Today's song shares much in common with a number of folk songs from both Ireland and Scotland that tell the story of a wayward lady and her roving love. Listen in!
Oh my, this makes me cry from nostalgia. I grew up singing folk songs with my family and friends. I spent two non-consecutive years in London during the 1960s and fell in with a folksie crowd. I learned new songs and found I loved English folk music and the singers and bands. I still have vinyl records of Maddy Prior, Fairport Convention, and the ultimate folk-rock band, Steeleye Span. Bert Jansch, The Watersons ... I'll bet you've never heard of these but they were terrific. There were a lot of folk clubs that usually met in a pub once a week or so. Usually they were just for group singing, with a few guitars played, but sometimes semi-well-known singers came and entertained. One time Paul Simon came to a folk club I attended; he was making the rounds of these clubs in Essex outside of London to practice his act and the songs he wrote before he got famous. We could tell he was going to make it, even then.
And here's a contemporary version of the Raggle Taggle variant by Wyoming singer Jalan Crossland. A highly talented gentleman, but does have a penchant for some naughty lyrics. This song is clear, though!
Such happy music! Thank you, Debra. Once again you’ve served up a tasty morsel of truth, beauty and goodness. On our way to play Bridge with Sam and Mo, my octogenarian parents. I’ve queued up the Kingston Trio and the New Christy Minstrels. Fold music for the folks! You are a blessing.
Sometimes the melody of a folk song forms the basis of a contemporary hit. The English folk ballad known as both "The Riddle Song" and "I Gave My Love a Cherry," became the melodic foundation for "The Twelfth of Never." Johnny Mathis includes it perennially in his repertoire, singing its modern words with a folkish flavor.
You’ve done it again! I LOVE the music you choose, be it classical, hymns or folk music!! Too bad you didn’t get to Concord last Saturday night for William Florian’s concert at the City Auditorium; you would have loved it! He’s 70 years old and sang with the New Christy Minstrels
“back in the day” as they say. It was like a community Sing-A-Long! What a wonderful evening! (One of Concord’s COMMUNITY CONCERT series)
I remember singing all those folk songs you mentioned when we were in school….happy memories!
My family produced and hosted the most popular and longest running Irish music radio program in American radio history . Our St Patricks Day parties were epic.
Love the Clancy Brothers! My husband (1st generation Scottish) said that album was in his house growing up. We will have to add this song to our collection. Thank you for sharing!
*love* this song! another one i discovered in college and fell in love with. my mom is a musician and sang all of the old folk songs for us all the time - i was surprised when i realized not everyone knew them - but discovering the Irish (and Scottish) folk bands was “a whole nuther” level of eye-opening for me. now i listen to them with my kids and we belt them out in the car - this is one of their favourites, too.
The American Song Treasury? Is that volume a collection by Theodore Ralph ?
Oh my, this makes me cry from nostalgia. I grew up singing folk songs with my family and friends. I spent two non-consecutive years in London during the 1960s and fell in with a folksie crowd. I learned new songs and found I loved English folk music and the singers and bands. I still have vinyl records of Maddy Prior, Fairport Convention, and the ultimate folk-rock band, Steeleye Span. Bert Jansch, The Watersons ... I'll bet you've never heard of these but they were terrific. There were a lot of folk clubs that usually met in a pub once a week or so. Usually they were just for group singing, with a few guitars played, but sometimes semi-well-known singers came and entertained. One time Paul Simon came to a folk club I attended; he was making the rounds of these clubs in Essex outside of London to practice his act and the songs he wrote before he got famous. We could tell he was going to make it, even then.
Typo but true! Folk music is also good fold music - like laundry!
And here's a contemporary version of the Raggle Taggle variant by Wyoming singer Jalan Crossland. A highly talented gentleman, but does have a penchant for some naughty lyrics. This song is clear, though!
https://youtu.be/Z9gDHi4PLyU?si=Vl7twKC3soEjQZxA
Now why, under Heaven, should a singing audience move me to tears?!
"Lovely."🥰
This brings back happy memories of listening to -and singing with- Makem & Clancy on the Milwaukee lakefront during Irish Fest in the 1980s.
Such happy music! Thank you, Debra. Once again you’ve served up a tasty morsel of truth, beauty and goodness. On our way to play Bridge with Sam and Mo, my octogenarian parents. I’ve queued up the Kingston Trio and the New Christy Minstrels. Fold music for the folks! You are a blessing.
Sometimes the melody of a folk song forms the basis of a contemporary hit. The English folk ballad known as both "The Riddle Song" and "I Gave My Love a Cherry," became the melodic foundation for "The Twelfth of Never." Johnny Mathis includes it perennially in his repertoire, singing its modern words with a folkish flavor.
You’ve done it again! I LOVE the music you choose, be it classical, hymns or folk music!! Too bad you didn’t get to Concord last Saturday night for William Florian’s concert at the City Auditorium; you would have loved it! He’s 70 years old and sang with the New Christy Minstrels
“back in the day” as they say. It was like a community Sing-A-Long! What a wonderful evening! (One of Concord’s COMMUNITY CONCERT series)
I remember singing all those folk songs you mentioned when we were in school….happy memories!
Oh my gosh! I didn’t know the song by the title, but only when I listened! It’s been a hundred years since I heard this song. Well…..maybe fifty?
My family produced and hosted the most popular and longest running Irish music radio program in American radio history . Our St Patricks Day parties were epic.
Love the Clancy Brothers! My husband (1st generation Scottish) said that album was in his house growing up. We will have to add this song to our collection. Thank you for sharing!
*love* this song! another one i discovered in college and fell in love with. my mom is a musician and sang all of the old folk songs for us all the time - i was surprised when i realized not everyone knew them - but discovering the Irish (and Scottish) folk bands was “a whole nuther” level of eye-opening for me. now i listen to them with my kids and we belt them out in the car - this is one of their favourites, too.