In the hopes of finding some gems, and also that this may be a help to others, I'm trying to tap the collective Irish music mind here on the web.
I'm the guitarist for the band Kula, based out of Tennessee, in the US, and we're beginning to integrate songs into our repertoire. We're pretty picky about what we want to sing about (who isn't, right?), so we want to find something different than the standard drinking songs and unrequited love stories that are such common fare (not that these are all terrible or anything, just not what we're about).
We are writing some of our own stuff, but I'm also looking around for traditional songs (and not so traditional) that have something to do with the following themes:
Community, friendship, brother/sisterhood.
Environmental issues, saving the earth.
Being good to mankind, taking care of others
Questioning loneliness, hate, violence, war, racial issues.
Humorous stories or ballads that aren't bawdy.
Songs that make people think, really.
Hope that gives a picture of what I'm looking for.
Any help would be appreciated, or even if you don't know of songs but know of singers or songwriters who explored these type of themes, I'd appreciate that info as well.
I'm guessing you're a young band, right ?
All and each of you, go back to your folks' record collections - if they were part of what inspired you to go out and play music yourself go and listen to what inspired them - there'll be some little gems in there that you haven't even thought of for years, or maybe not even heard before. The 60's and 70's were awash with the sort of songs you're looking for, and are ripe for re-introduction. The arrangements might need a bit of freshning-up, but that's your job.
And don't forget your own native Jean Ritchie, who wrote and sang a number of songs that she ascribed to another singer in her earlier years, to avoid people just thinking they were her own personal views, about the eclogical challenges in the Appalachians.
"Songs that make people think" ....ah, the earnest young things...
A counter-movement is in order. Join the Temperance Thinking Movement! No Unecessary Thinking!
(Think we've probably got plenty of candidates, though maybe not on this site...)
For anybody who has got the courage to do it:
Guantanamo Bay by Barry Kerr.
There were Roses by Tommy Sands
Listen to stuff by Leon Rosselson, Bill Caddick (Engl.)
Ewan McColl, Iain McKintosh (died last year) , Dick Gaughan, Karine Polwart (Sco.) Sean Keane (Irel.) Eric Bogle (Aus.)
to name but a few.
'Gainst lawyers and 'gainst Priests, stand up now, stand up now,
'Gainst lawyers and 'gainst Priests stand up now.
For tyrants they are both even flatt againnst their oath,
To grant us they are loath free meat and drink and cloth.
Stand up now, Diggers all.
"World Turned Upside Down" ~ Leon Rosselson
~ recorded by Dick Gaughan
I highly recommend any of the work by Roy Palmer, songs and their history. His works on sea songs and shanties include "Boxing the Compass" & "The Oxford Book of Sea Songs"... His work in song and folklore is amongst the best... Another worth finding is "Rambling Soldier", part of a series... Oh yeah, and "The Sound of History: Songs and Social Comment" and "What a Lovely War"...
Looking for songs with a particular theme...
Looking for songs with a particular theme...
In the hopes of finding some gems, and also that this may be a help to others, I'm trying to tap the collective Irish music mind here on the web.
I'm the guitarist for the band Kula, based out of Tennessee, in the US, and we're beginning to integrate songs into our repertoire. We're pretty picky about what we want to sing about (who isn't, right?), so we want to find something different than the standard drinking songs and unrequited love stories that are such common fare (not that these are all terrible or anything, just not what we're about).
We are writing some of our own stuff, but I'm also looking around for traditional songs (and not so traditional) that have something to do with the following themes:
Community, friendship, brother/sisterhood.
Environmental issues, saving the earth.
Being good to mankind, taking care of others
Questioning loneliness, hate, violence, war, racial issues.
Humorous stories or ballads that aren't bawdy.
Songs that make people think, really.
Hope that gives a picture of what I'm looking for.
Any help would be appreciated, or even if you don't know of songs but know of singers or songwriters who explored these type of themes, I'd appreciate that info as well.
Thanks so much.
# Posted on February 8th 2007 by morgon
Re: Looking for songs with a particular theme...
I'm guessing you're a young band, right ?
All and each of you, go back to your folks' record collections - if they were part of what inspired you to go out and play music yourself go and listen to what inspired them - there'll be some little gems in there that you haven't even thought of for years, or maybe not even heard before. The 60's and 70's were awash with the sort of songs you're looking for, and are ripe for re-introduction. The arrangements might need a bit of freshning-up, but that's your job.
# Posted on February 9th 2007 by Guernsey Pete
Re: Looking for songs with a particular theme...
"Both Sides of the Tweed" ~ by Dick Guaghan, also recorded by Capercaillie
"Legal Illegal" ~ by Ewan McColl, also recorded by Francis Black
"Political Science" ~ by Randy Newman (not the only gem by the man)
# Posted on February 9th 2007 by ceolachan
Re: Looking for songs with a particular theme...
Christy Moore
# Posted on February 9th 2007 by John Galt
Re: Looking for songs with a particular theme...
Dougie MacLean
# Posted on February 9th 2007 by John Galt
Re: Looking for songs with a particular theme...
And don't forget your own native Jean Ritchie, who wrote and sang a number of songs that she ascribed to another singer in her earlier years, to avoid people just thinking they were her own personal views, about the eclogical challenges in the Appalachians.
# Posted on February 9th 2007 by Guernsey Pete
Re: Looking for songs with a particular theme...
Try the Mudcat Cafe:
http://www.mudcat.org/threads.cfm
They specialize in songs over there---here it's mostly tunes (instrumental).
# Posted on February 9th 2007 by kennedy
Re: Looking for songs with a particular theme...
I'll second Dick Gaughan's "Both Sides The Tweed".
# Posted on February 9th 2007 by nicholas
Re: Looking for songs with a particular theme...
"Songs that make people think" ....ah, the earnest young things...
A counter-movement is in order. Join the Temperance Thinking Movement! No Unecessary Thinking!
(Think we've probably got plenty of candidates, though maybe not on this site...)
# Posted on February 9th 2007 by Innocent Bystander
Re: Looking for songs with a particular theme...
For anybody who has got the courage to do it:
Guantanamo Bay by Barry Kerr.
There were Roses by Tommy Sands
Listen to stuff by Leon Rosselson, Bill Caddick (Engl.)
Ewan McColl, Iain McKintosh (died last year) , Dick Gaughan, Karine Polwart (Sco.) Sean Keane (Irel.) Eric Bogle (Aus.)
to name but a few.
# Posted on February 9th 2007 by kuec
Re: Looking for songs with a particular theme...
& Pete Seeger
# Posted on February 9th 2007 by ceolachan
Re: Looking for songs with a particular theme...
"Levellers and Diggers" ~ Gerard Winstanley
http://www.diggers.org/english_diggers.htm
'Gainst lawyers and 'gainst Priests, stand up now, stand up now,
'Gainst lawyers and 'gainst Priests stand up now.
For tyrants they are both even flatt againnst their oath,
To grant us they are loath free meat and drink and cloth.
Stand up now, Diggers all.
"World Turned Upside Down" ~ Leon Rosselson
~ recorded by Dick Gaughan
I highly recommend any of the work by Roy Palmer, songs and their history. His works on sea songs and shanties include "Boxing the Compass" & "The Oxford Book of Sea Songs"... His work in song and folklore is amongst the best... Another worth finding is "Rambling Soldier", part of a series... Oh yeah, and "The Sound of History: Songs and Social Comment" and "What a Lovely War"...
# Posted on February 9th 2007 by ceolachan
Re: Looking for songs with a particular theme...
Anything by Warren Zevon would give people reason to contemplate.
# Posted on February 9th 2007 by ceolgaelach
Re: Looking for songs with a particular theme...
I forgot the most wonderful Jim Malcolm from Scotland and his Plains of Waterloo.
# Posted on February 9th 2007 by kuec
Re: Looking for songs with a particular theme...
"Humorous songs"
Makes me think of "Tippin' it up to Nancy".
I have a recording with the Swedish group 'Quilty'.
# Posted on February 16th 2007 by MrSporre