Ray’s chat 24
Shirley Folk at the Red Lion
RAY’S CHAT
Hi Folks
RAYS CHAT TWENTY FOUR
Well here we are another Rays Chat.
And Thankfully We can forget “Hung Parliaments”; Brexit,
and Political Yabooing!! And relax thinking Folk.
We’ve looked at all sorts of Folk Music over our Many chats.
And: We have talked about very many different FOLK Songs:
So I thought I would ask the Computer what was
the BEST Folk Songs. And got some surprising answers:
The First it came-up with was
BLOWING IN THE WIND – BOB DYLAN.
Well that did surprise me.
But just what that was judged on? I don’t know.
Yes the lyrics are strong. But THE BEST FOLK SONG?
NO: I wouldn’t have chosen that.
And another on the list is
THIS LAND IS YOUR LAND – WOODIE GUTHRIE
Well I suppose Historically this was a very influential song in the
Folk revival period. By a Very important guy!!.
But; NO: I wouldn’t choose that one.
I asked the question another way round and got KUMBAYA.
Well Yes THE SEEKERS did a very good version
and Judith Durhams voice really makes this song:
But does it make that THE BEST SONG EVER??
Well not for me.
So; it seems: Maybe we will all have our own
idea of what should be TOP choice??.
SO: I wonder what YOUR choice would be?
You may wonder what MY choice would be?:
Well: I find it ~ Very difficult. The earliest song that I loved:
long before I got into Folk. When I was so young JUST 12;
I learnt it in the Scouts: Didn’t even know it was a Folk Song:
WAS: MICHAEL ROW THE BOAT ASHORE by the
HIGHWAYMEN. And I still think THAT is a Great Song
beautifully sung. So I sort of got into Folk without knowing it.
But Much Later I heard a song that I found VERY moving:
I bought an LP of Folk Songs by Julie Felix (still have it)
And on it was a song just called. Plane Crash at Los Gatos.
I found this a very moving Song. Do listen: This is what Folk
Songs can do.. Report on events that some Others might like to
forget. Like this: It was tried to be Hushed-up by the
Authorities. Put in
JULIE FELIX PLANE CRASH AT LOS GATOS 4.13
It was about a Plane Crash in 1948. That killed 28 people
It was reported in the PRESS as just DEPORTEES:
No names. Just Deportees; They were Mexican Peasants that had
Been Working the crops, and they were on the way home.
No names.. Just Deportees.
Woody Guthrie,wrote a Song about it calling It DEPORTEES.
It made a tremendous impression on lots of Folk Singers..
Yes lots sang it. There are Lots on You Tube if you search.:
But Julie Felix was the first I ever heard sing it.
(I still have the LP)
This TRUE story really moved me, and STILL DOES.
This to me is a REAL FOLK song telling the story of a true
happening. DO LISTEN. It really is worth
listening to! If you’ve Never heard it.. You should.
And another song that tells a true story:
THE IAN CAMPBELL FOLK GROUP sang it. on an old EP.
It Tells the story of the First ATOM BOMB.
Oh What feeling Lorna puts into this..
Awful awful STORY..
and YES it moved a much younger me: so I still remember the
impact it had one me All those years ago..
THE IAN CAMPBELL FOLK GROUP – THE SUN IS
BURNING – 2.21 Very Moving Song beautifully sung.
But none of these would I say was THE BEST EVER
FOLK SONG. Well as Folk is a live thing; maybe it is
Impossible to choose the BEST; as life is changing all the time.
So Folk Singing is changing all the time.
But: One song that has always seemed an important part
of MY life is the TOM PAXTON SONG
I CAN’T HELP BUT WONDER WHERE I’M BOUND.
I loved that song from the first time I heard it: and it still Has the
power to make me STOP and listen and think!
YES it was almost as if it was written for ME.
YES to Me A truly GREAT Song. But then you see Tom Paxton
also wrote RAMBLIN BOY.
And YES that has to be one of My TOP Favourites.
But Tom also wrote THE LAST THING ON MY MIND.
Another Super Song. OH NO: I can’t decide.
For me it is impossible to choose THE BEST Folk Song.
Folk is Alive.. YES: We should remember the past;
But who is writing about TODAY?
Folk Must be LIVE. As well as remembering the past.
Maybe Someone has written a song Today that is
going to make everyone think this is THE BEST EVER.
Certainly I have a list of songs that are like Old Friends; Songs that
as soon as I hear first notes, I am back in my Happy Folk World.
But we need to hear the NEW boys sing their New songs. Maybe
about todays Happenings. Perhaps Someone has written a song
Today of something that has Just happened??!!And maybe
THEY, WILL WRITE THE BEST FOLK SONG EVER.
I hope I made you THINK?
Well there are a few songs there with Some deep thinking:
Get Listening.
WHAT is YOUR TOP SONG?
Nice chatting to You
Ray.