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about

Sovay, also known as The Female Highwayman, is a well-known English folk song most notably done by Martin Carthy or Pentangle in the 1960’s.
Quite a few artists have recorded it, but the first I ever heard comes from Sligo guitarist, Ray Coen. He called his the “half-remembered version” of another legendary guitarist, Jon Hicks, who likely based his off of Martin Carthy’s version with Brass Monkey. My version is something of an amalgamation of my favorite parts of each.

One of the interesting parts to me about folk music, are the combination of songs that have beautiful melodies with unusual, sometimes even grisly lyrics, and yet they seem to feel right at home together.

So, this is my dreamy take on a classic tale of breaking gender roles, and testing your lover by… robbing them at gunpoint?

lyrics

LYRICS:
Sovay Sovay all on a day
She dressed herself in man’s array
With a sword and pistol all by her side
To meet her love, her own true love away did ride

And as she rode over the plains
She spied her love and made him stand
“Stand and deliver, you man,” said she
“Or if you do not, if you do not, I’ll shoot you dead”

She robbed him of his golden store
Yet still she craved that one thing more
“That diamond ring, which I see you wear
Hand it o’er, hand it o’er, and your life I’ll spare”

“From this diamond ring I’ll never part
For it’s a token of my sweetheart
So shoot and be damned there you rogue,” said he
“And you’ll be hanged, you’ll be hanged for murdering me”

Next morning in the garden green
Sovay and her own true love were seen
He spied his watch hanging from her clothes
It made him blush, made him blush like a red rose

“Why do you blush, you foolish thing?
’Twas I who sought that diamond ring
If you had handed that ring to me
I’d have pulled my trigger, pulled my trigger and shot you dead”

credits

released November 24, 2023
FEATURING:
Joseph Carmichael - vocals, harmony vocals, electric guitar, flute
Heather Carmichael - harmony vocals
Evan Powell - keys
Larry Gunn - synths

Words and music traditional English, arranged by Joseph Carmichael
Produced by Joseph Carmichael and Seth Russell
Recorded/Mixed by Seth Russell in Guthrie, OK
Additional Production/Mixing by Larry Gunn
Mastered by Everest Witman
Cover design by Heather Carmichael, based on original "Desiderium" art by Matthew Carmichael (Bothersome Blank - Tucson, AZ)

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about

Joseph Carmichael Dallas, Texas

Guitar, flute and whistle player from Dallas, performing with trad bands across Texas and the US.

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