British & Other Versions 8. Madam, I Have Come To Court You (Twenty, Eighteen) Roud 542; Ripest Apples; Yonder Stands/Sits a lovely Creature; Scottish Roud 5121 (Owre Yon Hill There Lives A Lassie) Other titles: "The Spanish Lady I," "The Disdainful Lady" "In Yonder Grove," "The (Lincolnshire) Handsome Woman," "Oh dear Oh," "Tarry Trousers"
Wood cut of a "lovely creature" being courted
[This archaic ballad, "Madam, I am Come to Court You" (hereafter "Madam"), was printed twice in London between the 1760s and 1770s. The humorous and pithy ballad[1] probably had its origin in a forgotten mummer's wooing play of the East Midlands. The c.1760 version begins:
Yonder sits a lovely creature,
Who is she, I do not know,
I'll go court her for her features,
Whether her answer be "Aye" or "No."
"Madam, I am come to court you,
If your favor I can gain,
Madam if you kindly use me,
May be I may call again."
Well done," said she, "Thou art a brave fellow,
If your face I'll ne'er see more,
I must and I will have a handsome young fellow,
Altho' it keep me mean and poor.
"Madam I have rings and diamonds,
Madam I have got houses and lands
Madam I've got a world of treasure,
All shall be at your command."
What care I for rings and diamonds?
What care I for houses and lands?
What care I for worlds of treasure?
So I have but a handsome man."
The dialogue between the lovely creature and the wealthy old suitor reveals that she has no interest in him and is only interested in "a handsome man." In some versions[2] it is revealed that she already has a handsome man who is away or is a sailor at sea. Much like the Died for Love versions that precede these versions of Madam, the presumption is that the maid has been left behind or abandoned. Still, she dreams of her handsome man.
The stanzas of Madam have been used in a variety of similar settings or changed to a different dialogue with the same basic theme (see the appendices). In the case of the mysterious Spanish Lady, her name is present in at least five different song forms and three of those use stanzas of Madam. Stanzas of Madam are also used in the archaic "she answered No" songs which evolved into the 1800s songs "Oh No John," "No Sir" and other "she answered No" songs. Naturally a great deal of confusion has arisen by collectors trying to sort out the songs. Cecil Sharp used the master title "Oh No John" and songs with stanzas of Madam became versions of "Oh No John." Somehow the Roud master title became "Ripest Apple" and versions of "Madam" were also classified under that title. The songs of Roud 126 are "Oh No John" and "No Sir" but both are sometimes only choruses added to stanzas of Madam as are the two other well-known choruses "Twenty-Eighteen" and "Wheel of Fortune." Sharp's famous compilation of "Oh No John" also begins with the first stanza of Madam. It's clear that "Oh No John" is an English chorus not found in America and that the "No Sir" songs are not usually related. The 1882 version of "No Sir No" that was published by Mary Wakefield from an American governess (while in England) entered tradition but "No Sir" is an older song and versions with Madam stanzas made there way into the Appalachians long before Wakefield published her version. What we have is a number of distinct versions that have borrowed from one another. Since some of the antecedents are unknown, it's difficult to understand, for example, the evolution of the the "pretty maiden" in a 1776 bawdy song who became the "Spanish lady" and how a variety of versions of Madam have her as the courted maid.
The second print version, a broadside titled "A New Song," is two stanzas longer and is from British Library, item 1346 m 7, Broadsides 1 to 42, this being item 29, 3 songs of which this is the third. From this broadside the core stanzas are established:
A New Song ("Yonder Sits a Handsome Creature" or "Madam I am Come a-Wooing[3]") dated c. 1776.
1. Yonder sits a handsome creature,
What she is I do not know,
But I'll go court her for her feature,
If her answer be not, "no."
2. "Madam, I am come a wooing,
If I can your favor gain,
And if you make me kindly welcome,
I perhaps will come again."
3. "Set down you're kindly welcome,
If I never see you more,
But I must and I will have a handsome husband,
Whether he be rich or poor."
4. "Madam I've got gold and treasure,
Madam I've got house and land
Madam I've got rings and jewels,
And all will be at your command."
5. What care I for gold and treasure,
What care I for house and land
What care I for rings and jewels,
If I had but a handsome man."
6. Madam you have much of beauty,
Which is a thing that soon will fade,
For the brightest flower in the summer,
Is the flower that soonest fades.
7. After cowslips there comes roses,
After night there comes day,
After a false love there comes a true one,
And so we pass the times away.
8. Ripest apples are the soonest rotten
Hottest love is the soonest cold
Young men's love is soonest forgotten
Maids take care be not too bold.
9. He that has my heart a-keeping,
O that he had my body too,
For I shall spoil my eyes with weeping,
Crying, "Alas! what shall I do?"
The ending of "A New Song" is reminiscent of Died for Love: A maid falls in love with a false love and after they become lovers he abandons her and she is no longer a maid. He has her heart and had her body too-- but he is gone. The warning to all maids is taken from the "Ripest Apple" stanza[4]:
Young men's love is soonest forgotten
Maids take care be not too bold.
These stanzas show considerable variation in tradition. It must be assumed that earlier versions may have existed in East Midland Wooing Plays of the Mummers although no evidence has been found. A version sung in Virginia by a mulatto servant girl about 1780 also indicates the possibility of an earlier dissemination.
The ties with The Spanish Lady must have also been early since her name is found in archaic versions in Appalachia, Pennsylvania, New York, Ireland, Scotland and England. Here are five specific variants and uses of the Spanish Lady, some are used in these Madam courting songs:
Spanish Lady I: Derived from the 1776 bawdy song "The Ride in England[5]" which has been reworked. The first two stanzas are found in tradition with "Spanish Lady" instead of "pretty maid" and are followed by stanzas of "Madam" sometimes with the "Twenty-Eighteen" chorus and/or other choruses.
Spanish Lady II: The Spanish Lady as found in "No Sir," "Oh No, John" and the "she answered No" songs. She is the daughter of a Spanish merchant or Spanish sailor or captain.
Spanish Lady III: The Spanish Lady found as the poem of the same title by Irish poet Joseph Campbell based off the first two stanzas he collected of Spanish Lady I. Campbell's poem is sung and has entered tradition and is sometime sung with the "Twenty-Eighteen" chorus and/or other choruses.
Spanish Lady IV: The name "Spanish Lady" is found replacing "lovely creature" in a number of versions including children's game songs of the late 1800s. Examples in North America include "Here sits a Spanish lady" [JAF, Ontario, 1909 children's song], Wehman's "Spanish Lady" printed in Universal Songster No. 39 about 1893 and "Spanish Lady" dated 1916 in Cox's Folk Songs of the South, 1925.
Spanish Lady V: An arrangement with new text of Spanish Lady for piano and voice by Irish composer Herbert Hughes. It was based on the first two stanzas (1911) supplied by Joseph Campbell from tradition. Hughes new text, from an unknown source, also has entered tradition.
There is no evidence of when the 1770s bawdy song, titled "Ride in England" by Burns, was rewritten and the "pretty maid" became the "Spanish lady" but it must have been shortly after the bawdy song was printed. Versions with the first two stanzas reworked followed by stanzas of "Madam" have been collected in Scotland (also Orkney), England and Ireland. Here's and example from Scotland:
"As I Walked Up Through London City," sung by Mrs. Margaret Gillespie (1841-1910) of Glasgow, sister of Rev. Duncan about 1906; collected Duncan, version B from Greig-Duncan Collection.
1. As I walked up through London city,
Half-past twelve o'clock at night,
There I spied a Spanish lady
Dressing herself by the candle light.
2. Oh she is a charming creature,
What she is I do not know.
I will court her for her beauty,
Whether she be high or low.
3. Madam, I am come to court you,
Though your name I do not know.
I will court you for your beauty,
Whether ye be high or low.
4. Young man you think much of beauty
But that is a flower will soon decay.
The fairest flower in all the garden,
Soon will fade and droop away.
5. Madam I've got gold and silver
Madam I've got houses and land
Madam I've got men and maidens
All to be at your command.
6. What care I for gold or silver?
What care I for houses and land?
What care I for men and maidens?
All I want is a handsome man
7. Madam, you think much of beauty,
But that is a flower will soon decay.
The fairest flower in all the garden,
Soon will die and fade away.
8. First comes April then come roses,
Next comes the sweet month of May,
Next comes the two months of summer,
All will fade and pass away.
Only the first stanza as rewritten is taken from the 1776 bawdy song. The second stanza,
She had a basin full of water
And a towel into her hand.
Five gold rings on every finger,
Like an angel she did stand.
is found in several Scottish versions and differs from the Irish versions collected by Campbell. In the Irish tradition the Spanish lady is washing her hair. The Irish versions are closer to the original bawdy text (see main headnotes Spanish Lady). Campbell's poem and Hughes' arrangement have been combined in different ways in tradition but both songs have no stanzas of Madam and are different songs.
The mysterious Spanish lady appears in both Oh No John and No Sir as the reason the Spanish Lady always says, "No." Here is Sharp's sanitized version of "Oh No, John[6]":
Oh No John
1. On yonder hill there stands a creature,
Who she is I do not know
I will court her for her beauty,
She must answer yes or no
Oh no John, No John, No John, No!
2. My father was a Spanish Captain,
Went to sea a month ago
First he kissed me, then he left me,
Bid me always answer no
Oh no John, No John, No John, No!
3. Oh madam in your face is beauty,
On your lips red roses grow
Will you take me for your lover,
Madam answer yes or no
Oh no John, No John, No John, No!
4. Oh madam I will give you jewels,
I will make you rich and free
I will give you silken dresses,
Madam will you marry me?
Oh no John, No John, No John, No!
5. Oh madam since you are so cruel,
And that you do scorn me so
If I may not be your lover,
Madam will you let me go?
Oh no John, No John, No John, No!
6. Then I will stay with you forever,
If you will not be unkind
Madam I have vowed to love you,
Would you have me change my mind?
Oh no John, No John, No John, No!
7. Oh hark, I hear the churchbells ringing,
Will you come and be my wife?
Or dear madam, have you settled,
To live single all your life?
Oh no John, No John, No John, No!
The printed version of No Sir by Mary Wakefield has a similar stanza. Here's Wakefield's print text of "No Sir" from: "Songs and Ballads: 96 Songs - Words and Music W.F. Shaw," c. 1881, dated 1882. It's also found in Shaw's "Gems of Minstrel Song" also dated 1882 and later in Delaney's Song book (New York).
No Sir!
Words and Music Arr. by A. M. Wakefield
1. Tell me one thing, tell me truly,
Tell me why you scorn me so?
Tell me why when asked a question,
You will always answer no?
CHORUS: No sir! No sir! No sir! No-- sir!
No sir! No sir! No sir! No.
2. My father was a Spanish merchant
And before he went to sea,
He told me to be sure and answer No!
To all you said to me.
CHORUS
3. If I was walking in the garden,
Plucking flow'rs all wet with dew,
Tell me will you be offended,
If I walk and talk with you?
CHORUS
4. If when walking in the garden,
I should ask you to be mine,
and should tell you that I loved you,
would you then my heart decline?
CHORUS
Wakefield, a native of Kendal, UK took her version from an American governess working in the UK and arranged it. Her reworked traditional version entered tradition itself and was collected a number of times[7]. Wakefield's arrangement has no stanzas in common with Madam and therefore is a different song. Sharps composite has the same first stanza as Madam but after that it too is a different song. These two popular versions are different from some version which do have stanzas of Madam:
No John No! sung by James Beale of Warehorn, Kent on September 23, 1908 collected by Sharp.
On yonder's hill there lives a maiden
Who she is I do not know
But I'll go and court her for her beauty
Whether she answers me yes or no
No John no, no John, no John, no John, no.
Madam I am come for to court you
Whether your favour I can gain
Come and set yourself down alongside of me
Fear I should never see you again
No John etc.
Only the first two stanzas of Beale's version are given in the above excerpt as they show the relationship with Madam. The following version from the US demonstrates a full version of Madam with a "No" chorus:
Uh, uh, No- sung by Lannis Sutton of Doxie, Oklahoma. Collected by Sam Eskin on January 14, 1951.
Madam, I have come for to court you
Your affection for to gain,
If you'll give me good attention,
Perhaps I'll come twice more again."
CHORUS: "Uh-uh no, no sir no,
All her answers to me were no."
"Madam I've got gold and silver,
Madam I have a house and land
Madam I have a world of plenty,
It'll be yours at your command."
CHORUS: "Uh-uh no, no sir no,
All her answers to me were no."
What care I for your gold and silver,
What care I for your house and land
What care I for your world of plenty,
All I want is a handsome man."
CHORUS: "Uh-uh no, no sir no,
All her answers to me were no."
Madam you want for to dote on beauty,
Beauty is a thing that'll fade away,
Gather a red rose in the morning,
Then by noon it'll fade away.
CHORUS: "Uh-uh no, no sir no,
All her answers to me were no."
The ripest apple will soon grow rotten
The warmest love will soon grow cold
A young man's promise is soon forgotten
Pray little miss, don't be so bold.
CHORUS: "Uh-uh no, no sir no,
All her answers to me were no."
The Texas boys they ain't the fellers
They don't know how to court the girls,
Turn their backs and hide their faces
That ain't the way of the big wide world.
CHORUS: "Uh-uh no, no sir no,
All her answers to me were no."
But the Arkansas they're the fellers
They know how to court a girl,
Hug them a lot and kiss them a-plenty
This is the pretty way of the world.
CHORUS: "Uh-uh no, no sir no,
All her answers to me were no."
The last stanzas are taken from Johnson Boys, an old Appalachian ballad which begins, "Johnson Boys were raised in ashes/ Don't know how to court a maid/ Turn their backs and hide their faces/Sight of a pretty girl makes 'em afraid." The following Shropshire version of Madam features a "No" twist at the end but this time from the male wooer. It was published in 1885[8]:
"The Disdainful Lady." Sung by Harriet Dowley, of Edgmond, who knew no title to it.
Yonder stands a comely creature
With her breast as white as snow,
I'll go court her for her feature,
Though her answer'll perhaps be no.
"Madam, I am com'n a-courting,
If your favour I can gain,
And if you will entertain me,
Perhaps that I may come again."
"Sit you down, young man, you're welcome,
If your face I see no more,
For I will have a handsome young man,
Whether he be rich or poor."
"Madam, I've got gold and silver,
Madam, I've got house and land,
Madam, I've got great stores of riches,
They all shall be at your command."
"What care I for gold and silver
What care I for your house and land,
What care I for your your treasures,
If I can have but a handsome man?"
"Madam, you talk much of beauty,
It's a flower that soon decays,
The finest flower in the summer,
It doth soonest fade away.
The ripest apple's soonest rotten,
The hottest love is soonest cold,
A young man's word is soon forgotten,
So, pretty maid, don't be so bold.
"But fare you well, my dearest creature,
Since I have no more to say."
"O turn again, young man, I'll have you!"
But his answer was, "Nay, nay."
* * * *
"Madam" has been adapted as a children's nursery song[9] and has been used in children's ring games. The following seven examples are from "Dictionary of British Folk-lore, Volume 1" edited by G. Laurence Gomme, 1894:
I. There stands a lady on the mountain,
Who she is I do not know;
All she wants is gold and silver,
All she wants is a nice young man.
Choose one, choose two, choose the fairest one of the two.
The fairest one that I can see,
Is pretty, walk with me.
—Barnes, Surrey (A. B. Gomme).
II. There lives a lady on the mountain,
Who she is I do not know;
All she wants is gold and silver,
All she wants is a nice young man.
Choose one, choose two,
Choose the fairest of the few.
Now you're married I wish you joy,
Father and mother you must obey;
Love one another like sister and brother,
And pray, young couple, come kiss one another.
—Colchester (Miss G. M. Frances).
III. Here stands a lady on a mountain,
Who she is I do not know;
All she wants is gold and silver,
All she wants is a nice young man.
Choose you east, and choose you west,
Choose you the one as you love best.
Now Sally's got married we wish her good joy,
First a girl and then a boy;
Twelve months a'ter a son and da'ter,
Pray young couple, kiss together.
—Berrington (Shropshire Folk-lore, pp. 509, 510).
IV. Stands a lady on the mountain,
Who she is I do not know;
All she wants is gold and silver,
All she wants is a nice young beau.
Take her by the lily-white hand,
Lead her across the water;
Give her kisses, one, two, three,
For she is her mother's daughter.
—Shipley, Horsham (Notes and Queries, 8th series, i. 210, Miss Husk).
V. There stands a lady on a mountain,
Who she is I do not know;
All she wants is gold and silver,
All she wants is a nice young man.
Now she's married I wish her joy,
First a girl and then a boy;
Seven years after son and daughter,
Pray young couple kiss together.
Kiss her once, kiss her twice,
Kiss her three times three.
—Wrotham, Kent (Miss D. Kimball).
VI. There stands a lady on the ocean [mountain],
Who she is I do not know her;
All she wants is gold or silver,
All she wants is a nice young man.
Choose once, choose twice,
Choose three times over.
Now you're married I wish you joy,
First a girl and then a boy;
Seven years old a son and daughter,
Play and cuddle and kiss together.
Kiss her once, kiss her twice,
Kiss her three times over. —Deptford (Miss Chase).
VII. There stands a lady on the mountain,
Who she is I do not know:
Oh! she wants such gold and silver!
Oh! she wants such a nice young man!
Now you're married I wish you joy,
First a girl and then a boy;
Seven years after a son and a daughter,
Kiss your bride and come out of the ring.
—Berkshire (Miss Thoyts, Antiquary, xxvii. 254).
These ring games are similar to the plough plays and ancient mummer's wooing plays from the Eastern Midlands. A number of plough plays have been collected in England (Plough Jagg’s Play: Bassingham - 1952, E.H.Rudkin) and North America (Kentucky 1930, see: Marie Campbell's "Survivals of Old Folk Drama in the Kentucky Mountains," JAFL, 1938). For more information see: 8C. On a Mountain Stands a Lady.
* * * *
The earliest versions of Madam in Scotland were collected in Aberdeenshire by Grieg and Duncan in the early 1900s but date back to the mid-to-late 1800s. These are version of Spanish Lady I which open with one or two stanzas of Spanish Lady then are followed by stanzas of Madam. A much different variant, similar to the "Over Yonder Mountain" children's songs, was collected from the Blairgowrie branch of the Stewart family in the 1950s:
Ower Yon Hill There Lives a Lassie- sung by Belle Stewart (1906-1997) of Blairgowrie , Perthsire in 1955. Learned from her older brother, who got it from an uncle in Perth.
Ower yon hill there lives a lassie
But her name I do not know.
And this nicht I will go an' see her,
Whether she be high or low.
Lassie I hae come to see thee,
Bur perhaps it is in vain,
But if you will kindly entertain me,
Sure maybe I'll call back again.
Oh Lassie I have got gold and silver,
Lassie I have got diamond stone
Lassie I have got the ships on the ocean,
And they'll be yours love if you'll be mine.
What care I for your gold and silver?
What care I for your diamond stone?
What care I for your ships on the ocean?
Sure all I want is a good young man.
* * * *
Some rare versions in Ireland and Scotland feature the maid rejecting the wooer for a sailor with his tarry trousers on. The sailor has left her[10] which is similar to the 1776 English broadside and also the Died for Love songs. "Tarry trousers" refers to the sailor's practice of waterproofing their trousers with tar. Here's the chorus of Ethel Findlater's version learned in Orkney about 1914:
Oh, dear Oh, if I had a sailor,
Oh, dear Oh, if I had but one;
Oh, dear Oh, if I had a sailor,
With his tarry trousers on.
The maid wishes she has a sailor instead of the old man courting her. In an Irish version title Tarry Trousers published by Sam Henry in 1934 she rejects the suitor for her sailor boy:
My love wears the tarry trousers,
My love wears the jacket blue,
My love ploughs the deep blue ocean,
So, young man, be off with you.
In 1906 Cecil Sharp collected a version of Madam title "Ripest Apples" that was sung by William Davis of Porlock Weir, Somerset on 7 September, 1906 (Cecil Sharp Manuscript Collection at Clare College, Cambridge; CJS2/9/1125):
Ripest Apples
Ripest apples soon does a rotten
Young woman's beauty soon does decay,
You pick a flower all in the morning
Until at night it withers away.
Madam I'm a come a-courting
O madam I have house and land;
If I don't follow a world full of treasure
If I could only get a handsome man
So I tucked her up in that very Live chamber
And there we laid all on the bed
And there we laid all cuddled together
And the very next morning, I made her my bride.
This short corrupt version only has one standard stanza and half of the standard "Ripest apple" stanza. Davis last stanzas is similar to some variants of "Oh No John." In 1911 another version of "Madam" was titled after the Ripest Apple stanza. It was collected from a Hampshire gypsy by Alice Gillington in her book of gypsy songs titled, "Songs of the Open Road." Here's the text:
Ripe is the Apple Love
Ripe is the apple love, that soon will be rotten, love,
Hot is the love that will soon be cold,
Young man's beauty will soon be forgotten,
Maids take care be not too bold.
"O madam, O madam, I have gold and silver,
Madam, O madam, I have houses and land;
Madam, O madam, I've a world of treasure,
And to be at your command!"
What care I for the world of treasure,
What care I for the houses and land?
What care I for rings and silver,
So all I gain is a handsome man?
Handsome men are out of fashion!
Young women's beauty will not stay!
like the fairest flower in the midst of summer
It will die and fade away.
The "Ripest Apple" stanza is not present in some versions of "Madam" and usually when it is present it's an end stanza which is part of the wooer's dialogue describing the transient nature of beauty. Several recent UK versions have been titled Ripest Apple and according to Steve Gardham[11] this became the Roud 542 master title.
* * * *
One way to learn standard British traditional versions from the early 1800s is to study the versions that were collected in the 1930s in the British colony Tristan da Cunha. Version A in Munch's "Song Tradition of Tristan da Cunha (1970) appears:
"Yonder stands a handsome creature," sung by Henry Green of Tristan da Cunha about 1938.
1. Yonder stand a handsome woman,
What's her name I do not know,
But I'll go and court her for her beauty
Whether she be rich or no.
2. "Maiden, I am coming for to court you,
If you' favour I can gain;
But you kindly incontain[12] me,
P'rhaps that I may come back again."
3. "You may go home, kind Sir, you're welcome,
P'rhaps your face I'll never see more,
But all I want is a handsome young man,
Whether he be rich or poor."
4. "Maiden, I got gold and silver,
Maiden, I got houses and land,
Maiden, I got rings and jewelry,
All shall be at your command."
5. "What care I for your gold and silver
What care I for your houses and land,
What care I for your rings and jewelry,
All I want is a handsome man."
6. "Maiden, you talk much of beauty,
Beauty is a flower that soon will decay;
The fairest flower that blooms in summer
Only bloom to die away."
The similarity of this version from Tristan da Cunha and the mid-1700s prints is obvious. "Madam, I Have/Am Come to Court You" is a ballad in dialogue form that is presumed to have originated from the archaic Mummer's wooing plays of the 1500s. No evidence of Madam in a play has been found until the 1800s and 1900s plough plays which are similar to the children's ring games reported in the UK in the late 1800s. Stanzas of Madam have been attached to the opening of The Spanish Lady, originally a bawdy English song of c.1770. The reworded opening with Spanish Lady has not been found in print but is assumed to have taken place by the early 1800s. Versions with the two Spanish Lady opening stanzas have been collected in England Ireland and especially Scotland in the early 1900s but surely date back at least to the mid-1800s. For information about Spanish Lady see: 8E. The Spanish Lady.
The influence of Madam is apparent in the various appendices that are similar to, or based on, the ballad.
R. Matteson 2017]
________________________________________
Footnotes:
1. Whether Madam is a ballad is questionable since the ballad story is limited to a short dialogue and a 3rd person narrative ending. The origin is likely a dialogue from an earlier wooing play.
2. The last stanza of "A New Song" is one such version.
3. "Madam, I am Come a-Wooing (Courting)" is my preferred titled since it quickly identifies the ballad (song).
4. According to Steve Gardham, "The Ripest Apple" is also the title for Roud 542. The title first appeared in a Sharp MS from 1906 and was followed by Gillington's gypsy version "Ripe is the Apple, Love" from Hampshire which was published in 1911.
5. The earliest printed text is c.1770 from "The Frisky Songster," no title.
6. Sharp's version is a compilation from several versions which has left off the "garter" stanza and other questionable text.
7. No Sir was published in several New York song collections and entered tradition. One example of a cover version is Wolford's 1917 version published in her "The Play Party in Indiana."
8. From Shropshire Folk-lore, a Sheaf of Gleanings - Part 2, page 552, by Charlotte Sophia Burne, Georgina Frederica Jackson, 1885.
9. See: "Madam I Am Come to Court You" collected by Halliwell from tradition and published in 1846.
10. The sailor has not necessarily abandoned her but may simply have gone to sea.
11. This is from a private email sent to me in 2017.
12. Apparently corrupted from "entertain."
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CONTENTS: (To access individual texts click on the blue highlighted title below or on the title attached to this page on the left hand column)
1) The Lovely Creature- Dicey & Co (Lon) 1760 Print from British Library 11621 e 6, items 1 to 26, This songster is item 11, The Tom Tit Part 1, of 17 songs and this is the 4th song.
2) A New Song- broadside (Lon) c. 1776; "Yonder Sits a Handsome Creature." From British Library, item 1346 m 7, Broadsides 1 to 42, this being item 29, 3 songs of which this is the third
3) Madam I Am Come to Court You- (Lon) Halliwell 1846
4) Twenty, Eighteen- carpenter (Nor) 1871 Broadwood
5) Disdainful Lady- Harriet Dowley (Shrop) 1885 Burne
6) In Yonder Grove- George Cole (Dev) 1890 B. Gould
The Handsom' Woman- F.G. Baylay (Linc) 1899
Madam, I am Come For to Court You- (Hamp) 1905
Spanish Lady- J. W. Spence (Aber) 1905 Greig G
Ripest Apples- William Davis (Som) 1906 Sharp MS
Madam, I am come a-courting- Greening (Dor) 1906
Madam Madam I Come a Courting- Fortey (Dor) 1906
Haselbury Girl- Mrs. Balsh (Som) 1906 Sharp MS
Yonder Sits- Charles Chivers (Hants) 1906 Gardiner
London City- Margaret Gillespie (Glas) 1906 Greig
A Pretty Maiden- Mrs. Simms (Dor) 1906 Hammond
Edinburgh City- W. Wallace (Aber) 1907 Grieg D
London City- John Johnstone (Aber) 1907 Greig E
Madam, I am come a-courting- Russell (Dor) 1907
Yonder Sits a Fair Young Damsel- Randal (Ham) 1907
Yonder Stands a Lovely Creature- Cran (Sus) 1907
Spanish Lady- Bell Robertson (Aber) 1907 Greig I
No Sir, No- Emery Alfred (Som) 1908 Sharp MS
Spanish Lady- Mrs. Dunbar (Aber) 1908 Greig A
Spanish Lady- Cruickshank (Aber) 1908 Greig C
Dublin City- Georgina Reid (Aber) 1908 Greig F
First Come Lilies- Mrs. Fowlie (Aber) 1908 Greig H
Yonder Sits a Spanish Lady- Shepherd (Glou) 1909
Yonder Sits- Frank Harrington (Hants) 1909
Twenty, Eighteen- Fred Yeldham (Essex) 1911 Carrey
Ripe is the Apple, Love- (Hamp) 1911 Gillington
Madam I have come to court you- (Sus) 1914 Harma
Oh Dear, Oh- Ethel Findlater (Ork) c.1914 REC
March Away- David Sawyer (Wilts) 1916 Williams
Yonder Sits- Charles Tanner (Wilts) 1916 Williams
Tarry Trousers- (Col) 1934 Sam Henry
Yonder stands a handsome creature- Green (TC) 1938
Yonder Sits- Frances Repetto (TC) 1938 Munch B
I Come You a-Courting- Matt Linehan (Ker) c.1948
Ower Yon Hill There Lives a Lassie- Belle Stewart (Perth) 1955. Learned from her older brother, who got it from an uncle in Perth. From: Recording Collection at School of Scottish Studies; Track ID - 60117; Original Tape ID - SA1955.036.
Twenty, Eighteen- George Townsend (Sus) 1960
Galway City- Sean O'Boyle (Arm) 1965 Makem
Ripest Apples- Joe Cooper (Kent) 1966 Yates
Ripest Apples- Joe Jones (Kent) c.1972 Yates
Ettrick Lady- The Corries (Edin) 1975 REC
Ripest Apples- Mabs Hall (Sus) 1987 Yates
_______________________________________
Miscellaneous Notes/ some versions
The earliest Ripest Apples title of Madam:
"Ripest Apples," sung by William Davis of Porlock Weir, Somerset on 7 September 1906. Cecil Sharp Manuscript Collection (at Clare College, Cambridge) (CJS2/9/1125)
Ripest Apples
Ripest apples soon does a rotten
Young woman's beauty soon does a gay,
You pick a flower all in the morning
Until at night it withers away.
Madam I'm a come a-courting
O madam I have house and land;
If I don't follow a world full of treasure
If I could only get a handsome man
So I tucked her up in that very Live chamber
And there we laid all on the bed
And there we laid all cuddled together
And the very next morning, I made her my bride.
----------------------------------
Tune: In Gay's ballad opera of Achilles, 1733, it is called “Come open the Door, sweet Betty,” and in Flora, 1730, it is called “Ranting
No. CVI. COME OPEN THE DOOR, SWEET BETTY, or, RANTING ROARING BILLY. This is the air referred to in Ritson’s Northumberland Garland, as the one to which “ The Midford Galloway's Ramble” is to be sung. In Gay’s ballad opera of Achilles, 1733, it is called “ Come open the Door, sweet Betty,” and in Flora, 1730, it is called “ Ranting roaring Billy.” The Scotch have a tune called “ Rattlin roaring Willie,” which bears no resemblance to this tune.
The tune also appeared in four later ballad operas: The Highland fair (1731); Achilles (1733); The Decoy (1733); and The Whim (1734). it is subsequently found in several scottish tune collections. PB's text would seem to be a version (close) of
-----------------
In the Pepys Collection, iii. 62, and in the Roxburghe, ii. 238, are copies of this ballad, entitled "John's Earnest Request; or, Betty's compassionate love extended to him in a time of distress: to a pleasant new tune much in request." Printed for P. Brooksby, at the Golden Ball in Pye Corner. It consists of nine stanzas, the first of w hich begins :—
"Come, open the door, sweet Betty,
For 'tis a cold winter's night;
It rains and it blows and it thunders,
And the moon it does give no light," &c.
"Come, open the door, sweet Betty," appears in the first part of a tune called Tom Nokes' Jigg? The time is different; it is quick, and in \ measure; but evidently one is founded upon the other, or perhaps both are from the same root. It is to be found in the first edition of Apollo's Banquet, 1669, and is as follows :—
----------------
"Yonder Sits a Spanish lady," 1 January, 1908; Mr. Lane at Winchcombe.
YONDER SITS A SPANISH LADY- Grainger- Cylinder Number: noted Singer: Mr Shepherd Date: 1.1.08 Place: Winchcombe Workhouse, Gloucestershire Comments: [Words and music noted and sent to Grainger by Miss Sheila Rathbone of Stanton,
Yonder Sits a Spanish lady, 1 January 1908 Mr Lane at Winchcombe workhouse,
Lore and Language - Volumes 4-5 - Page 78; 1985
The other begins: Yonder sits a spanish lady Who she is I do not know I'll go and court her for her beauty Whether she answers Yes or No. Verses three and four of this version give the following exchange: Madam I have rings and jewels
----------------------
Steve Gardham's comment echoes the comments by Baskervill, "I have a theory that 'Madam, Madam' is one of those rare beasts that did not first appear in print. It is typical of the dialogues that were performed on village stages in costume in rural England and this could have been its origin, like a few others of similar type, some dating back several centuries[]."
------------------------------
Journal of the Welsh Folk-Song Society: Cylchgrawn Cymdeithas Alawon ...
https://books.google.com/books?id=j1svAQAAIAAJ
Welsh Folk-Song Society - 1948 - Snippet view - More editions
Variants are found in children's game-songs, e.g., 'Lady on the Mountain,' 'Madam I am come to court you.' 'Yonder stands a lovely creature,' &c, and in the old Ranters' tune, 'Where is now the prophet Daniel?' or the 'Hebrew children' printed
-----------------------------------------
Mudcat
Jon Freeman: Interesting Dave. I learned the chorus (from someone called Dave Baird, a Scotsman who used to sing in a couple of N Wales pub) in reverse order, sort of:
Nineteen, seventeen, fifteen, thirteen,
Eleven, nine and seven, and five, three one.
Twenty, eighteen, sixteen, fourteen,
Twelve, ten, eight, six four, two, none;
Then the extra.
Round and round go the wheels of fortune,
Round and round till it wearies me.
Young women's hearts are so uncertain
Sad experience teaches me.
Edited By Jon Freeman - 17/03/2003
-------------
Five English Folk Songs
from Journal of the English Folk Dance and Song Society,
Vol. 1, No. 3 (Dec., 1934), pp. 130-137
TWENTY, EIGHTEEN
[MADAM, I HAVE COME TO COURT YOU.]
Sung by FRED YELDHAM,
July 12th, 1991, and on Oct. 5th, 1911 by Mrs. Hollingsworth, Thaxted. Noted by CLIVE CARREY.
1. As I walked through London city
After twelve o'clock at night,
There I saw a Spanish lady
Washing and ironing by candle light.
Fal the ral the riddle al the ray-do,
Fal the ral the rid-dle all the day,
Fal the ral the rid-dle all the ray-do,
Fal lal la the rid-dle all the day.
Twenty, eighteen, sixteen, fourteen, twelve, ten, eight, six, four, two, none;
Nine-teen, seventeen, fifteen, thirteen, eleven, nine, seven, five, three, and one.
* The small notes are Fred Yeldham's variants.
2. Madam I have come to court you
If your favour I should win;
If you make me kindly welcome
Then perhaps I'll come again.
Chorus, etc.
3. Madam I've got rings and jewels,
Madam I've got house and land,
Madam I've the world of treasure,
If you'll be at my command.
Chorus, etc.
4. What care I for your rings and jewels,
What care I for your house and land,
What care I for your world of treasure,
All I want is a handsome man.
Chorus, etc.
5. Madam you trust much in beauty,
Beauty dies and fades away.
The finest flower in the garden growing,
Summer goes it fades away.
Chorus, etc.
See F.S. Journal, vol. iv, pp. 294-5, for other versions of this tune to different words. The " twenty, eighteen " chorus seems extraneous to the well-known "Madam, I am come to court you" song, and perhaps properly belongs to the "Queen's Health" printed in the Journal as above cited, the numerical refrain, working backwards, possibly being a test of sobriety ! There is also a kind of marching-game," Green grow the leaves upon the hawthorn tree," which used to be known in Lancashire and which is printed in Miss Mason's Nursery Rhymes. Mr. Hammond also noted a version with a " twenty, nineteen" refrain. This ends with
five, four, three, And the burthen of my song goes merrily.
Miss Broadwood found a version of the Thaxted tune in the ballad-opera Achilles (I733) and I remember it as belonging to a Ranters' hymn " Where is now the prophet Daniel?" ("great Elijah," "Three Holy Children," etc.)-the answer being in each
case " Safe in the Promised Land." Cf. English County Songs, p. go.-A. G. G.
--------------------------------
Songs Collected from Sussex
Author(s): Ralph Vaughan Williams, Cecil J. Sharp, G. S. K. Butterworth, Frank Kidson, A.
G. Gilchrist and Lucy E. Broadwood
Source:
Journal of the Folk-Song Society,
Vol. 4, No. 17 (Jan., 1913), pp. 279-324
Published by: English Folk Dance + Song Society
7.-THE QUEEN'S HEALTH.
SUNG BY AIR. G. KNIGHT,
Noted by George Butterworth. HORSHAM, APRIL, 1907.
See and view this glass of li - quor, How in - vit - ing
it does look, It makes the law - yer prat - tle quick - er,
And a schol - ar burn his book.
Twen - ty, eight - een, six - teen, four - teen,
twelve, ten, eight, six, four, two, none, nine - teen, seven - teen,
fif - teen, thir teen, 'leven, nine, seven, five, three and on.0.
2 It makes a dead horse try to caper,
And a dumb man try to sing,
It makes a coward draw his baton,
So here's a health to our Good Queen.
Twenty, eighteen, etc.
Opinion is divided as to whether this is a Dorian tune or an " everlasting" tune in the Ionian (or major) mode.
This is surely a favourite old Irish tune. Wedded to new words about " Sheela
of the Silver Eye " it became extremely popular again in one form, a few years ago,
owing to the singing of Mr. Plunket Greene. The earliest printed version that I
know is in the scarce ballad-opera of " Achilles " (I733). It is worth comparing
with the traditional " health," which probably was sung before Queen Victoria's
accession seeing that " sing" should rhyme with " king."-L. E. B.
AIR XXV FROM THE BALLAD OPERA OF ACHILLES, (I733).
As I WALKED ALONG FLEET STREET."
[music missing]
This looks like a variant of a "Madam, I am come to court you" tune. Cf.
"Twenty, Eighteen " in English County Songs, and see note on " Yonder stands a
lovely creature," No. 9, in this Sussex collection. I should say the "d" at the
end was a relic of the Dorian form of the tune, seen in the Welsh variant "Llanilar."
Cf. also with the following "Ranters' " hymn-tune, sung to words beginning " Where
is now the prophet Daniel?" (The first part is an early memory, and the second
noted from a friend's singing). It is one of a class of lively popular tunes which seem
to have been freely used or adapted by American evangelists of fifty years ago. I
recollect another which has a strong likeness to " John Peel."--A. G. G.
------------------------------------
Songs Collected from Sussex
by Ralph Vaughan Williams, Cecil J. Sharp, G. S. K. Butterworth, Frank Kidson, A.
G. Gilchrist and Lucy E. Broadwood
Source: Journal of the Folk-Song Society,
Vol. 4, No. 17 (Jan., 1913), pp. 279-324
9.-YONDER STANDS A LOVELY CREATURE.
FIRST VERSION.
Noted by Francis Jekyll. SUNG BY MR. MARTIN,
MIXOLYDIAN. FLETCHING, FEB., 1909.
Yon - der stands a love ly crea ture,
Who she is I do not know;
I'll go and court her for her beauty,
Let her answer yes or no.
SECOND VERSION.
SUNG BY MR. HEYGATE,
Noted by Francis Jekyll. RUsPER, Nov., I9IO.
2 Madam I am come to court you,
If your favour I should gain.
First your hand, love, then your welcome,
Perhaps that I'll not come again."
3 Welcome in, you're kindly welcome,
Welcome in, you're welcome wine.
I had a lovier, a false lovier,
He it was stole this heart of mine."
4 Madam, I have gold and silver,
Madam, I have house and land:
Madam, I have the world of pleasure,
All to be at your command."
5 What care I for your gold or silver,
What care I for house and land?
What care I for the world of pleasure,
So long as I've got a nice young man?
6 "Ripest apples soon gets rotten,
Hottest love it soon gets cold;
Young men's words are soon forgotten,
So I pray, young man, don't speak too bold."
7 I once laid my head on a young man's pillow,
Thinking it might be my own:
Now I'm left to wear the willow,
By experience it is well known.
8 After nettles then come roses,
After night then in comes day:
After a false love then comes a true love,
So we pass our time away.
The words were supplied by Mrs. Cranstone.-G. S. K. B.
The following tune comes from the collection of the late Mr. Hammond.
SUNG BY MRS. GREENING,
Noted by H. E. D. Hanmmond. CUCKOLDS CORNER (DORSET).
Pretty maid walking in the garden who she is I do not kniow,
I'll go court her for her beau - ty let the answ - er be yes or no,
do not know, do not know, who she is I do not know.
yes or no, yes or no, let her answ - er be yes or no.
Also the following.
Noted by H. E. D. Hammond. SUNG BY MRS. E. SIMMs.
ELOLIA N. UPLODERS (DORSET),
-R.V.W.
Miss Gillington prints in her Songs of the Open Road a version obtained from gypsies
(wvords and tune) as " Ripe it is the apple, love." Cf. Mr. Hammond's first tune
with a " Welsh air " which appears as a hymn-tune in the Welsh Calvinistic-Methodist
hymn-book. I have already pointed out (Jorynal, Vol. iii, p. 267) the resemblance
of his second tune to another Welsh traditional air, " Llanilar."
PENIEL.
ALAW GYMREIG=WELSH AIR,
FROi Lly/r Hyrnnau a Th6nau y Methodistiaid Calfinaidd, I897.
gF-~~~~~ I- IE-1 1 ? z: 1 'ALI
_ L - -
As regards these twvo Welsh tunes, it may be pointed out that they fit a metrical
form characteristic of Celtic poetry-early Irish as wNell as Welsh-represented in
English verse by " Yonder stands a lovely creature," the original type of which,
according to Kuno Meyer (Ancient Irish Poetry, Intro., p. xiii) is the " catalectic
trochaic tetrameter " of Latin poetry, exemplified in the popular song of Caesar's soldiers
Caesar Gallias subegit
Nicomedes Caxsarem,
Ecce Caesar nunc triumphat
qui subegit Gallias.
and also in the hymn of St. Hilary "in laudem Christi," which, like the tetrameter quoted, might quite well be sung to the Welsh "Llanilar " or " Peniel" (with repetitions) or to any of the four "Lovely Creature" tunes printed above. The song itself bears traces, I think, of a cultured origin, and may have been a minstrel song. "William Taylor" is the only other instance I recall of the employment of this metrical form in English folk-song, though it is found in the west-country carol "God's dear Son without beginning" (in Rimbault's collection)--which may have had a Latin original.
A scrap of the song, with tune, is used in the children's traditional courtship game,
"Lady on the Mountain."-A. G. G.
See " Twenty, eighteen " in English County Songs, and " The [Lincolnshire] Handsome Woman" in Ballad Society's Roxburghe Ballads, Vol. viii, Pt. xxvi, p. 852.
The song is used in " convivial" meetings as a test of sobriety, I have been told. -L. E. B.
SUNG BY MIRS. BALSH (66),
[music missing]
Noted by Cecil J. Sharp. AT UBLEY, SOMERSET, APRIL 23RD, I906.
Answered No! An - swered No! 0 the fair maid an - swered No!
SUNG BY JAMES BEALE (72),
[music missing]
Noted by Cecil J. Sharp. AT WAREHORNE, KENT, SEPT. 23RD, 1908.
Yes or No.
No... John, No, No John, No John, No John, No.
-----------------------------
similar text-- seven years
Travellers' Songs from England and Scotland - Page 132
https://books.google.com/books?isbn=1317292278
Ewan Maccoll, Peggy Seeger - 2015 - Preview - More editions
5. O, what do I care for your high, high castle?
What do I care for your lilies white?
What do I care for your gold or silver
If my own dear Bill was here tonight?
6. He put his hands into his pocket,
His fingers being long and small; He pulled out a ring which they'd broke between them,
When she saw that she dropped down.
---------------
A Parish of Two, Page 1903
By Henry Goelet McVickar, Price Collier
That's my condition exactly, so no words of wisdom from you or any one else will keep me from enjoying to the full this one wee holiday.
I was out walking this morning, and I heard a negro wench singing; here is the refrain: —
"What do I care for your words of wisdom?
What do I care for your house and Ian'?
What do I care for your gold and silver?
What I want is a han'some man."
-------------------
Ripest Apples
Roud Folksong Index (S339230)
First Line: Pretty maiden, pretty msiden, I've come to court you
Source: Stephen Sedley Sound Collection (Vaughan Williams Memorial Library, London) 17 CDA Tape Collection
Performer: Cooper, Joe
Date: 1966 (19 Aprl)
Place: England : Kent : Biggin Hill
Collector: Sedley, Stephen
Ripest Apples
Roud Folksong Index (S159463)
First Line: Ripest apples soon does a-rotten
Source: Karpeles, Cecil Sharp Collection 1 p.449
Performer: Davis, William
Date: 1906 (7 Sep)
Place: England : Somerset : Porlock Weir
Collector: Sharp, Cecil J.
Roud No: 542
Subjects: Ripest apples : Madam I have come courting
Madam, Madam
Roud Folksong Index (S153697)
First Line: Maiden walking in her garden
Source: Brocklebank & Kindersley, Dorset Book of Folk Songs p.25 (Version b)
Performer: Simonds, Elizabeth
Date:
Place: England : Dorset : Uploders
Collector: Hammond, H.E.D.
Roud No: 542
Subjects: Madam : Courting : Gold & silver : House & land : Must have handsome man
Madam, Madam
Roud Folksong Index (S153696)
First Line: Madam, madam, I'm come a-courting
Source: Brocklebank & Kindersley, Dorset Book of Folk Songs p.24 (Version a)
Performer: Forsey, Mrs.
Date:
Place: England : Dorset : Watton
Collector: Hammond, H.E.D.
Roud No: 542
Subjects: Madam : Courting : Must have handsome man : Handsome out of fashion
Yonder Stands a Lovely Creature
Roud Folksong Index (S166304)
First Line:
Source: Journal of the Folk-Song Society 4 (1913) pp.297-300 (version b)
Performer: Heygate, Mr.
Date: 1910 (Nov)
Place: England : Sussex : Rusper
Collector: Jekyll, Francis
Roud No: 542
--------------------
Notes --Munch, Song Tradition of Tristan da Cunha (1970)
Yonder; Or, Oh No John
Roud Folksong Index (S195893)
First Line: Yonder sits a handsome lady
Source: Munch, Song Tradition of Tristan da Cunha (1970) pp.90-93 (version b)
Performer: Repetto, Frances
Date: 1937-1938
Place: Tristan da Cunha
Collector: Munch, Peter
Yonder or
Oh No, John
Text: A, Henry Green;
B, Frances Repetto;
C, Frances Repetto (stanzas 1-4, in writing); Mary Swain (stanza 5).
Tune: A/B, Henry Green, Frances Repetto;
C, Alice Swain (Glass).
Cf. "Oh, No, No, Sir, No"( Korson, 1949, p. 50 f.), which shows that there is a traditional connection between versions A and B on the one hand and version C on
the other. Numerous other versions have been recorded and published from various
parts of England and North America.
Stanza 5 of version C is obviously a secondary addition. It was not included by
either Frances Repetto or Alice Swain and was generally treated as a separate ditty.
Alice Swain sang the refrain of version C:
No, John, no, John, etc.
Versions A and B were rendered by Henry Green and Frances Repetto,
respectively, in the same authentic Mixolydian mode:
----------------------------------
Madam I am Come to Court You
Roud Folksong Index (S276706)
First Line: Madam I am come to court you
Source: Kidson, Eighty Singing Games [n.d.] p.84
-------------------------
Henry Hammond Manuscript Collection (HAM/3/19/5)
Madam, I Come a Courting
First Line: A pretty maiden in her garden,
But her name I do not know
I'll go and court her for her beauty;
Let the answer be yes or no.
---------------
Title - Ower Yon Hill there Lives a Lassie
Contributors - Belle Stewart
Reporters - Dr Margaret Bennett; Prof. Thomas Burton
Summary - A man promises a girl riches if she will be his, but all she wants is a good young man.
Track Duration (h:m:s) - 00:01:31
Date Recorded - 1988.06.04
Language - English
Genre - Song
Collection - School of Scottish Studies
Track ID - 85693
Original Tape ID - SA1988.027
Original Track ID - SA1988.027
Audio Quality - Good
Audio Format - R2R
Classification - GD1588; R2603;
--------------------
Ower Yon Hill There Lives a Lassie- sung by Belle Stewart (1906-1997) of Blairgowrie , Perthsire in 1955. Learned from her older brother, who got it from an uncle in Perth.
Ower yon hill there lives a lassie
But her name I do not know.
And this nicht I will go an' see her,
Whether she be high or low.
Lassie I hae come to see thee,
Bur perhaps it is in vain,
But if you will kindly entertain me,
Sure maybe I'll call back again.
Oh Lassie I have got gold and silver,
Lassie I have got diamond stone
Lassie I have got the ships on the ocean,
And they'll be yours love if you'll be mine.
What care I for your gold and silver?
What care I for your diamond stone?
What care I for your ships on the ocean?
Sure all I want is a good young man.
Roud 5121
Ower yon hill there lives a lassie
And her name I do not know.
But this nicht I'll go and see her,
Whether she be high or low.
Lassie I hae come to see thee,
Bur perhaps it is in vain,
But if you'll kindly entertain me,
Maybe I'll call back again.
Lassie I hae got gold and silver,
Lassie I hae got diamond stones
Lassie I hae got ships on the ocean,
They'll be yours love if you'll be mine.
What care I for your gold and silver?
What care I for your diamond stones?
What care I for your ships on the ocean?
When all I want is a fine young man.
itle - The Wheels of Fortune
Contributors - Alexander Harley
Reporters - Hamish Henderson
Summary - A suitor offers wealth if a young woman will go with him, but she rejects all his material possessions, saying all she wants is a good young man.
Eck Harley compiled the verses from various versions, but the chorus is his own.
Track Duration (h:m:s) - 00:02:20
Date Recorded - 1981.09.12
Language - English
Genre - Song, Information
Collection - School of Scottish Studies
Track ID - 85365
Original Tape ID - SA1981.093
Original Track ID - SA1981.093
Audio Quality - Good
Audio Format - R2R
---------------
[one of the Stewart Family versions same as Belle Stewart's]
The Stewarts Of Blair
Ower Yon Hill There Lives A Lassie
And her name I do not know,
But if you
maybe
http://www.instamp3.me/download/the-stewarts-of-blair-ower-yon-hill-there-lives-a-lassie.html
---------------
This is traditionally sung acappella.
VERSION 1: as sung by Natalie Merchant & Michael Stipe
[He] On yonder hill, there lives a lassie and her name I do not know.
[He] One fine day, I'm going to find her,
whether she be rich or poor.
CHORUS:
[She] 'Round and 'round on the wheel of fortune;
[Both] 'Round and 'round on the wheel in me
[Both] Young women's hearts are so uncer
tain,
[Both] Sad experience teaches me.
[He] 19, 17, 15, 13, 11, 9, 7, and a 5, 3, 1
[She] 20, 18, 16, 14, 12, 10, 8, 6, 4, 2, none.
[He] Lassie, I've got gold & silver; lassie, I've got gooses & land.
[He] Lassies, I've got ships on the ocean all to sa
il at your command.
CHORUS:
[Both] 'Round and 'round on the wheel of fortune;
[Both] 'Round and 'round turnthe wheel for me
[She] Young women's hearts are so uncertain,
[Both] Sad experience teaches me.
[She] 19, 17, 15, 13, 11, 9, 7, and a 5, 3, 1
[He
] 20, 18, 16, 14, 12, 10, 8, 6, 4, 2, none.
CHORUS:
[Both] 'Round and 'round on the wheel of fortune;
[Both] 'Round and 'round turn the wheel on me
[Both] Young women's hearts are so uncertain,
[Both] Sad experience teaches me.
[She] I don't want your
gold or silver, I don't want your gooses or land.
[She] I don't want your ships on the ocean, all I want's a good young man.
[He] 19, 17, 15, 13, 11, 9, 7, and a 5, 3, 1
[She] 20, 18, 16, 14, 12, 10, 8, 6, 4, 2, none.
CHORUS:
[Both] 'Round and 'round on
the wheel of fortune;
[Both] 'Round and 'round 'turn the wheel on me
[Both] Young women's hearts are so uncertain,
[Both] Sad experience teaches me.
VERSION 2: From Idir An Dá Sholas
---------------------
Shropshire Folk-lore, a Sheaf of Gleanings - Part 2, page 552, by Charlotte Sophia Burne, Georgina Frederica Jackson, 1885.
Burne's principal Shropshire singers were Jane Butler, Harriet Dowley, and Sally Withington.
"The Disdainful lady" Sung by Harriet Dowley, of Edgmond, who knew no title to it. I have not met with it in any collection, but the first stanza slightly resembles a game-rhyme given ante (p. 509), and one in Folio Lore Journal, Vol. I. p. 387.
Yonder stands a comely creature
With her breast as white as snow,
I'll go court her for her feature,
Though her answer'll perhaps be no.
'Madam, I am com'n a-courting,
If your favour I can gain,
And if you will entertain me,
Perhaps that I may come again.”
“Sit you down, young man, you're welcome,
If your face I see no more,
For I will have a handsome young man,
Whether he be rich or poor.
“Madam, I've got gold and silver,
Madam, I've got house and land,
Madam, I've got great stores of riches,
They all shall be at your command.”
“What care I for gold and silver
What care I for your house and land,
What care I for your your treasures,
If I can have but a handsome man?
Madam, you talk much of beauty,
It's a flower that soon decays,
The finest flower in the summer,
It doth soonest fade away. '
The ripest apple's soonest rotten,
The hottest love is soonest cold,
A young man's word is soon forgotten,
So, pretty maid, don't be so bold.
But fare you well, my dearest creature,
Since I have no more to say.
' O turn again, young man "I'll have you!"
But his answer was, ' Nay, nay '
------------------------
The nursery rhymes of England, ed. by J.O. Halliwell 1846
331.
“MADAM, I am come to court you,
If your favour I can gain.”
“Ah, ah!” said she, “you are a bold fellow,
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“Madam, I have rings and diamonds,
Madam, I have houses and land,
Madam, I have a world of treasure,
All shall be at your command.”
“I care not for rings and diamonds,
I care not for houses and lands,
I care not for a world of treasure,
So that I have but a handsome man.”
“Madam, you think much of beauty,
Beauty hasteneth to decay,
For the fairest of flowers that grow in summer
Will decay and fade away.”
----------------------
No! no! sung by Mrs. Wrighten, at Vauxhall
Corporate Authors: Eighteenth Century Collections Online
Format: Online Book
Language: English
Published: [London?, 1780?]
Online Access: Full text online
---------------
Marrow Bones - English Folk Songs From The Hammond And Gardiner Mss.
https://books.google.com/books?isbn=144654818X
Frank Purslow - 2013 - Preview - More editions
John Greening, Cuckold's Corner, Dorset May 1906 Tune b) Hammond D. 880. Mrs. Bowring, Cerne Abbas, Dorset. December 1907. Pretty maid walking in the garden, Who she is I do not know. I'll go court her for her beauty, Let the answer
Two versions from Dorset are given in 'Marrowbones' under the name 'No Sir No' (Hammond nos D 417 and D 880). The verses for them are given below.
Pretty maid walking in the garden,
Who she is I do not know,
I'll go court her for her beauty,
Let the answer be Yes! or No!
(Chorus)
O dear O! No! Sir No!
Still her answer to me was No!
Madam I am come a-couring,
Hoping your favour I shall gain
If you'll kindly entertain me,
Perhaps some day I'll call again.
My husband is a Spanish captain
Left me to mourn three weeks ago.
The very last time we kissed and parted
He told me - Always answer No!
Lady walking in the garden,
No aloner might you be
If I should wlak along beside you
Would that be any harm to thee?
Stooping down to tie her garter,
Just a little above her knee,
If my hand should slide any farther
Would that be any harm to theee?
So they lay all night together,
Till the cocks began to crow
Now the daylight is appearing
Open your arms and let me go.
There's one more thing I have to ask you
That's before I let you go,
Did you ever sleep more sweeter,
Was you ever cuddled so?
---------------
The Spanish Lady
[ Roud 542 ; G/D 4:746 ; Henry H532 ; Ballad Index E098 ; trad.]
Mary Cruickshank's version of The Spanish Lady was printed by Gavin Greig in the Buchan Observer on May 10, 1910, and is one of nine versions of this song in volume 4 of The Greig-Duncan Folk Song Collection. Katherine Campbell included it in 2009 in her book Songs from North-East Scotland.
Dominic Behan sang The Spanish Lady in 1959 on his Topic LP Down by the Liffeyside. The liner notes of the 1963 reissue commented:
Dominic writes [in the original album notes]: “Hamish Henderson tells me this was written by Joseph Campbell of Ulster. Fancy that now!”
In her traditional dress, the Spanish lady is sometimes encountered washing her feet, sometimes combing her hair, sometimes counting her cash (Alan Lomax thinks she might be a prostitute counting up her evening takings)—but always by the light of a candle and always in Dublin City. Yet who she is and how she got there we do not know; all we know is that she was very beautiful, and very exotic, and also inaccessible.
This is a treatment of a tune and theme common throughout the British tradition.
The Halliard (Nic Jones, Dave Moran, Nigel Patterson) sang The Spanish Lady in 1967 on their first album, It's the Irish in Me.
Paddie Bell sang The Spanish Lady in 1968 on her LP I Know Where I'm Going.
Al O'Donnell sang Spanish Lady in 1967 on a single on the Tribune label. This track was also included in the following year on the Tribune anthology Ballads for Drinking and the Crack. This video was recorded in New York City in 2009:
The Ripley Wayfarers sang Spanish Lady in 1971 on their Traditional Sound album Chips and Brown Sauce.
Frank Harte sang The Spanish Lady in 1973 on his Topic LP Through Dublin City. He commented in the album liner notes:
For too long this fine old Dublin song has been sung mainly by choral groups and concert sopranos. I remember the song from childhood and it has grown as I heard verses of it year after year. In some versions the last verse ends—
She had 20 18 16 14 12 10 8 6 4 2 none
She had 19 17 15 13 11 9 7 5 3 and 1,
meaning “she had the odds and the evens of it“—in other words she had everything.
[George Townshend sang this numerical chorus in his song Twenty, Eighteen, … which is a short two-verse version of Madam, I Have Come to Court You.]
Jimmy Hutchinsin sang The Spanish Lady on his 2000 Tradition Bearers CD Corachree. He commented in his liner notes:
Learned from the singing of Dominic Behan (a much under-rated singer) who again was one of the regular residents in the London Singers Club in the Sixties. I know nothing about this lovely song apart that it is from the streets of Dublin.
Ed Miller sang The Spanish Lady on his 2006 CD Never Frae My Mind.
Pete Coe sang The Spanish Lady in 2017 on his CD The Man in the Red Van. He commented in his liner notes:
This started as a tribute to the late Al O'Donnell, a great singer, player and influence on me back in the 60s. I'd learned this and other songs from him but then Mary O'Connor gave me additional verses learned from her mother and suggested I give the song a more reflective narrative treatment. The Spanish Lady may well have been ‘an obliging kind of girl’ but beyond this young man's pocket. A ‘Poddle swaddy’ is a local working class lad [from Poddle, a small river in Dublin], a ‘mott’ is a girl friend or mistress and a ‘sizar’ is a pool scholarship student at Trinity College. The numerical chorus comes from Frank Harte's version. So now it's a tribute to all three great singers.
Lyrics
Mary Cruickshank sings The Spanish Lady
As I went up thro' Edinburgh city, half-past twelve o'clock at night,
There I spied a Spanish lady dressing herself with candle light.
She had a basin full of water and a towel into her hand.
Five gold rings on every finger, like an angel she did stand.
Oh she was a charming creature, what she is I do not know.
But I'll go court her for her beauty, whether she be high or low.
“Madam, I am come to court you, if your favour I could gain.
If you gently entertain me maybe I'll come back again.”
“Sit ye doon, ye're harty welcome, whether ye come back or no.
All I want is a handsome young man whether he be high or low.”
“Madam, ye talk much of beauty, that's a flower will soon decay.
The fairest flower in all the summer, when winter comes it doth fade away.”
The Halliard sing The Spanish Lady
As I came down to Dublin City at the hour of twelve at night,
Who should I see but a Spanish lady washing her feet by candle light.
First she washed them, and then she dried them, over a fire of angry coals.
In all my life I never did see such a maid so neat above the soles.
Chorus (twice after each verse):
Whack fol the too-ra loo-ra laddy,
Whack fol the too-ra loo-ra-lay
I stopped to look but the watchman passed. Said he, “Young fellow, now the night is late.
Along with you home or I will wrestle you straightway through the Bridewell gate.”
I drew a kiss of the Spanish lady, hot as a fire of angry coals,
In all my life I never did see such a maid so neat above the soles.
Now she's no mott for a Poddle swaddy with her ivory comb and her mantle fine
But she'd make a wife for the Provost Marshall drunk on brandy and claret wine
I drew a kiss of the Spanish lady, hot as a fire of angry coals,
In all my life I never did see such a maid so neat above the soles.
I've wandered North and I've wandered South through Stonybatter and Patrick's Close,
Up and down the Gloucester Diamond and back through Napper Tandy's house.
Old age has laid her arm on me cold as a fire of ashy coal
And where is the lovely Spanish lady neat and sweet above the soles?
Pete Coe sings The Spanish Lady
As I roved out through Dublin City at the hour of twelve at night,
Who should I spy but the Spanish lady washing her feet by candle light.
First she washed them, then she dried them over a fire of ambery coals.
In all my life I ne'er did see such a maid so neat above the soles.
Chorus (after each verse):
Twenty, eighteen, sixteen, fourteen, twelve, ten, eight, six, four, two, none,
Nineteen, seventeen, fifteen, thirteen, eleven, nine, seven, five, three and one.
As I came back through Dublin City at the hour of half past eight,
Who should I spy but the Spanish lady combing her hair in broad daylight.
First she washed it, then she brushed it, and on her lap was a silver comb.
In all my life I ne'er did see such a maid so neat as I did roam.
As I went out through Dublin City just as the sun began so set,
Who should I spy but the Spanish lady catching a moth in a golden net.
But when she saw me then she fled me, lifting her petticoats over her knee.
In all my life I ne'er did see such a maid so shy as this lady.
Well, she's no match for a Poddle swaddy, with the silver comb and the mantle fine,
A hellfire book would better suit her, drinking brandy and claret wine.
I'm just a decent college sizar, poor as a sod of smouldering coals,
How could I dress that Spanish lady, and her so neat above the soles.
She'd make a mott for the Provost Marshal before the Mayor in his coach so high,
Before a Duke in Andalusia, kicking her heels in a Cardinal's eye.
And blue as cockles, brown as herrings, over a grid of glimmering coals,
All for the sake of the Spanish lady, and her so neat above the soles.
I've wandered North and I've wandered South by Stonybatter and Patrick's Close,
Up and 'round by the Gloucester Diamond and back by Napper Tandy's house.
Old age has laid her hand on me, cold as a fire of ashy coals.
Where is the love of the Spanish lady, so mortal neat above the soles?
----------------
Printed and sold in Aldermary Church Yard, Bow Lane, London, [1763?]
Yonder sits a lovely creature
Butterworth- Yonder stands a lovely creature.
(composer's preface dated 30 June 1912). Yonder stands a lovely creature. Noted by Francis Jekyll. Tune given by Mr Martin of Fletching, Sussex: words given by Mrs Cranstone, Billingshurst;
Yonder stands a lovely creature,
Who she is I do not know:
I'll go and court her for her beauty,
Let her answer, "yes" or "no".
"Madam, I am come to court you,
If your favour I can gain:
First your hand, love, then your welcome,
Perhaps that I'll not come again."
"Madam, I have gold and silver,
Madam, I have house and land:
Madam, I have the world of pleasure,
All to be at your command."
"What care I for gold and silver,
What care I for house and land?
What care I for the world of pleasure,
So long as I've got a nice young man?"
"Ripest apples soonest rotten,
Hottest love it soon gets cold:
Young men's words are soon forgotten,
So pray, young man, don't speak too bold."
"After nettles then come roses,
After night then in comes day:
After a false love then a true love,
So we pass our time away."
Alt. titles: Lady on a Mountain; There Stands a Lady on a Mountain; Yonder Stands a Lovely Creature; The Spanish Lady (Maiden); The Scottish Merchant's Daughter; Tarry Trousers; Eighteen-Eighteen; Uh-Uh, No.
Shields /Shields UF 21,1975: #393 BRIT Butterworth 1974:4-5 "Yonder Stands a Lovely Creature" b: Kennedy 1975:315 (#138) "No Sir"; 135 (#135) "Madam, Will You Walk?" Morrison /Cologne 1981:46-7 "No, Sir! No!"
Song Title March away
Roud No. 542
Collected From Sawyer, David [Phoebus]
Location Ogbourne St. Andrew
County Wiltshire
Collected By Williams, Alfred
Alternative Title
Tune
Date
Source Primary WSRO: 2598/36 Packet 4 - Wiltshire: Williams, A: MS collection No Wt 458
Source Secondary Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard, 22nd January, 1916,p 2, Part 15, No. 2: Williams, A: Folk songs of the upper Thames, 1923, p 196, 197
Recording
The Williams-Thames chorus -- "March away, march away, Trumpets sound and cymbals play. March away, march away, To the merry little fife and drum." -- is from the chorus of "The Merry Little Soldier" (see The Universal Songster or Museum of Mirth (London, 1834 ("Digitized by Google")), Vol I, p. 109, "The Merry Little Soldier" ("I'm a merry little soldier") (1 text)).
Song Lyrics
Verse 1
Yonder sits a lovely creature,
Who she is I do not know;
I will court her for my pleasure,
Whether she answers 'Yea' or 'No'.
Chorus
March away, march away,
Trumpets sound and cymbals play,
March away, march away,
To the merry little fife and drum.
Verse 2
"Madam I am come to court you,
If so be you'll let me in."
"Oh yes," she said, "my handsome fellow;
But perhaps you may this way again."
Chorus
Verse 3
"Madam, I've got gold and silver,
Madam, I've got houses and land,
Madam, I've got words of pleasure,
And shall be at your command."
Chorus
Verse 4
"I don't value your gold and silver,
I don't value your house and land,
I don't value your words of pleasure,
If I could but gain a handsome man."
Chorus
Verse 5
"Madam do not dwell on beauty,
Beauty's a flower that grows in May,
Beauty's a flower that grows in summer,
Soon it will die and fade away."
Chorus
Verse 6
"Ripe is the apple that is soonest rotten,
Hot is the love that is soonest cold,
Young men's vows are soonest forgotten,
And so, pretty maid, don't speak so bold."
Chorus
Print Song Lyrics
Notes
Note 1
Williams, Alfred: Ms / WGS: 'Below are given two versions of an ancient and interesting song, obtained from points about twenty miles distant from each other. 'March away' is the best copy. This was given me by David Sawyer, who sang it at Ogbourne, and Bishopstone, Wiltshire.'
Williams, Alfred: FSUT: 'An ancient piece, existing in several versions. Copy of David Sawyer, who sang it at Ogbourne, and Bishopstone, Wiltshire.'
Note 2
The other song referred to into Ms / WGS note is Yonder sits a pretty little creature collected from Charles Tanner.
Note 3
In the version published in WGS verses 3 and 5 are omitted while the FSUT version matches the Ms.
-----------------------------
Yonder sits a pretty little creature
Roud No. 146
Collected From Tanner, Charles
Location Bampton
County Oxfordshire
Collected By Williams, Alfred
Alternative Title No John, no
Tune
Date
Source Primary WSRO: 2598/36 Packet 3 - Oxfordshire: Williams, A: MS collection No Ox 225
Source Secondary Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard, 22nd January, 1916, p 2, Part 15, No. 3
Recording
Song Lyrics
Verse 1
Yonder sits a pretty little creature,
Who she is I do not know,
I'll go court her for her sweet favour,
Let her answer "Yes" or "No".
Chorus
With my twenty, eighteen, sixteen, fourteen,
Twelve, ten, eight, six, four, two, none;
Nineteen, seventeen, fifteen, thirteen,
Eleven, nine, seven, five, three, one.
Verse 2
"O madam, mind, I'm come a-courting,
If your favour I can gain,
If you make me kindly welcome,
Perhaps then I may come again?"
Chorus
Verse 3
"Sit you down, you're kindly welcome,
If your face I never see no more,
I must and I will have a handsome fellow,
Let him keep me, rich or poor."
Chorus
Verse 4
"Madam, don't think much of beauty,
Beauty's a flower that soon will fade,
The fairest flower that grows in summer,
Soon it'll die and fade away."
Notes:
Note 1 Williams, Alfred: Ms / WGS: 'The following version of the above [March away, collected from David Sawyer] I obtained of Charles Tanner, Bampton, Oxfordshire. The chorus is worthy of note. Its composition and balance are perfect: one is surprised to find such in the bare enumeration of a score of figures.'
Note 2 The manuscript is a copy of the text found in Packet 23 of the Williams archive
----------------------
Songs and Ballads of the West: A Collection Made from the Mouths of the People
by Sabine Baring-Gould
Music taken down from George Cole, quarryman, Rundlestone, Dartmoor. The words were so utterly worthless that Mr Sheppard wrote a fresh copy of verses to the melody. Cole's first verses ran — "In yonder grove sat a lovely creature, Who
Baring-Gould MS
[Melody taken down from Anne Roberts Scobbetor, Widecombe in the Moor, to ‘Cold blows the wind’, see VI.] In Songs of West XCV. is Tobacco, see CVII. Baring-Gould Ms. Ref. PC 1.194 (94)
XCVI In Yonder Grove
1. In yonder grove sat a lovely creature
Who she is, I do not know.
But I’ll go court her for her feature,
Whether she’ll answer me Yes or No.
O Maiden I am come a courting
If your favour I can gain
If that you will but entertain me(?)
Then I’m sure I’ll call again.
2.Sit down, fair sir, you’re kindly welcome.
And if your face I’ll neer see more,
I must & I will have a handsome young man,
Whether he be or rich or poor.
O madam you talk much of beauty
Beauty madam soon decays.(?) maid must soon decay.
The sweetest flower that grows in summer
Winter coming fades away.
Taken down from George Cole, quarryman, aged 76, Rundlestone, Dartmoor, 1890.
Baring-Gould Ms. Ref. PC 1. 194 (96)
--------------------
Tarry Trousers
from Sam Henry's Songs of the People.
Tarry trousers refers to the sailor's practice of waterproofing their trousers with tar. This may be among the reasons sailors were referred to as "tars," a term used since 1676. Between 1857 and 1891 sailors also wore black 'tarpaulin' hats (boater-shaped with ribbon around the crown). The term "Jack Tar" has been in use since the 1780s.
Yonder stands a pretty maiden,
Who she is I do not know,
I'll go court her for her beauty,
Let her answer yes or no.
'Pretty maid, I've come to court you,
If your favour I do gain
And you make me hearty welcome,
I will call this way again.'
'Sit you down, you're heart'ly welcome,
Sit you down and chat a while,
Sit you down, you're heart'ly welcome,
Suppose you do not call again?'
'Pretty little maid, I've gold and riches,
Pretty little maid, I've houses and lands,
Pretty little maid, I've worldly treasures.
And all will be at your command.'
'What do I care for your worldly treasures?
What do I care for your houses and lands?
What do I care for your gold and riches?
All that I want is a nice young man.'
'Why do you dive so deep in beauty?
It is a flower will soon decay,
It's like the rose that blooms in summer
When winter comes, it fades away.'
'My love wears the tarry trousers,
My love wears the jacket blue,
My love ploughs the deep blue ocean,
So, young man, be off with you.'
-----------------
The wanton seed: more English folk songs from the Hammond & Gardiner ...
https://books.google.com/books?id=dak7AQAAIAAJ
Frank Purslow, Henry Edward Denison Hammond, Robert Francis Frederick Hammond - 1969 - Snippet view
MADAM, MADAM, I'M COME A-COURTING The tune from Mrs. Russell of Upwey, (Hammond D. 893) who had only one verse. Verses 1, 5 and 7 from ... Some collected versions of this song have a "twenty, eighteen, sixteen. . . ." refrain which ..
------------------------------------
Journal of the Folk-Song Society - Volume 4 - Page 300
https://books.google.com/books?id=nZzWAAAAMAAJ
1910 - Snippet view - More editions
A scrap of the song, with tunc, is used in the children's traditional courtship game, " Lady on the Mountain." — A. G. G. See " Twenty, eighteen " in English County Songs, and " The [Lincolnshire] Handsome Woman " in Ballad Society's ...
-----------------
Madam I have come a courtin- Quaker Song
From: sian, west wales - PM
Date: 21 Jul 04 - 06:25 PM
This is great!
About 12 years ago I was chatting to my friend Phyllis about "The Quaker's Wooing" in Sandburg's American Songbag. We had both noted the similarities between this and a Welsh song, "Cwyd dy Galon" (Lift up your Heart). The fact that I saw a likeness isn't important; Phyllis, on the other hand is one of maybe four real experts in Welsh musicology so she's worth listening too. Also, there was a heavy Welsh presence in Quaker society (seems to me that Penn was at least part Welsh) and also in Ohio where the song has been recorded.
Anyway, it goes:
O mae 'nghariad wedi 'ngada'l,
Ho ho ho, ho ho ho, ho!
Ni chaf eto fyth ei chystal,
Ho ho ho, ho ho ho, ho!
Cwyd dy galon, paid â hitio,
Ffol lol, ladi ei o,
Ti gei gariad newydd eto,
Ffol lol, ladi ei o.
There's actually a singable translation too:
O my love has gone for ever,
Ho ho ho, ho ho ho, ho!
Sore it was our bond to sever,
Ho ho ho, ho ho ho, ho!
Lift thy heart, for there's a morrow,
Fol, lol, la dee i o;
Let today relieve thy sorrow,
Fol, lol, la dee i o.
Literally it would be
O my love has left me (Ho, etc.)
I'll never have his like again, (Ho …)
Lift up thy heart, don't be bothered by it, (fol …)
You'll find a new love again. (fol …)
I think I've given up on ABC, but I have the tonic sol-fa here:
Doh F
| d :- : m | r:-:f| f:-:m|r:d:-|d.r:m:-|d:r:m|d:- :-| -:-||
|d :- :r |m:- :s| d' :- :l |s : - :m |d: -:-|r:-|m :f :m |r: -:-}
|d :- :r |m:- :s| d' :- :l |s : - :m |d: -:-|r:-|m :f :r |d : -:- ||
(I gotta tell ya – I HATE typing solfa!)
The tune was included in a collection of hitherto unpublished folk songs which was sent to the Llangollen Eisteddfod in 1858. It was later published in the Welsh Folk Song Society Journal of 1909 where it was reported as being popular in Glamorganshire. One correspondent suggested that it was similar to some of the ox-driving songs sung in that area.
I'd love to know more. Thanks for all the contributions to date.
siân
---------------
The Quaker Song
XXIII. Baring-Gould
'O dear me! I've lost my lover!
Hum-hum-hum-hum-hum!
How shall I his loss recover?
Hum-hum-hum-hum-hum!
'Seek him dearest, thou shalt find him,
Fa-la-la-la-la-li-gee-wo.
Seek him when the spirit moves you,
Fa-la-la-la-la-li-gee-wo.
'O but how he does disdain me!
Hum-hum-hum, etc.
His cruel looks have almost slain me!
Mum-hum-hum, etc.
As for looks they need not matter,
Fa-la-la,' etc.
You must learn to fawn and flatter,
Fa-la-la,' etc.
'But that dreadful sin of lying,
Hum-hum-hum, etc.
A guilty conscience when I'm dying,
Hum-hum-hum, etc.
'Love and concience ne'er went courting,
Fa-la-la, etc.
Youth and death is ill consorting,
Fa-la-la, etc.
p, 35, Edit. S. Baring-Gould: "A Book of Nursery Songs and Rhymes," 1895, Methuen and Co. London. "Collected from a Devonshire nurse."
------------------------
: Lyr Req: The Spanish Lady-Triona's recent album
From: Mervyn - PM
Date: 01 Mar 02 - 03:53 PM
I learned a version of Spanish Lady in Australia, as a ballad, rather than with the usual more up-beat melody. My Irish friends at the time said (somewhat disparagingly) that the melody was created by an older Australian singer.
The song has basically the same lyrics as the two versions above combined, but with the "Whack for the..." chorus and an additional stanza inserted before the "I've wandered North..." stanza.
-----------------
Clancy Brothers do a different song to the same tune, not called Spanish Lady but that song is mentioned in the liner notes:
(He:) As I walked out through Dublin City at the hour of 12 at night,
Whom should I spy but a handsome lassie, combing her hair by candlelight?
Lassie, I have come a-courting, your kind favors for to win,
And if you'd but smile upon me, next Sunday night I'll call again.
Cho: A raddy up a toorum, toorum, toorum, raddy up a toorum dey (bis)
(She:) So to me you came a-courting, my kind favors for to win,
But 'twould give me the greatest pleasure if you never did call again.
What would I do, when I go walking, walking out in the morning dew?
What would I do when I go walking, walking out with a lad like you? Cho.
(He:) Lassie, I have gold and silver. Lassie, I have houses and land.
Lassie, I have ships on the ocean. They'll be all at your command.
(She:) What do I want with your gold and silver? What do I want with your houses and land?
What do I want with your ships on the ocean? All I want is a handsome man. Cho.
(He:) Did you ever see the grass in the morning, all bedecked with jewels rare?
Did you ever see a handsome lassie, diamonds sparkling in her hair?
(She:) Did you ever see a copper kettle, mended with an old tin can?
Did you ever see a handsome lassie married off to an ugly man?
-------------
ETTRICK VALLEY/HIGHWAY/LADY?
From: Uncle Jaque - PM
Date: 05 Mar 02 - 09:14 PM
Boab: I've been looking for the lyrics for "Ettrick" (was it "Valley" or "Highway"?) for years after pirating it off of a radio program onto a cassette tape. I don't recall who did it, but it's one I frequently burst out singing (memorized most of the lyr. via the tape) and play on the tin whistle.
It differs a little from "Dublin City", above, and as I recall it goes somewhat like this:
He:) As I gang doon the Etrick Highway at the hour o' 12 at night;
What should I spy but a handsome las-sie, combin' her hair by candlelight.
First she combed it, then she brushed it;
Tied it up wi' a velvet band;
Ne'er hae I seen such a handsome lassie
all up an' doon ov'r all Scotland!
Chorus:
Fallah-tallah rhu-dhumma, rhu-dhum, rhu-u-dhum;
Fallah-tallah rhu-dhumma, rhu-dhum-day!
(2X)
Lassie, I hae come a-courting, your kind favors for to win;
And if you'd but smile upon me, next Sunday night I'll call again.
(She:) So to me you came a-courting, my kind favors for to win;
But 'twould give me the greatest pleasure if you never would call again!
What would I do, when I go walking, walking out in the Ettrick view;
What would I do when I go walking, walkin' oot wi' a laddie like you?
- Cho. -
(He:) Lassie, I hae gold and silver, lassie I hae houses and land
Lassie, I hae ships on the ocean, they'll a' be at you'r command.
(She:) What do I care for your gold and silver,
what do I care for your houses and land?
What do I care for your ships on the ocean?;
When all I want is a handsome man!
- Cho. -
(He:) Did you ever see the grass in the morning, all bedecked with jewels rare?
Did you ever see a handsome lassie, diamonds sparkling in her hair?
(She:) Did you ever see a copper kettle, mended up wi' an old tin can?
Did you ever see a handsome lassie married up tae an UU-gly man?
- Cho. X 2 -
---------------
ETTRICK LADY
(Trad. Arr. Scocha [Iain Scott and David Chapman])
As Aa gae doon the Ettrick Valley
At the oor o' twelve at night,
Who did Aa see but a handsome lassie
Combing her hair by candlelight.
Lassie Aa hev come a courtin.
Ee'll find favours for tae win,
And if ee'll but smile upon me
Next Sunday night Aa'll call again.
So tae me ee turn yer courtin
Ma fine favours for tae win,
But it wid gi'e me the greatest pleasure
If ee never did ca' again.
What wud Aa dae when Aa go oot walkin
Walkin oot for the Ettrick view?
What wud Aa dae when Aa go oot walkin
Walkin oot wi a laddie like you?
Lassie, Aa hev gold and silver.
Lassie, Aa hev hooses and land.
Lassie, Aa hev ships in the ocean.
They'll be all at your command.
What dae Aa care for yer ships in the ocean?
What dae Aa care for yer hooses and land?
What dae Aa care for yer gold and silver,
When all Aa want is a handsome man?
Did ee ever see the grass in the morning,
Aw bedecked wi jewels rare?
Did ee ever see a handsome lassie,
Diamonds sparklin in her hair?
Did ee ever see a copper kettle
Mended wi an auld tin can?
Did ee ever see a handsome lassie
Married off tae an ugly man?
----------------
[Cover of Wheel of Fortune, See also Michael Stipe]
Wheel of Fortune is sung by the Wise Family Band and has a similar chorus to that which you mention, with the odd numbers first, however that have the "round and round" bit afterward. This is what I can make out from the recording.
For over the hills there lives a lassie
And her name I do not know
Some fine day I'm going to see her
Whether she be rich or no
Chorus
19, 17, 15, 13, 11, 9, 7 and 5, 3, 1
20, 18, 16, 14, 12, 10, 8, 6, 4, 2, none
Round and round go the wheels of fortune
Round and round til they weary me
Young women's hearts are so uncertain
Sad experience teaches me
Well lassie I've got gold and silver
Lassie I've got horses and land
Lassie I've got ships on the ocean
All to come at your command.
Chorus
I don't want your gold and silver
I don't want your horses and land
I don't want your ships on the ocean
All I want is a good young man
Chorus
-------------
______________________________
Roxburghe, 1899 in a footnote:
852 The Lincolnshire Handsome Woman. [text from Lincolnshire reported by a native of Boston, MA to Ebsworth]
P. 655.—Before returning to 'The Norfolk Lass," let a word be said for a sensible Lincolnshire ' Handsome Woman,' not hitherto in print, who lived in view of 'Boston Stump.' Her history has come down to us in dialogue, among the rustics. It was taken orally by Colonel F. G. Baylay, R.A.(Royal Artillery; Woolwich), and communicated to the Editor by his friend Hubert Roberts, of Boston. (In the second stanza the text is corrupt: we cannot accept "if one favour that you crave," without rhyme or reason; we insert a substitute in brackets.)
The wooer comes to the point, but at first fails to tempt her. "What care I for rings or jewels? What care I for your house or land? What care I for your gold or silver? All I want is an 'andsom' man: An 'andsom' may," etc. Presumably he is not one, for handsome men think too much of their own looks to value feminine beauty supremely. This man can argue and convince, although he be neither young nor handsome.
"The Handsom' Woman"
[He]
"Yonder stan's a hansum woman, who she is I dunnot kuaw,
But I'll go court hur fur hur beauty, whether she answers me aye or no.
Aye or no: aye or no: whether she answers me Aye or No."
[She.]
"Come sit you down, you 're kindly welcome, [tho' I nev'r see you afore];
Come sit you down, you 're kindly welcome, if that I nev'r shou'd see you no more.
See you no more, see you no more; if that I never should see you no more.''
[He.]
"Madam, I've got rings and jewels; Madam, I've got house and land;
Madam, I've got gold and silver: all shall be at your command.
At your command, at your command, all shall be at your command."
[she.]
"What care I for rings or jewels? What care I for your house or land?
What care I for your gold or silver? All I want is an 'andsom' man.
An 'andsom' man, an 'andsom' man, all I want is an 'andsom' man.''
[HE.]
"A handsome man will not maintain you, neither will his money flow;
I'm the man that's got the money, money as makes the mare to go.
The mare to go, the mare to go; money as makes the mare to go."
[She.]
"Wonst I laid my head up' a young man's pillow, and I thought it had been my home;
But now I'm forced for to wear the grey willow, all for the sake of that false young man!
That false young man! (bis), all for the sake of that fain young man."
[HE.]
"The ripest apple will soon grow rotten, the heart of a young man will soon grow cold;
The thoughts of a young man will soon be forgotten; so pray, young woman,
oh! don't be bold. Don't be bold; don't be bold; so pray, young woman, oh! don't be bold."
[woman has the last word, as usual:]
"He took a pail, and I took a pail, and a-milking he went wi' me;
I said nout, and he said nout; but, ma faith! I think he'll ha' me."
This is the finale. Robert Roberts, of Boston, is a safe authority to follow on old books and Lincolnshire customs: he writes, "To take her pail and go with a girl milking is considered almost equal to a proposal of marriage."
---------------------------------
Mainly Norfolk: English Folk and Other Good Music
Madam, I Have Come to Court You / Ripest Apples / Twenty, Eighteen, …
[ Roud 542 ; G/D 8:1588 ; Ballad Index CrMa121 ; trad.]
George Townshend sang Twenty, Eighteen, … to Brian Matthews in Lewes, Sussex, on February 7, 1960. This recording was included in 2000 on his Musical Traditions anthology Come, Hand to Me the Glass. Brian Matthews and Rod Stradling commented in the album's booklet:
George [Townshend] is joined by his 11-year-old granddaughter Angela for the two verses he sang of this song—it's counting-song version of Oh, No John which Brian Matthews also recorded from Alfred Patching of Fulking, Sussex. It seems to be known all over England and in the USA, Canada, and even Tristan da Cunha! but Scotland has only produced one sighting. Frank Harte sings an almost identical version to George's from Ireland.
Joe Jones sang Ripest Apples to Mike Yates in St Mary Cray, Kent, in 1972-75. This recording was included in 2003 on the Musical Traditions anthology of Gypsy songs and music from South-East England, Here's Luck to a Man …. Mike Yates commented in the album notes:
Cecil Sharp linked this fragmentary song with another, titled Twenty, Eighteen, that had been collected by Lucy Broadwood (English County Songs, 1893, p.90), and falls within the Oh, No John family. A version that I recorded from the late Mabs Hall of Sussex includes the Twenty, Eighteen verse (see the Veteran cassette Ripest Apples, VT107), and George Townshend (Sussex) also sings it on [Come, Hand to Me the Glass].
Dr Faustus sang The Disdainful Lady in 2005 on their Fellside CD Wager. They commented in their liner notes:
This was found by Benji [Kirkpatrick] in Shropshire Folk-Lore, edited by Charlotte S Burne. It was sung by Harriet Dowley of Edgmont, Shropshire. We conjured up an extra verse to extend the story for no apparent reason.
The Outside Track sang Madam, Madam in 2010 on their CD Curious Things Given Wings. They commented in their liner notes:
The melody and some verses of this song come from the singing of William Gilkie of Sambro, Nova Scotia, who sang it to Canadian folklorist, Helen Creighton in 1949. The song originally came from Ettrick Valley in Scotland. Lauren MacColl's tune, The Dealer, sews the dialogue together between the unfortunate young man and the object of his affection (Alan and the poor mermaid).
The Unthanks sang Madam in 2015 on their CD Mount the Air.
Lyrics
George Townshend sings Twenty, Eighteen, …
Oh yonder stands a most beauty creature,
who she is I do not know,
I will go and court her,
let her answer me yes or no.
Chorus (repeated after each verse):
With me twenty, eighteen, sixteen, fourteen, twelve, ten, eight, six, four, two, none,
Nineteen, seventeen, fifteen, thirteen, 'leven, nine, sev'n, five, three and one.
Oh madam, I am come to court you,
If your favour I can win,
And if you use me kind and welcome,
I will surely come again.
Joe Jones sings Ripest Apples
“Pretty maiden, pretty maiden, I've come to court you,
It's your favour I might gain.
Pretty maiden, pretty maiden, I've come to court you,
But if your answer's yes or no.”
“Pretty maiden, pretty maiden, I have gold, I've silver.'”
“What cares I for your house and land?
For it's what cares I for the world of pleasure?
But all I wants is an honest young man.'”
Spoken: Listen then …
“For it's apples is ripe, but they soon gets rotten.
A young man's love that soon grows cold.
For it's what cares I for the world of pleasure?
But all I wants is an honest young man.”
-----------------
Ulster Folklife - Volume 21 - Page 51
https://books.google.com/books?id=9xzaAAAAMAAJ
1975 - Snippet view - More editions
393 TARRY TROUSERS (The) 'My love wears the ' frag., EB 66RTE (Dublin). Henry, 532; 6 Lochlainn II, 243. TB: Theresa Boyle (born 1962), East town, Tory (Don.), 265. Teelin, Carrick (Don.), 2, 27, 59, 63, 131. 243, 250, 353, 355, 360, 385.
Yonder stands a pretty little maiden
Who she is I do not know
I'll go and court her for her beauty
Whether she says yes or no.
Hey pretty little girl, I have gold and riches
Hey pretty little girl, I have house and lands
Hey pretty little young girl, I have worldly treasures
And all will be at your command.
My loves wears the tarry trousers
My loves wears the jackets blue
My love sails upon the ocean
So, old man away with you
I don't care for your gold and riches
I don't care for your house and lands
I don't care for your worldly treasures
All I want is a nice young man.
--------------
Tarry trousers
Yonder stands a pretty little maiden
who she is I do not know
I'll go and court her for her beauty
let her answer yes or no
Pretty little girl I've come to court you
open your favour I’m again
and if you make me truly welcome
I will call this way again
My love wears the tarry trousers
my love wears the jacket blue
my love sails upon the ocean
so young man away with you
Pretty little girl I've gold and riches
pretty little girl I've hous and lands
pretty little girl I've worldly treasures
all will be at your command
What do I care for your gold and riches
what do I care for your hous and lands
what do I care for your worldly treasures
all I want is a nice young man
My love wears the tarry trousers . . .
Why do I wish for so much beauty
it's a flower that must decay
like the rose that blooms in Summer
when Winter comes it fades away
What do I care for your gold and riches
what do I care for your house and lands
what do I care for your worldly treasures
all I want is a nice young man
-----------------------
Melody only
https://www.vwml.org/record/RoudFS/S317229
First Line:
Source: George Butterworth MSS (VWML) Vol.7(a) p.30 (version b); GB/7a/63
Performer: Heygate, Mr.
Date: 1910 (Nov)
Place: England : Sussex : Rusper
Collector: Butterworth, George
________________________________
Missing versions:
[same a Belle Stewart]
Owre Yon Hills There Lives a Lassie
Roud Folksong Index (S218069)
First Line: Owre yon hills, sure, there lives a lassie
Source: MacColl & Seeger, Till Doomsday in the Afternoon (1986) p.222
Performer: MacGregor, Sheila
Place: Scotland : Perthshire : Blairgowrie
Collector: MacColl, Ewan / Peggy Seeger
----------------------------
The Tarry Trousers
Roud Folksong Index (S192056)
First Line: Yonder stands a pretty little maiden
Source: O Lochlainn, More Irish Street Ballads (1965) p.243
----------------------------
The Tarry Trousers
Roud Folksong Index (S253318)
First Line: My love wears the tarry trousers
Source: Ulster Folk & Transport Museum collection (Holywood, Co. Down) No.66 RTE
Performer: Butcher, Eddie
Date: 1966
Place: N. Ireland : Londonderry : Magilligan
Collector: Shields, Hugh
Roud No: 542
------------------
Twenty Eighteen
Roud Folksong Index (S382735)
First Line: See yonder sits a lovely creature
Source: Brian Matthews Collection Tape 3
Performer: Patching, Alf
Date: 1960 (8 Feb)
Place: England : Sussex : Fulking
Collector: Matthews, Brian
---------------------------