Be Safe, My Love
Watercolor by Elizabeth Ellison for the movie “Songcatcher” (2000)
It seems only fitting that the first community song/waking lullaby I’m sharing here is the first of these songs that ever arrived. Get comfy, ‘cause I’m winding up a good yarn! (or just scroll down for the teaching tracks. 🙏🏻)
I have a particular love for the melodies and close harmony styles found in “mountain songs”. When I was a kid, my dearest sistercousins (sisters from another mister! <3) were encouraged/forced to learn and sing songs and harmonies from the first Trio album, and I jumped on board as soon as they would let me take the third part. I will watch Songcatcher over and over, and anytime I enter a room with any kind of appealing natural reverb, I’m likely to start crooning “Pretty Saro”, regardless of who else is present (all the love to Iris DeMent! <3)
The thing about these songs, though…the lyrics typically range from melancholy to tragic to downright h o r r i f y i n g. There was plenty of woe to grieve and share in the times when these songs were written, and it seems those old journalist/composers had a knack for capturing it pretty graphically, especially when it came to the murder ballads. So. Much. Wretchedness. Such! Beautiful! Melodies!
As I’ve wound along my path, I’ve come to understand the power of the thoughts in my head at any given time, especially those that get a lot of air time. And, since my brain happens to be wired to hold onto song lyrics and dialogue like a jumping cholla, I’ve got to be careful what I let in here. So, generally not murder ballads.
Which brings me to the dilemma of “Katie Dear.” When I first heard it sung by the delightful Caroline Isaacs and Sundust Road, the melody (and those harmonies!) would not leave me alone. I wanted to sing it all the time, so I looked up the lyrics. (Side question: does anyone else have this thing where a song can’t leave your head until you learn the words? All the words? Yes? Nope? Well, it’s a thing in here. :-D) So, yeah…the lyrics:
“Oh Willie dear there’s no use in asking
She’s in her room a takin’ rest
And by her side is a silver dagger
To slay the one that I love best”
Oh, (Katie) dear. Spoiler alert: things do not turn out well for either Willie or Katie.
So…what’s a harmony-addicted, brutality-averse gal to do? If you said, “write new lyrics”, you would be correct.
At the same time that this obsession was raging, I was reading a wonderful novel by Martha Beck (Diana, Herself), and I was particularly enchanted with a little lovingkindness-style guidance given to the title character by the world’s most delightful talking boar (in the service of calming a rattlesnake and, consequently, all her other fears. Obvs.):
“Be well, my dear one, be safe, my love, live in joy and peace, sweet friend.”
Fascinated by the fear-draining power of these words, I wanted these to be the words my mind hooked into; however, as with many such things, they tended to slip right out at the first sign of adversity. I needed to find a way to bend the spines of this little benediction so that it could harness that cholla-power and hook strongly into my mind. Then I remembered that music was the most powerful word-delivery method I knew. And here was “Katie Dear”, on constant loop in my head. And these words (with the tiniest bit of shifting), nestled so beautifully into that unusual melody, with it’s little hitch in the middle. Thus was born this little songlet. I took plenty of liberties, both with the words and the music, and I ended up with something that jumped and hooked into me like a mighty cholla.
May it bring you some comfort and soothing, or at least freedom from murder-y images as you enjoy a lovely mountain-ish tune. <3
These are teaching tracks for community singing.
Lyrics:
Be safe, my love
Be well, my dear one
Live in joy and peace, my sweet friend
For we are here
We are awakened
Fear no more, and take your rest
Composed/caught by Juliana Murphy
Lyrics inspired by Diana, Herself (Martha Beck)
Melody inspired by “Katie Dear” (Traditional)
This song is intended to be shared freely and sung both individually and in community. If you plan to record it with the intent to sell, please contact me for permission.