John Wesley Harding "Little Musgrave" Live on Soundcheck

[Jetsanna]

Charles *Jessold*. An excellent book.

[5ynic]

I am more familiar with the Fairport Convention version ("Matty Groves", not "Little Musgrave"). The Wikipedia page has a good potted history of this English folk standard.

Oh, and I quite like this version too.

[mrkielbasa]

Fair play to John but this version has no passion in my opinion, the version sung by Christy Moore and Planxty, to me, is the benchmark for this song,

[Jetsanna]

Oh, who cares who wrote it. I'd do Wes no matter what he was singing.

[padraigjdebrun]

I like this; it chooses the same narrative approach as Martin Simpson. The tragedy of Musgrave becomes a consequence of his seduction by Lady Barnard, and subsequent killing by Lord Barnard. Planxty's version includes Lord Barnard's regret that he has killed the finest knight and wife; this is a broader tragedy of love.

[AdrianLOkeeffe]

and fair play to Christy - he probally saced this song from the abyss

[thebresker]

@AdrianLOkeeffe this somg is at least 500 years old and has been recorded in many, many forms before Christy got a hold of it

[AdrianLOkeeffe]

@thebresker christy said he found the words and put the tune to it - but i was doing some looking myself and your right - theres lots of versions , some with the same tune and some are very old - who knows - i guessed it at 200 years old - if was 500 i wouldnt be supprised!

[CaTheYowes]

The words are a traditional English ballad found in the Childe ballads. Christy Moore set the words to a tune by Nic Jones.