Anais Mitchell sings Clyde's Water at New Bedford Summerfest

[JumpinJohnny0]

Thank you all for the education. Thanks to Anais for some wonderful performances and recordings.

[garyamartin]

Not written by F.J. Child at all, in any version. Child compiled his anthology from existing printed sources, giving many versions. He gave three versions of this ballad (listed as Clyde's Water, not Clyde Waters). Anais got most of her version from Nic Jones, but made some changes.

[JumpinJohnny0]

ooops ** Clyde Waters

[JumpinJohnny0]

Thanks for this video. She is totally captivating to listen to in person. Her writing ability is far away above the average... pretty much genius.

[wrongwayup]

@JumpinJohnny0 Hmm, writing ability... she didn't write this song, but I presume you knew that? ;)

[JumpinJohnny0]

@wrongwayup Yes , my comment was inappropriate for this video. "The Mother's Malison" is indeed by Francis James Child, and is an English version of the ballad "Clyde's Water".  None-the-less, Anais' writing ability is astounding to me. My apologies for not recognizing the author of this particular ballad.

[wrongwayup]

@JumpinJohnny0 Oh, you don't have to apologize. :) She has done more covers of older / traditional songs and ballads. Like Humpback Whale and Lord Franklin.

But as garymartin said, Child only collected songs into his anthology. I'm not even sure the writer of Clyde Water / Drowned Lovers is known, as is often the case with traditional / older songs. And yeah, Anais pretty much does a cover of the Nic Jones version (just like the Humpback Whale song). And pretty well too :)

[forgeman1]

She is so gifted.