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Satirical Songs In Maine And The Maritime Provinces Of Canada, Edward D. Ives

Dr. Edward D. Ives Papers

Invective, ridicule, and insult are not uncommon ingredients in folk songs, and since songs containing these elements usually make us laugh, we speak of them as satirical. Sometimes the satire springs from a strong sense of social injustice, as it did with singers like Aunt Molly Jackson and Woody Guthrie. More commonly it arises from personal motives, such as a desire to annoy. This is a progress report on local songs-particularly those attributed to Larry Gorman-in Maine, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island.