Lady Margaret

Lady Margaret, most recently performed by Cassie Franklin on the Cold Mountain Soundtrack, has become a beloved tune by many. The interesting thing? This same popularity has existed through the life of this song. The song originated in Scotland in the early 1600s, with no known original writer. The earliest known reference to this song was in 1611, when Beaumont and Fletcher, playwrites of the time, included these lines in the play The Knight of the Burning Pestle:  

"When it was grown to dark midnight 

And all were fast asleep, 

In came Margaret's grimly ghost

 And stood at William's feet."

This song, along with many other, became popular among the Scottish people, and was carried with them wherever they settled. When many Scottish immigrants came to America, and settled in the remote Appalachia Mountains, the song was brought with them. The song was sung by many, and eventually became so varied due to the changes from various singers over generations, that the now different songs only carried the same basic themes.

But what a theme it is. It's a dark love story between a maid and William, who is implied to be a man of wealth and upper class. Sweet William tells Fair Margaret (the maid that he's in love with) that he is marrying another. She sees the bride and William together after the wedding and runs off to kill herself, because of how badly her heart has been broken. Her ghost comes into his bridal chamber and ask him if he loves his new bride, William replies telling Margaret that he loves her much more than his bride. William wakes in the morning saying he had a bad dream and in which he saw Lady Margaret's ghost and goes off looking for her. All he finds is her body in a coffin.

In some versions, soon after the death of  Margaret, William kills himself too. They are buried beside each other and a rose grows from her grave and a green briar from his, ultimately becoming entwined and forming a "lovers' knot". In fact there are over 50 different versions of this song, going back all the way to the 1600's and newer versions still being found as recently as 1995.

Now please forgive the quality of this video, and the horrendous singing, but I wanted to share my favorite version of this song. Maybe one day I'll get up the courage to sing it in camp, along with other period songs....but for now, I'll just  do this, and see what people think of it.

Love and Lightning Bugs,
 

Music Mondays: Florence + The Machine "Seven Devils"

It's been a while since i did a Music Monday post, but things have gotten away from me lately, so I apologize to all those who have been requesting I do these posts again. 

This week, I want you to here this amazing song by an equally amazing band: Florence + The Machine. This song was used in the Season two trailer for Games of Thrones, though I myself have never seen this show...yet.

First though, just listen. 

Now, tell me, that the music, her voice, the atmosphere, didn't give you the chills. The first time I heard this, I literally got goosebumps all over my skin, and butterflies in my chest. In fact, listening to this song today while cleaning, I felt so drawn into the music, that ballet moves I thought long ago lost flowed from my limbs like water. I couldn't help myself. It was like the dance was drawn out of me.

This is how a song should be, something that makes you feel so strongly and purely.

Love and Lightning Bugs

Music Monday - Pocahontas "Colors of the Wind"

Growing up, I was like any normal little in girl, in that I LOVED Disney movies. One movie that I practically obsessed over as a child was Pocahontas. In fact, I had Pocahontas bed sheets, curtains, pillows, stuffed animals, birthday cakes (for 3 years) and I knew every single word to every single song, and the entire movie verbatim. I was 7, can you blame me?

One song that always meant more to me was "Colors of the Wind", as it's message was so very powerful to me. Respect our Earth, respect her people, and live in sync with our natural world.

Love and Lightning Bugs,

Music Mondays: Yann Tiresen "La Rupture"

Time for another Music Monday! Remember, if you'd like to link up your own Music Monday posts below, please do so! Here is the button and code if you'd like to use them upon linking up. 

<br /> <center><a href="http://justanotherstaticheart.blogspot.com/"><img width="150" height="150" border="0" src="http://i1085.photobucket.com/albums/j424/Danielle_Dorland/cache_2411842050.png" /></a></center><br />

Today I wanted to talk about one of my favorite French Artists: Yann Tiersen. The thing I adore about his music most is the sheer passion he shown through such simple instruments. He uses toy pianos, accordions, lutes, piano, and a wonderful array of sounds to get his musical point across. Many of his songs have no words at all, but I included this one, as it's my absolute favorite.

This song, called 'La Rupture', has never failed to make me feel better about my day. I actually have a very hard time not swaying to the music, or humming along. The music he creates has a way of moving your heart, and you can easily paint a very vivid picture in your mind when listening.




Love and Lightning Bugs,

Music Mondays: Adele "Rumour Has It"

I've decided to start a Linky! I have been asked by a few people if they can use the Music Mondays idea, so I thought, why not make a way for everyone to link up and read each others posts? Music Mondays will be posts about a particular song that has really caught your attention and has you thinking. It could be an old song, a new song, foreign song, etc. Please post a link or a video of the song, and your feelings and attitude towards it. Please use the button I created when posting your Music Monday, thank you! The Linky is below my post!

<br /> <center><a href="http://justanotherstaticheart.blogspot.com/"><img width="150" height="150" border="0" src="http://i1085.photobucket.com/albums/j424/Danielle_Dorland/cache_2411842050.png" /></a></center><br />

I know she's been all over the radio, and though this song just started airing in my part of the country, I have been listening to it since the Album came out.

Lately I've been listening to this song more and more, as I've been dealing with some drama in my life, centered mostly around rumors about me in the reenacting community. I've never been one to take words on the wind at heart, but after a while, it just gets annoying. That's where this song comes in. Adele herself has said the inspiration for this entire album was the break-up and continuing issues she had with her ex-boyfriend. If she can belt out a song and feel better about herself and the situation, well, so can I. :)

Please feel free to link up yours too!

Love and Lightning Bugs,

Music Mondays: The Civil Wars "Barton Hollow"

Sometimes you hear a song and it's just so infectious you can't listen to it only once. 'Barton Hollow' is that kind of song for me. Growing up in the Ozarks, we have a deep love of this style of music. Something that can't quite be put in it's own genre, but you just know your heart beats in sync with that guitar, and you can't help but sing along and move with the music.

Below is a video I put together of pictures I and a few others took at our Reenacting events. 'Barton Hollow' is the song playing along.

I could listen to this infectious song all day to be honest, and I have on a few occasions put The Civil Wars album, named Barton Hollow like the song, on repeat and gone through the day. They are a unique blend of folk and bluegrass, who will keep you thoroughly entertained. Plus, the male singer of the duo has a striking resemblance to a certain Mr. Depp.

Love and Lightning Bugs,

Music Mondays: Alex Day "Lady Godiva"

Welcome to the first installment of Music Monday! Today, I'm going to be doing my part to help a wonderful independent artist from Essex, England. His name is Alex Day, and some of you may actually know him from a fantastic band called Chameleon Circuit, which is an alternative type band who write songs about Doctor Who. As you can very well imagine, I adore them.

As I said before, Alex is currently an independent recording artist, making music for the sole purpose of wanting to make people happy with his songs. Over the Christmas season, Alex made it a goal to get his song Forever Yours to number one in the UK charts. He never made it to number one, but he did make it to forth place, as well as placing in the top ten in the US and other countries. A HUGE accomplishment for an independent artist. Well, he's setting out to do this again with his newest single, Lady Godiva.

To be able to do this, Alex needs everyone who wants to, to purchase Lady Godiva on April 1st. Not before if possible, but exactly on April Fools Day. He wants to show the world that a lone artist can make the top ten, not once, but twice! He turned down a record deal after the success of Forever Yours, because he felt that it wasn't talent that made you in Hollywood, but money. He wants to stay true to his roots and beliefs, and make music just to make people happy.

But Alex is very adamant about one thing: "Don't buy Lady Godiva if you don't love it."

Now as for the song in general, I loved it! It has a great beat, that isn't too heavy, but rather fun and lighthearted. The lyrics are much the same way, and over all the song has some fantastic energy in it. I listen to it, and I can't help but bob my head do a little dance if I'm standing. Just a great flirty song.

The Video 

If you'd like to purchase the song, you can get it at the following:

HMV: http://hmv.com/hmvweb/displayProductDetails.do?ctx=280;0;-1;-1;-1&sku=625932
Amazon: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Lady-Godiva-Alex-Day/dp/B007J5PB8U/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1331806964&sr=8-1
What Records: http://www.whatrecords.co.uk/live/landing/landing280.asp

Please help support a wonderful artist!

Love and Lightning Bugs,

The Start of Music Mondays

Well, it's Monday, and as promised, I'm starting a brand new string of posts called Music Monday's!

Music Monday's will be posts about a particular song that has really caught my attention and has me thinking. It could be an old song, a new song, foreign song, etc. I'll post a link or a video of the song, and my feelings and attitude towards it.

I'm doing this because for one, I love music, and two, I have been told by many people on various occasions that my music taste is one of the most eclectic they have ever seen. not sure if that's a compliment or not, but I thought that I would love to share my personal music digest with you wonderful followers.

I'll be posting the first Music Monday later this evening, so I hope you'll all enjoy!

Love and Lightning Bugs,