Folk Song Follies

[taimatsu]

Over the last few years I have occasionally had a conversation with various musical buddies which invokes the idea of the List Of Things Not To Do If You Find Yourself Stuck In A Folk Song. I have just tried to Google to see if such a thing is extant on the web, and either it's not of my Google-fu sucks.

SO, here's your chance, boys and girls: clearly this list must be compiled and put on my lovely shiny tidy new website (which you can see from the 'Lucy's Home Page' link on my journal).

I'll start you off:

Sensible Advice Should You Find Yourself Stuck In A Folk Song

- Make detailed enquiries into the family background of anyone who wants to sleep with or marry you.
- Take a life-jacket on any sea-voyage.
- Avoid cross-dressing.
- If you can't avoid cross-dressing, avoid flirting with anyone at all while in the garb of the opposite sex.


Any more?

Comments

[mirabehn.livejournal.com]

1. To avoid elf-attack, either hang your rooms with crosses or refrain from chopping down trees.

2. Stay inside on May mornings.

3. What happens at Tetbury Fair, stays at Tetbury Fair.

4. In general, Shit Happens at Fairs.

5. Keep your own counsel. Unless a complete stranger arrives in scruffy clothing seven years after your love left for the sea. In which case tell him your life story and it will All End Happily Ever After.

6. If at all possible, avoid fighting in the First World War.

and above all...

7. Beware of Long Lankin. Really, beware him. It's much, much better if you do.

[lanfykins.livejournal.com]

Addendum to 7: never trust the nurse.

8. Do not bet on the horse that doesn't have a name.

[mirabehn.livejournal.com]

But do feel free to bet as much as you like on horses called Galway Bay or Galway Fay.

(Though possibly only if you're from Galway.)

[lanfykins.livejournal.com]

I reckon as long as you don't put your shirt on the little grey mare you're probably fine...