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The Waking
I wake to sleep, and take my waking slow.
I feel my fate in what I cannot fear.
I learn by going where I cannot go.
We think by feeling. What is there to know?
I hear my being dance from ear to ear.
I wake to sleep, and take my waking slow.
Of those so close beside me, which are you?
God bless the Ground! I shall walk softly there,
And learn by going where I have to go.
Light takes the Tree, but who can tell us how?
The lowly worm climbs up a winding stair;
I wake to sleep, and take my waking slow.
Great Nature has another thing to do
To you and me; so take the lively air,
And, lovely, learn by going where to go.
This shaking keeps me steady. I should know.
What falls away is always. And is near.
I wake to sleep, and take my waking slow.
I learn by going where I have to go.
--Theodore Roethke
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Joy's Updates - Straight from the Horse's Mouth.
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Tuesday, July 22, 2008
British Music
During the folk music revival in the sixties, I became interested in the Child Ballads which were collected by Francis J. Child in the late 19th century from England and Scotland. Joan Baez recorded many of them, and while reading about the songs, I wondered about them. I wish I'd had the internet then. Songs such as "Bonny Barbara Allen" and "The Maid of Fife" are examples of ballads that made their way to America. Child documented over 300 ballads.
Since I live in Tennessee which was settled by the English and Scots-Irish whose customs, food, and music were definitely influential, I've felt a kinship with the British. Most of my ancestors are English. Traditional Appalachain music had its roots in British ballads and became bluegrass music. That's the reason the Chieftains and American country/bluegrass/folk musicians communicate so well musically.
I was more into the Clancy Brothers and have many of their albums. Brendan loved them as a baby, and when he was barely talking would request certain songs for me to play on the CD. Since he's like me and doesn't necessarily use the correct titles but often a phrase from a song, I wouldn't know "Little Boy" was "Come Away, Joe" (excuse me, that's "Haul Away, Joe" - see what I mean?) even though I probably should have. He'd get upset with me and kept repeating "Little Boy! Little Boy!" until I found it on the CD. I bought him a DVD of a Clancy Brothers performance, and we'll sing "Wild Rover" together.
He likes the drinking songs! Or maybe that's partly my fault since I also sing "Show Me The Way To Go Home," "Mountain Dew," and "Away, Away with Rum" to and with him. We also sing "Tamborine Man," "Blowin' in the Wind," "Where Have All the Flowers Gone," "Rehab," "Working on the Railroad," "Camptown Races," and all kinds of songs from various eras. Brian sings "Angel from Montgomery" and all kinds of other songs with him, and Melissa has many she sings and composes. Add all these to the songs on The Sound of Music, Hairspray, Singing in the Rain, and A Mighty Wind, and I'm not sure I've scratched the surface of Brendan's repertoire!
11:39:00 AM
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