Comments on: Polly Vaughn http://www.afolksongaday.com/2012/08/17/polly-vaughan/  Jon Boden Sat, 25 May 2013 14:14:11 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Diana http://www.afolksongaday.com/2012/08/17/polly-vaughan/comment-page-1/#comment-18631 Diana Fri, 17 Aug 2012 08:19:05 +0000 http://www.afolksongaday.com/?p=389#comment-18631 Such a sad tale. I enjoyed hearing Jon singing it. Such a sad tale. I enjoyed hearing Jon singing it.

]]> By: Bill Vanaver http://www.afolksongaday.com/2012/08/17/polly-vaughan/comment-page-1/#comment-9066 Bill Vanaver Sat, 26 Feb 2011 20:12:39 +0000 http://www.afolksongaday.com/?p=389#comment-9066 I'm writing an Appalachian styled symphonic ballet based on the song, and I'll probably use several of the available melodies. I'm wondering if anyone knows of legends or ballads from outside of English language countries that carry this theme- transformation or otherwise. Thanks, I’m writing an Appalachian styled symphonic ballet based on the song, and I’ll probably use several of the available melodies. I’m wondering if anyone knows of legends or ballads from outside of English language countries that carry this theme- transformation or otherwise.
Thanks,

]]> By: Jon Boden http://www.afolksongaday.com/2012/08/17/polly-vaughan/comment-page-1/#comment-2822 Jon Boden Thu, 26 Aug 2010 13:43:07 +0000 http://www.afolksongaday.com/?p=389#comment-2822 Can't see that there's any more evidence to say this isn't about shape-shifting than there is to say that it is - it's all circumstantial so you've just got to make your own mind up. Personally I think the song makes a lot more sense (and has a lot more power) if you see Polly as, on some level, a swan-maiden - not least the line 'her beauty would shine among them like a fountain of snow.' Can’t see that there’s any more evidence to say this isn’t about shape-shifting than there is to say that it is – it’s all circumstantial so you’ve just got to make your own mind up. Personally I think the song makes a lot more sense (and has a lot more power) if you see Polly as, on some level, a swan-maiden – not least the line ‘her beauty would shine among them like a fountain of snow.’

]]> By: Lenora Rose http://www.afolksongaday.com/2012/08/17/polly-vaughan/comment-page-1/#comment-2805 Lenora Rose Thu, 26 Aug 2010 08:09:32 +0000 http://www.afolksongaday.com/?p=389#comment-2805 While I agree that the shapeshifting itself feels like a more recent interpretation, I suspect the reasoning behind that interpretation is that, in a song where the trial is decided on the basis of a ghost showing up, it's more comfortable to assume a supernatural beginning as well as a supernatural ending. That assumption is based more on modern narrative convention, where readers tend to insist a story be either steadily fantastical or firmly realistic. Folk tradition (Or for that matter, literature pre-mid-20th century) seems to have no such assumptions, but it's a strong drive these days. While I agree that the shapeshifting itself feels like a more recent interpretation, I suspect the reasoning behind that interpretation is that, in a song where the trial is decided on the basis of a ghost showing up, it’s more comfortable to assume a supernatural beginning as well as a supernatural ending.

That assumption is based more on modern narrative convention, where readers tend to insist a story be either steadily fantastical or firmly realistic. Folk tradition (Or for that matter, literature pre-mid-20th century) seems to have no such assumptions, but it’s a strong drive these days.

]]> By: Jane Ramsden http://www.afolksongaday.com/2012/08/17/polly-vaughan/comment-page-1/#comment-2179 Jane Ramsden Tue, 17 Aug 2010 18:26:46 +0000 http://www.afolksongaday.com/?p=389#comment-2179 Perhaps not exactly about shape-shifting, but very symbolic (though the swan signified the Muses in Greek tradition and, as a symbol of music, was also dedicated to Apollo, who was said to transform into a swan.) Socrates wrote that the swan sung it’s most beautiful song just before it died, leaving us with the phrase “swan song” - perhaps this should have been the last of the 365! Perhaps not exactly about shape-shifting, but very symbolic (though the swan signified the Muses in Greek tradition and, as a symbol of music, was also dedicated to Apollo, who was said to transform into a swan.)
Socrates wrote that the swan sung it’s most beautiful song just before it died, leaving us with the phrase “swan song” – perhaps this should have been the last of the 365!

]]> By: Phil http://www.afolksongaday.com/2012/08/17/polly-vaughan/comment-page-1/#comment-2172 Phil Tue, 17 Aug 2010 15:44:45 +0000 http://www.afolksongaday.com/?p=389#comment-2172 Just looked at the podcast on iTunes, and everything's greyed out - all the individual tracks and the 'Subscribe Free' button. Anyone else having this problem? Just looked at the podcast on iTunes, and everything’s greyed out – all the individual tracks and the ‘Subscribe Free’ button. Anyone else having this problem?

]]> By: admin http://www.afolksongaday.com/2012/08/17/polly-vaughan/comment-page-1/#comment-2170 admin Tue, 17 Aug 2010 15:37:45 +0000 http://www.afolksongaday.com/?p=389#comment-2170 By the way folks other admin has just made me aware that Seth Lakeman's <em>Setting Of The Sun</em> is also the same song. By the way folks other admin has just made me aware that Seth Lakeman’s Setting Of The Sun is also the same song.

]]> By: Jo Breeze http://www.afolksongaday.com/2012/08/17/polly-vaughan/comment-page-1/#comment-2168 Jo Breeze Tue, 17 Aug 2010 15:30:49 +0000 http://www.afolksongaday.com/?p=389#comment-2168 More about Polly Vaughn from the Vaughan Williams Memorial Library at the English Folk Dance and Song Society. There are 2 records of the exact spelling Polly Vaughn in the Library, both collected in the USA. http://tinyurl.com/pollyvaughn1 We used the Roud number to cross reference against different titles for the song. When searched on Roud No. 166, this rises to 179 records! The song of course goes under variants of the name (Polly Vaughan, Molly Vaughan, Molly Bawn etc) but also titles such as 'As Jimmie Went A-Hunting', 'Johnny Randle' and more. http://tinyurl.com/pollyvaughn2 If you wish to see more detail on each record, change the ‘output’ to ‘record’ and press ‘submit query’. There are 7 records of the song when searched under Roud number in the Take 6 archives, collected by George Gardiner and Henry Hammond. To find these go to http://library.efdss.org/archives/cgi-bin/search.cgi enter "166" into the first empty field, select ‘Roud number' from the drop down menu ‘all fields’ and press ‘submit search'. We use the Roud index and the Take 6 online collections in the search for information on Jon’s selections. For more information, or to carry out your own search for songs, please visit http://www.efdss.org/front/access-the-library-online/access-the-library-online/115 If you need any help accessing the library online or have any questions, please contact the VWML on 020 7485 2206 or library@efdss.org. More about Polly Vaughn from the Vaughan Williams Memorial Library at the English Folk Dance and Song Society.

There are 2 records of the exact spelling Polly Vaughn in the Library, both collected in the USA.

http://tinyurl.com/pollyvaughn1

We used the Roud number to cross reference against different titles for the song. When searched on Roud No. 166, this rises to 179 records! The song of course goes under variants of the name (Polly Vaughan, Molly Vaughan, Molly Bawn etc) but also titles such as ‘As Jimmie Went A-Hunting’, ‘Johnny Randle’ and more.

http://tinyurl.com/pollyvaughn2

If you wish to see more detail on each record, change the ‘output’ to ‘record’ and press ‘submit query’.

There are 7 records of the song when searched under Roud number in the Take 6 archives, collected by George Gardiner and Henry Hammond.

To find these go to http://library.efdss.org/archives/cgi-bin/search.cgi enter “166″ into the first empty field, select ‘Roud number’ from the drop down menu ‘all fields’ and press ‘submit search’.

We use the Roud index and the Take 6 online collections in the search for information on Jon’s selections.

For more information, or to carry out your own search for songs, please visit http://www.efdss.org/front/access-the-library-online/access-the-library-online/115

If you need any help accessing the library online or have any questions, please contact the VWML on 020 7485 2206 or library@efdss.org.

]]> By: admin http://www.afolksongaday.com/2012/08/17/polly-vaughan/comment-page-1/#comment-2167 admin Tue, 17 Aug 2010 15:01:10 +0000 http://www.afolksongaday.com/?p=389#comment-2167 Brian I thought it interesting too and am glad that you're enjoying this. I guess the article also backs up Phil's points,certainly the conclusion is shared. I'm quite happy to cede to those more sage than I on the matter, albeit with the mythology looming large over this tale, which surely can't be entirely coincidental. Brian I thought it interesting too and am glad that you’re enjoying this. I guess the article also backs up Phil’s points,certainly the conclusion is shared. I’m quite happy to cede to those more sage than I on the matter, albeit with the mythology looming large over this tale, which surely can’t be entirely coincidental.

]]> By: Phil http://www.afolksongaday.com/2012/08/17/polly-vaughan/comment-page-1/#comment-2164 Phil Tue, 17 Aug 2010 13:40:49 +0000 http://www.afolksongaday.com/?p=389#comment-2164 Forgot to say - great performance! Forgot to say – great performance!

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