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Wednesday, November 12, 2014

What's your favorite song? by Kaye Spencer



We all have songs that mean something extra special to us whether by our associating them with a special event, a loved one, a precious moment, a situation, etc. In fact, if you’re like me, I could go on for hours singing the words to all the songs that are near and dear to me.

But there is one song for me—the one song that tops all the others, the one that gives me chills and brings a tear to my eye every time I hear it—and it’s an American rendition of an old English folk song of complicated and not entirely identifiable origins. But, what is known about the original folk song is it was familiar in Shakespeare’s day, because he referenced it in his play, The Merry Wives of Windsor. There is a legend that the original song was written by Henry VIII for his future wife, Anne Boleyn, but that is apparently a myth as there is evidence the song was around before Henry’s time.

By 1690 or so, the original song was becoming associated with Christmas and New Year’s. Then by the 19th century, any Christmas songbook worth its salt included some version of the original folk song (lyrics and tune) as a carol. Elvis Presley sang the song in one of his movies, and there are a host of others that I won’t include here.

The original song I’m talking about is Greensleeves. As a Christmas song, we know it as What Child is This? And as my favorite song, it’s from the 1962 western movie (and book by same title written by Louis L’Amour) How the West Was Won: A Home in the Meadow performed by Debbie Reynolds.

So for your listening enjoyment, here is the YouTube clip from How the West Was Won with the lyrics below.




A Home in the Meadow
Away, away
Come away with me
Where the grass grows wild, where the winds blow free
Away, away
Come away with me
And I'll build you a home in the meadow
*
Come, come
There's a wondrous land
For the hopeful heart, for the willing hand
Come, come
There's a wondrous land
Where I'll build you a home in the meadow
*
The stars, the stars
Oh how bright they'll shine
On a world that the Lord must have helped design
The stars, the stars
Oh how bright they'll shine
On that home we will build in the meadow
*
Come, come
There's a wondrous land
For the hopeful heart, for the willing hand
Come, come
There's a wondrous land
Where I'll build you a home in the meadow
*
(Lyrics by Sammy Cahn)

Until next time,

Kaye

Fall in love…faster, harder, deeper with Kaye Spencer romances
www.kayespencer.com
(clip art courtesy openclipart.org)

15 comments:

  1. You had to go and do it, didn't you, Ms. Earworm? Now I'm going to have this song in my head all day! As song go, though, it's a good one. Just be glad you can't hear me singing it. ;-)

    Thanks for reminding me how much I love this song, Kaye. :-)

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    1. Kathleen,

      I aim to please. And if I can leave a lingering remembrance and it's an earworm... so much the better. lol

      Kaye

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  2. I love this song! I'd even heard it was the POV of a lady of the evening LOL. My favorite Christmas song is The Holly and the Ivy. But overall, it's Your Song by Elton John.

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    1. Tanya,

      It is so hard to narrow a favorite song down to just one. I'd read the same about the original song being the POV of a lady of the evening. Ooh, I do love Elton John, too. ;-)

      Kaye

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  3. When my children were young I played this on our piano. A couple years ago, my youngest asked me to play it for him. He had a fond memory of mom playing Greensleeves. I like this version too. Thanks Kaye.

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    1. Connie,

      The tune to Greensleeves,, regardless of the lyrics, is such a beautiful and haunting melody.

      Kaye

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  4. Oh the memories you brought up, I have always been partial to Danny Boy, but classical, Ode to Joy and Ave Maria. Still I love Greensleeves also. Dang, hard to pick. Doris

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    Replies
    1. Doris,

      Yuppers, Danny Boy ranks right up there in my top few favorites. It's a tear-bringer, too. To add to your Ode to Joy and Ave Maria, I would need to include Santa Lucia.

      Oh the memories a song brings up...
      Kaye

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    2. Aaron Neville's version of Ave Maria is absolutely beautiful. Have you heard it?

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    3. Yes, but his voice makes almost anything sounds beautiful. Love his voice.

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  5. Kaye, this was one of my dad's very favorite songs. When I played it on the piano, he'd sit in his chair and "direct" and it just tickled me to death. Even though I couldn't look at him while he directed, I knew he was doing it. Lots of fond memories with this song.
    Cheryl

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  6. Danny Boy is a favorite of mine, too. But I have so many favorites it's hard to narrow it down to one. I think in recent music, Unchained Melody by the Righteous Brothers is my favorite, but I must say, when I hear Hallelujah by most any artist, that song gives me chills all over. I think because it can be sung with such heartfelt emotion that is so raw.

    Growing up, I learned all the old old standards on the piano, including hymns, folk music and classical music. I was actually trained as a classical pianist, and if I wanted to play "other things" that was on my own time--not practice time. So many beautiful songs from the past that most people under 40 have never even heard of. It's a shame.

    Cheryl

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    1. Cheryl,

      Rod Stewart got a lot of flack for recording 4 CDs of old standards. His critics had trouble reconciling the "Rod the Mod" persona with a totally different image, and I can understand why. I mean, Rod singing "Moon River" is a far cry from "Maggie May" and "Do Ya Think I'm Sexy" lolol. But, I happen to appreciate (and really like) his rendition of these old songs.

      Unchained Melody is another hauntingly wonderful song. It's hard to beat the original, but Marty Robbins did a darn good job, too. ;-)

      Kaye

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  7. There are so many beautiful songs, but the ones that keep coming up for me is, "Someone to Watch Over Me" (love Linda Ronstat's rendition), "Halleluiah" by Cohan and sung by Josh Krajcik, "Yesterday" and "Hey Jude" by the Beatles, and "Where Are You Now" sung by Enya.
    There are so many songs that engrained in my heart, it's hard to choose just one. I love "I'll Fly Away" and "Silent Night," too.
    Well, you've certainly dug into my memories and sentimentality with this blog, Kaye. All the best to you.

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    Replies
    1. Sarah,

      I took a stroll down my own musical memory lane, too. It's so hard to chose just one. ;-)

      Kaye

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