Songs That Tell Stories

I read Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee. A powerful accounting of tragedy. I felt down for a considerable time after that.

Great story there, edgar. Townes Van Zandt's Racing in the Streets tells it like it is.

Another poem that tells a story. If we have done this before, it's worth a repeat.



No man is an island entire of itself; every man
is a piece of the continent, a part of the main;
if a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe
is the less, as well as if a promontory were, as
well as a manor of thy friends or of thine
own were; any man's death diminishes me,
because I am involved in mankind.
And therefore never send to know for whom
the bell tolls; it tolls for thee.

John Donne




http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NuULa7aiazA&feature=related

I watched this on the radio thread, letty. I think we can all agree on the majesty of those words.

Here's a riff on a traditional sailor's song with a nod to the Beatles' Abbey Road album cover and a vigorous polka company. Recorded in NYC in 1989, you can recognize vocalist John, fiddler Ian and lead guitarist Alan (cutting up considerably).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bvxyT1VpCVA&feature=autoplay&list=PL21B9EE45BD20F79B&lf=plpp_play_all&playnext=126

Here are the lyrics to this popular traditional song:

[G]As I walked down the[C] Broadway one[D] evening in Ju[G]ly
I met a maid who[C] asked my trade – A [D7]sailor John - says[G] I

[G]And away you[C] Johnnie – My[D] dear[G] Annie
O you[C] New York girls,[D7] can't you dance the[G] polka

To Tiffany's I took her, I did not mind expense
An' I bought her two gold ear-rings, and they cost me fifty cents

And away you Johnnie – My dear Annie
O you New York girls, can't you dance the polka?

Says she - You lime-juice sailor, now see me home you may
But when we reached her cottage door, she unto me did say

And away you Johnnie – My dear Annie
O you New York girls, can't you dance the polka?

She says her man's a Yankee, with his hair cut short behind
And he wears a pair of tall sea boots and he sails in the Blackball Line

And away you Johnnie – My dear Annie
O you New York girls, can't you dance the polka?

But here is another song from the oysters, more current, a bittersweet ballad that shows how great they are with both melody and lyrics:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7bzHUoV_Bow&feature=autoplay&list=PL21B9EE45BD20F79B&lf=plpp_play_all&playnext=127

Walking away
You were walking away for ever
No more to say
End of heart's endeavour

Bitter the wind on the back of my neck
Bitter the glance that you threw me
Bitter the wave on the knuckle of rock
Time and tide will cover

Fear and beauty shake my heart
Memories pursue me
Not to let them break my heart
I let the wave roll through me

SEE THESE THINGS BY NORTHERN LIGHT
YOU'LL NEVER SEE THEM CLEARER
LOVE'S AS SHORT AS SUMMER NIGHTS
BY NORTHERN LIGHT… MY DEAR

Touching your face
The braille of blind affection
Taking for grace
The spark that must find connection

Easy the breeze on the pond in the park
Easy the laughter that drew me
Easy the walk hand in hand until dark
Glow of the lamp's reflection

Fear and beauty…


The website manager put the chorus in caps, I highlighted in red an image I found particularly beautiful.

I love Townes. He was a friend of a friend of mine, now dead. I can't hear Towns without thinking of Larry.

ALright, those of you who have listened to my endless posts of the oysterband will recognize the singer, John Jones of oysterband and the cello player.

This is one hell of a ballad. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7rjWIBXLUtQ

No, it is not the Child ballad of the pirate but something more akin to Townes Van Zandt's Maria.

The band is Jones' side project.

Wow Pom - those are beautiful songs. I'd never heard of the Oyster Band - thank you for posting those - lyrics and everything. I enjoyed them immensely.

Here's a traditional sea chanty done by one of the sexy new Euro-style "folk" ensembles, Bellowhead, at the Cambridge Folk Festival (where else?):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X6M39eCnQWM

By some over-the-hill Baby Boomers:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gbduX7fcVRk
Yuck!

But, here is John Jones and his own band, The Reluctant Ramblers:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hl-Tv3tDjqM

I'm glad to turn you on to oysterband but so sorry you hadn't heard of them before. They're terrific. They have a new CD and are appearing in a series of sold out performances across England.

I'll have to see if I can find a scalper. I've gotten tickets that way to Bruce Springsteen's sold out shows.
Yeah - thanks again.

Here's the news from oysterband, in their own words:



During the interval last night, at a sold-out Milton Keynes, email and tweeting hell broke out in the dressing room - fans and friends determined to tell us that we have several nominations in the BBC Folk Awards. Mike Harding announced that Ragged Kingdom was up for Best Album; Bonny Bunch of Roses for Best Traditional Track; we’re up for Best Group; and June was nominated as Folk Singer of the Year. And given that she has already put out a highly acclaimed solo album this year – Ashore – we think she richly deserves it.

I didn't know a thing about Oysterband, before this. So, I thank you for introducing me. It made me think also of a different oyster -


All our times have come
Here but now they're gone
Seasons don't fear the reaper
Nor do the wind, the sun or the rain..we can be like they are
Come on baby...don't fear the reaper
Baby take my hand...don't fear the reaper
We'll be able to fly...don't fear the reaper
Baby I'm your man...

Valentine is done
Here but now they're gone
Romeo and Juliet
Are together in eternity...Romeo and Juliet
40,000 men and women everyday...Like Romeo and Juliet
40,000 men and women everyday...Redefine happiness
Another 40,000 coming everyday...We can be like they are
Come on baby...don't fear the reaper
Baby take my hand...don't fear the reaper
We'll be able to fly...don't fear the reaper
Baby I'm your man...

Love of two is one
Here but now they're gone
Came the last night of sadness
And it was clear she couldn't go on
Then the door was open and the wind appeared
The candles blew then disappeared
The curtains flew then he appeared...saying don't be afraid
Come on baby...and she had no fear
And she ran to him...then they started to fly
They looked backward and said goodby...she had become like they are
She had taken his hand...she had become like they are
Come on baby...don't fear the reaper

Wow! Don't Fear the Reaper. (he's rather grim) was great as were your other songs, edgar. Don't know Blue Oyster Cult. Thanks for the introduction.

Oliver Wendel Holmes.



His Chambered Nautilus was fabulous. It's spiral reminded me of Fibonacci's golden spiral

Here's the last stanza of the poem.

Build thee more stately mansions, O my soul,
As the swift seasons roll!
Leave thy low-vaulted past!
Let each new temple, nobler than the last,
Shut thee from heaven with a dome more vast,
Till thou at length art free,
Leaving thine outgrown shell by life's unresting sea!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P4E9zV1kEg8

I know this one very well, letty. Only thing, I rarely can recall the author.

blue oyster cult did this one too, miss letty...

godzilla
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k6rDWqjnW7w&feature=related

Godzilla, Rock? wow!

another one that tells a story.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3YsqCBXqxZo&feature=related