Monday - January 24, 2011
roots are glue too
American folk music has it’s strongest roots in the Irish and English tunes that arrived here in the middle of the 19th century. Before today I had never heard this tune, but I can hear parts of several other songs that I do know within it. Sometimes songs like this get called sea chanties, sometimes they’re labeled “celtic” or “traditional”. It’s all the same really. But if it’s a moderately happy or lively tune with sad lyrics, or a sad tune with happy or comical lyrics, then it’s folk music.
On a more personal note, and another dose of glue, the tune dates back to the early to mid 19th century, my favorite era of history. And if you’re really Aching to know, Nanny Ogg knows the words too. It’s not all just hedgehogs with her.
For all I know, my UK readers are having a great laugh at my naivety here. I found loads of versions of this song over at YouTube, spanning 70 or more years, recorded in pubs where the crowd joins in, or in cathedrals for that wonderful ambient sound, to the point where I’m beginning to feel the whole bunch of you know the words to dozens of these things and are are liable to burst out in song at your local after a few pints. Believe me, spontaneous group song simply does not erupt in bars in America. Not unless it’s Irish night at some old guys bar in Boston. Almost none of our sports teams have songs either. And the schools no longer teach the old songs to our children; all that has been lost. So I’m not the only Yank who’s in the dark on this one.
Posted by Drew458
on 01/24/2011 at 12:26 PM
Filed Under: • Fun-Stuff • Music •
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