In this post, let's take a deep dive into the origin of one of my favorite tunes performed by Without a Net (and mentioned in my first post) called "Peggy O".
"Peggy O" is based on a Scottish folk song called the "Bonnie Lass of Fyvie". Like a lot of folk music, there is no attributed author or date of origin.
We can locate a place however, which is the village of Fyvie located in the county of Aberdeen in the Northeast corner of Scotland. There's also a historic Fyvie Castle which dates from the 1200's which you can visit for a fee.
Now lets take a brief musical journey through the history of this song to appreciate all the different ways it has been performed and how it morphed into what we hear today. Then we can touch on what is unique about the Without a Net version.
First up is the Royal Scotts Dragoon Guards. Its interesting to hear this performed as a march which I never would have guessed, but fits the military theme. With the drums and bagpipes, this song is sure to swell the hearts of all Scots with national pride. Heck, it swells my heart with pride and I'm not even Scottish.
For a more authentic and acoustic version check out this version by The Corries. This one is much closer to the folk original and without all the grandiose extra orchestration.
Fast forward to the 1960's when the song was performed by a number of folk artists including Bob Dylan and Joan Baez. I don't particularly care for the Bob Dylan version since he turns the song into hoedown which is emotionally distant from the subject matter. Simon and Garfunkle did a highly harmonized version that was sweeter and more sensitive. The strongest inspiration for Without a Net would have to be the Grateful Dead's version which is dated 1977 in this audio recording.
Now for the lyrics which may appear to be nonsensical without some context
As we roll out out of fennario (x2)
Our captain fell in love with a lady like a dove
And he called her by name pretty Peggy O.
First there was never a place called Fennario, it was adopted from the phonetically similar Fyvie'O. Also interesting that the lyric "a lady like a dove" was adopted from the original "a very bonnie lass."
I would marry you sweet William-O (x2)
I would marry you but your guineas are too few
And I fear my momma would be angry O.
Our pretty Peggy would indeed marry William, but he is a foreigner and doesn't have the cash and clout to satisfy Peggy's mother.
Come stepping down the stairs pretty Peggy O (x2)
Come stepping down the stairs combing back her yellow hair
In a last farewell to her William O
Finally with his rejection complete, William promises revenge.
If every I return, pretty Peggy O (x2)
If every I return all your cities I will burn
I've destroyed all the ladies in the area O
Without a Net does a marvelous version of this song found on the recent "Disco Cowboy" release. It is handled as a duet between Frank and Francesca Rose which is unique in all of the versions of this song I have heard. I highly recommend you check out the version of Peggy O on the Disco Cowboy release, you will surely appreciate it more now that you have the back story.
The Disco Cowboy release is available on CD Baby at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/withoutanet. It is also available on iTunes and many other services. You can also get the CD as well as tee shirts and other cool stuff on the band's merchandise store at http://withoutanet.bigcartel.com.
Also join us in Saturday April 11, 2015 when Without a Net appears an Tenampa Mexican restaurant in Croton on Hudson, NY.
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