Stagger Lee and other characters and folklore immortalised in song

[Johnny Canuck3]

Guitarzan

 

[Johnny Canuck3]

Bertha Butt

 

[chainsaw cat]

I knew a Miss Morgan.

 

[the button]

Little Musgrave -- became Mattie Groves when he crossed the Atlantic, but still gets murdered for sleeping with a rich man's wife.

Lord Randall -- eventually became Bob Dylan's Hard rain , but with the same "call and response" verse structure.

The Outlandish Knight -- a story found in song across Europe, and related to Bluebeard. Young woman marries bloke, discovers bodies of previous wives, either locked in a room or hanging from a tree.

The true-hearted girl/boy/young sailor/young soldier/young cowboy cut down in his or her prime -- a song about venereal disease. Became St James' Infirmary. Most versions share a verse about funeral arrangements -- something along the lines of "six bonny [somethings] to carry my coffin, six bonny [somethings] to lower me down...."

 

[blossie33]

On a lesser note - there were a number of ska songs around in the llate 60s / early 70s featuring a guy named Rudi.

Rudi's in Love, Message to you Rudi, Rudi's dead and Gone etc. if I recall correctly.

 

[El Jefe]

On a lesser note - there were a number of ska songs around in the llate 60s / early 70s featuring a guy named Rudi.

Rudi's in Love, Message to you Rudi, Rudi's dead and Gone etc. if I recall correctly.

I think that's cos it's a contraction of rude boy, nothing to do with a particular person

 

[HoratioCuthbert]

I think that's cos it's a contraction of rude boy, nothing to do with a particular person

ISSSSS IIIIIIT? I always wondered about that. Urban75, what a place for keeping you right

 

[rollinder]

On a lesser note - there were a number of ska songs around in the llate 60s / early 70s featuring a guy named Rudi.

Rudi's in Love, Message to you Rudi, Rudi's dead and Gone etc. if I recall correctly.

I think that's cos it's a contraction of rude boy, nothing to do with a particular person

ISSSSS IIIIIIT? I always wondered about that. Urban75, what a place for keeping you right

and I thought it was just me that had been incredible slow at realising that