Thanks to Bill

who first introduced me to 'I Am Stretched on Your Grave', who suggested this version, which may be the original I heard (I don't remember it being a duet, though), is beautiful, AND includes the stanza about the priests and the friars that I learned that was missing in the one below, along with the exact wording I learned. I highly recommend it. Bob commented on the Kate Rusby version, which I love, as well--it's on my phone. I don't care that much for Sinéad O'Connor's--too pop-like; I prefer the folk style better, which is why I like this version better. This is by the Voice Squad:



Here's another song that Bill introduced me to all those years ago (not the same version, but close). It's a song credited to David Dodds, sung by Nigel Parry, called 'The Magpie':

Two versions of a couple of folksongs I like quite a bit

I first heard 'The Trees They Do Grow High' on a vinyl LP we had, Joan Baez' Ballad Book. But I love Pentangle's version, too, along with virtually everything they've done. I was lucky to see Baez in concert a few years ago, one in the Lexington Opera House as part of the Troubadour Concert Series.

Another song traditional song I like a lot, although it's darker, is 'I Am Stretched on Your Grave'. Here are two versions. I prefer the Dead Can Dance version to O'Connor's.

One of my favourite songs...

terribly depressing yet moving. Quite a few of my own ancestors came from Ireland. I think this song captures the experiences of some of those immigrants and the ones left behind. The song was based on actual letters written from Ireland to the songwriter's great-grandfather.

'Kilkelly', sung by Robbie O'Connell with the Clancy Brothers

Another terribly depressing song I'll include here is 'Stretched on Your Grave'. I prefer the Dead Can Dance version rather than the Sinead O'Connor one. Here it is. What can I say--I'm both depressive and romantic. This particular recording has an annoying tendency for the volume to go down between verses early in the song, but it's the best I could find.

I've always thought it would be nice to play this at my memorial service. That or Kansas' 'Dust in the Wind'. What can I say, I'm not a 'Rock of Ages' kind of girl. And as long as I'm on morbid topics, let me just state publicly that 1) I want to be cremated and 2) do not want to be embalmed (I think it's just macabre) and 3) will haunt anyone who has me embalmed and buried. Enough said.

Tomorrow's post will be brighter, okay?