LINER NOTES Folk music depicts universal human emotions, combining story and melody in a compelling, simple way. These ballads have English, Scottish, and American origins and travel through time without losing their impact or interest. They sing easily through people and generations with some changes, but keep the same essential story. Each of these songs tells a human love story with levels of jealousy, fear, anger, greed, retaliation, protectiveness, tenderness; love sometimes gone wrong and sometimes deadly. These people lived their love for better or worse. People still do. Repetitive lines and refrains throughout these songs emphasize the narrative and help pass the song on through time. ANATHEA tells the tragic tale of a sister’s love and futile sacrifice to save her brother from a hanging which her brother knows is inevitable. SILKIE is an ancient eloquent rendition of mythical love. A “silkie” or “selchie” is a shape-changer in Scottish lore. Although he can walk on land, his true home is the sea. With both Scottish and Norwegian origins, variations of this ballad can be found as THE GREAT SILKIE OF SULE SKERRY (No. 13) in the classic Child collection of balladry. LOVE HENRY, BANKS OF THE OHIO, and SALLY FREE AND EASY, tell painful stories of love gone wrong. Variations of THE BANKS OF THE OHIO have been found from North Carolina to Wyoming. LOVE HENRY traces back to a Scottish ballad called YOUNG HUNTING (Child No. 68). Note: there’s one smart bird. LONG BLACK VEIL, a current ballad, depicts the tragic trap of forbidden love vividly and succinctly. The haunting SHENNENDOAH relates love’s power to transcend ethnic differences. This river song became a popular work chanty. A sad goodbye and plea for remembrance is described in THE RED RIVER VALLEY. This easy, simple tune, said to have originated in New York, was picked up and revised by Western folksingers. SILVER DAGGER depicts the ripple effect of betrayal. A wronged mother’s fierce warning is meant to prevent pain and hurt for her daughter. But it’s so strong, the daughter abandons marriage entirely. The most whimsical song of love’s uncertainties in this collection is MAYBE. I learned it from a friend. It took a while. SUMMERTIME, a more current classic, takes its place as a love ballad of protection and promise, reassuring to the innocence of childhood. Some of these songs I learned in the days of rediscovery of folk music. Others came through my mother and aunts. Always, there were gifted people along the way who loved to share their songs and talent. The unwavering support of dear family and friends paved the way. Thank you, everyone, for the music. These songs are set to melody with a Martin D-18, a gift from my parents. The buzz on the 5th string is due to an old injury which resulted from the Arizona sun. The music was recorded in Novato, CA, in 1980, with the amazing Dave Wilson of Wilson Audio Specialties, for whom I have the highest personal and professional respect. Thanks to the skilled Bruce Brown, Puget Sound Studios, for the tape transfer and digital remaster. Gay Owens Davenport was born in Denver, CO, beautiful country but far from home. She has a BA from UNC-G, MA from ECU, and a 6th degree Black Belt. She rightfully calls North Carolina home on her family farm with deep roots of music, stories and heritage.