BELLS OF RHYMNEY

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BELLS OF RHYMNEY Idris Davies was a Welsh poet, originally writing in Welsh, but later writing exclusively in English. He is the only poet to cover significant events in the early 20th century in the South Wales Valleys and the South Wales coalfield and literally from a perspective at the coalface. He is now known […]

BELLE STARR

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BELLE STARR The notoriously unlawful life of Belle Starr came to a violent end on Feb. 3, 1889, two days short of her forty-first birthday. While riding from the general store to her ranch near Eufaula, Okla., Belle was killed by a shotgun blast to the back. Suspects included Edgar Watson, with whom Belle had […]

BEAUTIFUL DREAMER

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“Beautiful Dreamer” is a popular American song, the last known song written by Stephen Foster. It was published posthumously in 1864, the year Foster died. An instrumental of the song appears prominently as theme music during Eddie Lawrence‘s comedy routine “The Old Philosopher”. The song is also used by film composer Danny Elfman in the […]

BATTLE OF NEW ORLEANS

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BATTLE OF NEW ORLEANS “The Battle of New Orleans” is the name of a song written by Jimmie Driftwood. The song details the 1815 Battle of New Orleans from the perspective of an American fighting alongside Andrew Jackson against British forces, but the tone is lighthearted. It has been recorded by many artists, but the […]

BATTLE HYMN OF THE REPUBLIC

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The tune was written around 1855 by William Steffe. The lyrics at that time were alternately called “Canaan’s Happy Shore” or “Brothers, Will You Meet Me?” and the song was sung as a campfire spiritual. The tune spread across the United States, taking on many sets of new lyrics. Thomas Bishop, from Vermont, joined the […]

The Ballad of Barbara Allen

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“The Ballad of Barbara Allen”, also known as “Barbara Ellen”, “Barb’ry Allen”, “Barbriallen”, etc., is a folk song known in dozens of versions. It has been classified as Child Ballad 84. The author is unknown, but the song may have originated in England, Ireland or Scotland. The earliest known mention of the song is in […]

Banks of the Ohio’

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“‘Banks of the Ohio’” is a 19th century murder ballad, in which Willie invites his young lover for a walk during which she rejects his marriage proposal. Once they are alone on the river bank, he murders the girl. The song has been recorded countless times, including by Johnny Cash, The Carter Family, the Blue […]

BANKS OF MARBLE

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BANKS OF MARBLE This song was written by Les Rice, who was a farmer in the northeast. It was recorded in 1949 by the Weavers and issued on there “In Concert” album several years later. The fundamental struggle is the same, but the details need to be updated. A recent version has been recorded by […]