A 911 Tale

 

A 911 Tale

Earlier this week Michelle and I watched a film called American Folk, a rambling story of a young couple’s road trip across America during the 911 tragedy and their discovery of America’s strength and resilience through the power of song. Timid at first, gradually gaining confidence and insight as their music communicates the deep reverent feelings, we all experienced during those dark days after the towers fell.

 

American Folk is not a musical, the couple rarely sing a complete song, mostly short snippets of a familiar folk tune, or background music as they travel along on their journey.  But then I was suddenly listening to an old standard, Red River Valley, a song that was an old friend's favorite song.  She passed away over 30 years ago but hearing that song again brought back flood memories, so naturally, I wanted to learn more about the song and the couple who sang such a haunting rendition of this old American folk tune.

 

A quick search on YouTube and I was listening to Joe Purdy and Amber Rubarth singing Red River Valley.  I’d never heard of them before so of course, I had to check them out on YouTube.   I found them along with many of their songs and concerts. Among their many songs was one that stood out for its beautiful melody, haunting harmony, and the timeless allure of a century’s’ old tragic love story.  “Storms are on the Ocean” is a Scottish/British collaboration of a sailor’s departure and his lover’s responses.

 

The tune comes from Scotland and tells the story of Lady Ann who with her illegitimate child goes to see Lord Gregory the father of the child to beg him to take her in. He is absent and his mother sends her away.   When Lord Gregory returns to marry her, he finds that she had died a tragic death.  The song winds its way to England and is combined with what was then a popular subject, sailors sailing away over the ocean and leaving their loved ones behind.

 

Various versions of this song have been floating around in America since the 18th century.  The current version was one of the very first songs recorded by the Carter family back in 1926.  There is debate about how these old folk songs were first written, by one person or collaboratively.  This one I believe falls into the latter category.  Passed down from generation to generation in the oral tradition, surviving into the modern age, but still evolving and changing as new experiences and perceptions shape the story and music.  Purdy and Rubarth choose a rooftop to perform this classic.  It is fitting that a helicopter overhead adds a bit of modern technology to this ancient tune. 

Storms are on the Ocean, performed by Joe Purdy and Amber Rubarth

https://youtu.be/PuLcnIznogg?si=-O9OMGKJbZQ6LU7P




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