Karine Polwart on music and motherhood
Guest blogger writes:
If an alien landed on Earth and listened only to mainstream pop music on mainstream radio, it might be forgiven for thinking that the only kinds of love, heartache, fear and joy that human beings ever experienced in their lives revolved around .
If an alien landed on Earth and listened only to mainstream pop music on mainstream radio, it might be forgiven for thinking that the only kinds of love, heartache, fear and joy that human beings ever experienced in their lives revolved around .
Now I like a good as much as the next wifie, and folk balladry can do it as well as anything pop has to offer. But one of the chief things that lured me into traditional song in the first place was - to quote Dick Gaughan - the existence of A Different Kind of Love Song.
I have a brand new tiny two week old daughter called Rosa. Goodness knows where I found the time to write this blog... but it's got me thinking in particular again about what songs have to say about motherhood. I felt this intensely after the birth of my son three years ago, when I was gripped by the grief-stricken mother in , the stark perils of childbirth in and the brooding lost-child anxiety and foreboding of Northumbrian lullaby .
I was compelled also to write three new songs of my own from the perspective of mothers. Rivers Run, played on Mike Harding's request show this week, is the most sentimental of these, though intended to have something of a point about the kind of world we want our children to inherit. I wrote it specifically for my son. And, well, if you cannae be a wee bit sentimental about your own newborn then what's there left to be sentimental about?
Most of all, though, the arrival of my two small children has once again made singing - whether it's folk songs, Stevie Wonder classics, Bob the Builder, or made-up daft ditties for changing nappies - an everyday activity, not something I do away from home 'for a living'. The same old Ally Bally Bee lullabies my mum and my granny knew sit side by side at bedtime with The Gruffalo and Hairy Maclary and my own cheesy rhymes. And young Arlo, now nearly three years old, inspired by piano-playing Roger from 101 Dalmatians, and, perhaps, just a wee bit by me too, has taken to making up his own songs for his baby sister. Long may it continue!
I have a brand new tiny two week old daughter called Rosa. Goodness knows where I found the time to write this blog... but it's got me thinking in particular again about what songs have to say about motherhood. I felt this intensely after the birth of my son three years ago, when I was gripped by the grief-stricken mother in , the stark perils of childbirth in and the brooding lost-child anxiety and foreboding of Northumbrian lullaby .
I was compelled also to write three new songs of my own from the perspective of mothers. Rivers Run, played on Mike Harding's request show this week, is the most sentimental of these, though intended to have something of a point about the kind of world we want our children to inherit. I wrote it specifically for my son. And, well, if you cannae be a wee bit sentimental about your own newborn then what's there left to be sentimental about?
Most of all, though, the arrival of my two small children has once again made singing - whether it's folk songs, Stevie Wonder classics, Bob the Builder, or made-up daft ditties for changing nappies - an everyday activity, not something I do away from home 'for a living'. The same old Ally Bally Bee lullabies my mum and my granny knew sit side by side at bedtime with The Gruffalo and Hairy Maclary and my own cheesy rhymes. And young Arlo, now nearly three years old, inspired by piano-playing Roger from 101 Dalmatians, and, perhaps, just a wee bit by me too, has taken to making up his own songs for his baby sister. Long may it continue!
Comment number 1.
At 3rd May 2010, James wrote:All best wishes for your new baby daughter arrival, I too love Mike Harding's Rivers Run, it exudes a kind of melancholic but uplifting rhythm that I'm sure many music lovers think of fondly. I too am welcoming a new arrival this week with my wife, if I ever get time between my work at this and home, I might put Harding on the CD player. Love that song.
Complain about this comment (Comment number 1)
Comment number 2.
At 3rd May 2010, Glasgow Brian wrote:It's funny how folk songs like lullabys have disapeared from the scene. Everybody sang COULTER'S CANDY [Ally bally Bee] in the 60's,unlike now. For our recent grandaughter, I rewrote it as MUMMY'S CANDY, about a little baby who grows and thrives on Mummy's "candy". If anybody wants me to post it on this site, I'll have a go. So far, I've had a good response at folk pub sessions. And of course our little Amelia will grow up to know it. It would be great if anyone else wanted to sing it. Best wishes to you and Rosa. Brian
Complain about this comment (Comment number 2)
Comment number 3.
At 3rd May 2010, Glasgow Brian wrote:Here it is, as mentioned above. New verses: © Brian & Valerie Farley, 2008
MUMMY'S CANDY
Chorus:
Ally, bally, ally bally bee
Sitting on your mummy's knee
Crying for everyone see
To get more mummy's candy
Verses:
My name's Amelia, don't you know
I like to smile and suck my toe
If you look, you'll see me grow
From sucking mummy's candy
I've got a button for my nose
I look pretty in my clothes
But if I holler, mummy knows
It's time to give me candy
I drive my mummy to despair
With sleepless nights, I don't care
Sometimes daddy tears his hair
And I don't get my candy
When in the bath, I like to splash
But if they see I've got a rash
To the doctor they will dash
Who'll say I need more candy
When I'm older, I'll go to school
I hope they've got a swimming pool
I'll swim so fast and be so cool
Because of mummy's candy
Complain about this comment (Comment number 3)