This song is a mashup of numerous old songs. I didn't know about "peter and the dragon", apparently it is also a mishmash of his own stuff too. Here are the songs I've picked out of it.
Louis Collins - Old blues song about the murder of, who guessed it, Louis Collins. This is main song Josh used to build Folk Bloodbath.
Delia (aka Delia's Gone) - Old blues song about the real murder of Delia Green in Savannah GA.
Stag O'Lee (aka Staggerlee, Stackalee) - This is a very old blues song. The legend of Stack Lee might be older even than the actual murder he committed when he killed Billy Lyon's over a Stetson hat.
Barbara Allen - This is a REALLY old song. It's from Ireland/Scotland/England but noone knows exactly were. The verse about being buried together and a rose and brair growing from thier graves is from this song.
Oh, and for good measure "Hanging" Billy Lyon's is a reference to the "Hanging Judge" Isaac Parker who was famous in the West for his willingness to give out the death sentence as a Federal Judge in the late 1800's.
I pointedly remember the part about the briar and the rose, because Barbara Allen is one of my favorite folk songs. There are many old folk songs mentioning "Sweet William," so when I heard Josh reference that song, I thought perhaps he might have made made mention of other songs as well. I was both elated and disappointed to discover I was right. On one hand, the way he put together the mash of lyrics and set it to music was brilliant. But on the flip side, hardly any of his actual lyrics were original, just the order it was...
I pointedly remember the part about the briar and the rose, because Barbara Allen is one of my favorite folk songs. There are many old folk songs mentioning "Sweet William," so when I heard Josh reference that song, I thought perhaps he might have made made mention of other songs as well. I was both elated and disappointed to discover I was right. On one hand, the way he put together the mash of lyrics and set it to music was brilliant. But on the flip side, hardly any of his actual lyrics were original, just the order it was in was new. I love Josh Ritter, and I adore his music, but I'm not sure whether to view this song as i'm sure he most likely meant it, (as a tribute) or as blatant plagiarism.
This song is a mashup of numerous old songs. I didn't know about "peter and the dragon", apparently it is also a mishmash of his own stuff too. Here are the songs I've picked out of it.
Louis Collins - Old blues song about the murder of, who guessed it, Louis Collins. This is main song Josh used to build Folk Bloodbath.
Delia (aka Delia's Gone) - Old blues song about the real murder of Delia Green in Savannah GA.
Stag O'Lee (aka Staggerlee, Stackalee) - This is a very old blues song. The legend of Stack Lee might be older even than the actual murder he committed when he killed Billy Lyon's over a Stetson hat.
Barbara Allen - This is a REALLY old song. It's from Ireland/Scotland/England but noone knows exactly were. The verse about being buried together and a rose and brair growing from thier graves is from this song.
Oh, and for good measure "Hanging" Billy Lyon's is a reference to the "Hanging Judge" Isaac Parker who was famous in the West for his willingness to give out the death sentence as a Federal Judge in the late 1800's.
I pointedly remember the part about the briar and the rose, because Barbara Allen is one of my favorite folk songs. There are many old folk songs mentioning "Sweet William," so when I heard Josh reference that song, I thought perhaps he might have made made mention of other songs as well. I was both elated and disappointed to discover I was right. On one hand, the way he put together the mash of lyrics and set it to music was brilliant. But on the flip side, hardly any of his actual lyrics were original, just the order it was...
I pointedly remember the part about the briar and the rose, because Barbara Allen is one of my favorite folk songs. There are many old folk songs mentioning "Sweet William," so when I heard Josh reference that song, I thought perhaps he might have made made mention of other songs as well. I was both elated and disappointed to discover I was right. On one hand, the way he put together the mash of lyrics and set it to music was brilliant. But on the flip side, hardly any of his actual lyrics were original, just the order it was in was new. I love Josh Ritter, and I adore his music, but I'm not sure whether to view this song as i'm sure he most likely meant it, (as a tribute) or as blatant plagiarism.