Concetti Chiave
- The ballads "Geordie" and "Edward" use rhythm and repetitions, with fewer repetitions in De André's pop ballad version.
- Both Geordie and Edward are portrayed as noble characters, with wealth indicated through specific references in the lyrics.
- The ballad "Geordie" portrays a tragic narrative of a wife failing to save her husband from execution for poaching.
- In "Edward," the protagonist's guilt over his violent actions is exacerbated by his mother's lack of moral guidance.
- Edward ultimately curses his mother, holding her responsible for his dire actions and decisions.
Rhythm and Repetitions in Ballads
The original version of Geordie and Edward present a rhythm, given by the numerous repetition and rimes. The De André version has fewer repetitions because it is a pop ballad so it doesn't need to be transmitted orally.
Edward and Geordie are both noble characters. You can understand that Geordie is rich in the expression "golden chain" in the original version and "corda d'oro" in De André's version. Edward is probably rich because he has a hawk and a horse, very useful to feudal lords for hunting. Both ballads tell a tragic story: in Geordie, the protagonist is killed at the end of the story, and in Edward, the protagonist treats his mother badly because she has given him bad advice.
Tragedy in the Story of Geordie
Geordie tells the tragic story of a young beutiful wife who tries to save her husband from being hanged for poaching. She is unable to persuade the judge, even though she reveals that she has two young children and a third baby is on the way, all of whom will remain fathreless.
Edward tells the story of a young man, whose name’s Edward, that after killing his poor hawk, horse and father, goes to his own mother to tell her what he has just done. Edward’s mother doesn’t have a reaction to her son’s crimes, in fact she also tries to convince him they’re not so terrible. But Edward, who feels guilty and a murderer, decides to leave, to go far away by the sea to forget and. Before he goes, his mother, who is a bad and selfish woman, asks him what he’s going to leave to his wife and children. He answers he will leave them nothing. Then his mother asks him what he’s going to leave for her. Edward’s answer is now terrible: he gives her the curse of Hell, because she’s the one who gave him such horrible counsels.
Domande da interrogazione
- How does the rhythm and repetition in ballads like "Geordie" and "Edward" differ in their original and modern versions?
- What tragic elements are present in the story of "Geordie"?
- How does the story of "Edward" depict the relationship between Edward and his mother?
The original versions of "Geordie" and "Edward" feature rhythm through numerous repetitions and rhymes, essential for oral transmission. In contrast, De André's modern pop ballad version of "Geordie" has fewer repetitions, as it doesn't rely on oral tradition.
"Geordie" tells the tragic tale of a young wife who fails to save her husband from being hanged for poaching, despite pleading with the judge and revealing her dire situation with two young children and another on the way.
In "Edward," the protagonist confesses to his mother about his crimes, but she dismisses their severity. Feeling guilty, Edward decides to leave, cursing his mother for her bad advice, highlighting a strained and toxic relationship.
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