Anais Mitchell & Jefferson Hamer - Willie's Lady (Child 6) // The Crypt Sessions

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Anais Mitchell & Jefferson Hamer perform 'Willie's Lady (Child 6)' for The Crypt Sessions
Anais Mitchell & Jefferson Hamer
anaismitchell.com
www.jeffersonha...
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Vermont based songstress Anais Mitchell and fellow singer-songwriter Jefferson Hamer, recently joined us here at The Crypt. Featuring sparse production, the harmonic melding of Mitchell and Hamer's warm vocals and guitar strings is nothing short of sublime.
The duo's recent co-arranged collaboration, 'Child Ballads' was born from a mutual love of British folk cannon, established by American scholar and folklorist Francis James Child in the late 1800s. The whisky collection of folk songs, was released back in February, to critical acclaim.
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The Crypt Sessions
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Recorded and mixed at The Crypt Studio, London: bit.ly/2rTCvLP

[@patthewoodboy]

the vocals start and my brain went ... weeeeeeeeee 🙂

[@gharcourt1]

one of the easiest most beautiful collaborations ever -- they need to lay down another album from the Child song-book

[@cavewaller]

Glenn Harcourt yeah

[@MicMonEli]

Love ❤ these two

[@mattkresgemusic8795]

The song itself is mesmerizing and the arrangement and performance is incredible. I've probably watched this a dozen times in the day or so since I was turned onto it by a friend. I'm floored.

[@itsthecoast]

I can't get enough of this. Anais is brilliant and Jefferson"s voice/style fits so well.

[@chriswilliams7928]

BBC 6 music brought me here. I am very glad.

[@chriswilliams7928]

Cannot stop watching this.

[@Spark1fy]

These two artists bring new life to the ancient Child ballads with the verve of their playing and singing. They deserve much more airplay.

[@cavewaller]

Every now n then I get a bit jaded about music which is my first luv. An then I stumble on something like this an I get all enthusiastic about music an therefore life again xx

[@MindfulLifex]

Nothing short of amazing. Beautiful guitar work and such warm vocals. They support each other brilliantly. The setting is so subtle.. really showcases the musicians.

[@jipes]

Such a joy to hear two wonderful artists blending their craft for a beautiful ballad

[@user-rj3rv7eu3f]

Just beautiful ❤️

[@deborahfinnegan3301]

Beautiful complementary voices, so amazing. i love them together-- this is the first day that I have heard them play!

[@lakebiscuit8653]

same! the way their voices mix is some of the most beautiful music i've ever heard...

[@jessicajackson6172]

Anais Mitchell is so fucking good

[@Zeiru]

Beautiful work. I first heard this song decades ago performed by Bedlam but I think I like your version better.

[@agnese6067]

King Willie, he sailed over the raging foam He's wooed a wife and he's brought her home He's brought her home all against his mother's will His mother wrought her a wicked spell And a wicked spell she's laid on her She'd be with child for long and many's the year But the child she would never bear And in her bower she lies in pain King Willie by her bedside he would stand As down his cheeks sodden tears do run King Willie, back to his mother he did run And he's gone there as a beggin' son Says "My true love has this fine, noble steed The likes of which you have never seen And at every part of this horse's mane There's hangin' fifty silver bells and ten Hangin' fifty bells and ten This goodly gift shall be your own If back to my own true love you'll turn again So she might bear her baby son" "O of the child she'll never lighter be Nor from my curse will she e'er be free But she will die and she will turn to clay And you will wed with another maid" And sighing, says this weary man As back to his own true love he's gone again: "I wish my life was at an end" King Willie back to his mother he did run And he's gone there as a beggin' son Says "My true love has this fine, golden girdle Set with jewels all about the middle And at every part of this girdle's hem There's hangin' fifty silver bells and ten Hangin' fifty bells and ten This goodly gift shall be your own If back to my own true love you'll turn again So she might bear her baby son This goodly gift shall be your own "O of the child she'll never lighter be Nor from my curse will she e'er be free But she will die and she will turn to clay And you will wed with another maid" And sighing, says this weary man As back to his own true love he's gone again: "I wish my life was at an end" And up and spoke his noble Queen And she has told King Willie of a plan How she might bear her baby son Says "You must get you down to the marketplace And you must buy a ball of wax And you must shape it as a babe that is to nurse And you must make two eyes of glass And ask your mother to the christening-day And you must stand there close as you can be So you might hear what she does say King Willie, he's gone down to the marketplace He has bought a ball of wax And he has shaped it as a babe that is to nurse And he has made two eyes of glass He asked his mother to the christening-day And he has stood there close as he could be So he might hear what she did say And how she spat and how she swore She spied the babe where no babe could be before She spied the babe where none could be before Says "Who was it who undid the nine witch knots Braided in amongst this lady's locks? And who is it is who the leather shoe untied From the left foot of this wedded bride? And who was it split the silken thread The spider stretched all beneath this lady's bed The spider stretched all beneath her bed?" And it was Willie who undid the nine witch knots Braided in amongst this lady's locks And it was Willie who the leather shoe untied From the left foot of this wedded bride And it was Willie split the silken thread The spider stretched all beneath this lady's bed The spider stretched all beneath her bed And she has borne him a baby son And great are the blessings that be then upon Great are the blessings then upon

[@asanissimasaa]

This is brilliant! I just discovered it and am listening to it and the other Childe ballads by them obsessively. Beautiful.

[@vtster]

Extraordinary collaboration!

[@stevenroberts8255]

How good is that! You sure warmed my heart, thank you very much.

[@user-rj3rv7eu3f]

Yes

[@pythonetics1]

How good brilliant.

[@RobinYoulton]

Absolute magic!

[@JoelDuntin]

So brilliant....Gosh!

[@frevr18]

Brilliant, just brilliant.

[@rockandsockandrobot]

This is KILLER stuff, man.

[@sandramorey2529]

Martin Carthy got the tune from a Breton dance tune and it goes so well with this set of words. Can't recall how it's spelled, something like Chist O Grede. Someone will correct it. The words tell a wonderful scary magic story. Martin recorded it and also accompanied Ray Fisher (Archie's sister)RIP. on her album of the same name. It's beautiful, no matter who sings and plays it.

[@XenoBeano]

Ive recently discovered both this song and the Breton tune you mention - Ev Chistr 'ta, Laou (or alternatively spelt Son ar Christr) - its also popular in the netherlands aswell as celtic nations. Do you know if the tune went with these words (willies lady) first or with the breton words?

[@sandramorey2529]

@@XenoBeano The tune went with the Breton words first. Martin often has used a Breton dance tune since nobody knows what tune went with Willie's Lady.

[@mrcrispyroll]

I love this,I can't stop listening to it!

[@briansloan7625]

Beautiful complementary voices and great guitar playing.

[@tonycrawford]

Love the Song & What a great duet & Sounds Loved it

[@juliankiebicki229]

lyrics: King Willie, he sailed over the raging foam He's wooed a wife and he's brought her home He's brought her home all against his mother's will His mother wrought her a wicked spell And a wicked spell she's laid on her She'd be with child for long and many's the year But the child she would never bear And in her bower she lies in pain King Willie by her bedside he would stand As down his cheeks sodden tears do run King Willie, back to his mother he did run And he's gone there as a beggin' son Says "My true love has this fine, noble steed The likes of which you have never seen And at every part of this horse's mane There's hangin' fifty silver bells and ten Hangin' fifty bells and ten This goodly gift shall be your own If back to my own true love you'll turn again So she might bear her baby son" "O of the child she'll never lighter be Nor from my curse will she e'er be free But she will die and she will turn to clay And you will wed with another maid" And sighing, says this weary man As back to his own true love he's gone again: "I wish my life was at an end" King Willie back to his mother he did run And he's gone there as a beggin' son Says "My true love has this fine, golden girdle Set with jewels all about the middle And at every part of this girdle's hem There's hangin' fifty silver bells and ten Hangin' fifty bells and ten This goodly gift shall be your own If back to my own true love you'll turn again So she might bear her baby son This goodly gift shall be your own "O of the child she'll never lighter be Nor from my curse will she e'er be free But she will die and she will turn to clay And you will wed with another maid" And sighing, says this weary man As back to his own true love he's gone again: "I wish my life was at an end" And up and spoke his noble Queen And she has told King Willie of a plan How she might bear her baby son Says "You must get you down to the marketplace And you must buy a ball of wax And you must shape it as a babe that is to nurse And you must make two eyes of glass And ask your mother to the christening-day And you must stand there close as you can be So you might hear what she does say King Willie, he's gone down to the marketplace He has bought a ball of wax And he has shaped it as a babe that is to nurse And he has made two eyes of glass He asked his mother to the christening-day And he has stood there close as he could be So he might hear what she did say And how she spat and how she swore She spied the babe where no babe could be before She spied the babe where none could be before Says "Who was it who undid the nine witch knots Braided in amongst this lady's locks? And who is it is who the leather shoe untied From the left foot of this wedded bride? And who was it split the silken thread The spider stretched all beneath this lady's bed The spider stretched all beneath her bed?" And it was Willie who undid the nine witch knots Braided in amongst this lady's locks And it was Willie who the leather shoe untied From the left foot of this wedded bride And it was Willie split the silken thread The spider stretched all beneath this lady's bed The spider stretched all beneath her bed And she has borne him a baby son And great are the blessings that be then upon Great are the blessings then upon

[@geoparkin2309]

Discovered this via Cerys on 6 Music - what a beautiful duet.

[@Deedee-ee1sg]

Absolutely gorgeous! Heard it on Bbc6music on Sunday!

[@fallenlester1262]

Love you guys!! Great job on some of my favorites, I've been playing your stuff on my radio show for about a year now. Keep up the good work.

[@ajude234]

beautiful. The best version I've heard and thanks, other commenter, for putting me onto the Child Ballads album.

[@edwardlazell3157]

Love this album.

[@FurtherFielder]

brilliant!

[@donaldsepanek8809]

Terrific!

[@reallybadhairday]

oh what a lovely song..

[@user-iv1ur6bl1z]

So pretty this is❤

[@mrfonganator]

Mesmeric!

[@sassulusmagnus]

Beautiful!

[@jomo87]

"9 dislikes" - jeez, I guess Willie's mother must have 8 sockpuppet accounts, eh?

[@nobanjono]

yeah!

[@Yotun-of-the-WWW]

beer!, is the answer for the cultured ones that understand.

[@zeldaah]

I like this even better than the recording on the album only because the harmony by Jefferson is a bit louder here (in a good way). This is like one brain with four arms and two voices.

[@menteur4444]

I didn't know the singer of EveryTime I Die play folk music too! :D

[@christ6493]

Lovely singing and guitar playing , these guys are really good - but Martin Carthy's version has the edge on this

[@DavidBerlinguette]

Thanks for that! This whole world is new to me and I love it all. There’s something original about that and it can’t be touched, but these two are completely beautiful.

[@christaylor2070]

@@DavidBerlinguette such a wonderful tune - its a trad Breton song 'Son ar Ch' istr' [song of cider]

[@waynebyrne2201]

I think Martin Carthy would like this....

[@Mnnvint]

Oh, I bet he's heard it! He played Hades at a performance of Hadestown in Union Chapel in 2011. Other folk singers are a lot more aware of Mitchell's talent than the public at large - hopefully that will change with Broadway Hadestown.

[@leanamar6585]

Geez talk about an evil mother-in-law.

[@0ParisFrance]

Brittany original Son ar chistr from Alan Stivell

[@gillesbourgeois5348]

Alan Stivell rearranged a traditional brittany song, he didn't wrote it. Martin Carthy,a british folk guitarist, did already his own version, with the same lyrics from Child. kzbin.info/www/bejne/bGXVhmeOd7trqMk.

[@0ParisFrance]

@@gillesbourgeois5348 Oui, je sais que c'est une chanson des frères Prima dans les années 1920 et reprise ensuite par les chanteurs dans les fest-noz, dont 2 de mes oncles jusque dans les années 1970. Mais la version instrumentalisée par Stivell et Dan ar Braz est devenue la plus connue mondialement suite à sa grosse tournée en France et en Europe et au Canada en 1973.

[@gillesbourgeois5348]

@@0ParisFrance yermad! Ça c'est de l'investigation ! Merci pour ces précisions ! Je ne suis pas breton et je connaissais uniquement la version stivell de 70. Le reste je l'ai pêché sur wiki. La version de Carthy est intéressante dans le fait de ne conserver que la mélodie originale des Prima brothers et coller un texte de Child.

[@0ParisFrance]

@@gillesbourgeois5348 kzbin.info/www/bejne/hXWqhKaQhttkoMU est la version la plus marrante pour moi. Les Allemands croient que c'est un air traditionnel allemand, les Russes croient que c'est un air russe ancien et les Scandinaves aussi !! Hahaha vive les Bretons et leurs chants le soir après les moissons, c'était plein de monde dans les fermes.

[@pepijnkrijnsen4]

Wat zullen we drinken, zeven dagen lang

[@nenettyxx5227]

Pepijn Krijnsen Was sollen wir trinken, sieben Tage lang ;-) Thx, I knew I'd heard the melody somewhere before :)

[@DylanNes]

Kind of nasty how Willie's wife was just kind of wearing the same shoe for years and years lol

[@paulart2010]

Bots '7 dagen lang'

[@thomascurtis1165]

J

[@gillbawden]

Lush

[@steverogers5889]

You've lost the original haunting tune :/

[@lindsayheywood7195]

I think this version has its own beauty. I think there’s room for more than one or two tunes