Rebel Girl Variations

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Tokyo Fan
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Joined: Fri Mar 31, 2006 1:47 pm

Post by Tokyo Fan »

From the Tidal interview that Antelope posted: " I never heard the song ‘Rebel Girl’; I just saw the lyrics and just put different music to the lyrics."

unchartedthickets
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Joined: Tue Aug 12, 2008 7:52 pm
Location: The southside

Post by unchartedthickets »

Wow! Thanks for the history chatter, and links!
Tokyo - Love that first video with what looks like a typical
‘Rosie’ at my plant. Tim, a folklore degree sounds
like it fits within this kind of subject.
Jay the ‘bard’ strikes again with an historical and
very much in our time song.

turpentim
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Location: Kamloops, BC Canada

Post by turpentim »

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Rebel_Girl

This is helpful. Joe Hill actually did write music for it, and he distributed the sheet music. Hazel Dickens’ recording and the versions you’ve found must be based on Joe Hill’s sheet music.

Tim in the ATL

turpentim
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Joined: Sat Dec 20, 2008 12:23 pm
Location: Kamloops, BC Canada

Post by turpentim »

If I remember correctly from my folklore studies and time spent working with Alice Gerrard, it was Hazel Dickens who first recorded the song. At the very least, she was one of the first: https://youtu.be/hR7fBCENkN0

I do not recall if she created the original music and melody or if someone else did. But yes, it’s safe to say that, while Jay might have written original music and an original melody for the lyrics, he’s certainly not the only one to have done so.

Tim in the ATL

Tokyo Fan
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Joined: Fri Mar 31, 2006 1:47 pm

Post by Tokyo Fan »

Here's another one that is similar to the first one. So I guess the music for the song was established, written by Joe Hill.

Jay's sounded different to me. And that one review says that Jay wrote original melody/music. Strange.

https://youtu.be/L0Oc-CXJu0A

Tokyo Fan
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Joined: Fri Mar 31, 2006 1:47 pm

Rebel Girl Variations

Post by Tokyo Fan »

I found this version of Rebel Girl and it is completely different music than Jay's version.

https://youtu.be/e_tz3wPgLUw

It appears this song, though part of the songbook, might only have the lyrics written down. Is that corrrct? So on this song Jay wrote the music for Joe Hill's lyrics. Just as he did on New Multitudes for Woody Guthrie.

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