In 1950, one year after leadbellys death, the american folk band the weavers recorded a version of goodnight, irene. Goodnight, irene or irene, goodnight, is a 19th century song written and published as goodnight, irene in 1886 by gussie lord davis an african american songwriter. He had learned the song from his uncle terrill ledbetter around 1908 in texas, but the origins of the song dates back to the 1880s, when an africanamerican songwriter named gussie davis probably wrote it. Aug 26, 2011 goodnight, irene is a waltz, and written in a simple 34 time. As berg sang to rusipajla, nurses, doctors and rusipajlas family. Irene good night irene good night good night irene good night irene ill see you in my dreams last saturday night i got married me and my wife settled down now me and my wife have parted im gonna take a little stroll downtown irene good night irene good night good night irene good night irene ill see you in my dreams some times i live in the. He told the lomaxes hed heard the song sung by his uncles as a child. Lyrics to goodnight irene by lead belly from the leadbelly, vol. Irene goodniiiight, irene goodniight goodnight ireene, goodnight irene ill see you iin my dreaeams sometime i live in the country babe yeah sometime i liive down towown yeah sometime i taake a great notioion yeah to jump in the river and drowown irene goodniiiight, irene goodniight goodnight ireene, goodnight irene. Goodnight irene is the name of a song written in 1933 by american blues musician, huddie lead belly ledbetter. The weavers were formed in november 1948 by ronnie gilbert, pete seeger, lee hays and fred hellerman. Though the east coast is no stranger to hurricanes, preparing for the worst never becomes an easy task. Last saturday night i got married, me and my wife settled down, now me and my wife we are parted, i think ill go out on. Ohio nurse performs heartwarming song for patient being moved.
Now me and my wife are parted, im gonna take me a stroll uptown. Then, i looked at her and asked if she knew the song goodnight, irene, and i sang a couple of bars from the song. Irene, goodnight, irene, goodnight, goodnight, irene, goodnight, irene, ill get you in my dreams. The lyrics tell of the singers troubled past with his love, irene, and. Although governor neff had sworn never to pardon a prisoner, was so overcome by the song that he released the murderous. New singing lesson videos can make anyone a great singer irene, good night, irene, good night good night, irene, good night, irene ill get you in my dreams sometimes i live in the country sometimes i live in town sometimes i have a great notion to jump in to the river and drown irene, good night, irene, good night good night, irene, good night, irene ill get you in my dreams stop. It is unfortunate that the current surge of recognizance for, and references to, the leadbelly song must come on the cusps of a hurricane that shares its name. Goodnight irene was leadbellys most famous song, and he often began and ended radio shows with it. I asked your mother for you she told me that you was too young i wish dear lord that id never seen your face im sorry you ever were born irene good night irene. Nurse sings to patient moving to hospice care in touching moment. Lyrics to goodnight irene by lead belly from the complete recorded works, vol. January 20, 1888 december 6, 1949, better known by the stage name lead belly, was an american folk and blues singer, musician and songwriter notable for his strong vocals, virtuosity on the twelvestring guitar, and the folk standards he introduced, including his renditions of goodnight, irene, midnight.
Irene goodnight, irene goodnight goodnight irene, goodnight irene ill see you in my dreams last saturday night, i got married me and my wife settled down now me and my wife are parted im gonna take another stroll downtown stop rambling, stop your rambling stop staying out late at night go home to your wife and family stay there by your. Irene, good night, irene, good night good night, irene, good night, irene ill get you in my dreams sometimes i live in the country sometimes i live in town sometimes i have a great notion to jump in to the river and drown irene, good night, irene, good night good night, irene, good night, irene ill get you in my dreams stop rambling and stop gambling quit staying out late at night go home to. She started to tell her do you remember that song, goodnight irene, and mom nodded and she started to play it. Last saturday night i got married, me and my wife settled down. Irene goodnight, irene goodnight goodnight irene, goodnight irene i. Irene goodnight, irene goodnight goodnight irene, goodnight irene ill see you in my dreams last saturday night i got married me and my wife settled down now me and my wife have parted i wanna take a little stroll downtown irene goodnight, irene goodnight goodnight irene, goodnight irene ill see you in my dreams sometimes i live in the country. Irene goodnight, irene goodnight goodnight irene, goodnight irene ill see you in my dreams i asked your mother for you she told me you was too young i wished to god id never seen your face is sorry you ever was born irene goodnight, irene goodnight goodnight irene, goodnight irene ill see you in my dreams i love irene, god knows i do ill. Kip lornell, a leadbelly expert, thinks this is almost. Everybody sang irene goodnight but she wouldnt go to bed no matter what they said though everybody tried with all their might. Ohio nurse performs heartwarming song for patient being.
Seeing that this is my favorite song no matter who is singing it ive collected as many different professional renditions as i could find in one play list. M y two earlier posts on this song parts 1 and 2 packaged up, in short form, what i could learn of its early history. I d heard the weavers sad, wistful closing notes of goodnight, irene. In this final installment, i thought id dwell on a few of the many versions of. Watch the music video and discover trivia about this classic pop song now. Goodnight, irene is a waltz, and written in a simple 34 time. Feb 24, 2020 the day before irene rusipajla was transfered out of the hospital and into hospice care, her nurse sang goodnight irene to her one last time. Last saturday night, i got married me and my wife settled down now me and my wife are parted gonna take another stroll downtown irene goodnight, irene goodnight. The weavers were an american folk music quartet based in the greenwich village area of new york city.
Kip lornell, a leadbelly expert, thinks this is almost certainly footage from marchapril 1935, shot in. Goodnight irene the king of the 12string guitars signature melody has been admired by musicians from across the spectrum, from harry belafonte to kurt cobain. Irene, goodnight irene, goodnight goodnight, irene goodnight, irene ill see you in my dreams last saturday night i got married me and my wife settle down now me and my wife are parted im gonna take another stroll downtown irene, goodnight irene, goodnight goodnight, irene goodnight, irene ill see you in my dreams sometimes i. Goodnight, irene or irene, goodnight, is a 19th century song. The folklorist brought the song to the governor, who freed leadbelly on the condition that he would be under lomaxs care. Sep 10, 2017 leadbelly sang goodnight irene for john lomax.
It was his governor neff song, which he sang to governor pat neff of texas, about how hed release the governor if their positions were reversed. The weavers, 19491953 the weavers on allmusic 2000 there are great records, and then there are. The day before irene rusipajla was transfered out of the hospital and into hospice care, her nurse sang goodnight irene to her one last time. Oct 28, 2010 jon boden sang goodnight irene as the 28 october 2010 entry of his project a folk song a day. Original versions of goodnight irene by johnny cash. Id forgotten about the song for thirtysome years, but then decided i did know of the song, after all to make it the subject of a post here. Goodnight, irene written and first recorded by blues pioneer huddie lead belly ledbetter in 1933, became the first big hit for the weavers in. Goodnight, irene or irene, goodnight, is a 20thcentury american folk standard, written in 34 time, first recorded by american blues musician huddie lead belly ledbetter in 1933. Originally written by leadbelly although its disputed goodnight irene has been covered and adapted many times. I thought that i had done this in the past, but when i looked it up i was in for a surprise. I really love this song and was quite chuffed when tom waits recorded it on orphans, as well as young at heart, which is another unrelated favourite of minenice to have your musical taste validated by a. The first song lead belly recorded for them was goodnight, irene, the waltzing lament of a married man gone astray.
Irene good night goodnight irene good night goodnight irene goodnight irene ill see you in my dreams and sometimes i live up in tulsa i take a little trip down to nashville too if theres only one thing i get through to you in this life its just that i want to make love to you irene good night goodnight irene good night goodnight irene. Ron kavana sang goodnight irene in 2011 on his cd 40 favourite folk songs. Peter from toronto, canada goodnight irene didnt get leadbelly out of jail. The petition was on the other side of a recording of his signature song, goodnight irene. Jun 19, 2010 goodnight, irene or irene, goodnight, is a 19th century song written and published as goodnight, irene in 1886 by gussie lord davis an african american songwriter.
Oct 09, 2015 the first song lead belly recorded for them was goodnight, irene, the waltzing lament of a married man gone astray. Seeing that this is my favorite song no matter who is singing it ive. Watch the video for goodnight irene from the weaverss together again for free, and see the artwork, lyrics and similar artists. The musician, of course, went on to become one of the most influential africanamerican artists in history. The lyrics tell of the singers troubled past with his love, irene, and it expresses his sadness and frustration. Mar 02, 2020 one night, when i was leaving for a shift change, i said goodnight, irene. Today he is remembered as a songwriter, but in his lifetime he was a professional and compulsive gambler, specialising in roulette, stud poker and the.
Nurse surprises dying patient with heartwarming song. Chorus yeah, sometimes i live in the country and sometimes i live in town. She stayed awake while steel guitars were a going in every honky tonk she could be seen but she finally went to bed and covered up her head and now theres not a thing can wake irene. Irene goodnight,irene goodnight goodnight irene, goodnight irene ill see you in my dreams last saturday night, i got married me and my wife settled down now me and my wife are parted im gonna take another stroll downtown stop rambling, stop your rambling stop staying out late at night go home to your wife and family stay there by your. Irene goodnight, irene goodnight goodnight irene, goodnight irene ill see you in my dreams. Jan 14, 2015 originally written by leadbelly although its disputed goodnight irene has been covered and adapted many times.
Last saturday night i got married me and my love settled down now me and my love are parted im gonna take another stroll downtown. Irene, goodnight irene, goodnight goodnight, irene goodnight, irene ill see you in my dreams last saturday night i got married me and my wife settled down. Goodnight, irene or irene, goodnight, is a 20thcentury american folk standard, written in 34 time, first recorded by american blues musician huddie lead. The lyrics tell of the singers troubled past with his love, irene, and express his sadness and frustration. A brief history of leadbellys good night, irene american. Aug 19, 2000 goodnight irene the king of the 12string guitars signature melody has been admired by musicians from across the spectrum, from harry belafonte to kurt cobain.
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