Hangman

Continuing the thread of depressing songs, here is Peter, Paul, and Mary, with Hangman.

Poor guy; every time someone he knows comes up to where he’s being hanged, they have no interest in helping him at all. At least his true love seems to be there for him.

Get the feeling his family is in for it after the song ends?

Walk That Lonesome Valley

This keeps with two recent themes. This is another song being sung by Joan Baez, but I really wish I’d found it when I was posting about Mary Travers death, because this is a duet with Mary, and is appropriate to the topic.

Walk That Lonesome Valley is a traditional, but it’s well sung. And, no, I’m not intentionally playing a bunch of songs that are depressing or about death. It just seems to work out that way.

(And remember, Sean, if you’re reading this, you can post and change the theme at any time. )

Donna Donna

Before I detoured to comedy and scottish music[1], I’d been playing a bunch of Joni Mitchell music. It occurred to me that I’m remiss in having played a bunch of Joni’s music, but not having played any Joan Baez.

So I thought I’d make up for it. Here is one of her better known songs, Donna Donna.

This is a very serious, sorrowful song, originally written in Yiddish. It is in fact, I believe, supposed to be about Jewish people in Nazi Germany. Here is what it sounds like in Yiddish, as played by Klesmer R’s.

Though, if you remember the laughter from the Beatles “I Am the Walrus”,  I tend to picture that in the chorus about the winds laughing. Rather inappropriate, I know…

[1] Two topics that go well together.

Four Candles

Lets go on from Steeleye Span to a bit of comedy.

Thought you might enjoy this sketch by the Two Ronnies. It’s titled “Four Candles”, and is a lot of fun…

http://oneneatthingaday.wordpress.com/2009/09/22/robbing-the-elf-hills/

Robbing The Elf Hills

Well, after that depressing post, back to folk music, I suppose. In this case, thought I’d revisit Steeleye Span.

Check this song. It is called Robbery With Violins, and is one of these fabulous juxtapositions of a traditional tune with modern instruments I occasionally find.

Since that was less then 2 minutes, lets throw in an utterly traditional tune, Si Bheag Si Mohr. You’ve heard it before. Everyone has. It’s played at every remotely Irish festival that ever exists. It’s a good tune, though.

Mary Travers

As much as I like this Scottish theme, I’d be remiss in not observing that Mary Travers of Peter, Paul, and Mary passed away last Wednesday.

I think everyone here knows how much I like Peter, Paul, and Mary. She was 72, and passed away of leukemia. It’s a damn shame that her death will probably be overshadowed by Michael Jackson’s, happening the same year.

This is the song Jesus Met a Woman.

And here is the song And When I Die.

The Haughs O’Cromdale

Well, continuing on a very Scottish theme, we have The Corries with The Haughs O’Cromdale.

And no, no particular reason why I’m playing a bunch of Scottish music right now. I just like Scottish music. Sean’s perfectly welcome to post something, and change themes if he wants…

Bonnie Blue

Given the gap between my last two posts, figured I’d post this one early.

I thought the Corries were interesting, so I decided to listen to more of them. This is The Bonnie Blue, clearly a very Scottish song. Who else would have Bonnie Blue Bonnets after you to wish you all good morning?

Twa Corbies (redux)

Still have the edges of this thing.

Time to break off from Joni Mitchell for a little while, though. I found a recording of Twa Corbies I hadn’t heard before, and I thought the instrumentation on it was rather unique, so I thought I’d play it here. This song is by a group called the Corries.

I’m sure I’ve played this song here before, but for those who don’t recall, it’s about two Ravens going out for a bite to eat.

Cactus Tree

Still not feeling good.

Still posting Joni Mitchell songs.

This one’s Cactus Tree.

Nice imagery.