Song Of The Day

Song of The Day

"Shake Sugaree" Elizabeth Cotten and Brenda Evans, 1960s Shake Sugaree was written sometime in the 1960s by Elizabeth Cotten's Great-Grandchildren. She explains, "Each child got a verse." The song is sung here by Brenda Evans, who was 12 years old then, and was recorded by Mike Seeger. This song could have been the inspiration for the song "Sugaree" by the Grateful Dead, but the band has denied this. Jerry Garcia was a big fan of her work and performed and the band performed some of her songs. I'm not really familiar with these people though, so I'm not sure. Brenda Evans would continue to be a musician, and I think, was a member of the band "The Undisputed Truth" for a time. And would continue to make and perform music in the 1970s.

An Album a Day 2024: Day 262

Sep. 18, 2024

Tracy Chapman - Matters of the Heart (1992)

Folk rock, Pop rock, Singer-songwriter

YouTube

Matters of the Heart

Song of The Day

"The Crucifixion" Phil Ochs, 1967

"The Crucifixion" was first written by Phil Ochs in 1965, and was first recorded in 1966 by Jim and Jean and in 1967 by Phil Ochs

Phil Ochs described it as "The Greatest Song he'd ever written" and its meaning as an allegory for the assassination of JFK. This song really goes above and beyond. The Lyrics and the Composition are all groundbreakingly technical, haunting, and tragic. Listening to this song feels like glimpsing at this man's soul, there is just so much heart to it. And to think, he was worried about it not being received well.

Song of The Day

do you want the history of a folk song? dm me or submit an ask and I'll do a full rundown

"Turn! Turn! Turn!"

The Byrds, 1965

"Turn! Turn! Turn!"/"To Everything There Is a Season" was a song written by Pete Seeger in 1959 and first recorded in 1962 by the Limeliters and then Seeger a few months later. It was featured in Sing Out! magazine in 1964

sing out! vol 14 iss 4 It was based on the Book of Ecclesiastes of the Hebrew Bible, which starts the same way "To Everything there is a season; a time for every purpose under heaven" The song was popularized by the 1965 version by The Byrds.

I like this song, I think it's sweet. I like the original poetry of the Book of Ecclesiastes as well. I like the message, I like the idea that while there is a time war or for rage, there is also a time to mourn and to mend. I think that this song has the attitude of a traditional folk song.

Nina Simone and Judy Collins also covered it

He also did it as a duet with Judy Collins in 1966

Song of The Day

"Kisses Sweeter Than Wine" The Weavers, 1951

"Kiss Sweeter Than Wine" is based on a traditional Irish folk song first published between 1858 and 1881(?) called "Drimindown" which is about an Old man and his cow. Lead Belly, another prolific folk singer, heard his Irish friend sing this song and made his own version of it, adding blues rhythm and techniques to the traditional song, and titled it "If It Wasn't for Dicky" in 1937.

After the Weavers' Success with "Goodnight Irene " (another one of Leadbelly's songs), they decided to look for more inspiration. Pete Seeger liked "If It Wasn't For Dicky" and he and Lee Hays wrote new lyrics for the melody.

Pete Seeger remarks about the song and the nature of copyright and credit here:

"Now, who should one credit on this song? The Irish, certainly. Sam Kennedy, who taught it to us. Lead Belly, for adding rhythm and blues chords. Me, for two new words for the refrain. Lee, who wrote seven verses. Fred and Ronnie, for paring them down to five. I know the song publisher, The Richmond Organization, cares. I guess folks whom TRO allows to reprint the song, (like Sing Out!, the publisher of this book) care about this too."

(Where have all the flowers gone 1993)