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The Songs of Lonesome Traveler: A Review of the 2nd Edition

Ervin Bell

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Published in Writing Dylan: The Songs Of A Lonesome Traveler 2nd Edition

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The Songs of Lonesome Traveler is a comprehensive collection of traditional and contemporary folk songs from around the world. The 2nd edition includes over 1,000 songs, each with complete lyrics, chords, and guitar tablature. This review will take a closer look at the book, its features, and its strengths and weaknesses.

Overview

The Songs of Lonesome Traveler is a large and impressive book. It is over 600 pages long and weighs in at over 3 pounds. The book is divided into 14 chapters, each of which focuses on a different genre of folk music. The chapters include:

Writing Dylan: The Songs of a Lonesome Traveler, 2nd Edition

by Jim Ruland

5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	1323 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	585 pages
Screen Reader	:	Supported

American Folk Songs
British Folk Songs
Irish Folk Songs
Scottish Folk Songs
Canadian Folk Songs
Australian Folk Songs
New Zealand Folk Songs
South African Folk Songs
West African Folk Songs
Caribbean Folk Songs
Latin American Folk Songs
Asian Folk Songs
European Folk Songs
Jewish Folk Songs

Each chapter includes a brief to the genre, followed by a selection of songs. The songs are arranged alphabetically by title, and each song includes the following information:

Title
Composer
Lyricist
Source
Lyrics
Chords
Guitar tablature

Features

The Songs of Lonesome Traveler includes a number of features that make it a valuable resource for musicians and folk music enthusiasts alike. These features include:

A comprehensive index of songs
A bibliography of sources
A glossary of musical terms
A chord chart
A guitar tablature guide

The index of songs is particularly helpful, as it allows users to quickly and easily find the songs they are looking for. The bibliography of sources is also a valuable resource, as it provides users with a list of books and websites where they can learn more about folk music.

Strengths

The Songs of Lonesome Traveler is a well-researched and comprehensive collection of folk songs. The book includes a wide variety of songs from all over the world, and the information provided for each song is accurate and detailed.

One of the strengths of the book is its focus on traditional folk songs. Many other folk song collections focus on contemporary songs, but The Songs of Lonesome Traveler includes a large number of traditional songs that have been passed down through generations.

Another strength of the book is its inclusion of guitar chords and tablature. This makes it a valuable resource for guitarists who want to learn how to play folk songs.

Weaknesses

The Songs of Lonesome Traveler is a large and impressive book, but it does have a few weaknesses. One weakness is its size. The book is over 600 pages long and weighs in at over 3 pounds. This makes it difficult to carry around and use on the go.

Another weakness of the book is its lack of audio recordings. Many other folk song collections include audio recordings of the songs, which can be helpful for learning how to sing and play the songs. The Songs of Lonesome Traveler does not include any audio recordings, so users will need to find other sources for recordings if they want to hear the songs.

The Songs of Lonesome Traveler is a valuable resource for musicians and folk music enthusiasts alike. The book includes a wide variety of songs from all over the world, and the information provided for each song is accurate and detailed. The book's focus on traditional folk songs and its inclusion of guitar chords and tablature make it a valuable resource for guitarists who want to learn how to play folk songs.

However, the book's size and lack of audio recordings are two weaknesses that potential users should be aware of.

Writing Dylan: The Songs of a Lonesome Traveler, 2nd Edition

by Jim Ruland

5 out of 5