Died for Love- Geoff Ling (Suf) 1974 Summers
[From: Singing Traditions of a Suffolk Family: The Ling Family-- Topic Records 12TS292 (LP, UK, 1977). Recorded by Keith Summers 1974-5 in Cyril Poacher's home, Stone Common, Blaxhall, Sussex, December 17, 1974; liner notes follow.
R. Matteson 2017]
GEOFF LING; BIO: I was born in 1916, I’m a fair bit younger than George. I left school at 14 to work as a farm labourer and then I went to work at Stone Farm with my Dad, Oscar Ling used to work as a horseman there. I first started singing in the pubs when I was 18. I’d go round with Dad to Steel Quoit games at pubs like the Marlesford “Bell”, “Mill Inn” Aldeburgh, and the “Eel’s Foot”. The Brightwells at Eastbridge thought the world of my Dad and my Grandfather Aaron Ling. He used to have a long white beard and they reckoned it was worth a tanner to see him sing - his old beard going up and down. I learnt a lot of songs of him and my mother, and I learnt the step dancing off my mother, Susan Poacher, also. They`d have contests in the pub - two people would dance together in a “reel”. Me and Spider would dance together to see who’d give in first. But them Smiths were good at that and old Ely - Ely Durrant. I used to knock about at one time with a chap called Denny Kersey, he worked on the council with Wickets and we’d get together; he had an accordeon and I’d turn his wheelbarrow over and step on it. Made a hell of a din!
It was hard work on the farm then, but every year after the harvest had been collected in they ‘d hold what was called a harvest frolic - kill a pig and roast it, and the farmer would supply all the beer and we’d all have a rare old time. A harvest largesse - that’s it. ‘They used to have singing in Glenham and Snape but it seemed to me that the most singers used to be at the “Ship” and that’s how we’d pick up those old songs, by hearing them so often. Well when Wickets used to call, let’s say on Elty Bob (Bob Scarce) to sing, well, you knew it would be either General Wolfe or Broadside ‘cos you ‘d’ heard it so often. Walter Friend, Ben Ling, Spencer Leek, Aldie Ling, Joe Rowe - they all sang and all had their own songs too. So whenever they were in the pub you‘d not sing one of their songs - you know to keep good company.
So mainly me and Percy and Cyril (Poacher) would have to learn the current songs of the day, off the wireless and out of
books so that we could have a go, because at one time of day you could go all round that pub and Wickets would call for
them to sing, recite or pay for a gallon of beer and not many paid. I remember one stranger said “Well, I don‘t sing or recite
or play an instrument, but just to keep the company amused I’ll fight the best man here.” Cor, there was some blood flying after that. They used to have more fights than halfpennies at one time.
Died for Love- Geoff Ling of Blaxhall, Sussex on December 17, 1974. Recorded by Keith Summers.
There is a tavern in the town,
That's where my true love sits himself down,
And there he will take a brave girl on his knee
Oh don't you think that's a grief to me.
Oh grief, oh grief I'll tell you why,
Because she's got more gold than I;
For the gold it will melt and the silver will fly
And then you'll become a poor girl like I.
I wish my baby hadn't been born,
And smiling on his on his dada's knee
And then oh my love he would be passing by
And then he would think the most of me
Oh dig my grave and dig it deep
Place lilies on my head and feet,
And on my breast lays a turtle dove
To let the world know that I died for love.
Oh grief, oh grief I'll tell you why,
Because she's got more gold than I;
For the gold it will melt and the silver will fly
And then you'll become a poor girl like I.