Welcome AtoZ-ers and other blog friends! This month I'm participating in the AtoZ blogging challenge, and you'll see a post every day (except Sundays) about one of the Songs of my Heart. Today's edition: Goodnight, Irene, as recorded by the Weavers. (If my embed doesn't work, listen at this link).
This song came to me in a roundabout way. When I was a kid, my grandfather did some carpentry work for a friend and was paid with a juke box. Something kind of like this:
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My grandmother was enraged, probably rightly so. I'm sure they needed cash money more than a jukebox.
But the other grandchildren and I were delighted. It came loaded with 78 record albums of songs from the 30s and 40s. We'd take turns picking songs and listen rainy days away (probably driving my grandparents crazy with the repetition).
Goodnight, Irene by the Weavers was one of them and it really got stuck in my head, especially at bedtime. In fact, I still hum it when I'm headed to sleep to this day.
Lyrics from Songs for Teaching:
Irene goodnight, Irene goodnight
Goodnight Irene, goodnight Irene
I'll see you in my dreams
Last saturday night I got married
Me and my love settled down
Now me and my love are parted
I'm gonna take another stroll downtown
Irene goodnight, Irene goodnight
Goodnight Irene, goodnight Irene
I'll see you in my dreams
Sometimes I live in the country
Sometimes I live in the town
Sometimes I have a great notion
To jump In the river and drown
Irene goodnight, Irene good night
Good night Irene, good night Irene
I'll see you in my dreams
Ramblin' stop your gamblin'
Stop stayin' out late at night
Go home to your wife and your family
Sit down by the fireside bright
Irene goodnight, Irene good night
Good night Irene, good night Irene
I'll see you in my dreams
Irene goodnight, Irene good night
Good night Irene, good night Irene
I'll see you in my dreams
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My friend and I, when we were young, went to her Uncle's farm to tie grapes( horrible, icky work) and he had a jukebox. We played EltonJohn, The Beatles etc...I wish I owned a jukebox because it is a lot of fun. This is a famous song and I didn't know that Leadbelly wrote it and played it. My dadcwas not a fan of this song. His sis-in-law was named Irene and my dad disliked her as she two-timed on my Uncle Ambrose often, even when he was dying
ReplyDeleteSometimes a whole name can be ruined if you run into a not-so-great person who has it.
DeleteHow fun. I see why you would have enjoyed that jukebox.
ReplyDeleteI have a lot of happy memories associated with it.
DeleteI love old jukeboxes! Granted, I would tire of the selections pretty fast with the audio fatigue I'm prone to, but ah, memories!
ReplyDeleteI guess there was enough time between visits to Grandma and Grandpa to counteract the repetition.
DeleteI can imagine how angry your grandmother was...
ReplyDeleteRonel visiting for A-Z Challenge Goddess of Love: Aphrodite & My Languishing TBR: G #AtoZChallenge2025 #Books #Bookreview
Justifiably, too. My grandfather was a softie, and it made things hard for them sometimes.
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