Songs That Tell Stories

I have always liked that poem, letty.

Good song. I am glad it had the lyrics.

I'm glad you liked it edgar. I stumbled on an old compilation disk today and when I heard it knew it belonged here.

Boy, Woodie could write powerful lyrics.
I think he used this melody by Blind Lemon Jefferson for Vigilante Man

You probably know that Bob Dylan did that song on his first album. It is possible Woody got his melody from Blind Lemon. A lot of the old folk artists freely borrowed each other's music, I think.

Yes they did. I wasn't dissing Woody, I just thought it was interesting to hear the relationship between the 2.

I know you wouldn't diss the man. Not for that reason anyway.
One of my favorite stories of borrowing a melody is Dylan and his song, Don't Think Twice. A friend of his (forgot who) discovered an old folk melody and made the mistake of letting Dylan have access to it. Later, he told Dylan, "Don't do anything with it. I want to make a song with it." Dylan: "Too late. I recorded it yesterday."

This is a slightly different twist on an old tale, told here by the Oyster Band. An Oyster a day keeps the sadness away. Enjoy John's velvet vocals and Alan's throbbing guitar as well as the version of the tale that reminds me of Thomas Hardy. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ykB_Kz3lHM8&p=10D0CDB90EBCE685&index=3&playnext=8

BTW, you probably know the version sung by Peter, Paul and Mary. The transforming heroine known variously as Molly Van, Molly Bond and more can be traced back to the strange and ancient Celtic word for woman whose forms include both "bahn," as in banshee (woman of the sidh) and mna. I told you it was strange and ancient.

ed, one of Woody's maxims was something like, "Write the best words you can, and then steal the best tune you can to sing them to".

Love the Oyster Band, by the way. Here's another subtly bitter, elliptical story song from them. Are they still together, do they tour anymore?

that was the most understandable version I could find but the acoustics still weren't great. Here are the lyrics:

I met a man whose brother said he knew a man who knew the Oxford girl ....
Is it true what you hear, did he do it out of fear?
Was the day drawing near when a child would start to show?
Was it rage or shame or damage to his name?
Was it something worse, does anybody know?
Did she pay a price for making them look twice?
Like a glimpse of paradise across a dull and bitter land?
Did she pass them by, did she dare to meet their eye?
Did she scorn them all and did they understand?
A grief to her father -did she really leave him?
a lover to her brother -yes we all believe him
temptation to her betters -no better than she should be
unfaithful to her lover -he always new she would be
She says: I never had a chance to prove them wrong
My time was short, the story long
No I never had a chance to prove them wrong
It's always them that write the song
Did he go to ground, was the suitcase ever found?
Did the police come swarming round on a trail already cold?
Did he lead them a dance, did he run away to France?
Or did he shop himself before the day was old?
O she was bound to loose if she set her face to choose
They never could excuse her for stirring up their fears
She was much to young, the earth has stopped her tongue
You can hear the voices calling down the years
She says: I never had a chance to prove them wrong
My time was short, the story long
No I never had a chance to prove them wrong
It's always them that write the song
I met a man whose brother said he new a man who knew the Oxford girl ....

When I write lyrics, it is often to the sound and cadence of another's song.

Thanks for providing the lyrics. It helps me understand an unfamiliar song so much better.

The Oysters are still together and still touring. Their website lists separate acoustic and electric concerts. They're touring Denmark and Germany this month but go home to England for December.

I signed up for their emailings, but, true to what you might imagine from the Oysters, they're not the most avid correspondents. However, they don't seem to make it to the States often these days.

They celebrated 25 years together in 2003. Just last week, Dave played a gorgeous a cappella song by them that was in media res when I turned on the radio and made me drop everything just to find out who was performing.

Some members of the band have solo recordings as well. That includes John the vocalist and Alan the lead guitarist.

I took a song writing class years ago. Our instructor Lorraine Hammond said that is the easiest way for new songwriters to begin.

While I am thinking about legendary BRitish folk-rockers, here is a gorgeous song written and sung by Maddie Prior of Steeleye Span for a British documentary on rabbits.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GFWzPiGHd_Y&playnext=9&list=PL10D0CDB90EBCE685&index=5&ytsession=Pl4hyY1EDUgooYSetqtGCZmyXc8ee0EuMAQ8zjBIKz8wOsImQL8ncuAQ8wCa6PlQL1M_thFSXE-YNi5KX6p7erQmAtrmj8Fy6fam3XlpdMXFJJot-F5IwdCeUaWKhwowGqBM3NxQBuWA9EBUaJd1z-XBo8aRmjc3bXS5gVT4CgS5QQZk8r6_R2dnwLo9XAWsl6K57NQ5Nf2jzrt87x93FWZseP6QTKJ93tVKkLon0uppB4JzBzqP0p2guc-xpu0z0n7zKe01EWInj1gw5VyqAMNu1CIdV1-RZWwZxa75OXi4d_WhNzXvhJVE8fSdgL5WiEKGyB4f9jtobfcl1q02tgNEbJMTAH2P

nice

I like it too.

Love The Best Years of Your Life by Red, edgar. I remember his Crying in the Chapel.

Chief Joseph:



First, his speech:

Will Fight No More Forever

Surrender Speech by Chief Joseph of the Nez Perce

I am tired of fighting. Our chiefs are killed. Looking Glass is dead. Toohulhulsote is dead. The old men are all dead. It is the young men who say yes or no. He who led the young men is dead.
It is cold and we have no blankets. The little children are freezing to death. My people, some of them, have run away to the hills and have no blankets, no food. No one knows where they are--perhaps freezing to death. I want to have time to look for my children and see how many I can find. Maybe I shall find them among the dead.
Hear me, my chiefs. I am tired. My heart is sick and sad. From where the sun now stands, I will fight no more forever.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WEMdN_4GAs4