 | This ballad originated in a broadside called "A Warning for Married Women..." (the full name is a bit too long to be given here) attributed to a Laurence Price. The revengeful lover was called "James Harris" in the original broadside version but his name has been lost in most traditional versions. The name may be familiar with readers of Shirley Jackson's "Lottery", guess where she got it from... ^_^ The Daemon Lover is a song which has long died out in British tradition, but managed to survive and enjoy great popularity in America, where it is usually known as "The House Carpenter" or "The Carpenter's Wife". The American versions seem to be based on a 19th century broadside print of the ballad and replaced the supernatural element of the demon lover with a mortal and made the reason for the sinking of the ship more "casual", giving the song a very different feel and meaning... The American version is simply a morality tale, showing how deserting a loving husband for some rich bloke does not pay off, but the uneasiness and mystery of the former lover's personality is not quite as clear and satisfying as it's in the traditional Scottish versions... Anyways, the version I sing here is a modern English rewrite of the ballad which I learned from a recording of Frankie Armstrong. Here are the lyrics, I've transcribed them myself: "Well met, well met, my own true love, Well met, well met," cries he, I've come to claim on my former vows That you once gave unto me." "Away, away ... | Views: 0  0 ratings |
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Monday 21 November 2011
Demon Lover / House Carpenter / James Harris ( Child Ballad 243 - The Daemon Lover )
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