US & Canada Versions: 248. The Grey Cock
[Of the 15 traditional versions from North America in my collection only "Here's A Health Unto All True Lovers" sung by William Gilkie of Sambro, N.S. is questionable as a version of this ballad. Bronson lists it as his No. 10. Other researchers such as Steve Gardham regard it a similar but different ballad. The Ghost of Willie-O, also known as "Bay of Biscay" and included by Roud as a version, was collected by Flanders but should be regarded as a different ballad. A version with no informant named (see: composite version Karpeles 1929) published by Karpeles with music which appears on the web incorrectly as collected by Taylor-- is likely a composite text. It uses the melody from Karpeles A.
According to Barry, "The Lover's Ghost" must stand as the original of "The Grey Cock." "The Lover's Ghost" was remembered by Patrick Weston Joyce (1827– November 1914) circa 1830s from his boyhood in Glenosheen, County Limerick, and first published by Joyce in his Old Irish Folk Music and Songs [1909].
The Lover's Ghost- Joyce c. 1830s
“You're welcome home again,” said the young man to his love,
“I've been waiting for you many a night and day.
You're tired and you're pale,” said the young man to his dear,
“You shall never again go away.”
“I must go away,” she said, “when the little cock do crow
For here they will not let me stay.
Oh but if I had my wish, oh my dearest dear,” she said,
“This night should be never, never day.”
“Oh pretty little cock, oh you handsome little cock,
I pray you do not crow before day.
And your wings shall be made of the very beaten gold
And your beak of the silver so grey.“
But oh this little cock, this handsome little cock,
It crew out a full hour too soon.
“It's time I should depart, oh my dearest dear,“ she said,
“For it's now the going down of the moon.“
“And where is your bed, my dearest love,“ he said,
“And where are your white Holland sheets?
And where are the maids, oh my darling dear,” he said,
“That wait upon you whilst you are asleep?”
“The clay it is my bed, my dearest dear,” she said,
“The shroud is my white Holland sheet.
And the worms and creeping things are my servants, dear,” she said,
“That wait upon me whilst I am asleep.”
The ballad text and melody were used to in the parody, "Saw Ye My Hero George," dating back to circa 1780s, which means the ballad was current in the US at that time. In her article, Ballads and Songs for Boston in the War of 1812—the Isaiah Thomas Collection, Kate Van Winkle Keller says, " Some of the older songs have new verses reflecting a change in sensibilities. A transparent example of this is found in "Saw Ye My Hero George," a ballad in which Martha Washington wanders over the battlefield looking for her husband. The first, second and fourth verses date from the 1780s, modeled on an English love song from the 1760s called "The Grey Cock," (Child #248)."
The ballad has also appeared (ref. G. Jackson) as a religious parody, Crucifixion, in the Southern Harmony, p. 25. The Southern Harmony melody has, in turn, been used to sing the ballad.
See Barry's detailed notes: The Grey Cock- Watson (ME) 1928 Barry.
The ballad is associated with portions of the text found in the Drowsy Sleeper songs. Several versions of "Sweet Bann Water" found in the UK are related. The Clark version (immediately below) version and Greenleaf version are both similar.
I'll Go See My Love- Sung by LaRena LeBarr Clark, Ontario-- dating back to the 1930s.
1. "This night of May I can stay no longer;
The burning tempest I have to cross,
And though the night be as dark as dungeon,
This very night I'll go see my love.
2. "And though the night be as dark as dungeon,
And no daylight should appear,
I will be guided without one stumble
Into the ar-rums of you, my dear."
3. And when he got to his true love's window
He gentlie knelt down on a stone,
And through the pane, oh, he whispered lowly:
"My darling girl, are you alone?"
4. She then arose from her soft down pillow,
And snowy milk-white was her breast
And through the pane, oh, she whispered lowly,
Saying, "Who's this keeps me from my night's rest?"
5. "'Tis your true lover, so now uncover,
And rise up quicklie and let me in,
I'm weary, weary, from my long journey,
Besides I'm wet, love, unto the skin."
6. She then arose with the greatest pleasure
To let her own dear true lover in.
They kissed, shook hands, and embraced each other
Till that long night wore to an end.
7. The night being spent and daylight appearing,
And the wee cocks they began to crow;
They kissed, shook hands, and in sorrow parted;
He took his leave and away did go.
R. Matteson- 2013, 2016]
CONTENTS: (To access individual versions, click on attached pages on left hand column)
1) Saw You My True Love John?- Couch (OK) c.1900 Moores
2) The Grey Cock- Gentry (NC) 1916 Sharp
3) The Grey Cock- Watson (ME) 1928 Barry
4) The Lover's Ghost- Aylward (NL) 1929 Karpeles A
5) The Lover's Ghost- Day (NL) 1929 Karpeles B
6) The Lover's Ghost- Gallahue (NL) 1929 Karpeles MS
7) The Lover's Ghost- Composite (NL) c.1929 Arr. Karpeles
8) The Ghostly Lover- White (NL) 1929 Greenleaf
9) The Worrisome Woman- Wallin (NC) c.1936 Yates
10) Margaret and John- Smith (NS) pre1943 Creighton A
11) Margaret and John- Young (NS) pre1950 Creighton B
12) Here's A Health Unto All True Lovers- Gilkie (NS) pre1950 Creighton
13) Pretty Crowing Chickens- Presnell (NC) 1951 Warner
14) Pretty Crowing Chicken- Proffitt (NC) c.1960 REC
15) The Gray Cock- Clark (ON) 1961 Fowkes
-----------------------
[This version "collected by Barry Taylor" is clearly taken from the Karpeles composite with music from Aylward's 1929 version.]
The Ghost Lover (Collected by Barry Taylor) Newfoundland
Johnny, he promised to marry me,
But I fear he's with some fair one and gone;
There's something bewails a man, I don't know what it is,
And I'm weary of lying alone.
Well, Johnny he came there at the appointed hour,
He tapped on the window so low;
This fair maid arose and she hurried on her clothes,
And she bid her true love welcome home.
She took him by the hand and she lay him down,
She felt he was as cold as the clay;
She said, "My dearest dear, if I only had my wish,
This long night would never turn to day."
Oh, crow up, oh, crow up, my little bird,
But don't crow before it is day;
And you'll keep your shielding made of the glittering gold,
And your door of silver so gay.
And where is your soft bed of down, my love?
And where is your white hall and sheet?
And where is the fair maid who watches over you,
As you lie in your long, dreamless sleep?
Oh, the sand is my soft bed of down, my love,
And the sea is my white hall and sheet;
The long, hungry worms they do feed off of me,
As I lie every night in the deep.
"Oh, when shall I see you my love?" she cried,
"Oh, when shall I see you again?"
"When little fishes fly and the seas they do run dry,
And the hard rocks do melt with the sun."
"When little fishes fly and the seas they do run dry,
And the hard rocks do melt with the sun."
___________________________________________
Notes: (Parody of Grey Cock) Daughters of the American Revolution Magazine, Volume 56; 1922
An unknown composer, whose zeal for Washington is not to be denied, dedicated to "Lady Washington " in 1796 these unique verses:
"Saw you my hero George? Saw you my hero George?
I've rambled o'er the plain, And inquired of every swain,
But no tidings could find of my George.
"I saw not your hero. I saw not your hero George.
I am told he's in the van Where the battle's just began
But must haste to take care of my men
O're the hills, o're dales, o're mountains and plains
Where the drums and the trumpets sound alarm O' Ye Gods,
I give you charge to protect my hero George And return him safe to my arms."
Indeed there were few patriotic verses of the Revolutionary period that were not dedicated to the virtues of the immortal Washington.
__________________
A longer version of "Lady Washington," under the title "Saw Ye My Hero George," is in the Isaiah Thomas broadsides collection in the American Antiquarian Society. NY Folklore Quarterly 1968. [Appears also in Pioneer Songster, following:]
_____________________
45. Lady Washington [original text from Pioneer Songster unedited]
Thompson quotes this Douglass version. I have not found the song printed elsewhere; Flanders' "Lady Washington's Lamentation" is entirely different and is more elaborate than this little dialogue.
Lady Washington
1 . Saw you my hero saw you my hero saw you my hero George.
I have traveled oer the plain
And inquired of every swain
But no tidings can get of my George
2. I saw not your hero i saw not your hero i saw not your hero george
But im told hes at the van
Where the battle path began
I must haste to take care of my men
3. Oer hills and oer dales oer hills and oer dales
Where the drums they sound alarm
O ye gods i give you charge to protect my hero george
And return him safe home to my arms.
__________________________
THE GREY COCK, OR, SAW YOU MY FATHER
The Grey Cock, or, Saw You My Father
Text: Francis J. Child, The English and Scottish Popular Ballads, 248A
Tune: Crucifixion, Southern Harmony, p. 25.
O saw ye my father?
or saw ye my mother?
Or saw ye my true-love John?
I saw not your father,
I saw not your mother,
But I saw your true-love John.
It's now ten at night,
and the stars gie nae light,
And the bells they ring ding, dang;
He's met wi' some delay
that causeth him to stay,
But he will be here ere lang.
The surly auld earl
did naething but snarl,
And Johnny's face it grew red;
Yet, tho he often sigh'd,
he neer a word replied
Till all were asleep in bed.
Up Johnny rose,
and to the door he goes,
And gently tirl'd the pin;
The lassie taking tent
unto the door she went,
And she open'd and let him in.
And are ye come at last?
and do I hold ye fast?
And is my Johny true?
I hae nae time to tell,
but sae lang's I like mysell
Sae lang will I love you.
Flee, flee up,
my bonny grey cock,
And craw when it is day;
Your neck shall be
like the bonny beaten gold,
And your wings of the silver grey.
The cock prov'd false,
and untrue he was,
For he crew an hour o'er soon;
The lassie thought t'was day
when she sent her love away,
And it was but a blink of the moon.
__________________________________________
SAW YE MY HERO, GEORGE,
Text: "Saw ye my hero, George, and Battle of Bunker Hill." Sold wholesale and retail, by L. Deming, No. 62 Hanover Street, Boston, and at Middlebury, Vt. [broadside, n.d.]
"Lady Washington left Mount Vernon in June, 1778, in expectation of meeting her worthy companion, George; on the 28th of the same month, found her favorite engaged in the battle of Monmouth. She made the following observations."
Tune: Crucifixion, Southern Harmony, p. 25.
SAW ye my hero,
saw ye my hero,
Saw ye my hero GEORGE?
I've travel'd o'er the plain,
and inquir'd of ev'ry swain,
But no tidings could gain of my George.
One quickly answer'd,
I saw not your Hero,
I saw not your Hero, George;
But I'm told he's in the van,
where the battle's just began,
But I must hasten my men to the charge.
Another replied,
I saw your Hero,
I saw your hero, George;
I saw him on the plain,
with his sword drawn in his hand,
Protecting his men in the charge.
O'er hills and high mountains,
o'er rivers and fountains,
Where the drums and trumpets sound alarms,
Heav'n give the angels charge
to protect my Hero George,
And return him safe back to my arms.
Hark! the hoarse thunder!
shakes the earth's centre,
The groans and the clashing of arms;
Kind heaven prove a friend
and my Hero George defend,
Shield, protect, and secure him from harms.
Balls, bombs and langrage,
groans, death and carnage,
The hills and the caverns resound;
The fields are cover'd o'er
with streams of purple gore,
And the dead lie in heaps on the ground.
But now the loud huzzas
shout my Hero's praises,
Victorious George, they proclaim!
Columbia, now prepare
ye, my loves triumphal car,
And let fame shout my conqueror's name.
Hail, mighty Hero!
Columbia's Hero!
Who gave to America peace;
Long may he live renown'd
and with brilliant honors crown'd
Till complete in the mansions of bliss.
________________________________________
CRUCIFIXION
Text: Anonymous, early 19c.
Tune: Crucifixion, Southern Harmony, p. 25.
Saw ye my Savior,
saw ye my Savior,
Saw ye my Savior and God?
Oh! he died on Calvary,
To atone for you and me,
And to purchase our pardon with blood.
He was extended,
he was extended,
Painfully nailed to the cross;
Here he bowed his head and died;
Thus my Lord was crucified,
To atone for a world that was lost.
Jesus hung bleeding,
Jesus hung bleeding,
Three dreadful hours in pain,
And the solid rocks-were rent,
Through creation's vast extent,
When the Jews crucified the God-man.
Darkness prevailed,
darkness prevailed,
Darkness prevail'd o'er the land,
And the sun refused to shine,
When his majesty divine,
Was derided, insulted and slain.
When it was finish'd,
When it was finish'd
And the atonement was made,
He was taken by the great,
And embalm'd with spices sweet,
And was in a new sepulchre laid.
Hail, mighty Savior!
hail, mighty Savior!
Prince, and the Author of peace!
Oh! he burst the bars of death,
And, triumphant from the earth,
He ascended to mansions of bliss.
There interceding,
there interceding,
Pleading that sinners may live;
Crying, "Father, I have died;
Oh, behold my hands and side!
Oh, forgive them! I pray thee, forgive!"
"I will forgive them,
I will forgive them
When they repent and believe;
Let them now return to thee,
And be reconciled to me,
And salvation they all shall receive."
_________________________________
Here's a quote about the Isaiah Thomas Broadside Ballad Collection:
Excerpt from: Ballads and Songs for Boston in the War of 1812—the Isaiah Thomas Collection
by Kate Van Winkle Keller
Some of the older songs have new verses reflecting a change in sensibilities. A transparent example of this is found in “Saw Ye My Hero George,” a ballad in which Martha Washington wanders over the battlefield looking for her husband. The first, second and fourth verses date from the 1780s,modeled on an English love song from the 1760s called “The Grey Cock,” (Child #248).
They are placid and removed in spirit. New romantic verses have been added as verses three and five through eight.
“The fields are cover’d o’er with streams of purple gore,
And the dead lie in heaps on the ground.”
Such a graphic description would never have been put in Lady Washington’s voice in earlier times.
___________________________________
Possible Appendix version:
I Love my Love- (Friedman suggests this is a version, lines 5-20, of Grey Cock- I think that it's a stretch)
All my friends fell out with me
Because I kept my love's company,
But let them say or do what they will,
I love my love with a free good will.
Over the mountains I must go
Because my fortune is so low;
With an aching heart and a troubled mind
For leaving my true love behind.
The Powers above look down and see
The parting of true love and me,
'Tis as hard to part the moon and sky
As it is to part true love and I.
When I have gold she has her part;
And when I have none she has my heart;
And she gained it, too, with a free good will.
And upon my honor I love her still.
The winter's past and the summer's come,
The trees are budding one by one,
And when my true love chooses to stay,
I'll stay with her till the break of day.
Source: Alan Lomax, The Penguin Book of American Folk Songs, Penguin, 1964
Alan Lomax wrote: British love song styles flowered in the [American Southern] mountains, giving rise to many new songs, of which this may be one. Here, however, is a mountain love song which has kept a trace of the frankness so characteristic of the Southern English and Scots songs. It was found in North Carolina moutains by Cecil Sharp.
Sharp noted the song from Mrs Ellen Webb at Cane River, North Carolina, on 21 September 1918. (English Folk-Songs from the Southern Appalachians, II, 269).
______________________________________
Coffin 1950:
248. THE GREY COCK or SAW YOU MY FATHER?
Texts: Barry, Brit Bids Me, 310 / Isaiah Thomas Collection, Worcester Mass, III, 50 / SharpC, Eng F-S So Applchns, #30 / SharpK, Eng F-S So Aplchns, I, 259.
Local Titles: None given.
Story Types: A: A girl awaits her lover. After some confused hindrances, lie comes to the door when all are asleep. She lets him in, pledges to love him, and entreats the cock not to crow too early. The lover is obviously a ghost. From Child we know that the cock crows too early, and the tryst is ended too soon.
Examples: Barry.
B: A girl is thinking of her lover and weeping for her parents, when the lover comes. Finding all the doors shut, he rings. She gets up and lets him in. They go to bed, and, in spite of the girl's entreaties, the fowls crow two hours too early. She sends her love away by moonlight, asking him when he will return. He replies a ballad "never", and she berates herself for thinking him
to be true. The ghostly mood is gone; the song is just another night assignation story.
Examples : SharpK.
Discussion: Barry, Brit Bids Me, 313 capably refutes the tendency to place this ballad in the aube tradition (see Child, headnote; C. R. Baskerville, PMLA, XXXVI, 565 ff.) and shows that the bird belongs to Celtic (from Oriental) folklore. He also prints an old song, The Lover's Ghost, on p. 312, op. cit., from Joyce's Old Irish Music, 219 that is connected to The Grey Cocky if not to the extent that Barry claims. See also the intrusion of Child 248 into Lady Isabel and the Elf-Knight (Child 4) in the Minish Mss.
In the American versions, the ghostly nature of the lover is almost gone. Particularly, in the SharpK, Eng F-S So Aplchns, is this feature obscured, only the fowls (not even cocks) as the signal for the lover to leave remains of the supernatural elements.
Type A is very close to the Child text, but Type B is noticeably different, though the basic outline of the story is the same.
George P. Jackson, Spiritual F-S Early Am, 44 points out that Anne Gilchrist (JFSS, VIII, 6591) has stated that this song and the religious song, Saw Ye My Saviour? are closely related.