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User Name Thread Name Subject Posted
kytrad (Jean Ritchie) Origins: I've Been to Haarlem, I've Been to Dover (30) Origins: I've Been to Haarlem, I've Been to Dover 11 Apr 08


I have a friend who's looking for this play-party song's origins. I've sung and played it since I was a child, but the folks who would remember where it came from, are gone. It's very popular amongst play-party people. Here are the words:

I've been to Haarlem, I've been to Dover,
I've traveled this wide world all over.
Over, over, three times over-
Drink all the brandy-wine and turn the glasses over.

Sailing east, sailing west,
Sailing over the ocean-
You better watch out when the boat begins to rock, or
You'll lose your girl in the ocean!

I'm guessing that it may have been taught to my sisters at Berea College on occasions like, The Berea Christmas School- every year the week following Christmas,- by Frank Smith, an Englishman who came there every year, taught songs and folk dances.    JR


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