Comments on: curse that jack of diamonds

curse that jack of diamonds

kenko — Wed, 07 Sep 2005 16:43:30 -0800

By: freebird

freebird — Wed, 07 Sep 2005 16:46:52 -0800

Avoid situations where the obvious rhyme-word is "maidenhead." Durn tootin'.

By: Miko

Miko — Wed, 07 Sep 2005 16:57:54 -0800

Funny and true. There is a legitimate idea in folklore that many of the murder ballads, specifically the man-killing-woman murder ballads -- functioned as a form of socially sanctioned birth control. You can't grow up listening to Pretty Polly and then think it's a smart idea to follow your boyfriend into the woods.

By: kosher_jenny

kosher_jenny — Wed, 07 Sep 2005 17:24:55 -0800

If you are physically unable to get pregnant due to being male, the girl you had sex with will get pregnant. No good will come of it. You'll either kill her, or she'll kill herself, or her husband/brother/father/uncle/cousin will kill you both. In any case her Doleful Ghost will make sure everyone finds out. You will either get hanged, kill yourself, or be carried off bodily by Satan. Your last words will begin "Come all ye." No kidding. Man, if I had a sixpence for every time that happened...

By: rdone

rdone — Wed, 07 Sep 2005 17:30:28 -0800

Tres drole, mon ami.

By: chowder

chowder — Wed, 07 Sep 2005 17:47:48 -0800

"Sharing a boyfriend with your sister is a bad plan." That one seems to apply to the murder ballad classic Wind and Rain. There were two sisters gone walking side by side Oh the wind and rain The one behind pushed the other one in Oh the dreadful wind and rain Johny gave the youngest one a gay gold ring Oh the wind and rain Didn't give the other one anything Crying oh the dreadful wind and rain So she pushed her into the river to drown Oh the wind and rain And watched her as she floated down Crying oh the dreadful wind and rain

By: TheOnlyCoolTim

TheOnlyCoolTim — Wed, 07 Sep 2005 17:51:13 -0800

I was disappointed - there was nothing in there about being sent to Australia for petty crimes.

By: Balisong

Balisong — Wed, 07 Sep 2005 17:54:10 -0800

You know, if I knew more British folk ballads, I'd probably get the joke a lot better.

By: Doug

Doug — Wed, 07 Sep 2005 18:15:53 -0800

Balisong, try this album out. I didn't think I was going to like it, but it's surprisingly good.

By: kayjay

kayjay — Wed, 07 Sep 2005 18:22:53 -0800

I was disappointed - there was nothing in there about being sent to Australia for petty crimes. Actually, if you read the comments it turns up there.

By: dorian

dorian — Wed, 07 Sep 2005 18:52:20 -0800

Actually, if you read the comments it turns up there. sure, but they don't use the magic words "transportation" or "van diemen's land"....

By: kenko

kenko — Wed, 07 Sep 2005 19:13:06 -0800

chowder: it's a reference to "Two Sisters".

By: jessamyn

jessamyn — Wed, 07 Sep 2005 20:53:38 -0800

Don't go with anyone called Gypsy anything.

By: bubukaba

bubukaba — Wed, 07 Sep 2005 22:40:38 -0800

chowder and kenko: "Two Sisters" and "Wind and Rain" are different versions of the same song!

By: PeterMcDermott

PeterMcDermott — Wed, 07 Sep 2005 23:33:23 -0800

Don't believe everything you hear in the folk ballads.

By: pracowity

pracowity — Thu, 08 Sep 2005 00:41:37 -0800

Avoid situations where the obvious rhyme-word is "maidenhead."

But had I remembered my ear trumpet, I never would have stayed in bed, For the girl, alas, was a strumpet, And, to boot, was an Iron Maiden-head. Traditional, c.1975

By: johnny novak

johnny novak — Thu, 08 Sep 2005 02:00:19 -0800

doug (and anyone else interested) here's a couple of free Alasdair Roberts mp3z, courtesy of epitonic. (not from the album linked, but excellent nonetheless).

By: Summer

Summer — Thu, 08 Sep 2005 02:06:17 -0800

You can't beat a bit of Martin Carthy for all your English folk needs, in my opinion. I'm also a big fan of Seth 'recorded in his kitchen for £300' Lakeman, who was nominated for the Mercury Prize. I've tried Alasdair Roberts and didn't like it that much.

By: OmieWise

OmieWise — Thu, 08 Sep 2005 05:52:31 -0800

Miko writes "There is a legitimate idea in folklore that many of the murder ballads, specifically the man-killing-woman murder ballads -- functioned as a form of socially sanctioned birth control. You can't grow up listening to Pretty Polly and then think it's a smart idea to follow your boyfriend into the woods." Hey, I resemble that remark! Excellent link.

By: Shane

Shane — Thu, 08 Sep 2005 08:05:28 -0800

Brilliant. Thanks, kenko.