Holy Moses!! I got cold chills!! I have been hunting the verson of Young Emily that you sing on here for 25 years. I heard it first when I was 13 on "A Prairie Home Companion" . LOVE IT!! Think I will learn some of these and go sit on the side of a mountain by the river in Boone NC and sing while it echoes of the water!!
i was born thousands of miles from the home of these ballads but i can feel these mountain ballads in my bones! maybe its my step fathers irish roots influence
Donna Ray, Just got your version of Dickey Said To Johnny which I'm learning. I'll probably do the slower version with banjer like Morris Norton did. You do a fine version fo the song. Know any history behind the song? Thanks.
There is a "Dellie Norton" who sings "Young Emily", and "Early, Early in the Spring" on an album called "High Atmosphere" with songs collected by John Cohen available on Amazon. I love this old music. I always just look up song titles of old songs I've heard on Amazon or youtube, and that usually leads to finding more artists and songs.
@smarticus88 There's no need to 'damn me' for repeating what I'd seen on PBS. I grew up in the mountains of KY. I found your voice beautiful and your spirit in which you sang it. I'm far from being a liberal at all. I compliment you on your voice and the songs. I am complimenting you then and now. You sing beautifully.
@Nelishia : You wrote a wonderful response to smarticus88, and were much more kinder than I would have been. You must be a saint. I will try to follow your lead.
I love the song (Black is the Colour), though I am familiar with a different version with different words. I wonder if maybe your version is earlier. It would be lovely to hear it in full.
Thank you. Not all of our ancestors married into the Cherokee, or Choctaw. Appalachian culture is more than singing and needs to be preserved. Orginial Appalachian land is being taken away by the US Forest Service from the orginal families for the ever moving Appalachian Trail buffer or for recreatioin areas.
I heard a song on the radio a while back and it was a girl from Fayetteville, WV. It was some kind of original music but I have no idea what it was called but I know it was generally about the Appalachian area. Anybody have any idea what I'm talking about?
The way she bends the notes at the end of the lines makes her singing distinctive and haunting. There's something really powerful about the unaccompanied human voice singing a really, really ancient song.
@NiallMor A lady used to sing at my church and she would bend her notes like this, and she preferred to sing without musical accompaniment. from southwest Va.
We need more young people like you to keep our culture alive. Thanks again and keep up the singing. Hope you change careers. God gave you a gift so use it. PS I'm from Spruce Pine and my Daddy was raised in Spring Creek over near you about 90 years ago. Do you know any Webbs? We’re singer (and picker) too.
Hey Donna, I liked your songs. I'm so glad to hear you and how proud you are of where you are from. Too many people here have been told too long that they are hillbillies or hick and that their accent makes them sound stupid and the way we do things (our culture) is slow or dated or backwoods or whatever you want to call it. So a lot of our accent and ways are going away. People overall just don't talk like my Granmaw did anymore. This is a lot due to the recent (30yrs+) influx of outsiders.
Very nice. I also am drawn to music that turns out was probably familiar to my ancestors. Maybe they gather around and chime in? Can't hear 'em but can feel it. I think Dixie culture is actually born of spiritual starvation, it has a winsome beauty.
where is the song black is the colour from??? as far as i know its scotish, but its a traditional Irish standard.... the words are very similar but not the same...... type... christy moore - black is the colour..... in the search engine check it out
Sing with eyes open and more expression. Next you'll be wanting her to dress in sequins and have an exploding stage with shred guitars. Obviously you've never sat and really listened to real ballad singers perform. The truth is in the song, not some slicked up Nashville arrangement. Too bad you missed the point. Taylor Swift is on YouTube. Check her out. That may be more your cup of tea.
It's good that someone is keeping this aspect of southern folklore alive -- it's really another one of those things that has to be passed down, and as a result, could disappear in the space of a generation.
My brother in law and his family are from the coal country of Kentucky and are Melungeon. PBS did an interesting story years ago on the Melungeon people. Very interesting.
It is so nice to found a young Appalachian Balladeers, I have been so craze about Appalachian ballad since I met Ron Pen at Kentuckey 2007. Hey Donna, please try to sing with eye oppening and more expression, I think it will be more meaningful.
Perfect pitch, and that is a rare commodity among singers, even some of the professionals. Great performance. BTW, Pretty Peggy-o was performed by Simon and Garfunkel, although to a different melody.
Appalachian people are not only a mixture of Irish/SCot/English. We are multicultrual. We also have african amercian heritage. Every heard of Melungeons. We predominate this area. Look it up. It's Apple-atcha btw. no LAYcha. Song is beautiful.
@Nelishia My family was originally from Tennessee. We are Irish/Scotch/Welsh/Cherokee :) Interesting to see how common this combination is! This girl could be one of my cousins! She looks like family. =)
Thank you so much for posting this. Man that is so so sweet on my ears. I seem to have the biggest connection to this music. Why I dont know why but I do. It seems so familiar to me. Strange because I am from California and of Spaniard decent. Does anyone know how I can get some recordings of this girl or her family? I would love to have them to listen to when I drive or on the beach. She has a lot to be proud of. She has captivated my mind for sure. Thanks again.
:)
deathmetal44 3 weeks ago
Holy Moses!! I got cold chills!! I have been hunting the verson of Young Emily that you sing on here for 25 years. I heard it first when I was 13 on "A Prairie Home Companion" . LOVE IT!! Think I will learn some of these and go sit on the side of a mountain by the river in Boone NC and sing while it echoes of the water!!
cwatsoncook1 2 months ago
i was born thousands of miles from the home of these ballads but i can feel these mountain ballads in my bones! maybe its my step fathers irish roots influence
jimiBEbandit 5 months ago
Donna Ray, Just got your version of Dickey Said To Johnny which I'm learning. I'll probably do the slower version with banjer like Morris Norton did. You do a fine version fo the song. Know any history behind the song? Thanks.
ArkRed1 5 months ago
Great find this is how news traveled from town to town or history was passed down.
fngrpkn06 6 months ago
Beautiful voice !
LaurentziuRo2010 7 months ago
There is a "Dellie Norton" who sings "Young Emily", and "Early, Early in the Spring" on an album called "High Atmosphere" with songs collected by John Cohen available on Amazon. I love this old music. I always just look up song titles of old songs I've heard on Amazon or youtube, and that usually leads to finding more artists and songs.
EireannOfAlba 7 months ago
We live in NC and I would LOVE to meet these ballad singers. Just Wonderful.
CommentsSurvey 9 months ago
@smarticus88 There's no need to 'damn me' for repeating what I'd seen on PBS. I grew up in the mountains of KY. I found your voice beautiful and your spirit in which you sang it. I'm far from being a liberal at all. I compliment you on your voice and the songs. I am complimenting you then and now. You sing beautifully.
Nelishia 9 months ago
@Nelishia : You wrote a wonderful response to smarticus88, and were much more kinder than I would have been. You must be a saint. I will try to follow your lead.
CommentsSurvey 9 months ago
Sounds really good!!
gjcrawfo 10 months ago
Donna you have a real gift and I hope to see/ hear more of it. You have enchanted me!
dwaynewbolt 10 months ago
I love the song (Black is the Colour), though I am familiar with a different version with different words. I wonder if maybe your version is earlier. It would be lovely to hear it in full.
MorganScorpion 11 months ago
Where can I find more music like this?
LisaBaby67 11 months ago
I love this - and get to live in Madison County this summer as part of a Duke project. Hope to meet you, Donna!
MsJdenton 11 months ago
Thank you. Not all of our ancestors married into the Cherokee, or Choctaw. Appalachian culture is more than singing and needs to be preserved. Orginial Appalachian land is being taken away by the US Forest Service from the orginal families for the ever moving Appalachian Trail buffer or for recreatioin areas.
andreabcampbell 1 year ago 2
Is it possible to post the full songs without the narration? Not that it's bad, I'd just like to hear the full version.
fallingjeff 1 year ago
hauntingly beautiful!
daniellenadia 1 year ago
Donna, you sing like my mother used to sing. I was born in Asheville and you remind me of home...thank you
msbrandy99 1 year ago
cool
MissiJohnson1 1 year ago
I heard a song on the radio a while back and it was a girl from Fayetteville, WV. It was some kind of original music but I have no idea what it was called but I know it was generally about the Appalachian area. Anybody have any idea what I'm talking about?
pipkguitar 1 year ago
I want a cd ! :)
FIRECRACKER392 1 year ago
AWESOME. from a banjo player from Virginia.
k0vert 1 year ago
The way she bends the notes at the end of the lines makes her singing distinctive and haunting. There's something really powerful about the unaccompanied human voice singing a really, really ancient song.
NiallMor 1 year ago
@NiallMor A lady used to sing at my church and she would bend her notes like this, and she preferred to sing without musical accompaniment. from southwest Va.
Tabfort 1 year ago
Sweet friend so beautiful, God bless! From last VA!
mobilechief 1 year ago
ran out of room (we are talker too)
We need more young people like you to keep our culture alive. Thanks again and keep up the singing. Hope you change careers. God gave you a gift so use it. PS I'm from Spruce Pine and my Daddy was raised in Spring Creek over near you about 90 years ago. Do you know any Webbs? We’re singer (and picker) too.
appmountainmantilm 1 year ago
Hey Donna, I liked your songs. I'm so glad to hear you and how proud you are of where you are from. Too many people here have been told too long that they are hillbillies or hick and that their accent makes them sound stupid and the way we do things (our culture) is slow or dated or backwoods or whatever you want to call it. So a lot of our accent and ways are going away. People overall just don't talk like my Granmaw did anymore. This is a lot due to the recent (30yrs+) influx of outsiders.
appmountainmantilm 1 year ago
not only can she she hit it on the notes,she's very beautiful,too.
glencoe6305 1 year ago
Very nice. I also am drawn to music that turns out was probably familiar to my ancestors. Maybe they gather around and chime in? Can't hear 'em but can feel it. I think Dixie culture is actually born of spiritual starvation, it has a winsome beauty.
pappyfiddle 1 year ago
WOW!! absolutly beautiful. and so is the songs. I am a kentucky mountain man. beautiful voice.
Dewayneyork1 1 year ago
where is the song black is the colour from??? as far as i know its scotish, but its a traditional Irish standard.... the words are very similar but not the same...... type... christy moore - black is the colour..... in the search engine check it out
DannyMcCafferty 1 year ago
thank you for sharing the balla singing with us youtube watcher. Please continue the singing
jeffery6560 1 year ago
Beauifully done Donna! Keep up the tradition! Very soulfull!
bbmac4856 1 year ago
why do you think you have to talk while the video is playing why dont you be quiet and let the people deside wiether you can sing or not
30packman1 1 year ago
Theres just something about female appalachian ballads......
Dutchy1965 1 year ago
Fantastic voice!
I absolutely love seeing people carry on traditions like this. I honestly think that Appalachian culture is one of the best things about the US.
loganberry30 1 year ago 28
@loganberry30 By far, the most distinct culture in the United States. I'm glad other's see the beauty in it.
Bnicleve 1 year ago 3
@loganberry30 I agree with you :-) I'm a foreigner and lived in this region for one year, and I fell in love with the place and people ^_^
TheLittleStarlight 1 month ago
Donna please put some more of your songs on youtube. Beautiful
honeyandsam 1 year ago
Sing with eyes open and more expression. Next you'll be wanting her to dress in sequins and have an exploding stage with shred guitars. Obviously you've never sat and really listened to real ballad singers perform. The truth is in the song, not some slicked up Nashville arrangement. Too bad you missed the point. Taylor Swift is on YouTube. Check her out. That may be more your cup of tea.
ArkRed1 2 years ago
It's good that someone is keeping this aspect of southern folklore alive -- it's really another one of those things that has to be passed down, and as a result, could disappear in the space of a generation.
TheDystopiaInside 2 years ago
My brother in law and his family are from the coal country of Kentucky and are Melungeon. PBS did an interesting story years ago on the Melungeon people. Very interesting.
ArkRed1 2 years ago
never mind, got it
wolfmother8719 2 years ago
whats the name of the ballad she is singing in the begining of the video?
wolfmother8719 2 years ago
find her on myspace she has it on there. her name is donna ray norton
jaredredclark 2 years ago
Love it! Love it! Love it!
IHCBanjo 2 years ago 2
THANK YOU so much! I have been trying to figure out the title of that movie for the last 2 hours.
shadowbud17 2 years ago
It is so nice to found a young Appalachian Balladeers, I have been so craze about Appalachian ballad since I met Ron Pen at Kentuckey 2007. Hey Donna, please try to sing with eye oppening and more expression, I think it will be more meaningful.
mangangsana 2 years ago
Perfect pitch, and that is a rare commodity among singers, even some of the professionals. Great performance. BTW, Pretty Peggy-o was performed by Simon and Garfunkel, although to a different melody.
MassaJim 2 years ago
Now that's music. Great job.
jimbob56nc 2 years ago
Beautiful singin. I'd love to come up to the Appalachians. I also love the mountain dancing too.
CadillacL 2 years ago
Appalachian people are not only a mixture of Irish/SCot/English. We are multicultrual. We also have african amercian heritage. Every heard of Melungeons. We predominate this area. Look it up. It's Apple-atcha btw. no LAYcha. Song is beautiful.
susieraecollins 2 years ago
Depends on where in Appalachia you are. Different people say it differently, and neither is wrong.
fiddlinshim 2 years ago
I wish I had a talent for it!
kentuckyredbone 2 years ago
Sweet voice.
teslaphysics 2 years ago
I love your attention to authenticity and your true artistry - thank you!
schanteuzer 2 years ago 2
I'm sure glad you stuck with it! :-)
Thank you from Canada.
Sheamusj 2 years ago
Wonderful wonderful music. Thanks for the clip . Peggy Oh is magic here as is Low Lands Low.. All the best , Guy
guywolff 2 years ago
It's more "Middle English" Scots/Irish. Close to 300 years old...Old world singing.
Vearlsriver 3 years ago
The way she's singing kinda reminds me a bit of Native American singing and Irish mixed together. Just something that came to mind.
Existantia 3 years ago
Comment removed
Nelishia 2 years ago 15
@Nelishia My family was originally from Tennessee. We are Irish/Scotch/Welsh/Cherokee :) Interesting to see how common this combination is! This girl could be one of my cousins! She looks like family. =)
stargazntreki 1 year ago
I love your voice! I wish I could find more recordings of this kind of music. Any suggestions?
catclea 3 years ago
Thank you so much for posting this. Man that is so so sweet on my ears. I seem to have the biggest connection to this music. Why I dont know why but I do. It seems so familiar to me. Strange because I am from California and of Spaniard decent. Does anyone know how I can get some recordings of this girl or her family? I would love to have them to listen to when I drive or on the beach. She has a lot to be proud of. She has captivated my mind for sure. Thanks again.
rmstudio 3 years ago