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America Over the Water: The Haunting Folk Songs of Shirley Collins

Percy Bysshe Shelley

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Shirley Collins is a renowned English folk singer who has dedicated her life to preserving and performing traditional folk songs. Her most famous album, 'America Over the Water,' is a haunting and evocative collection of songs that explore themes of love, loss, and longing.

America Over the Water

by Shirley Collins

4.6 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	2301 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	193 pages

Collins was born in Hastings, Sussex, England, in 1935. She began singing as a child, and by her teens she was performing at folk clubs and festivals. In the early 1960s, she met Alan Lomax, an American folklorist who was collecting folk songs in England. Lomax was impressed by Collins' voice and her knowledge of traditional songs, and he encouraged her to record an album. In 1964, Collins released her debut album, 'Sweet England.' The album was a critical and commercial success, and it helped to launch Collins' career as a folk singer.

In 1975, Collins released 'America Over the Water.' The album was a collection of traditional American folk songs that Collins had learned from Lomax and other sources. The songs on the album explore themes of love, loss, and longing, and they are sung in a haunting and evocative style. 'America Over the Water' was a critical and commercial success, and it is considered to be one of the greatest folk albums of all time.

Collins has continued to record and perform traditional folk songs throughout her career. She has released over 20 albums, and she has performed at folk festivals and clubs around the world. She has also been involved in a number of projects to preserve and promote traditional folk music. In 2016, she was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards.

Shirley Collins is a true legend of folk music. Her voice is haunting and evocative, and her knowledge of traditional songs is unparalleled. Her album 'America Over the Water' is a masterpiece of folk music, and it is a testament to the power and beauty of traditional songs.

The Songs of 'America Over the Water'

The songs on 'America Over the Water' are a diverse and evocative collection of traditional American folk songs. The album opens with the title track, a haunting ballad about a young woman who dreams of traveling to America. The song is sung in a slow, mournful tempo, and Collins' voice is full of emotion. The next song, "Pretty Polly," is a more upbeat number about a young woman who is murdered by her lover. The song is sung in a traditional Appalachian style, and Collins' voice is clear and powerful.

The third song on the album, "Barbara Allen," is a traditional English ballad about a young woman who rejects her lover and causes him to die of grief. The song is sung in a slow, mournful tempo, and Collins' voice is full of sadness. The fourth song on the album, "The Cruel Ship's Carpenter," is a traditional American ballad about a young man who is murdered by his jealous lover. The song is sung in a slow, mournful tempo, and Collins' voice is full of anger and sorrow.

The fifth song on the album, "The Oxford Girl," is a traditional English ballad about a young woman who is seduced and abandoned by her lover. The song is sung in a slow, mournful tempo, and Collins' voice is full of sadness and regret. The sixth song on the album, "The Butcher Boy," is a traditional American ballad about a young man who is murdered by his jealous lover. The song is sung in a fast, upbeat tempo, and Collins' voice is full of energy and excitement.

The seventh song on the album, "The Wagoner's Lad," is a traditional English ballad about a young man who is killed in a wagon accident. The song is sung in a slow, mournful tempo, and Collins' voice is full of sadness and regret. The eighth song on the album, "The Two Sisters," is a traditional English ballad about two sisters who are drowned by their jealous brother. The song is sung in a slow, mournful tempo, and Collins' voice is full of sadness and despair.

The ninth song on the album, "The Gypsy Laddie," is a traditional English ballad about a young gypsy who is hanged for stealing a horse. The song is sung in a fast, upbeat tempo, and Collins' voice is full of energy and excitement. The tenth song on the album, "The False Bride," is a traditional English ballad about a young woman who is murdered by her lover. The song is sung in a slow, mournful tempo, and Collins' voice is full of sadness and regret.

The eleventh song on the album, "The Bonny Ship the Diamond," is a traditional English ballad about a ship that is wrecked in a storm. The song is sung in a slow, mournful tempo, and Collins' voice is full of sadness and despair. The twelfth song on the album, "The Cruel Mother," is a traditional English ballad about a young woman who kills her newborn child. The song is sung in a slow, mournful tempo, and Collins' voice is full of sadness and regret.

The thirteenth song on the album, "The Maid Freed from the Gallows," is a traditional English ballad about a young woman who is saved from being hanged for murder. The song is sung in a fast, upbeat tempo, and Collins' voice is full of energy and excitement. The fourteenth song on the album, "The Sailor's Alphabet," is a traditional English ballad about the alphabet. The song is sung in a fast, upbeat tempo, and Collins' voice is full of energy and excitement.

The fifteenth and final song on the album, "The Lark in the Morning," is a traditional English ballad about a young woman who is seduced and abandoned by her lover. The song is sung in a slow, mournful tempo, and Collins' voice is full of sadness and regret.

The Legacy of 'America Over the Water'

'America Over the Water' is a masterpiece of folk music. The album's songs are a diverse and evocative collection of traditional American folk songs, and Collins' voice is haunting and evocative. The album has been praised by critics and fans alike, and it is considered to be one of the greatest folk albums of all time.

'America Over the Water' has had a profound impact on the world of folk music. The album has helped to revive interest in traditional folk songs, and it has inspired a new generation of folk singers. The album has also been used in a number of films and television shows, and it has been translated into several languages.

Image of Shirley Collins

[Image of Shirley Collins singing at a folk festival. She is wearing a long dress and has long hair. She is holding a microphone and is singing into it. The image is black and white.]