April is dead and summer is a-coming in! This episode of Folk Files explores the tradition of May songs and festivals, specifically focusing on Hal an Tow and the Flora Day celebrations in Cornwall. Morris dancing, maypoles, and the origin of May Day are also discussed.

Host: Olivia Harding

Special thanks to: Stephen Winick, Donna Smith, Aaron J. Morton, The Soup

Musical excerpts:

ARTIST: Marc Block

WORK: Hal an Tow

SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MgBzSNOc3A8

ARTIST: Ranarim

WORK: Maj vare välkommen

SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7wXcJiGH-o

ARTIST: The Halekulani Girls

WORK: May Day is Lei Day

SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D3GuJp2PZPU

ARTIST: The Watersons

WORK: Hal an Tow

SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m5kyvYoiS8c

ARTIST: Helston Flora Day, recorded by artcornwall.org

WORK: Hal an Tow

SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5rftBZKbZRg

ARTIST: Shirley Collins And The Albion Country Band

WORK: Hal-an-Tow

SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D5vUj6j8hjI

ARTIST: David Hansen

WORK: The Helston Furry Dance

SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6tGk9RODnRw

ARTIST: The Ashdown Forest Morris Men, recorded by Britclip

WORK: May Day 2024

SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mXhh8ClqDaw

ARTIST: Lillian Short

WORK: Robin Hood

SOURCE: Vance Randolph Collection AFC 1941/001: AFS 5263 B2 (https://blogs.loc.gov/folklife/2022/05/more-about-hal-an-tow-early-evidence-of-a-may-song/)

ARTIST: Roger Miller

WORK: Oo-De-Lally

SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DsyG3-IlY3Y

ARTIST: Richard Thompson

WORK: Sumer Is Icumen In

SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cKikjYdf1DA

ARTIST: Lisa Knapp

WORK: Till April is Dead

SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fe-WWMHQASg

Wayfaring Stranger is the featured song in this episode of Folk Files, which explores the history of Appalachia, shape note tradition, and the difficulties of tracing the origins of early American folk music.

Host: Olivia Harding

Special thanks to: Aaron J. Morton, Jo Morton, Lucas "Whiskey Richards" Husted, and Mary White-Harding

Musical excerpts:

ARTIST: Jack White

WORK: Wayfaring Stranger

SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=25P08So3rfI

ARTIST: Cherokee National Youth Choir

WORK: North Wind

SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_7j3qx-Qrs

ARTIST: Detlef Korsen

WORK: Ich Bin Ein Gast Auf Erden

SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z0ia7MiVqRc

ARTIST: Ireland Sacred Harp Convention

WORK: Wayfaring Stranger

SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4dL4AVKA6tM

ARTIST: The United Shape Note Singers of West Georgia and the Associated Note Singers of Atlanta

WORK: What a Happy Time

SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aUwHIEb19Ug

ARTIST: Texas Sacred Harp Singers

WORK: What Wondrous Love

SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aRpV9H9ZpB0

ARTIST: ARRR!!!

WORK: The Ballad of Captain Kidd

SOURCE: Let’s Get Kraken: https://arrr-pirates.bandcamp.com/album/lets-get-kraken

ARTIST: Rhiannon Giddens

WORK: Wayfaring Stranger

SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b1Z4PAZX9Bs

ARTIST: Ewan McColl

WORK: Dowie Dens of Yarrow

SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_NfTplWa0mg

ARTIST: Second Wind

WORK: Wayfaring Stranger

SOURCE: Deco Lounge, April 6 2024

This episode of Folk Files traces the roots of popular sea shanties to Black work songs and African folk traditions.

Full list of referenced works: https://jmp.sh/gcOBH83N

To jump into the Black origins of country music, start here:

https://www.theatlantic.com/culture/archive/2022/10/black-country-music-legacy/671818/

https://time.com/5673476/ken-burns-country-music-black-artists/

Host: Olivia Harding

Special thanks to Cherie and Michael Albert

Musical excerpts:

ARTIST: Paul Clayton and the Fo’c’sle Singers

WORK: Haul Away Joe

SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x73TAgmZYAM

ARTIST: The Longest Johns

WORK: Spanish Ladies

SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I3wzlHYzsg8

ARTIST: Ed Lewis and Prisoners from Parchman, Mississippi

WORK: I Be So Glad When the Sun Goes Down

SOURCE: https://youtu.be/C-zlSq4mWiE?si=fnGu-f8ZgGbMmv0-

ARTIST: Music the Gathering

WORK: Sundown Below

SOURCE: LVL 1

ARTIST: Assassin’s Creed: Rogue

WORK: Donkey Riding

SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wgfLP3gMh0Y

ARTIST: David Coffin

WORK: Roll the Old Chariot

SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DJtgjG0x9Mw

ARTIST: Planxty

WORK: Sally Brown

SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S0Bq4-fCH0c

ARTIST: Sam Lee

WORK: Knock a Man Down

SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1NoUAQhY-g8

ARTIST: Bernard Wrigley et. al.

WORK: Haul Away for Rosie

SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q1DugYkOOd0

ARTIST: Coon Creek Girls

WORK: Jim Along Josie

SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ztG-7-P_G-w

ARTIST: Lead Belly

WORK: Haul Away Joe

SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1NoUAQhY-g8

ARTIST: The Barroualie Whalers

WORK: Tinnego

SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fwL5lpVt1Mk

ARTIST: The Menhaden Chanteymen

WORK: [Title Unknown]

SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1NoUAQhY-g8