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Twa Corbies by carlaz [Email]
Genre: Heavy Metal

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SONG STATS:
Hits: 521
Comments: 6
Votes: 2
Plays: 63
Last Played: Nov 20, 2008 - 07:46:07 AM
Downloads: 34
Fans: 3
Uploaded: Mar 10, 2008 - 12:52:53 PM
Last Updated: Mar 10, 2008 - 12:52:53 PM
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Keywords:
Traditional (65), Medieval (14), Folk (369), Scottish (15), Metal (165), Crows (4), Death. (3)
Description:
This is a "folk metal" version of the Scottish border ballad "Twa Corbies". The lyrics are traditional, based on those found in Sir Walter Scott's collection Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border, and the music is largely based on a traditional Breton tune called "An Alarc'h" ("The Swan"); these are the same sources that inspired versions by Steeleye Span and Boiled in Lead among others. The short bridge-like riff that occurs after a few of the verses is my own composition. The style is ... eh, sort of "latter-day Sabbath". ;)

This version is yet-another-mix trying to improve on earlier versions (v1 & v2), trying to get things a little clearer than in previous versions. But I know almost nothing about the art of mixing though, so your mileage may vary! ;)

Lyrics:
As I was walking all alane,
I heard twa corbies making a mane;
And t'ane untae the t'other say-o,
Where sall we gang and dine to-day-o?
Where sall we gang and dine to-day?

In behind yon auld fail dyke,
I wot there lies a new slain knight;
And naebody kens that he lies there-o
But his hawk, his hound, and lady fair-o,
His hawk, his hound, and lady fair.

His hound is to the hunting gane,
His hawk to fetch the wild-fowl hame,
His lady's ta'en another mate-o,
So we may mak our dinner sweet-o,
We may mak our dinner sweet.

O you sit on his white hause-bane,
And I'll pike out his bonny blue een.
Wi' many lock o his golden hair-o
We'll theak our nest when it grows bare-o,
Theak our nest when it grows bare.

O many a one for him makes mane,
But nane shall ken where he is gane.
Oer his white banes, when they are bare-o
The wind shall blow for evermair-o,
The wind shall blow for evermair.

Hardware:
1992 Gibson Les Paul Standard with Bare Knuckle Crawler pickups. 1976 Rickenbacker 4001 bass. Shure BG2 microphone. Mac Mini (Intel). Tascam US-122 audio interface.

Software:
Apple GarageBand '08, Zygoat Doggiebox 1.3.
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Good arrangement &mdash 03/10/08 - 04:04:33 PM
great guitar sound, i like it very much!

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cool &mdash 03/10/08 - 10:07:12 PM
This is a cool tune man. The guitars sound great. Love the wah solo.

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Prog &mdash 03/11/08 - 08:02:10 AM
Very cool. I love the progressive folk influences and your voice. I'm off to check out your other versions...

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Re: Prog &mdash 03/11/08 - 01:43:23 PM
The other versions of "Twa Corbies" are pretty similar, though I like to think the mix got a bit clearer/better with each one! :)

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Great take on an old song &mdash 03/11/08 - 01:18:59 PM
I've got Bert Jansch's version of this and never imagined I would ever hear a metal version but what you've done works great. The crow's cries are a great touch - you can just see the corbies pecking away.
It's on my iPod right after Bert Jansch's version what a contrast!
Thanks for posting ansd all the best to you.

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Re: Great take on an old song &mdash 03/11/08 - 01:59:19 PM
Bert Jansch's version is a classic! I've listened to his version and the Steeleye version(s) for years; alas, I don't think I have a copy of the really old Ray & Archie Fisher recording. But I just woke up one morning with the nub of the metal arrangement in my head and had to do it. :) Like proper folk music, it's death and doom and being eaten by crows ... so the transition to metal wasn't too hard. ;)

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