This song is taken from the compilation LP A Very Special Christmas 3, which was sold in aid of the Special Olympics.
Like John Barleycorn Must Die, it came to Steve Winwood via the Watersons. It was sung by Lal Waterson on their 1965 LP Frost and Fire.
Mainly Norfolk quotes the folk pioneer A.L. Lloyd's notes on the sleeve:
This moralising carol was much used by beggars and others towards Christmas time. Its tune turns up over and again attached to such carols as The Fountain of Christ's Blood, Have You Not Heard of our Dear Saviour's Love, and The Black Decree, also to the favourite old dialogue-ballad of Death and the Lady, traceable to the sixteenth century.Anyway, it feels appropriate to our new age of austerity.
Merry Christmas.
2 comments:
Dear Jonathan, a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you and all your readers!
Life is really strange. I just followed your links and browsed along - and suddenly I found this:
http://www.writecorner.com/FreshRipe3.asp
"In "Experiencing Winwood," which appeared in the first issue of Juke Jar, Rice traces the career milestones of rock legend Steve Winwood that have become artistic landmarks for Rice's own life."
What a nice surprise this was - and on Christmas eve!
If you don't know this yet, you absolutely have to read it, it's marvelous!
Greetings from Hungary - where the political situation isn't looking so good, but still ...
Happy Christmas from across the border and a happy 2011
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