Excellent series Rebekah! She Moved Through the Fair is one of my favorites and such a haunting, lovely tune. Although I do see the humor in the line "Her feet made no din..." and so did my older brother whenever I was practicing this song at home as an angsty teenager (he was very quick to make up some special sound effects for that).
This struck me: “Their words are a testament to all sorts of bitter truths that would have passed unrecognised if it hadn’t been for this form of storytelling”. So true! I never connected “She Moved Through the Fair” as being a ghost story! Do you know the Lorenna McKennitt version? https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=c-7nNSBfJmM&ra=m
Thanks so much as always for your thoughtful analysis of the theme, Rebekah!
This definitely made me laugh! I’d not heard of the Somerset Nog before but, having grown up near Dartmoor, I’m very familiar with Widecombe Fair. The song is featured in a book of Dartmoor legends and customs I’ve owned since I was 8 or 9. Thinking about it, those legends might have been my first introduction to horror.
Rambling Syd Rumpo - now there's a name I haven't heard in years! I remember my stepdad singing his songs, usually interspersed with the Ying Tong Song, and assorted favorites by Tom Lehrer and Max Boyce. And thanks to Julian and Sandy (and a few people at the RSC who shall remain nameless), I became quite fluent in Polari.
Didn't get much more surreal than The Goons. We had a few shows on records, and I listened to them over and over again. The Dreaded Batter Pudding Hurler of Bexhill-on-Sea... And of course, in the 70s, both Milligan and Bentine were on kids' TV, which explains a lot.
Excellent series Rebekah! She Moved Through the Fair is one of my favorites and such a haunting, lovely tune. Although I do see the humor in the line "Her feet made no din..." and so did my older brother whenever I was practicing this song at home as an angsty teenager (he was very quick to make up some special sound effects for that).
There's a wonderful sea shanty called Lowlands, where the woman comes to the sailor in a dream, & he slowly understands that she's died.
I’m scared to go and listen to that because it will definitely make me cry
My parents introduced me to kenneth Williams via Hancocks half hour. He was a unique talent
One of the greats!
This struck me: “Their words are a testament to all sorts of bitter truths that would have passed unrecognised if it hadn’t been for this form of storytelling”. So true! I never connected “She Moved Through the Fair” as being a ghost story! Do you know the Lorenna McKennitt version? https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=c-7nNSBfJmM&ra=m
Thanks so much as always for your thoughtful analysis of the theme, Rebekah!
I LOVE Lorena McKennitt! I actually cut a section from this article on her version of The Highwayman which has a great ghost verse.
I saw her live on “The Mask and the Mirror” tour back in the 90s!! I love the Highwayman!💕
Just thinking about a singing ghost gives me the shudders! What scary legends we pass forward.
Indeed!
This definitely made me laugh! I’d not heard of the Somerset Nog before but, having grown up near Dartmoor, I’m very familiar with Widecombe Fair. The song is featured in a book of Dartmoor legends and customs I’ve owned since I was 8 or 9. Thinking about it, those legends might have been my first introduction to horror.
Ooh that sounds like a great collection! Definitely horror-coded. I love books of local legends, I’ve got about five for Northamptonshire.
Excellent. Feargal Sharkey’s version of “”She Moved Through The Fair” or “Wedding Day” if you prefer is very moving.
Ah yes! It’s one of my favourite folk songs.
Wonderful essay. I do so enjoy reading your writing on horror moments.
Thank you so much, Ricky, I’m glad you enjoy them!
Rambling Syd Rumpo - now there's a name I haven't heard in years! I remember my stepdad singing his songs, usually interspersed with the Ying Tong Song, and assorted favorites by Tom Lehrer and Max Boyce. And thanks to Julian and Sandy (and a few people at the RSC who shall remain nameless), I became quite fluent in Polari.
Polari is so great, I also learned it from Julian and Sandy. I love how wordy and surreal old radio comedy was.
Didn't get much more surreal than The Goons. We had a few shows on records, and I listened to them over and over again. The Dreaded Batter Pudding Hurler of Bexhill-on-Sea... And of course, in the 70s, both Milligan and Bentine were on kids' TV, which explains a lot.
Great read, as usual. Can I offer up Ernie by Ernie Hill for an immensely silly but VERY lightly spooky song.
*Benny Hill.
Yes!! Excellent.