An Abecedarian Poem Woven From Traditional And Modern Alphabet Songs
For The Vocal Abecedarian Challenge
Introduction
I tried to create a playlist of unaccompanied traditional folk songs based on the Roud Index in the article below.
I included a talk by Steve (it's an hour long but entertaining, he talks about creating his index and goes past quite quickly) and in the talk he mentions "Alphabet Songs" which are found for various livelihoods, carpenters, farmers, sailors and a lot more.
I thought, what if I take lines from these songs and stitch them together in an abecedarian poem?
I have amended them where necessary to have ten syllables and rhyme, but they come from different poems so may not make any sense, but you may have fun guessing their source.
I could only find five so there are multiple lines taken from each one.
This may get it rejected from the Challenge, but usually having my name on it is enough for that (that is a joke).
It is also Plagiaristic Poetry (see link at the end) and a playlist.
The Prompt
Write an abecedarian poem.
The Poem
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"A" For The Anchor We Carry At Our Bow
"B" Was A Butcher Who Had A Great Hound
"C" Is The Cook In His Galley Cooking
"D", The Dunderheads, Ever Complaining
"E" Was An Esquire With His Pride Showing
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"F" Is The Foβcβsle Where Is Our Bed
"G" Is For The Gnarled Face Turning Red
"H" IS For Hexfly That Hatches In June
"I" Is For The Irons All Numbered And True
"J" Was A Joiner Who NAiled The Wood Right
"K" Is For Knot That We Tie Neat And Tight
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"L" Is For Lip Reading, See What They Say
"M" Was The Miser Who Stole All Your Pay
"N" Is For Net Hanging Off Of Our Backs
"O" Was An Oyster Girl, Lived In A Shack
Penalty Shoot Outs, Such Drama You See
"Q" For Quality Of Our Fisheries
"R" Is The Rigging Tied Up So Stoutly
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"S" The Suggestion I Finish On Time
"T" The Topsail Where The Topmen They Climb.
"U" Is For Uniform, Only Wore Aft,
"V" Is The Vang That Holds Steady The Gaff
Wouldn't It Be Fun, Give The Ref A Gun
"X" Was One Xenophon, Prudent And Learnβd
Yate Is The Kind Of Town That Sources Refs
"Z" Was One Zeno The Great, But Heβs Dead.
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The Songs
Half Man Half Biscuit - "The Referee's Alphabet"
This is not traditional but one Blackwell's songs will be though
Fairport Convention - "The Sailor's Alphabet"
I'd forgotten that Fairport had recorded this but you might enjoy this.
Martyn Waitt - "Bargeman's Alphabet"
This is a recording I found, and it is rather good.
Ronald Nelson - "Tom Thumb's Alphabet"
This is the poem set to music with sound effects. Not a folk song but entertaining.
Alan Cayn - "Fly Fisherman's Alphabet"
An unaccompanied ABC song for you
Sources and Appendix
The Sailor's Alphabet, The Bargeman's Alphabet, Tom Thumb's Alphabet
The Referee's Alphabet is below:
Comments (15)
Very interesting way to take on the challenge.
Oooo, I didn't kkow what vang was until I Googled it now! Thank you for the new word! Loved your Abecedarian!
Ouu, this was very cool, indeed!
This was really cool . Well done sir
Interesting & fun. Hard to pick a favorite, though the referee's was kind of my sense of humor.
Great job... ""V" Is The Vang That Holds Steady The Gaf"... will have to google the meaning of this! Always learning.
Super clever! Well done !! π Glad to learn some new songs! πΌπ΅
Really enjoyed this folkish tale in a abecedarian
I only recognize one that sounds like the Grinch that stole Christmas. This is amazing. Also Kudos for your Vocal Reg, shoutout.
Awesome!!! Wonderfully written and all new to me!!!
I hadn't heard of the majority of these. Nice lesson and pleasantly presented!
That was interesting. Well done.
Fun!
Wow incredible work! Had to a lot of time to write it, but it's amazing! Check out my poems as well! Have a good day!π₯°
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