Lyr Req: The Darling Baby

Subject: The Darling Baby
From: John-S
Date: 26 Jun 02 - 01:58 PM

This is a song I knew years ago. I can't remember where I heard it, but it might have been Cathal McConnell or Robin Morton. It's a mixture of song and speech and starts off something like

Now when I was young, a bachelor The brightest e'er you've seen My friends all said I looked So very miserable and mean. Till at last I took unto myself A darling wife alas My friends all said to me Jack old boy you must have been an ass.

It goes on to describe what happens when a father is left in charge of the baby when his wife has to go and visit her mother.

I can remember other bits, but not the whole thing. Anyone know it?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Darling Baby
From: Jacob B
Date: 26 Jun 02 - 02:24 PM

I think it might help if you gave us the other bits you remember.

Does it happen to have a refrain that goes:

Oh my darling .....
Wait until your mommy comes
Wouldn't you like to suck your thumb
Was ever a man so bored

But the more I cootchy-cootchied so
And walked him up down, to and fro
And I give him everything you know
But the more the darling roared!

Subject: Lyr Add: THE DARLING BABY (trad)
From: John-S
Date: 26 Jun 02 - 03:09 PM

Jacob, that's the one.

OK, here goes.

Now when I was young, a bachelor, the brightest e'er you've seen,
My friends all said I looked so very miserable and mean.
Till at last I took unto myself a darling wife, alas!
My friends all said to me, "Jack, old boy, you must have been an ass."

I was like the man with the donkey. Whenever he carried the donkey it was wrong; whenever the donkey carried him it was wrong. It was the same with me. Whenever I was single I was wrong; now I'm married, I'm wrong. Everybody kept shouting at me, "What do you want a wife for?" Yes, what do I want a wife for? Last night as I got into bed there comes a knock at our front door and I shout, "Who's there?" "It's me." "Who's me?" "It's Watson, your father-in-law. Tell her that her mother's sick and wants to see her straight away."

So of course up gets my wife, on goes her bonnet and shawl, and off she goes to see her poor dear mother, leaving me in charge of the baby, not six weeks old,and not a single soul in the house to look after it but myself, the servant girl having left that same day, the place being far too big for her. So it begins to cry and I begin to sing:

CHO: Oh, my darling cheeker billy chum,
Wait until your mommy comes.
Wouldn't you like to suck your thumb?
Was ever a man so bored?
But the more I cootchy-cootchied so,
And walked him up down, to and fro,
And I give him everything, you know,
But the more the darling roared!

Oh dear, Oh Lord, what could I do? And I searched all about
For to find a box of matches for the candle had gone out.

And I was running around in the dark and I bumped into a table and took all the bark off my shin. And this is what I was singing as I was rubbing my leg:

Oh my darling...

Well at last I found a Lucifer, a solitary one.
Dear, oh Lord, to my surprise, when I first saw my son!
For his cheeks were of a beetroot red and the tears flowed down like rain,
And when I went to pick him up, he started out again:
"Nyaaaa!"
And this is what I sung when I shoved the bolster over his head:

Oh my darling...

Well I give him toys and I give him food and I give him everything.
Without my clothes, I leapt about and danced the highland fling.
But no, he wouldn't have it at all. He yelled and cried the more.
And when I gave it up for lost, my wife came through the door.

His mother, my wife. And when he saw her he was quiet as a mouse, the wretch. She says, "I hope the baby's been good," and I says, "yes." And here am I for the last three hours leaping up and down like an eejit and singing as if I was mad:

Oh my darling...

HTML line breaks added. --JoeClone, 1-Jul-02.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Darling Baby
From: GUEST,maryrrf
Date: 26 Jun 02 - 03:28 PM

I think it's actually "The Roaring Baby". Great song!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Darling Baby
From: GUEST,ciarili at work
Date: 26 Jun 02 - 04:08 PM

It was recorded by the Boys of the Lough as far as I recall. I about burst a gut the first time I heard it!

Subject: Lyr Add: THE ROARING BABY (trad)
From: MMario
Date: 26 Jun 02 - 04:12 PM

from CANTORIA sound bites available on that site.

THE ROARING BABY
traditional?

Ah when I was young, a bachelor, the brightest ever seen
My friends all said I looked so very miserable and mean
And then at last I took myself a darling wife, alas
And all my friends said Ah jack old boy you must have been an ass

[spoken]
I was like the man and the donkey,
Whenever the donkey carried him it was wrong
Whenever he carried the donkey it was wrong
Whenever I got married it was wrong,
Whenever I was single it was wrong
What do you want a wife for? Yes what do I want a wife for?

Last night as I got into bed, there came a knock at our front window and I says
Who's there? me. who's me? Me's your father in law come to get his daughter
'cause her mother's sick in bed and wants her home at once
So of course up gets my wife and on with her bonnet and shawl, off to see her dear mother, leaving me in
care of the baby only just weaned with not a soul in the house but me
and the serving girl just left that day too big for her boots
Well he began to roar and I began to sing....

Chorus:
Ah my darling cheeker Billy chum
wait until your mummy comes
Wouldn't you like to suck your thumb as ever a man so born
But the more I kitchy-kitchied so, and walked him up, down, to and fro
And I give him everything, ya know, but the more the darlin roared.

Well oh my lord to my surprise, and I searched it all about
For to find a box of matches for the candle had gone out
And I tripped over a pail and took most of the bark off my shins
And this is what I sang as I was rubbin my leg

Chorus

At last I found a lucifer a solitary one,
And oh my lord to my surprise when I first saw my son
His cheeks were of a beet root red and the tears came down like rain
And when I picked him up, well, he started out again
ya, ya, ya ya...
And this is what I sung when I put the bolster over his head

Chorus

Well I give him toys and I give him food and I give him everything
And without my clothes I lept about and I danced the highland fling
Ah but he wouldn't have it at'al, and he yelled and cried the more
And whenever I gave it up for lost, my wife came in the door

[spoken]
His mother, my wife, and whenever he heard her, he was quiet as a mouse, the wretch
And she says I hope the baby's been good and I says yes
Here have I been leppin about these last three hours in this cold oilcloth
jumpin around as if I was mad

Chorus

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Darling Baby
From: John-S
Date: 26 Jun 02 - 04:18 PM

Thanks, MMario.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Darling Baby
From: MMario
Date: 26 Jun 02 - 04:20 PM

DANG! forgot my "add:"

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Darling Baby
From: GUEST,maryrrf
Date: 26 Jun 02 - 09:58 PM

That was sung on Cantaria by Chris Caldwell, a great trad singer from County Antrim. Check out his version of "Farewell to Whiskey".

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Darling Baby
From: pavane
Date: 27 Jun 02 - 04:45 AM

You are correct in that it was recorded many years ago (1970's) by Boys of the Lough, on their third album, I believe.

There are some minor differerences in the words, e.g poor DEAR mother.

In their text, the serving girl was 'far too big for her place', i.e. pregnant, I believe.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Darling Baby
From: GUEST,Caliallye
Date: 12 Dec 11 - 10:55 PM

Yes, Boys of the Loch's Cathal McConnell recorded this around 1977, I think. I bought it around then, after the BlackPoint Music Festival in 1978 held in Novato CA, where they were featured performers and workshop leaders.

I was so happy to find this thread. I've been looking for the lyrics for several months for a class on folk song.

Thank you all!

P.S. to guests: Yes, indeed that was correct, "far too big for her place" = pregnant. Also, in Cathal's version, the bolster was "shoved" as well……. The pun on "alas" and "A lass(y)" was very pronounced in Cathal's recording.

I also believe that the word was borne, with an "e," as in bearing the responsibility, enduring something, carrying something, giving birth to something; as opposed to the adjective: existing as a result of birth, or being born of women, though the pun is still there. It was definitely not bored.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Darling Baby
From: GUEST
Date: 14 Dec 11 - 02:20 AM

I found the album of The Boys of the Loch. It's from "Live at Passim" released in 1975.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Darling Baby
From: GUEST,Sandra Lynn Sparks
Date: 23 Apr 12 - 03:47 PM

Robin Morton sang this to me in his kitchen years and years ago. It was the first time I heard it and has been a favorite ever since. You might try contacting him at http://www.templerecords.co.uk/home.php to find out about credits.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Darling Baby
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 24 Apr 12 - 10:51 AM

I guess this would be funny if I hadn't just read in the newspaper about the turkey who killed his little son a few months ago (shook the baby and punched him) because he wouldn't stop crying.

Really, there are too many people who simply cannot handle a baby who won't stop crying. There is something absolutely nerve-wracking about the crying of a newborn. So in honor of Child Abuse Prevention Month, I submit this video, which I found interesting and helpful.

she won't stop