I'd originally thought of making this a rant, but on retrospect, I think there's something to be discussed.
Last night I was searching on iTunes for versions of "Goodnight, Irene". That's got to be one of the greatest songs of all time. According to legend, Leadbelly could reduce hardened cons in Angola prison to tears when he sang it.
It's about a crazy mofo who's thinking of killing himself for the love of a woman he can't stay faithful to for a week. It's straight out nuts, if you pay attention to the lyrics (with some versions of the lyrics being nuttier than others).
So, I was surprised to find a couple of versions on children's albums.
I gave a test listen to one of them:
"Sometimes I live in the country, sometimes I live in the town,
Sometimes I takes a great notion, to jump in the river and drown"
had become something like,
"Sometimes I live in the country, sometimes I live in the town,
Sometimes I take a great notion to dance all around."
OK, I've got no problem with changing the words to "Goodnight, Irene". Folk singers are always changing the words to "Goodnight, Irene". Leadbelly changed the words to "Goodnight Irene".
But it seems to me that making it "kid friendly" is different. If you don't want kids hearing about crazy mofos wanting to off themselves, keep them from the song. Or, why not just let them hear the real song, and be prepared to discuss whether drowning yourself is a good way to deal with life's little problems? Why mess around with the emotions of the song?
Anybody have any thoughts on this?