NYRF 2007 - Sirens of Sterling: Roll Your Leg Over

[Saphanbaal]

I remember when this was the Wench Walk, and I got to participate in it, rather than what looks like the crew/staff doing it. Then again... I was doing this about 10 years ago. ;)

[BladeFuller]

To all those bitching about copyrights:

I'm about to burst your bubble.

There are no copyrights. If anyone has tried to copyright an arrangement of this song, it won't hold up in any court. This is just another arrangement of a very, VERY old folk song. Ages ago it was, and now still is, popular in pubs and bardic circles. People would come up with their own verses on the spot and belt them out as soon as they had an opening. New verses pop up all the time; that's the point.

[Arnarkusaga]

THANK you!

[Phantomsbreath]

This, The Crimson Pirates, and Three Pints Shy are the three main attractions when it comes to me and renfaire vids. Though there are some good ones here and there.

[EScorpyx]

I've got one:

If all the young lassies were books on a wall,

I'd be a scholar and finger them all!

[Obistalker1]

lol, good one

[whimseywoman]

Dude - I never said anything one way or another about your opinion. You on the other hand seem obsessed with mine and now it's apparent that your desire is to troll for arguments. I am done. You are nothing more than a harassing troll. Good bye.

[whimseywoman]

Amaris - I've reported you for harassment.

[LetteroftheLaw]

So, are you going to report every person who makes a good point against you? I am a prosecutor, and as far as the law is concerned, expressing your opinion is not harrassment, especially since she was doing exactly what you requested, which is discuss Intellectual Copyright Infringment and it's relevance in this case. Honestly, she's correct. Unless you have proof they don't have permission, you can't claim infringment. Innocent until proven guitly, ma'am...

[whimseywoman]

I'm not hiding behind anything. I strongly dislike their performance, but that's never stopped anybody from shoddily performing this song at festivals all over the country, and it's beside MY point which has to do with intellectual property rights. Feel free to ignore my posts. Thank you.

[whimseywoman]

You don't know to whom you are speaking or what you are speaking about.

[whimseywoman]

Additionally, the key point addresses the rights regarding intellectual property. If you disagree that people should have rights to the things they create, then by all means discuss that.

[whimseywoman]

People who do not wish to encounter opinions that differ from their own should close all windows and doors, tightly shut their eyes and never leave the house.

[sugaryalchemist]

I have a few new verses to sing this season...only a few months to go!

[jade2571]

I have seen this song performed on a couple ren faires, it's not how often it's performed but how it's performed, believe me, this is the most fun I ever had at a pub sing the the sirens of sterling give this song a certain something...and for all you you go regular to the NYRF you hear lot's of inside jokes what makes the song even better

[sugaryalchemist]

Festtime is here again! You should all goo!

[sara2618]

HAHA! LMAO! What a dirty song! ;D

[SirLirin]

I love this song, but when we saw them performing it my mom was next to me... That was awkward. :P

[sugaryalchemist]

OHMFG. I'm actually in this video! At about 25-30 seconds, I'm the laughing girl with the green winged thing on her shoulder! XD

[whimseywoman]

The key difference between this and some other acts I've seen is that the other act I know actually got permission and those granting permission waived the royalties. It's amazing how nice fellow artists can be if you ASK before you steal.

[ammre]

yanno... i hadn't even thought that this was some solid rights owned song. it was just another bawdy gong you sing around a campfire. No one I know thought "wow they came up with this they are so clever" most of the time it was "hey that's a new/different verse, I'll remember that and teach it to my friends"

[whimseywoman]

It's not the song itself that is in question here, it's the arrangement ("it's better that way" was written specifically by a specific person - the line in the trad song is "the man in the moon" not "it's better that way", likewise the clapping, the passing of the verses, etc. - all originated and copyrighted by another group). Performances are copyright protected in the same way that songs are protected.

[whimseywoman]

And on simply a personal opinion note - the complete lack of originality simply drives me nuts. Every single fair seems to do a pub sing and they all seem to do this song. Give it a rest already

[ammre]

and i'm sorry but stop mentioning the clapping. you get audience participation points by getting them to clap. The tone of the song calls for a more filled clapping then one clap every beat. You can't copyright clapping twice for every beat. spreading yourself around the audience also helps them feel incorporated, which is something nyrf does very often. One person singing each verse makes it clearer instead of 7 voices singing a verse.

these are just logical performing choices.

[ammre]

i hate 7 drunken nights... I still enjoy this one because of the subtle ways each faire makes it their own, like the inside jokes amongst the rennies.

while it may be the original way to sing it, i've never, heard anyone sing "the man in the moon" line instead.

[Kinravip]

Rick "Phillip Hole" Nestler uses the "man in the moon" line. It's on his album. My favorite verse:

"If the Wenches of Sterling were singing this song,

It'd be twice as dirty and ten times as long..."

And THAT'S just one reason he's the coolest person in the Shire!

[Phantomsbreath]

Amen. I don't go. I just listen to whatever's thrown on Youtube. But that's a DAMN good verse.

[whimseywoman]

Ya know ... people with integrity do not rip off someone else's stuff just because the fans want it. The options are these: a) contact where you obtained the arrangement to get permission and pay royalties, or b) come up with something original. Change the arrangement, change the melody...or here's a novel idea -- DO A DIFFERENT SONG

[whimseywoman]

I wish people would realize how changing verses does not an original performance make.

[Kinravip]

Mayhap, but it's a NYRF PubSing tradition, and the fans look forward to it...

[whimseywoman]

Is there no originality left in this world? The least people could do is come up with a NEW way to do this song. This arrangement (including where the claps go) was lifted directly from another group. It's so blatant, it hurts.

[Kinravip]

I'd be surprised if there aren't dozens doing it this way. Remember the old saying about there only being 7 stories? And, you have fans who hate change, especially where their music is concerned. I'm not crazy about Elton's "Lucy in the Sky..." The Beatles' version is comfort food to my ears & soul. Campfire & ren singalongs run the same way. If you have a new arrangement, or way to do this ditty, please post it. Or, if not one of your own, someone' else's you could recommend? Peace.

[LadyRiwen]

Hahaha...poor Will.

[deathmakesitgiggle]

lol @ Chant^_^