AO5 Term 2 Folksongs

Those of you who have been following for a while will know that I diverge slightly from Ambleside Online when it comes to folksongs.

Firstly, we include far more Aussie folksongs. In Australia we have a real legacy to treasure in our wonderful repertoire of Australian folksongs. These are songs that have survived the test of time to become folklore because they resonated in some way with the people who sang them and passed them down on through the generations. As such, the songs become pointers of our cultural history and national identity.

I always prefer to have some definite link between the three songs we learn in each particular term, whereas AO do not. The link may be country of origin, theme, or time period, but I really far prefer this to just learning three random songs. If you search the folksong listing in the sidebar you'll find my selections so far for Scotland, Ireland, Australia, mediaeval music, England and Japan. You'll even find a trio of songs special to me, my mother and grandmother - an important linkage indeed!! Folksongs integrate really closely with a country, and listening to a group of three songs reveals distinct difference in musical instruments, rhythm and subject matter. Australian songs sound really odd when played and sung by an American bluegrass band like The Homestead Pickers. Japanese songs are lovely accompanied by koto, shamisen or Japanese flute.

This term we're visiting Canada. The first video clip is absolutely sublime. The other two songs are good as well. We're going to learn Land of the Silver Birch as a round. Feel free to join us!

Recently AO have also begun listing three songs per term, in line with what Charlotte Mason's students learned. Yay! The more the better, I reckon.

If you should ask any girl from the parish around
What pleases her most from her head to her toes,
She’ll say – I’m not sure that it’s business of yours,
But I do like to waltz with a log driver.

Chorus:
For he goes birling down a-down the white water;
That’s where the log driver learns to step lightly.
It’s birling down, a-down white water;
A log driver’s waltz pleases girls completely.

When the drive’s nearly over, I like to go down
To see all the lads while they work on the river.
I know that come evening they’ll be in the town
And we all want to waltz with a log driver.
(Chorus)
To please both my parents I’ve had to give way
And dance with the doctors and merchants and lawyers.
Their manners are fine but their feet are of clay
For there’s none with the style of a log driver.
(Chorus)
I’ve had my chances with all sorts of men
But none is so fine as my lad on the river.
So when the drive’s over, if he asks me again,
I think I will marry my log driver.
(Chorus)

My paddle's keen and bright
Flashing with silver
Follow the wild goose flight
Dip, dip and swing
Dip, dip and swing her back
Flashing with silver
Swift as the wild goose flies
Dip, dip and swing

Land of the silver birch
Home of the beaver
Where still the mighty moose
Wanders at will
Blue lake and rocky shore
I will return once more
Boom-diddy-ah-da, Boom-diddy-ah-da, Boom-diddy-ah-da, bo-oo-oom

High on a rocky ledge
I¹ll build my wigwam
Close to the water¹s edge
Silent and still
Blue lake and rocky shore
I will return once more
Boom-diddy-ah-da, Boom-diddy-ah-da, Boom-diddy-ah-da, bo-oo-oom

My heart grows sick for thee
Here in the lowlands
I will return to thee hills of the north
Blue lake and rocky shore
I will return once more
Boom-diddy-ah-da, Boom-diddy-ah-da, Boom-diddy-ah-da, bo-oo-oom

Land of the silver birch
Home of the beaver
Where still the mighty moose
Wanders at will
Blue lake and rocky shore
I will return once more
Boom-diddy-ah-da, Boom-diddy-ah-da, Boom-diddy-ah-da, bo-oo-oom