Down in the Valley (folk song)
Encyclopedia
"Down in the Valley", also known as "Birmingham Jail", is a traditional American folk song
. It has been recorded by many artists, and is included in the Songs of Expanding America recordings in the Burl Ives
six-album set Historical America in Song
.
Lyrics vary, as with most folk songs and it is a ballad
played in the 3/4 time signature. The most notable change in lyrics, and title, is Leadbelly
's performance of the tune as Birmingham Jail
in the 1980 comedy movie Stir Crazy
starring Richard Pryor
and Gene Wilder
in which they are sent to prison after being wrongfully convicted of a bank robbery.
In the Star Trek: The Next Generation
episode "Dark Page", an illusion of Deanna Troi
's father sings the song in the form of a lullaby
.
American folk music
American folk music is a musical term that encompasses numerous genres, many of which are known as traditional music or roots music. Roots music is a broad category of music including bluegrass, country music, gospel, old time music, jug bands, Appalachian folk, blues, Cajun and Native American...
. It has been recorded by many artists, and is included in the Songs of Expanding America recordings in the Burl Ives
Burl Ives
Burl Icle Ivanhoe Ives was an American actor, writer and folk music singer. As an actor, Ives's work included comedies, dramas, and voice work in theater, television, and motion pictures. Music critic John Rockwell said, "Ives's voice .....
six-album set Historical America in Song
Historical America in Song
Historical America in Song, released in 1950 by Encyclopædia Britannica Films, is an album set by folk singer Burl Ives. Each of the six albums consists of five 12-inch vinylite records, for a total of thirty 78 rpm records...
.
Lyrics
- Down in the valley, valley so low
- Hang your head over, hear the wind blow
- Hear the wind blow, dear, hear the wind blow;
- Hang your head over, hear the wind blow.
- Roses love sunshine, violets love dew,
- Angels in Heaven know I love you,
- Know I love you, dear, know I love you,
- Angels in Heaven know I love you.
- Build me a castle, forty feet high;
- So I can see her as she rides by,
- As she rides by, dear, as she rides by,
- So I can see her as she rides by.
- "If you don't love me, love whom you please,"
- "Throw your arms round me, give my heart ease,"
- "Give my heart ease, dear, give my heart ease,"
- "Throw your arms round me, give my heart ease,"
- Write me a letter, send it by mail;
- Send it in care of the Birmingham jail,
- Birmingham jail, dear, Birmingham jail,
- Send it in care of the Birmingham jail.
- Roses love sunshine, violets love dew,
- Angels in Heaven know I love you,
- Know I love you, dear, know I love you,
- Angels in Heaven know I love you.
Lyrics vary, as with most folk songs and it is a ballad
Ballad
A ballad is a form of verse, often a narrative set to music. Ballads were particularly characteristic of British and Irish popular poetry and song from the later medieval period until the 19th century and used extensively across Europe and later the Americas, Australia and North Africa. Many...
played in the 3/4 time signature. The most notable change in lyrics, and title, is Leadbelly
Leadbelly
Huddie William Ledbetter was an iconic American folk and blues musician, notable for his strong vocals, his virtuosity on the twelve-string guitar, and the songbook of folk standards he introduced....
's performance of the tune as Birmingham Jail
Pop Culture
This song is sung by Erland Van Lidth De JeudeErland Van Lidth De Jeude
Erland van Lidth de Jeude was a Dutch-born actor who appeared in several Hollywood films, as well as being a wrestler, an opera singer bass-baritone, and also worked with computers. While his large size Erland van Lidth de Jeude (June 3, 1953 - September 23, 1987) was a Dutch-born actor who...
in the 1980 comedy movie Stir Crazy
Stir Crazy (film)
Stir Crazy is a 1980 American comedy film starring Gene Wilder and Richard Pryor as down-on-their-luck friends who are given 125-year prison sentences after being framed for a bank robbery; while in prison they befriend other inmates and ultimately escape. In 2000, Total Film magazine voted it the...
starring Richard Pryor
Richard Pryor
Richard Franklin Lennox Thomas Pryor was an American stand-up comedian, actor, social critic, writer and MC. Pryor was known for uncompromising examinations of racism and topical contemporary issues, which employed colorful vulgarities, and profanity, as well as racial epithets...
and Gene Wilder
Gene Wilder
Gene Wilder is an American stage and screen actor, director, screenwriter, and author.Wilder began his career on stage, making his screen debut in the film Bonnie and Clyde in 1967. His first major role was as Leopold Bloom in the 1968 film The Producers...
in which they are sent to prison after being wrongfully convicted of a bank robbery.
In the Star Trek: The Next Generation
Star Trek: The Next Generation
Star Trek: The Next Generation is an American science fiction television series created by Gene Roddenberry as part of the Star Trek franchise. Roddenberry, Rick Berman, and Michael Piller served as executive producers at different times throughout the production...
episode "Dark Page", an illusion of Deanna Troi
Deanna Troi
Commander Deanna Troi is a main character in the science-fiction television series Star Trek: The Next Generation and related TV series and films, portrayed by actress Marina Sirtis. Troi is half-human, half-Betazoid and has the psionic ability to sense emotions. She serves as the ship's counselor...
's father sings the song in the form of a lullaby
Lullaby
A lullaby is a soothing song, usually sung to young children before they go to sleep, with the intention of speeding that process. As a result they are often simple and repetitive. Lullabies can be found in every culture and since the ancient period....
.