Talk:The Maid Freed from the Gallows

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The Maid Freed from the Gallows has had a peer review by Wikipedia editors which is now archived. It may contain ideas you can use to improve this article.

This article is within the scope of WikiProject Songs, an attempt to build a comprehensive and detailed guide to songs on Wikipedia. If you would like to participate, you can edit the article attached to this page, or visit the project page, where you can join the project and/or contribute to the discussion.

Contents 1 Merge 2 Smashing 3 Derry Gaol redirect 4 Peer review 5 Child ballad number 95

[edit] Merge

I don't think the merge is needed, or indeed wise, as one is about a specific group's song and the other the folkloric one.

But, certainly the "merge from" is wrong. "The Maid Freed from the Gallows" is the older and therefore its variant, if appearing in the same article, should fall under it, and not the other way around. Goldfritha 02:32, 11 July 2006 (UTC)

I concur. --AsaRoast 23:11, 30 July 2006 (UTC)

Nevertheless, they are the same song, and the best known title is that of the later versions, beginning with the Leadbelly version. Absent the existence of the Twentieth Century versions, I doubt that "The Maid Freed from the Gallows" is sufficently notable to merit its own article. bd2412 T 00:43, 31 July 2006 (UTC)

You underestimate the significiance of the Child ballads to folklorists. Goldfritha 22:48, 1 August 2006 (UTC)

If "The Maid Freed from the Gallows" redirects here, folklorists will have as easy a time finding the song as Leadbelly fans or Led Zeppelin fans. bd2412 T 02:23, 2 August 2006 (UTC)

Redirection works both ways. If "Gallows Pole redirects there, Leadbelly fans or Led Zeppelin fans will have as easy a time finding the song as folklorists. Goldfritha 03:03, 2 August 2006 (UTC)

I venture that more people have heard the name "Gallows Pole", and would be confused to be redirected to "The Maid Freed from the Gallows", than have heard of the latter and would be confused to be redirected to the former. bd2412 T 03:23, 2 August 2006 (UTC)

Then they will find the merged article confusing, as it will be dealing with both. Confusing to neither would be not merging them and directing people who read the Gallows Pole one that the historical background is in the other. Goldfritha 23:46, 2 August 2006 (UTC)

Ok, see how you like this: Gallows Pole/temp. bd2412 T 02:00, 3 August 2006 (UTC)

By the accounts I have seen, "Gallows Pole" is Leadbelly's version of it. Which is to say, "Gallows Pole" is not the title of a centuries-old song, any more than "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" is the title of a centuries-old fairy tale -- both are the titles of twentieth century adaptions of the folk version. Goldfritha 23:59, 3 August 2006 (UTC)

Still the same song. Do we have an article on the centuries-old fairy tale from which "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" was adapted? And why, then, should "The Maid Freed From the Gallows" not be under "The Golden Ball"? Or Lunastettava neito? bd2412 T 00:10, 4 August 2006 (UTC)

• Also, I think the article I put together at Gallows Pole/temp is a helluva lot better than anything either of us had come up with before. I'll agree to it being under "The Maid Freed From the Gallows" if that keeps all the information together, but I think most people will think of it as "Gallows Pole". bd2412 T 00:18, 4 August 2006 (UTC)

Ah -- yes, actually, we do have an article on the centuries-old fairy from which "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" was adapted.

Furthermore, the article lists variants that are not variants on Leadbelly's version, such as Dylan Thomas's. To put those under Gallows Pole is create confusion about what they are variants on. Just as modern retellings of "Snow White" are listed under "Snow White" the folkloric fairy tale and not "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs", we should put all the variants under the folkloric song. Goldfritha 00:52, 4 August 2006 (UTC)

Point taken - done. bd2412 T 01:18, 4 August 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Smashing

I think this has worked out well - in fact, I think we have a potential featured article on our hands! bd2412 T 00:34, 5 August 2006 (UTC)

Definitely has potential. Goldfritha 03:00, 5 August 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Derry Gaol redirect

Should Derry Gaol really redirect here? It would be preferable for Derry Gaol--the actual place--to have an article (or at least a stub) at that location. Redlinks (or now former redlinks) meant to point to the place now point to this song. Robert K S 19:31, 14 October 2006 (UTC)

Would be suitable. A note up top that the song is in this article would be wise. Goldfritha 00:42, 15 October 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Peer review

Please check out Wikipedia:Peer review/The Maid Freed from the Gallows. Cheers! bd2412 T 13:52, 21 November 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Child ballad number 95

The revision to make the lede more accessible removed the phrase "Child ballad number 95".

I have put it back in, and no revision should take it out.

Removing it is like altering a sentence that says "The Pastoral is Beethoven's Sixth Symphony" to say "The Pastoral is the sixth among the symphonies Beethoven wrote" -- it is removing information (and making Wikipedia look uninformed). This is not merely the 95th ballad listed in the Child collection, it is "Child ballad number 95" just as the Pastoral is "Beethoven's Sixth Symphony." Goldfritha 15:24, 26 November 2006 (UTC)

Okay, how about two sentences? Would this do? The Maid Freed from the Gallows is one of many titles of a centuries-old folk song about a condemned pleading for someone to buy their freedom from the executioner. In the collection of ballads compiled by Francis James Child, it is Child ballad number 95. The ballad... Any good? Telsa (talk) 00:02, 27 November 2006 (UTC)

Sounds good to me. Goldfritha 02:42, 27 November 2006 (UTC)