A somewhat folk-y, non-contemporary song to sing at a friend's wedding ceremony?

June 26, 2007 10:52 PM

Suggestions for a somewhat folk-y, non-contemporary song to sing at a friend's wedding ceremony? I've searched all over, to no avail, to find something that is hauntingly beautiful in just the right way.

A very long-time friend has asked me to sing in her wedding in August, and I'm having a terrible time finding a song that seems appropriate, given her guidelines. She wants something that is not too contemporary (not jazz, for example).

She's having a somewhat pagan-oriented ceremony. She said that she'd like something that has a musical feel similar to "Scarborough Fair," but with lyrics that are more wedding appropriate. She's open to the possibility of folk songs, but would probably prefer something that is romantic and a little bit haunting, if that makes any sense. As far as the non-contemporary thing goes, she also said that it could be cool if it were something that would feel appropriate as the soundtrack to "Pride & Prejudice," but I'm not sure what that means.

I may sing a cappella (I've done that in two other weddings - it doesn't freak me out), or my husband could accompany me on his violin, which could actually be pretty cool given the right song.

Please help.

posted by bigd to human relations (38 comments total)

You may find some good ideas here.
posted by tomble at 11:04 PM on June 26, 2007

One song that sounds good to me by what you've said is That's All I've Got To Say.
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 11:24 PM on June 26, 2007

would probably prefer something that is romantic and a little bit haunting

Sarah McLachlan's oeurve fits that description.
posted by amyms at 11:25 PM on June 26, 2007

Maybe "The Snows they Melt the Soonest" by Cara Dillon?
posted by gueneverey at 11:27 PM on June 26, 2007

You might find some ideas in this thread.
posted by Sailormom at 11:31 PM on June 26, 2007

I think Josh Radin's "Someone Else's Life" would be really sweet with a violin; lyrics.
posted by lalex at 11:57 PM on June 26, 2007

Well, by your standards this is pretty contemporary, but old enough to be out of mainstream awareness--and it has very folksy melody which could be further "folksified" -- "Longer", by Dan Fogleberg.

For something a bit (!) older, you might want to look into the music of John Dowland or Thomas Campion--and other Renaissance/Elizabethan composers of lute songs (sometimes "lute airs," "lute aires," or "lute ayres" will catch period spellings in a google search). You'll have to weed through lots of sad songs in order to find a pure, sweet love song, but whatever you find will probably be very worthwhile. In the meantime you might find a melody so lovely that you might decide to scrap the sad lyrics and write your own wedding-appropriate ones.

Check out www.cpdl.org (the choral public domain library) for a huge collection of free vocal sheet music. Look through the renaissance section. I think you can search by number of voices in order to track down a solo, or find a duet and have your husband play the second line on violin. Or just sing the melody line of a more typical SATB piece.

Back to the 21st century, another contemporary but not well-known song is "The Luckiest" by Ben Folds. It's simple and could be hauntingly beautiful if sung a capella.
posted by Alabaster at 12:31 AM on June 27, 2007

Absolutely gorgeous old Scottish border ballad Bonnie Jeannie O Bethelnie as sung by Dick Gaughan.

Nou Jeannie's gotten mairriet an her tocher's doun tauld
Bonnie Jeannie o Bethelnie wis scarce saxteen year auld
O Bethelnie, o Bethelnie, ye shine whaur ye staun
An the heather bells aroun ye shine owre Fyvie's laun

Romantic as you like, if perhaps a touch perplexing to the non-Scots ear. You can anglicise as appropriate.
posted by Abiezer at 12:34 AM on June 27, 2007

Try out a guy from the Dartmoor area- Seth Lakeman- Freedom Fields and Kitty Jay being the two popular records i know of. The songs all have a folk tale or story behind them, many about love (some unrequited , obviously!) the songs have a great strong rythm which may work better a cappella, plus there are some footstompers if you want to liven things up eventually. He's online i believe.
posted by Joe Rocket at 12:48 AM on June 27, 2007

Perhaps 'Black is the Colour' (Track 3) or 'She Moved through the Fair' might fit the bill.
posted by TwoWordReview at 2:28 AM on June 27, 2007

More ideas in this thread.
posted by bricoleur at 4:46 AM on June 27, 2007

I think The Kennedy's may have a song that will fit your needs.

Check out Here and Now
posted by COD at 4:47 AM on June 27, 2007

you might check out the music of loreena mckennitt.
posted by thinkingwoman at 4:52 AM on June 27, 2007

Jose Gonzalez might be worth a listen. He did a well known (and commerically co-opted) acoustic version of Heartbeats which you might have heard before. (Might not be lyrics for a wedding though)
posted by cotterpin at 5:07 AM on June 27, 2007

With a violin, you could play a few Andrew Bird songs (okay, maybe they aren't totally appropriate, but he's my favorite, what can I say?) Happy Day comes to mind.
posted by tmcw at 5:52 AM on June 27, 2007

100 Names, by The Nields? (Listen)
posted by amber_dale at 6:05 AM on June 27, 2007

Tough thing is that a lot of the traditional songs are, well, sad. But I think the Irish ballad "Red is the rose" may fit the bill. (Last verse may be omitted for the occasion.)
posted by desuetude at 6:12 AM on June 27, 2007

Hm... "somewhat folk-y, non-contemporary" - have you considered anything by Joni Mitchell? Might not be your thing, but I definitely think some of her songs are romantic and a little bit haunting... and could be beautiful for solo voice and violin.

Also, I like amyms' suggestion of Sarah McLachlan.
posted by Zephyrial at 6:14 AM on June 27, 2007

The wild mountain thyme has featured at umpteen Scottish Weddings (mine included) and has the kind of nature integrated imagery that might work well here.

The Waterboys did a song called "When will be married" which might work out: voice, guitar and violin accompaniment.

I would also second "The Snows they melt the soonest" if you want to try something a cappella.
posted by rongorongo at 6:22 AM on June 27, 2007

I've never heard the original, actually, but I was just at a wedding where a solo singer-guitarist played "The Book of Love" by the Magnetic Fields. It was beautiful.
posted by chinston at 6:45 AM on June 27, 2007

How about "I'll follow you into the dark" by Death Cab for Cutie? (youtube video).

or "Wondring Aloud" by Jethro Tull? (youtube video)
posted by davey_darling at 7:06 AM on June 27, 2007

at my wedding, we had someone sing the beatle's "i will." it was a great wedding song.
posted by lester at 7:08 AM on June 27, 2007

This is contemporary, but might fit the atmosphere she's going for: Each Coming Night by Iron & Wine. It's a gorgeous song about being together until death do us part.
posted by MsMolly at 7:27 AM on June 27, 2007

Ruth MacKenzie adapted a trad. Finnish melody with an English translation of Estonian lyrics for the song "If I Knew". She sang it at my wedding; there wasn't a dry eye on the block.

(Alternately, if you choose "Wild Mountain Thyme" for the ceremony, you can sing The Kipper Family's "Wild Mounting Time" afterwards!)
posted by omnidrew at 7:29 AM on June 27, 2007

"The Wind" by Cat Stephens, or "Here Comes The Sun" by The Beatles (George Harrison).
posted by contessa at 7:36 AM on June 27, 2007

Seconding "I'll follow you into the dark." I've tabbed it for (soprano) ukulele, so it couldn't be much different on the violin.
posted by tmcw at 7:49 AM on June 27, 2007

It's thought of as a quaker song, but " Simple Gifts" can be nice at a wedding.

I've also seen the Sabbath Prayer song from Fiddler on the Roof sung at weddings with the words changed in various ways. Mind you, I always find this disturbing [especially at the Catholic wedding]. You could also change the words to Scarborough Fair, make the song work for your purpose.
posted by Mozzie at 8:20 AM on June 27, 2007

You Mean Everything To Me by Shawn Mullins was my pick for a modern-folky-style wedding song.
I liked it because it refers to darker stuff, and surviving it together. That's more real to me than an "everything is so perfect" love song.

Your mileage may vary.
posted by Tbola at 8:34 AM on June 27, 2007

it may be considered contemporary but,
"The first time ever I saw your face" is beautiful.
posted by MiffyCLB at 9:19 AM on June 27, 2007

The first thing that came to mind was "Sweet Sir Galahad" by Joan Baez. I'm pretty sure she does it just with her guitar, so it could easily be sung a cappella or adapted for violin. Not all the lyrics are exactly wedding-y, but I've always found it a bit haunting, and the end goes like this:

Sweet Sir Galahad went down
with his gay bride of flowers,
the prince of the hours
of her lifetime.

And here's to the dawn
of their days,
of their days.
posted by CiaoMela at 9:40 AM on June 27, 2007

You might look into Josh Ritter. He's definitely folky, and has some beautiful tunes. Just off the top of my head, the songs 'Wings' and 'Red Rainslicker' from the album Hello Starling are beautiful and haunting.
posted by HighTechUnderpants at 10:09 AM on June 27, 2007

Songs sung at our wedding were Simple by k d lang, Magnetic Field's Book of Love, and Wilco/Woody Guthrie's California Stars.

Voice + acoustic guitar or violin will make most songs sound folk-y, in terms of the vibe. Simple may be the best match from our list for what you want.
posted by gingerbeer at 10:11 AM on June 27, 2007

If "non-contemporary" means you won't hear it on the radio you're pretty safe. How about . . .

"Somebody Loved" by The Weepies
"Little Trip To Heaven" by Tom Waits
posted by dhacker at 10:49 AM on June 27, 2007

Seconding First Time Ever I Saw Your Face.
posted by Martin E. at 11:56 AM on June 27, 2007

Heaven - Joan Armatrading
second The Book of Love - Magnetic Fields
posted by theora55 at 1:12 PM on June 27, 2007

Forever My Friend by Ray LaMontagne
posted by mathlete at 6:44 PM on June 27, 2007

This song Since You've Asked by Judy Collins (wiki link) has a very haunting melody, yet it's a romantic wedding song as well. It is decidedly not contemporary, having been released on Collins' Wildflowers album in 1967, and just to round out your request, Collins was considered a folk singer when she first started (see wiki).

(I sang this at a couple of weddings; both a cappella and to guitar accompaniment.)
posted by Lynsey at 11:09 PM on June 27, 2007

i can't think of a specific song, but jolie holland's style might fit the bill.

(holy crap, i just noticed the "link" button. i've been hyperlinking by hand for months. months.)
posted by twistofrhyme at 2:46 PM on June 28, 2007