Forgotten Melodies #5: Harvest Songs

Grab your scythe, your nut-brown bowl, and keep an eye on the Farmer's Daughter, as on this month's Forgotten Melodies bonus episode we're talking all about Harvest Songs - in particular, We Gets Up In The Morn, John Barleycorn, and The Barley and the Rye!

As ever, the episode contains new takes on all three of these songs from Eleanor and Ben, who are also joined by Katie 'The Harmony Machine' Sommers, with Martin joining in with chat about the history behind each song, and traditions related to harvest rituals.

Because let us not forget, the first Christian harvest church services only came about during the 19th century, yet some of these songs date from before Shakespeare. As such, they speak to much longer traditions of autumnal celebration linked to the three phases of harvest, and narratives around it.

From Papua New Guinean rituals linked to yams to the ladies-only Classical-era harvest festival of Thesmophoria, we chat through the surprisingly universal ideas of what people celebrate when it comes to gathering in crops; everybody appreciates the deity that brings the rain, but what about the Divine Feminine - Mother Earth - who appears is many forms across the world?

As always, we really hope you enjoy the episode, and set your calendars for next month's Haunting Season-themed episode of Forgotten Melodies, on which we will be singing (and talking) all about Murder Ballads...

The Three Ravens is a Myth and Folklore podcast hosted by award-winning writers Martin Vaux and Eleanor Conlon.

Released on Mondays, each weekly episode focuses on a historic county, exploring the heritage, folklore and traditions of the area, from ghosts and mermaids to mythical monsters, half-forgotten heroes, bloody legends, and much, much more. Then, and most importantly, the pair take turns to tell a new version of an ancient story from that county - all before discussing what that tale might mean, where it might have come from, and the truths it reveals about England's hidden past...

Bonus Episodes are released on Thursdays plus Local Legends episodes on Saturdays - interviews with acclaimed authors, folklorists, podcasters and historians with unique perspectives on that week's county.

With a range of exclusive content on Patreon too, including audio ghost tours, the Three Ravens Newsletter, and monthly Three Ravens Film Club episodes about folk horror films from across the decades, why not join us around the campfire and listen in?

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