Author Topic: Add: The Sad Song [Palace Grand]

dmcg

 Posted - 02 May 03 - 01:29 pm
Sad Song, The [Palace Grand]

He came from his palace grand,
And he came to my cottage door;
His words were few, but his looks
Will linger forevermore.
The smile in his sad dark eyes,
More tender than words could be;
But I was nothing to him,
Though he was the world to me;
But I was nothing to him,
Though he was the world to me.

And there in his garden strolled,
All robed in satins and lace,
A lady so strange and cold,
Who held in his heart no place.
For I would be his bride
With a kiss for a lifetime fee;
But I am nothing to him,
Though he is the world to me;
But I am nothing to him,
Though he is the world to me.

Today in his palace grand
On a flower-strewn bier he lies,
With the beautiful lids fast closed
O'er the beautiful sad dark eyes.
Among the mourners who mourn
Why should I a mourner be?
For I was nothing to him
Though he was the world to me.

How will it be with our souls
When we meet in that spirit land?
What the mortal heart ne'er knows
Will the spirit then understand?
Or in some celestial form
Will our sorrows repeated be?
Will I still be nothing to him
Though he is the world to me?
Will I still be nothing to him
Though he is the world to me?


Source: Randolph, V, 1982. Ozark Folksongs, Illinois Press, Urbana


Notes:

Collected by Vance Randolph from May Kennedy McCord, Springfield, Mo., May 14, 1934, who learnt it near Galena, Mo., about 1900. Randolph wrote that "this piece has no local title but Carl Sandburg, who heard it at Springfield Mo., in 1930, always called it 'The Sad Song'"

Norm Cohen wrote:

The origins of this song have not been traced, but it would appear to be a sheet-music composition of the 1880s or 1890s. Evelyn Beers learned it from May Kennedy McCord and has sung it frequently; her version is in Bush (1970). Joan Baez also recorded the piece; she learned it from Randolph's text.

When Randolph recorded Mrs McCord singing this in 1941, (AFS 5297 B3), she titled it "Lady Mary". Max Hunter, who also recorded her rendition of the song (MFH 549), used the title by which his mother had sung it - "Palace Grand."

Max Hunter's recording can be found here.

Database entry is here.


Edited By dmcg - 02/05/2003 14:02:26




dmcg

 Posted - 02 May 03 - 01:36 pm
This is a song that I had completely forgotten about until I heard it on The Mudcat Rose CD, sung by Kendall Morse. I associate it with the BBC Radio programme "Family Favourites" from the late 50's or perhaps early 60's; though maybe it is the Joan Baez recording that I am really remembering. I don't remember ever hearing it since then until the Mudcat CDs arrived.




masato sakurai

 Posted - 02 May 03 - 02:40 pm
From the Max Hunter Collection:

Palace Grand (As sung by May Kennedy McCord, Springfield, Missouri on October 21, 1960)





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