Remarks:
This is from Martha Redbone’s 2012 album “The Garden of Love” where she sings the poetry of William Blake. She is from Appalachia, part Black, White and Native American (Cherokee, Choctaw), as is her music. She also sings retro-ish R&B (like “Boyfriend” and “Children of Love”). In 2002 she won a Nammy (Native American Music Award) for Debut Artist. As maybe you can imagine, she has been on NPR.
Lyrics:
I laid me down upon a bank
Where love lay sleeping
I heard among the rushes dank
Weeping Weeping
Then I went to the heath & the wild,
To the thistles & thorns of the waste
And they told me how they were beguild
Driven out & compelled to be chaste
I went to the Garden of Love,
And saw what I never had seen:
A Chapel was built in the midst,
Where I used to play on the green.
And the gates of this Chapel were shut
And Thou shalt not. writ over the door;
So I turn’d to the Garden of Love,
That so many sweet flowers bore.
And I saw it was filled with graves,
And tomb-stones where flowers should be:
And Priests in black gowns, were walking their rounds,
And binding with briars, my joys & desires.
I like this i can hear the Appalaichian vibe and perhaps some of the Native American influence as well. She sort of reminds me of Valerie June. I like her voice. I will look up some more of her music., Thanks for sharing this. She is one of those obscure artist that if one is just closed minded will miss out on. Thanks for sharing this.
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@Abagond: Having been commenting on this blog for a while i know you are an anglophile. Are you impressed with Martha Redbone’s ability to take an English poet’s poems and set it to music and give it a vibe from all of her ethnic roots. I personally like the song. I can hear the Appalachian and Native American vibe in the song. It’s quite a feat in my opinion.
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OOPs! should have had a (?) mark in the second comment when i asked you about being impressed with her ability to set William Blake’s poems to music that matched her ethnic roots?
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Yep, this very NPRish.
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@ Mary
I instantly thought of Valerie June too.
I am not impressed by her setting William Blake to music, but I do find it interesting. And I do like how she brings together elements of three different cultures – kind of like an America that should have been but never was.
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That’s a nice song. She has a pretty nice voice. She does have talent. But I like Valerie June a little better. I love that woman! She is so fine!! Oh wait! My bad! We’re talking about their music right?lol
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@ Kushite
LOL.
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@Abagond
I’m just messing around.lol But I do believe they are both very talented women. I hope Valerie comes out to the west coast soon. I would love to see her perform live in person. I hear she puts on a pretty good show.
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Since we’re on the subject,I hope Abagond Doesn’t mind me posting this video. I just love this song!
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ywuF-N8xXQ)
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‘Workin woman blues’ real good-Kushite Prince. Thanks.
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I love Valerie June’s “Workin Woman Blues”
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[…] Source: abagond.wordpress.com […]
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[…] The Garden of Love. The lyrics are printed in this link as well. I’d recommend checking them out even if you’re not interested in listening to the entire song. They’re incredibly vivid. […]
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