A FELLOW BY THE NAME OF DAN McGINNIS wrote the lyrics to take the piss out of his boss, George Mercier. Old George was engaged to Anna Tucker, and managed to land a job that McGinnis wanted. In spite, McGinnis wrote the lyrics, and tagged Jack Haggerty’s name on it, some think to make George wonder if there might have been a bit of a dalliance between Jack, who was the local heartthrob, and … [Read more...] about Jack Haggerty
On Springfield Mountain
IT'S A TRAGIC TALE ... telling of the death of one Timothy Merrick, who died on August 7, 1761 in Wilbraham, Massachusetts from the bite of a serpent. The town clerk recorded at the time, "Lieut Thomas Mirick's only Son dyed, August 7th, 1761, By the Bite of a Ratle Snake, Being 22 years, two months and three days old, and very nigh marridge." And that’s pretty much where the facts ends and the … [Read more...] about On Springfield Mountain
Nineteen Years Old (The Virgin)
ON THE FRONTIER THERE WERE NO STANDUP COMEDIANS. They were forced to make each other laugh. When it comes to topics, we haven’t progressed much as this song shows. Variations exist of this song under a number of names, including In the Shade of the Old Apple Tree, The Burgler Man, My Little Girl, A Dandy For Nineteen Years Old and Whorehouse Bells Were Ringing. This one goes out to anyone … [Read more...] about Nineteen Years Old (The Virgin)
I Courted A Wee Girl (The False Bride)
I Courted A Wee Girl is a heartbreaking tale, Scottish in origin though the Irish lay claim as well. The Brits made it popular as a broadside ballad. It's also known as “The False Bride,” "The Week Before Easter", "The False Hearted Lover", "The Forsaken Bridegroom" or "Love Is The Cause Of My Mourning" or "The False Nymph". I Courted A Wee Girl I courted a wee girl for many’s the long … [Read more...] about I Courted A Wee Girl (The False Bride)
Fair Fannie Moore
HERE'S A NEWFOUNDLAND VERSION of a British murder ballad, which drifted its way all over North America, and found some success later on as a cowboy song. It found its way to us via an album titled Green Fields Of Illinois,” put out by the Campus Folksong Club of the University of Illinois in 1963. The album was a collection of folk songs sung by regular folks who hailed from southern Illinois, … [Read more...] about Fair Fannie Moore
Whiskey You’re The Devil
Whiskey has a prominent place in the history of the frontier. There is of course the obvious reason. But one must not discount the economics. It takes a lot of grain to make whiskey, and a barrel of whiskey is easier and cheaper to transport than wagons full of grain. Whiskey You’re The Devil seems to have its source in a broadside ballad titled John and Moll, which dates from Ireland sometime … [Read more...] about Whiskey You’re The Devil
Twa Recruiting Sergeants
In rural Scotland, as well as Ireland and England, agents of the king would wander rural areas, looking for the poor, those who found themselves in trouble, or even the feeble minded to serve in the king’s wars. Some used strong arm tactics, others offered a glamorous life of a soldier, while the more disreputable ones just got the unfortunates drunk and shipped them off while they were passed … [Read more...] about Twa Recruiting Sergeants
Lakes of Pontchartrain
One from the Paul Brady/Planxty songbook, the liner notes for Planxty’s version state that it was likely brought back to Ireland from soldiers fighting in the War of 1812, which is likely as it’s also listed as a traditional Creole song. The lyrics however must have gone through several revisions, as the train line which ran from New Orleans to Jackson, Mississippi didn’t open up till the 1860s, … [Read more...] about Lakes of Pontchartrain
(Are You Going To) Scarborough Fair
OLD ENGLISH SONG SMASHED together with Dylan’s version. Not sure if Dylan actually wrote or compiled Girl of the North Country. Some things are just mysteries. Todd Lane and I sang it George and Tammy style, one mike. I’m sure in his mind as well, we were wearing rhinestones and cowboy hats. Scarborough Fair Are you going to Scarborough Fair, Parley, sage, rosemary and thyme, Remember … [Read more...] about (Are You Going To) Scarborough Fair
Barbara Allen’s Cruelty
An old English song, an old American song. The song has haunted me since I was kid, falling in love with the melody. It was used extensively in the soundtrack to Scrooge, the good version with Alstair Sim. Our version is a bit different. Just what the hell did young William do to piss off Barbara Allen so? She obviously loved him … she dies out of guilt after all? It comes perilously close to … [Read more...] about Barbara Allen’s Cruelty
O’ Shenandoah
THE HISTORY OF THE OHIO RIVER VALLEY is of course, tied to rivers. Not just the Ohio, but a plethora of smaller rivers flow into it, bring with them the stories and songs of the regions the rivers meander through. The Ohio was the river that brought the songs to mass popularity. Shenandoah’s lyrics come from fur trappers working the Missouri River, and often incorporate references to the Native … [Read more...] about O’ Shenandoah
Listen To The Mockingbird
THIS IS THE ONE SONG with a direct connection to Carmi, Illinois’ bicentennial. Which was the reason we were recording folk songs to begin with. In the booklet for Carmi’s sesquicentennial, the author, J. Robert Smith referred to the song being sung in Carmi’s parlors, accompanied by the pump organ. The music was written by a black street musician by the name of Richard Milburn. The lyrics … [Read more...] about Listen To The Mockingbird
Edgar Allan Poe’s The Conqueror Worm: The play is the tragedy, ‘Man’ And its hero, the Conqueror Worm
Poe's The Conqueror Worm can be found in his tale Ligeia, a story of death, resurrection, opium abuse, more death and madness. The poem depicts a performance of mimes, controlled by vast, shapeless forms offstage. High above angels watch and weep, and at last an evil, formless shape crawls center stage and eats the hapless mimes, and as the curtain comes down, the title of the play, Man is … [Read more...] about Edgar Allan Poe’s The Conqueror Worm: The play is the tragedy, ‘Man’ And its hero, the Conqueror Worm
Edgar Allan Poe’s To One In Paradise: For, alas! alas! with me The light of Life is o’er!
Poe's To One In Paradise tells of the sorrow felt when you lose the connection to the one you love, essentially being shut out of paradise. Poe creates an almost Biblical tone, comparisons to the Garden of Eden and man's fall from God's grace are inevitable. Has his love left this life to go to paradise, or is he simply deprived of her company, Poe's To One In Paradise is vague on the matter? … [Read more...] about Edgar Allan Poe’s To One In Paradise: For, alas! alas! with me The light of Life is o’er!
Edgar Allan Poe’s A Dream Within a Dream: You are not wrong, who deem, That my days have been a dream
Analyzing Poe's A Dream Within A Dream is an exercise in futility. Poe's intentions can't be known, but it doesn't stop people from trying. Read straightforward you get a sense that Poe is on the verge of loss, he's kissing his loved one goodbye, and if there's a sense that he's accepted it, it's because accepted the reality, or unreality of life. You can't live a dream for long, because it's … [Read more...] about Edgar Allan Poe’s A Dream Within a Dream: You are not wrong, who deem, That my days have been a dream
Edgar Allan Poe’s Annabel Lee: But we loved with a love that was more than love
Annabel Lee was Poe's last poem. Legends abound that it's based on a story from Charleston, South Carolina, but that's unlikely. In reality he wrote it about his wife, recently deceased. It's the story of a man haunted by love, and follows love into the grave. It's an exploration of obsessive love, doomed love that keep the mind busy for some time, working it out for ourselves. Holding onto … [Read more...] about Edgar Allan Poe’s Annabel Lee: But we loved with a love that was more than love
Interlude: The Hearse Song, a.k.a. The Worms Crawl In The Worms Crawl Out
The Hearse Song is one of the first songs I ever learned, albeit in a shortened version" The worms crawl in, The worms crawl out. The worms play pinochle on your snout. You spread it on a piece of bread, And that's what you eat when you are dead. Now a keen eye will instantly recognize that there's something missing. What the hell are you eating on a piece of bread? I learned The Hearse … [Read more...] about Interlude: The Hearse Song, a.k.a. The Worms Crawl In The Worms Crawl Out
Edgar Allan Poe’s Deep In Earth: And I must weep alone
Poe's Deep in Earth is a curious couplet. It was found pencilled in on a copy of the manuscript to Eulalie, which speaks of the joy of his marriage. Perhaps that scribbling is Poe thinking out loud, taking a note to remind himself of a couplet which he might use later. Perhaps he was adding a postscript to Eulalie, what happens after the ending. His wife had died earlier that year and Poe … [Read more...] about Edgar Allan Poe’s Deep In Earth: And I must weep alone
Edgar Allan Poe’s Spirits of the Dead: Thy soul shall find itself alone, ’Mid dark thoughts of the gray tombstone …
Poe's Spirits of the Dead is a walk through the graveyard, a treatise on death by one in mourning. The spirits of the dead live on in Poe's poem, and surround you as you walk the alleys of tombstones. The feeling of loneliness one gets as you wander the graves, Poe reasons is without merit, for the dead all around you. The time for spirits of the dead to walk again is the night, but night … [Read more...] about Edgar Allan Poe’s Spirits of the Dead: Thy soul shall find itself alone, ’Mid dark thoughts of the gray tombstone …
Edgar Allan Poe’s A City In The Sea: Hell, rising from a thousand thrones, Shall do it reverence.
Poe's A City In The Sea is an apocalyptic vision, a conspiracy of evil set to rise up and usher in Hell on Earth. The city in question lies unnamed and without location, somewhere in the west. It's a peaceful city, not unlike the Atlantis legend, but it would be more apt to describe a progressive Sodom and Gomorrah. Poe describes towers, shrines, turrets, domes and spires, yet the light of … [Read more...] about Edgar Allan Poe’s A City In The Sea: Hell, rising from a thousand thrones, Shall do it reverence.