Show Notes
In this episode of Teenage Wasteland, musician Shane Kennedy sits at the heart of a journey through the extraordinary history of 'Dink’s Song'. From its early twentieth-century origins beside the Brazos River to versions by Pete Seeger, Odetta, Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, Jeff Buckley and others, the episode explores how a traditional song changes as it passes from singer to singer. Also Shane discusses how he approached the song, what he changed, and what it means to inherit something this old - before performing his version in full. Dink’s Song’ performed by Shane Kennedy. Recordingused with permission; recording rights cleared for this programme.Research Sources and Further Reading Books, Archives and Research John A. Lomax, “Self-Pity in Folk-Songs,” The Nation,1917.
John A. Lomax and Alan Lomax, American Ballads and FolkSongs, Macmillan, 1934. John A. Lomax, Adventures of a Ballad Hunter,Macmillan, 1947. Francis Lee Utley, “The Genesis and Revival of ‘Dink’s Song’,”1966. Nolan Porterfield, Last Cavalier: The Life and Times ofJohn A. Lomax, 1867–1948, University of Illinois Press, 1996.
Elijah Wald, Josh White: Society Blues, University ofMassachusetts Press, 2000. Hamilton Darby Perry, Libby Holman: Body and Soul,Little, Brown, 1983. American Folklife Center, Library of Congress — John A. Lomax and Alan Lomax collections. Smithsonian Folkways — archival recordings, liner notes anddiscographical material relating to Pete Seeger, Cisco Houston, Dave Van Ronk and the American folk revival. The Traditional Ballad Index — entries for “Dink’s Song” and“Careless Love.” Selected Recordings Libby Holman with Josh White, 'Fare Thee Well', 1942. Cisco Houston, 'Dink’s Song', 1954. Harry Belafonte, 'Fare Thee Well', 1958. Ramblin’ Jack Elliott, 'Dink’s Song', 1958. Pete Seeger, 'Dink’s Song', 1959. Dave Van Ronk, 'Dink’s Song', 1961. Bob Dylan, 'Dink’s Song', recorded 1961; released on TheBootleg Series Vol. 7: No Direction Home, 2005. Odetta, 'If I Had Wings', 1962. The Big 3, featuring Cass Elliot, 'Nora’s Dove (Dink’sSong)', 1963. Joni Mitchell, 'Fare Thee Well (Dink’s Song)', c. 1963;released on Joni Mitchell Archives Vol. 1, 2020. The Simon Sisters, 'Dink’s Blues', 1960s. Fred Neil, 'Faretheewell (Fred’s Tune)', 1960s. Jeff Buckley, 'Dink’s Song', recorded live at Sin-é,1993. Roger McGuinn with Pete Seeger and Josh White Jr., 'Dink’sSong', 2001. Frank Black, 'Fare Thee Well', 2006. Oscar Isaac and Marcus Mumford, 'Fare Thee Well (Dink’sSong)', Inside Llewyn Davis, 2013. Waylon Jennings, 'Dink’s Blues', posthumously released2025. Shane Kennedy, 'Dink’s Song', Ireland, 2026.
Film and Television Cloak and Dagger, dir. Fritz Lang, 1946 —Lilli Palmer performs part of “Dink’s Song.” Cheyenne, “Fury at Rio Hondo,” 1956 —Peggy Castle performs the song. Inside Llewyn Davis, dirs.Joel and Ethan Coen, 2013 — features multiple interpretations of “Fare Thee Well (Dink’s Song).”
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