ha Oh No Don't Let the Rain Come Down', about the crooked man who found a crooked sixpence and walked a crooked mile etc. his roof had a hole in it, hence the title. The singer I don't remember but it was one of those children's classics frequently played on the radio.

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21 Apr 11 - 10:46 AM (#3139689)
Subject: RE: Folk Songs That Hit the Charts as Pop Songs
From: Allan Conn

"June Tabor's "Ashore" song "Shipbuilding" should be on the charts."

Mind that song, co-written by Elvis Costello, has already charted twice! As the original single released by Robert Wyatt then later on a Tasmin Archer EP of Costello songs!

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21 Apr 11 - 02:21 PM (#3139793)
Subject: RE: Folk Songs That Hit the Charts as Pop Songs
From: GUEST,Suibhne Astray

Let's have a link to that, shall we? Shipbuilding that is, as sung by Robert Wyatt.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rh6IwFhG8G8

Reached Number 32 in May 1983.

So that's a Pop Song hitting Folk, which would made a more interesting thread altogether...

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19 Sep 11 - 12:13 PM (#3225594)
Subject: RE: Folk Songs That Hit the Charts as Pop Songs
From: GUEST

If a song is a good song then the hits can start right away. This thread it all about songs that made the US/British charts since the 20s. Here are some 19th century songs that were big hits with new words or a new sound. One of you folks said they remember wild mountain time and wanted to know who had a hit with this song in 1992. Don't know much about them but they were called the Silencers. There's also My Old Man's a Dustman from 1960. The tune is a Liverpool chant called the Elder Dempster line a chant that is still sung at school and camps. That tune was also called 'What Do You Think About That?' which was a minor hit in the charts in 1922 for many singers at the time and is still sung at schools and other things. The 1960 song by Donegan went to number 1 in April of that year and is more remembered for folks to sing than the other two i have mentioned. When Elvis recorded love me tender in 1956 the tune Ken Darby wrote was the tune of Oralese, an 1873 song that has been a hit in the 1930s by many singers, pop and country. Another one I remember from the many songs of pop hits that have folk tunes is the 1962 song the Lion sleeps tonight; an African folk song first recorded in 1939 by Solamen Linden and a chart hit in 1952 by the Weavers as called Wimoweh the 1962 recording by the doo wop group called The Tokens that got to number 1 in the billboard charts in the end of 1961, and AGAIN was number 1 in Britain in 1982 for Tight Fit, but i think the tune is older than the Linden version from 1939. Another song that came to my head that nobody's mentioned yet is the 1957 song 'I'm Travelling Home'; a song that was a big hit in Britain in that year for Vera Lin and is to the same tune as the Scottish song Westering Home (written by Hugh Robertson) and has an older tune from Ireland, sung in Gallic. So who ever was talking about that language saying there is only one song that had the Gallic roots then they will know that a song from 1957 by Vera Lynn called travelling home was before the song you mentioned. 'She Wears My Ring' was a hit in 1968 by Soloman King and was a big hit. The tune is the same tune as 'The Swallow' and in 1951 was also called 'When You're In Love'. Labamba is another song that Richie Valens recorded in 1959 and was revived again by a Spanish group named loslobos that got to number 1 in 1987. The 1966 hit by The Sandpipers, Guantanamera, was a folk tune that was first remembered in 1835 and can still be heard today. The song 'Michael Row The Boat Ashore' by the highwaymen is a split up of the songs roots on the 19 century and the 20th century. The first verse they sing is the only verse that was written before the 20th century. The others they sing on the song were only written in the 1950s.

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19 Sep 11 - 12:21 PM (#3225597)
Subject: RE: Folk Songs That Hit the Charts as Pop Songs
From: GUEST,Bluesman

"Those Were the Days" by Mary Hopkin was always one of my favourites. The song was credited to Gene Raskin, who put English lyrics to the Russian song "Dorogoi dlinnoyu"

Just listening to another oldie here now, "Friday on My Mind" a great song by the Australian group The Easybeats. George Young and Harry Vanda wrote it.

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19 Sep 11 - 12:41 PM (#3225603)
Subject: RE: Folk Songs That Hit the Charts as Pop Songs
From: GUEST,Allan Conn

The Silencer's version of Wild Mountain Thyme was well known in Scotland because it was used in a TV advert. It didn't enter the UK charts though. They've only had 3 minor singles hits. Painted Moon got to 57 in 1988, Scottish Rain to 71 in 1989 and I Can Feel It to number 62 in 1903

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19 Sep 11 - 01:51 PM (#3225641)
Subject: RE: Folk Songs That Hit the Charts as Pop Songs
From: Genie

The Greek (and/or Turkish) Misirlou (Miserlou) became a big pop hit in the US, with English lyrics

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19 Sep 11 - 02:09 PM (#3225650)
Subject: RE: Folk Songs That Hit the Charts as Pop Songs
From: Genie

Point of setting the record straight:
(Ghost) Riders In The Sky shares ONLY the first two melody lines of the verse (an none of the chorus) with "When Johnny Comes Marching Home"/"Johnny, I hardly knew You."

The rest of (Ghost) Riders is quite different, not just in rhythm, tempo, etc., but in melody as well.

I'd add that while "I Can't Help Falling In Love With You" may be derivative of "Plaisir D'Amour," the tunes are hardly identical. (I'm not even sure you can use the same chord pattern for both.) Not to mention that ICHFILWY has a bridge, with its own melody, that has no relationship to Plaisir D'Amour.

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19 Sep 11 - 02:15 PM (#3225653)
Subject: RE: Folk Songs That Hit the Charts as Pop Songs
From: Genie

A folk song that Ewan McColl wrote for Peggy Seeger to sing, "The First Time Ever," was changed a bit (the timing and the melody of the first line anyway) for Roberta Flack's pop/soul version - which has pretty much become the standard.

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19 Sep 11 - 02:28 PM (#3225662)
Subject: RE: Folk Songs That Hit the Charts as Pop Songs
From: Genie

And "Buffalo Gals" was a pop (big band?) hit in the '40s too.

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19 Sep 11 - 04:39 PM (#3225739)
Subject: RE: Folk Songs That Hit the Charts as Pop Songs
From: PHJim

It seems I can recall that a pop group had a hit with a cover of Sylvia Tyson's first song, You Were On My Mind. I think they were called "We 5" or "We 3" or something like that.

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19 Sep 11 - 04:43 PM (#3225743)
Subject: RE: Folk Songs That Hit the Charts as Pop Songs
From: PHJim

Did anyone mention Roberta Flack's cover of Ewan MacColl's love song to Peggy Seeger "First Time Ever I Saw Your Face".

I guess the fact that it was written by a folkie doesn't really make it a folk song and I don't blame Mr. Offer for avoiding the "definition of folk song" debate.

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27 Jul 12 - 01:49 PM (#3382323)
Subject: RE: Folk Songs That Hit the Charts as Pop Songs
From: GUEST

A song that I remember called The Unfortunate Rake has appeared on a CD of 20 songs to the tune of The Unfortunate Rake, but one song did not appear. I also think that a similar CD featuring all the songs that used the O Sole Mio tune would be a good idea. Does anyone know of such a CD, or range of CDs along these lines?

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27 Jul 12 - 02:30 PM (#3382341)
Subject: RE: Folk Songs That Hit the Charts as Pop Songs
From: Don Firth

Phil Harris with "The Thing." Late 1950 it hit No. 1 on the charts.

The tune is a dead ringer for "The Lincolnshire Poacher."

Don Firth

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27 Jul 12 - 04:46 PM (#3382386)
Subject: RE: Folk Songs That Hit the Charts as Pop Songs
From: GUEST,Charles Macfarlane

> From: oldhippie
>
> And didn't "Wimoweh" become "The Lion Sleeps Tonight"?

And wasn't that a sordid tale of greed, and plagiaristic and racial exploitation?!
Rian Malan's story for Rolling Stone Magazine

> From: Richie
>
> Johnny and the Hurricanes recorded a rock and roll instrumental version In 1959 of the song entitled "Red River Rock" which became a hit in both the U.S. (#5) and in the UK (#3).

Are you referring to A:Rocking Goose / B:On Top Of Old Smokey - AIR, trad tunes played on a kazoo or similar?

> From: Genie
>
> A folk song that Ewan McColl wrote for Peggy Seeger to sing, "The First Time Ever ...

... I Saw Your Face" (to state its full title). According to legend, the remarkable thing about that song was that it was written during a transatlantic phone call between MacColl & Seeger. It's been covered not just by Roberta Flack but countless other pop stars, such as Celine Dione.

Also:

The Shadows - Quatermasster's Stores, originally Quartermaster's Stores.

East Of Eden - Jig-A-Jig

ELP - ISTR various versions of classical pieces, though I'm not sure any were actually hits.

Second City Sound - Tchaikovsky One - Theme from Tchaikovsky's First Piano Concerto popped-up in the 60s

Waldo de los Rios - Mozart40 - Mozart's 40th symphony popped-up in the 60s and since used as a sport TV theme.

John Denver - Annie's Song - Theme from Tchaikovsky's 5th Symphony

60s comic song 'Hello Mother, Hello Father' and Walt Disney's Fantasia (scene that begins with ostriches as ballet dancers) both used a well-known classical tune (Amilcare Ponchielli - La Gioconda - Dance Of The Hours).

Many more pop plagiarisms of classical here:
Pop meets the Classics

Surely someone, somewhere must have had a chart hit with John Henry?

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27 Jul 12 - 04:54 PM (#3382390)
Subject: RE: Folk Songs That Hit the Charts as Pop Songs
From: GUEST,olddude

but what is folk?
:-)

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28 Jul 12 - 04:25 AM (#3382571)
Subject: RE: Folk Songs That Hit the Charts as Pop Songs
From: Dave Hanson

British band ' East of Eden ' had a top ten hit with the traditional reel 'The Ashplant ' renamed as ' Jig a Jig ' in the 80s I think, unprecedented for a trad tune to chart.

Dave H

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28 Jul 12 - 04:38 AM (#3382575)
Subject: RE: Folk Songs That Hit the Charts as Pop Songs
From: Dave Hanson

Just checked it out, Jig A Jig reached No.7 in the charts in 1971, it's on youTube

Dave H

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28 Jul 12 - 06:43 AM (#3382610)
Subject: RE: Folk Songs That Hit the Charts as Pop Songs
From: GUEST,Grishka

Like many threads started by Joe, often years ago, this one makes interesting reading. "A Guy Is a Guy" is the very rare case that almost unchanged old lyrics appeared as if freshly written (- melodies are much easier to adapt). The adaptation here was heavy bowdlerization, but nevertheless the song was perceived as risqué in the sense of progressive relaxation of taboos in the USA. I do not see anything else like this in the above lists, among those songs that I know at all.

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29 Jul 12 - 05:37 AM (#3383045)
Subject: RE: Folk Songs That Hit the Charts as Pop Songs
From: GUEST,Allan Conn

"unprecedented for a trad tune to chart" Unusual but not unprecedented! One other example which springs to mind straight away is Portsmouth by Mike Oldfield

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01 Jun 15 - 06:09 PM (#3713761)
Subject: RE: Folk Songs That Hit the Charts as Pop Songs
From: GUEST,Joseph Scott

"Teddy Bear" by Elvis Presley and "Keep A Knockin'" by Little Richard were both top ten pop hits in 1957, and were both based on pre-1920 black folk songs (for "Teddy Bear" see e.g. Newman White's 1928 book, and for "Knockin'" see H. Odum).

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02 Jun 15 - 08:50 AM (#3713944)
Subject: RE: Folk Songs That Hit the Charts as Pop Songs
From: GUEST,Dave

About 9 years ago, Dave the Gnome correctly pointed out that the tune of "The Carnival is Over" is almost entirely taken from the Russian folk song "Stenka Razin", but incorrectly and unforgivably attributed the hit to the New Seekers. It was of course The Seekers, a vastly superior group. The New Seekers reworked Coca Cola ads. I think Tom Springfield did fess up as to where the tune came from, although sheet music you can download (both the Seekers version and Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds) still says "Words and Music by Tom Springfield".

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02 Jun 15 - 12:39 PM (#3714013)
Subject: RE: Folk Songs That Hit the Charts as Pop Songs
From: oggie

Des O'Connor - One, two, three O'Leary started life as a scottish kids' song. The Singing Kettle recorded the trad version.

Steve

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02 Jun 15 - 01:45 PM (#3714025)
Subject: RE: Folk Songs That Hit the Charts as Pop Songs
From: Manitas_at_home

A bit late now but I thought Jig a Jig had Drowsey Maggie and Jenny's Chickens as well.

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02 Jun 15 - 03:37 PM (#3714049)
Subject: RE: Folk Songs That Hit the Charts as Pop Songs
From: GUEST,Joseph Scott

"for 'Teddy Bear' see e.g. Newman White's 1928 book"

And also "Be My Kid Blues" by Elizabeth Johnson, but the Newman White version is closer to the song Leiber and Stoller provided to Elvis. (Perhaps Leiber had read Newman White.)

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02 Jun 15 - 06:09 PM (#3714073)
Subject: RE: Folk Songs That Hit the Charts as Pop Songs
From: GUEST,Janet

I was about 11 or 12 years old and listened to all the "pop" stations in Los Angeles, KFWB, KRLA, KHJ in the mid-1960's. I first became familiar with Joan Baez at that time after hearing her sing,
"There But for Fortune" which was played on all the pop stations.
I'd be listening to these stations play all the Beach Boys, the Beatles, Dave Clark Five, Jan & Dean, etc.
I was just a kid loving all the pop music and then heard this beautiful voice - and I COULDN'T BELIEVE IT!
These were all AM stations - not FM in those days.
So it was "THERE BUT FOR FORTUNE" being sung by Joan Baez on all these pop stations. (of course I didn't know who Phil Ochs was at the time - the writer of the song) and these stations did not play anything by Phil Ochs. From that day onwards when I heard Joan Baez for the very first time on the pop radio stations in Los Angeles - I was a fan forever and have just about every album of hers.

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03 Jun 15 - 05:05 AM (#3714156)
Subject: RE: Folk Songs That Hit the Charts as Pop Songs
From: eftifino

What about Boney M's 'By the rivers of Babylon'?

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03 Jun 15 - 05:12 AM (#3714158)
Subject: RE: Folk Songs That Hit the Charts as Pop Songs
From: MGM·Lion

27 Jul 12 - 02:30 PM
Phil Harris with "The Thing." Late 1950 it hit No. 1 on the charts.
The tune is a dead ringer for "The Lincolnshire Poacher."
Don Firth
.,,.
Slowburn reply

Indeed; and the 'boom boom boom' chorus derives from "The Farm Servant" -- see my youtube channel

http://www.youtube.com/user/mgmyer

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03 Jun 15 - 05:22 AM (#3714161)
Subject: RE: Folk Songs That Hit the Charts as Pop Songs
From: GUEST,Jon

I@@ve only skimmed the thread but have not spotted Day Trip to Bangor in the mix. Actually, I think they wrote it (renaming Rhyl to Bangor on the way) but it still has a sort of folky or perhaps music hall sound to it.

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03 Jun 15 - 07:24 AM (#3714179)
Subject: RE: Folk Songs That Hit the Charts as Pop Songs
From: GUEST,Phil

From: John on the Sunset Coast
Date: 23 Dec 06 - 06:54 PM
"Yellow Bird," the Mills Brothers and "Don't Ever Love Me," Harry Belafonte to a French Haitian melody, "Couchoune". I know that is not the spelling of the French title, but it is something like that."

Looks like I've got the zombie reply prize by one day over Manitas (for now) but:

1.
"Colby" (1889) or "Kolbi" in patois, is from Martinique.
The lyric is about American circus aeronaut-vaudevillian Prof. C.E. Colby (1868-1913) believe it or don't. The story has nothing to do with "Choucoune." But it is the same melody/arraignment Luboff and the Bergmans used for "Yellow Bird" (1957) and charted by the Mills Brothers (1958.) Five instrumentals charted on LPs in 1961-62.


2.
"Choucoune" (c.1893) is from Haïti.
It's one 'n' in the kreyòl ayisyen. Girl doesn't love boy anymore "based on actual events" as they say, but a political allegory at it's core. There are a bunch of oral tradition recordings but no sheet music, no physical record of the original. Jamaican ex-pat Sam Patterson published it in 1957 as "Choucounne" in french créole. The English covers (not translations) were "Don't Ever Love Me" (1957) by Attaway-Belafonte-Burgie and "She Never Loved Me" (1959) by Bud & Travis. No charts.

Two songs. You can't sing one whole to the music of the other. Joe, sooner or later I'll have a go at the "Yellow Bird" thread I guess.

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03 Jun 15 - 08:26 AM (#3714199)
Subject: RE: Folk Songs That Hit the Charts as Pop Songs
From: GUEST,HiLo

Laura Smith singing " My Bonnie Lies Over The Sea" was hit in the early 2000's.

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03 Jun 15 - 08:40 AM (#3714200)
Subject: RE: Folk Songs That Hit the Charts as Pop Songs
From: GUEST, DTM

"My Bonnie Lies Over The Sea"
Yeh, that's a great song by Laura Smith, HiLo. I also liked her song A Four Letter Word. I remember reading that her influences were Paul Simon, Dylan & Dick Gaughan.

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03 Jun 15 - 08:44 AM (#3714201)
Subject: RE: Folk Songs That Hit the Charts as Pop Songs
From: Manitas_at_home

No one seems to have mentioned Tom Jones singing of 'The Green Green Grass of Home' which is a re-write of 'Spancil Hill'.

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03 Jun 15 - 08:56 AM (#3714204)
Subject: RE: Folk Songs That Hit the Charts as Pop Songs
From: GUEST,HiLo

I know it is bit Off topic but I will mention that Laura Smith wrote a grand song called "I'm A Beauty". I have always enjoyed her music.

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03 Jun 15 - 09:05 AM (#3714206)
Subject: RE: Folk Songs That Hit the Charts as Pop Songs
From: Dave the Gnome

I did indeed, Dave! I had forgotten that and shouldn't really seeing as Judith Durham is one of my all time favourite singers!

Anyone mentioned "Only fools rush in" being Plaisir d'amour?

Cheers

DtG

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03 Jun 15 - 09:09 AM (#3714207)
Subject: RE: Folk Songs That Hit the Charts as Pop Songs
From: Dave the Gnome

...shouldn't have forgotten it was The Seekers that is!

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03 Jun 15 - 09:13 AM (#3714208)
Subject: RE: Folk Songs That Hit the Charts as Pop Songs
From: Dave the Gnome

"Yes my darling daughter" is based on a Ukrainian folk-song "Oj ne khody Hrytsju"

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22 Nov 17 - 01:00 PM (#3889780)
Subject: RE: Folk Songs That Hit the Charts as Pop Songs
From: Dave the Gnome

Just resurrecting this to ask a question - Does anyone have a link to the original tune "Oj ne khody Hrytsju"? I have just bought the music for "Yes, my darling daughter" off a web site and it is great but I wouldn't mind a comparison.

Going back to "Carnival is over"/"Stenka Rasin" I tried to learn the original, which is in 3/4 time, but the Seekers 4/4 version is ingrained and I found it too difficult!

DtG

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23 Nov 17 - 03:45 AM (#3889903)
Subject: RE: Folk Songs That Hit the Charts as Pop Songs
From: Mr Red

about 30 years ago I went to a folk meeting in Toronto and someone had songs typed on sheets and I looked at a few. I mentioned "wasn't this song written by Tom Paxton and that song by Ralph McTell?" - about half of them I could attribute. The owner just shrugged and the assemblage looked disinterested.

My point? if it is as Old as Grandfather it is so old it it is old (ie sort of Folk). And if it is almost as old it is good enough to call it Folk. If it is in the charts it is Pop.
A sweeping generalisation that has it roots in what can be seen around.

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23 Nov 17 - 04:06 AM (#3889904)
Subject: RE: Folk Songs That Hit the Charts as Pop Songs
From: GUEST, Paul Slade

Lighter said: "What, no mention of "'Tom Dooley'?"

Perhaps this will help.

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23 Nov 17 - 04:35 AM (#3889908)
Subject: RE: Folk Songs That Hit the Charts as Pop Songs
From: Mr Red

?? ?? ????, ????? (Oj ne khody Hrytsju) :(

if you read Ukranian - there may be links that help - best of luck - DtG

Theresa Sokyrka and Zirka - singing

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23 Nov 17 - 05:09 AM (#3889911)
Subject: RE: Folk Songs That Hit the Charts as Pop Songs
From: Mr Red

use the English "translate" clickie -

"Don't go, Hryts"

don't go, Hryts', to the vechornytsi*
because there are girls-witches

she dug potion on sunday
then she rinsed it on monday
she boiled it on tuesday
she poisoned on wednesday
and Hryts' died on thirsday
was buried on friday

and on saturday mother was beating her daughter
"oh why did you poison Hryts', why did you, rotter?"

oh mother, don't pity that dunce
for what does he love two girls at once?

let him to be nor mine nor hers
let him to lie down to earth

that's why i made such to you
so my mom beat me for you

so the requital cathes the scabs
house of oak made of four slabs


reminiscent of Solomon Grundy
There is a fair amount of rhyming in English which wouldn't come from Goggle IMNSHO.

*Vechornytsi - party with music, song, jokes and rituals! A shindig.

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