The Highwayman (?) Lyrics (?)
Frank Reid
> I heard a song in the 60s and remember some but not all of the words.
> The logical name of the song would be The Highwayman, but I'm not
> sure. I have done lyrics searches but have had no luck. I have some
> emotional attachment to the song, so if someone could point me to the
> words, I would appreciate it very much. Here are some of the words...
> approximately:
>
> The wind was a torrent of darkness
> Upon the gusty trees
> And the moon was a ghostly galleon
> Tossed upon cloudy seas
> And the road was a ribbon of moonlight
> Looping the purple moor
> And the highwayman came riding, riding, riding
> Yes the highwayman came riding
> Up to the old inn door
>
> Over the cobbles he clattered
> And clashed in the dark inn yard
> And he tapped with his whip on the window
> But all was locked and barred
> So he whistled a tune to the window
> And who should be waiting there
> But the landlord's black-eyed daughter
> Bess the landlord's daughter
> Was braiding a dark red love knot
> Into her long black hair.
>
> {this goes on for many verses...}
>
> Thanks,
>
> Dave
>
The poem is by Alfred Noyes. Tom Paxton modified it slightly and set it
to music. He recorded it but another group whose name wish I knew did
a much better version of it.
--
Frank re...@indiana.edu
Dave Neufer
Bev Herzog
> In Article <30f2b52c...@news.mci.newscorp.com>
> "neu...@mci.newscorp.com (Dave Neufer)" says:
>> I heard a song in the 60s and remember some but not all of the words.
>> The logical name of the song would be The Highwayman,
> The poem is by Alfred Noyes. Tom Paxton modified it slightly and set it
> to music. He recorded it but another group whose name wish I knew did
> a much better version of it.
Phil Ochs did a terrific version of it, too.
Deborah Kapell
Mad Magazine did a terrific take-off on the poem. The highwayman of the
song was a motorcycle gang member, and Bess was "the landlord's
cock-eyed daughter".
Deborah Kapell
d...@tink.com
Monica P Grabin
not sure which album, but one of the early ones. I like it too. You can
find the full poem in many poetry collections.
stev...@delphi.com
to Noyes-Ochs. On the liner notes, Phil writes: "I never could follow poetry
in school, but this work by Alfred Noyes has completely captivated me since
my childhood. It is a classic study of romantic narrative that seemed to have
been made for music." The song is indeed called "The Highwayman".
Frank Reid
--
Frank re...@indiana.edu
Frank Reid
> In message Tue, 09 Jan 1996 14:44 EST, re...@indiana.edu (Frank Reid) writes:
>
> > In Article <30f2b52c...@news.mci.newscorp.com>
> > "neu...@mci.newscorp.com (Dave Neufer)" says:
> >> I heard a song in the 60s and remember some but not all of the words.
> >> The logical name of the song would be The Highwayman,
>
> > The poem is by Alfred Noyes. Tom Paxton modified it slightly and set it
> > to music. He recorded it but another group whose name wish I knew did
> > a much better version of it.
>
> Phil Ochs did a terrific version of it, too.
>
Tom Paxton. I tend to get them mixed up.
--
Frank re...@indiana.edu
Dave Neufer
Dave
Monica P Grabin
David Harley
: In message Tue, 09 Jan 1996 14:44 EST, re...@indiana.edu (Frank Reid)
writes:
: > In Article <30f2b52c...@news.mci.newscorp.com>
: > "neu...@mci.newscorp.com (Dave Neufer)" says:
: >> I heard a song in the 60s and remember some but not all of the words.
: >> The logical name of the song would be The Highwayman,
: > The poem is by Alfred Noyes. Tom Paxton modified it slightly and set it
: > to music. He recorded it but another group whose name wish I knew did
: > a much better version of it.
: Phil Ochs did a terrific version of it, too.
Just to clarify, Phil Ochs set the poem to music (and indeed modified the
words slightly), and that's what he recorded on "I ain't marching any more".
I'm not aware of a setting by Tom Paxton: I'm pretty sure he didn't record
one in the '60s, anyway.
David Harley
FrodoFolk
That part's correct.
>Tom Paxton modified it slightly and set it to music.
Actually, it was adapted and recorded by Phil Ochs on his "I Ain't
Marching Anymore" album. (Elektra - 1965). His liner notes include the
following:
The Highwayman - (Noyes-Ochs) 5:36
I never could follow poetry in school, but this work by Alfred Noyes has
completely captivatedme since my childhood. It is a classic study of
romantic narrative that seems to have been made for music.
Hope it was of some help,
-Rick
Frank Reid
line of poetry, and I dislike poetry in general because of the way
it was presented (i.e. forced) in highschool.
--
Frank re...@indiana.edu
David Harley
: In Article <4d141i$s...@noc1.biddeford.com> "Monica P Grabin
: <gra...@mail.biddeford.com>" says:
: > This is a poem by Alfred Noyes, and was put to music by Phil Ochs. I'm
: > find the full poem in many poetry collections.
: >
:
: I think Phil Ochs also did a neat song from "The Bells" by Edgar Allan Poe.
:
AFAIR, The Highwayman was on "I ain't marching any more" and "The Bells"
was on "All the news that's fit to sing".
David Harley
MIKE REGENSTREIF
>In Article <30f2b52c...@news.mci.newscorp.com> "neu...@mci.newscorp.com (Dave Neufer)" says:
>> I heard a song in the 60s and remember some but not all of the words.
>a much better version of it.
>
>
>Frank re...@indiana.edu
It was Phil Ochs, not Tom Paxton, who set the poem to music and
recorded it.
Mike Regenstreif
"Folk Roots/Folk Branches" on CKUT in Montreal
mre...@vax2.concordia.ca
Eggy Preuss
> writes:
>
> : > In Article <30f2b52c...@news.mci.newscorp.com>
> : > "neu...@mci.newscorp.com (Dave Neufer)" says:
> : >> I heard a song in the 60s and remember some but not all of the words.
> : >> The logical name of the song would be The Highwayman,
>
> : > to music. He recorded it but another group whose name wish I knew did
> : > a much better version of it.
>
>
> Just to clarify, Phil Ochs set the poem to music (and indeed modified the
> words slightly), and that's what he recorded on "I ain't marching any more".
>
> I'm not aware of a setting by Tom Paxton: I'm pretty sure he didn't record
> one in the '60s, anyway.
>
> David Harley
RIGHT ON, David: It WAS Ochs that set it to music and your right about
the it first appearing on I AIN'T MARCHING ANYMORE.
Meanwhile, Mike Ochs also included it on a 2-record anthology that came
out in (I think) the eighties.
Eggy
Dave Neufer
when I read it. It's rare to see such passion expressed so
concisely. The words to this poem/song have been rising and
submerging in my consciousness most of my life.
When I was a kid, I got my first tape recorder and made a tape
of this song and a few others from the radio. The other song I
remember from this primal tape was Neil Young singing "Down by
the River." That song made an impression, too, but in a
different way. I liked the tune - a lot. The words didn't move
me as much as fascinate me, or maybe confuse me. I was
thinking... why'd this guy shoot his girlfriend and why is he
telling me about it? For me, the tune is what killed. I played
that tape dry.
Dave