Subject: Andy Irvine: 'You Rambling Boys of Pleas From: Lighter Date: 21 Mar 10 - 08:05 PM I can't find a Mudcat reference to this truly brilliant YouTube clip from 1979: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lOwwgtYi30Q |
Subject: RE: Andy Irvine: 'You Rambling Boys of Pleas From: Steve Shaw Date: 21 Mar 10 - 09:50 PM It was on the Planxty album After The Break, made after Planxty reformed after their halcyon days of the earlier '70s. The story goes that it was the song once heard by W.B. Yeats that he only half-remembered and subsequently reinvented as Down By The Sall(e)y Gardens. I'm sure I once heard Polly Bolton doing a version that included both songs. Someone else will certainly correct my garbled account. |
Subject: RE: Andy Irvine: 'You Rambling Boys of Pleas From: Ross Campbell Date: 21 Mar 10 - 11:44 PM That's interesting, Steve. I've been wondering if there was any reference to the fragment that Yeats based the Sally Gardens on, as a friend and I plan to work up the song together. Any source for the rumour? Some similar words, but quite different tune. Haven't got access to my Penguin Book of Canadian Folk Songs, which the DT mirror site gives as the source for "Rambling Boys of Pleasure". Rambling Boys of Pleasure More at Origins (Sally Gardens) Ross |
Subject: RE: Andy Irvine: 'You Rambling Boys of Pleas From: Steve Shaw Date: 23 Mar 10 - 05:19 AM Ross, I've been rooting around (in both my brain and in Google) to try to substantiate the link between the two songs but without success so far. I can't find a reference that specifically mentions "Rambling Boys" as the inspiration for "Salley Gardens" though it's stubbornly lodged in my brain form somewhere! |
Subject: RE: Andy Irvine: 'You Rambling Boys of Pleas From: GUEST Date: 23 Mar 10 - 06:12 AM Steve, there is mention of the connection between the songs in the notes to "where the Linnets Sing", three generations of the Tunney family and their songs. They refer to a hand-written copy dated 1784 in a library in Hanover, New Hampshire written as "down in Sally's garden". Brian |
Subject: RE: Andy Irvine: 'You Rambling Boys of Pleas From: GUEST,henryp Date: 23 Mar 10 - 01:31 PM A New Commentary on the Poems of W B Yeats by A Norman Jeffers (1968) says; Yeats's footnote explained that 'This is an attempt to reconstruct an old song from three lines imperfectly remembered by an old peasant woman in the village of Ballysodare, Sligo.' [H E Shields] argues that it is 'The Rambling Boys of Pleasure', an Anglo-Irish broadside ballad, the text of which is in the National Library, Dublin. Mr Shields gives several versions and says it was written to the Irish metre of, for example, An beinnsin luachrua; he obtained his source from Mr Paddy Tunney. |
Subject: RE: Andy Irvine: 'You Rambling Boys of Pleas From: Lighter Date: 23 Mar 10 - 02:12 PM The tune associated with Yeats's 1889 poem used to be known as "The Maids of Mourne Shore," published by George Petrie in 1855. It would need some adjustment to be fitted to the "Rambling Boys" words. Am not sure who assigned the tune to Yeats's words. Yeats's rewrite of a traditional song based on the imperfect recollection of a few lines is a perfect example of the "folk process." So is the application of a tune. The stellar result is a bonus. |
Subject: RE: Andy Irvine: 'You Rambling Boys of Pleas From: mikesamwild Date: 24 Mar 10 - 08:00 AM I love the tune but found the words syrupy ( and does grass grow on weirs)so I glady adopted The Rambling Boys. it makes a nice Jig too. a bit like the song Jacky Daly sings on his first LP Topic record 'The Taylor Bawn'. |
Subject: RE: Andy Irvine: 'You Rambling Boys of Pleas From: Steve Shaw Date: 24 Mar 10 - 08:08 AM Wasn't that Seamus Creagh singing it? I must stop losing my sleeve notes... |
Subject: RE: Andy Irvine: 'You Rambling Boys of Pleas From: mikesamwild Date: 24 Mar 10 - 08:17 AM I'll check it out too but I think it's on the solo album. A while back I fear. |
Subject: RE: Andy Irvine: 'You Rambling Boys of Pleas From: Steve Shaw Date: 24 Mar 10 - 09:44 AM The only Jackie Daly solo album I know of, Music from Sliabh Luachra Vol.6, is tunes only. The one I'm thinking of, which has that song, is Jackie and Seamus Creagh. It's a cracker. |
Subject: RE: Andy Irvine: 'You Rambling Boys of Pleas From: Steve Shaw Date: 24 Mar 10 - 04:35 PM I hasten to add that I meant unaccompanied solo album. |
Subject: RE: Andy Irvine: 'You Rambling Boys of Pleas From: mikesamwild Date: 26 Mar 10 - 08:50 AM You were right, sorry. but I can't find my tape of the Daly / Creagh recording. It'll be on The Session |
Subject: RE: Andy Irvine: 'You Rambling Boys of Pleas From: mikesamwild Date: 26 Mar 10 - 02:58 PM just been looking at the thread on Origins of Sally Gardens with a nice item by John Moulden which links the two songs well and convincingly. Click here ------------link added. Mudelf-------------- |
Subject: RE: Andy Irvine: You Rambling Boys of Pleasure (Yeats) From: alanabit Date: 12 Aug 18 - 06:43 AM Can anyone explain to me how to count the metre for this song? I think it slips in and out of 4/4 and 2/4, but I am not really sure. I do wish Mick Hanley and Andy Irvine would at least have the decency to make it look difficult as it is for ordinary mortals! |
Subject: RE: Andy Irvine: You Rambling Boys of Pleasure (Yeats) From: GUEST,Peter Laban Date: 12 Aug 18 - 07:17 AM In his book 'Aiming for the heart' Irvine gives it in 4/4/ but slips in a few 4/6 bars, I think these are the ones wrongfooting you. |
Subject: RE: Andy Irvine: You Rambling Boys of Pleasure (Yeats) From: GUEST,Peter Laban Date: 12 Aug 18 - 07:18 AM 6/44 ofcourse. Sorry. |
Subject: RE: Andy Irvine: You Rambling Boys of Pleasure (Yeats) From: Jim Carroll Date: 12 Aug 18 - 07:45 AM I think Irvine and other singers missed the point of this song by singing it in rhythm rather than 'pulse, as the Tunney family did The heavy handed accompaniment which forces the song into unnatural breaks and turns the narrative to nonsense doesn't help In my opinion - of course Jim Carroll |
Subject: RE: Andy Irvine: You Rambling Boys of Pleasure (Yeats) From: Steve Shaw Date: 12 Aug 18 - 08:52 AM I think you may have hyper-corrected there, Peter! Call me Mr Untrad, but I rather like Andy Irvine's Planxty version. |
Subject: RE: Andy Irvine: You Rambling Boys of Pleasure (Yeats) From: GUEST,Peter Laban Date: 12 Aug 18 - 08:53 AM I decided to best leave it and not make things any worse. Not my day, possibly. |
Subject: RE: Andy Irvine: You Rambling Boys of Pleasure (Yeats) From: Jim Carroll Date: 12 Aug 18 - 09:37 AM Sorry - wasn't ving a poke at anybody This happens to be one of my favourite songs I can't think of a more beautiful description of youth than "But we are young and the world is wide" I tend to lose that in Andy's rendition Jim Carroll |
Subject: RE: Andy Irvine: You Rambling Boys of Pleasure (Yeats) From: GUEST,Brien Hoye Date: 12 Aug 18 - 06:02 PM I agree, Jim Carroll. The imagery is much richer in The Rambling Boys, etc...and the best way to get the feeling for the song is to turn off the recording as soon as you get the gist of the melody and sing it unaccompanied in the woodshed if necessary. You should feel your own rhythm in response to how the language affects you, not to be governed by melody or time signature. Sure, the first time is hard, but if you have any success whatsoever, you'll find your own voice. |
Subject: RE: Andy Irvine: You Rambling Boys of Pleasure (Yeats) From: GUEST,henryp Date: 13 Aug 18 - 08:06 PM The song appeared again on 'Parachilna' by Andy Irvine with Rens van der Zalm, but under the title 'I wish I was in Belfast Town'. Andy and Rens van der Zalm drove through the bitter winter of July 2012, camped in the wilderness and kept warm by building camp fires out of old railway sleepers. Slept in swags, drank Cooper's Sparkling Ale and recorded an album in old historic woolsheds, shearers quarters and old forgotten schoolhouses! It's a memorable album too - one of Andy's best! |
Subject: RE: Andy Irvine: You Rambling Boys of Pleasure (Yeats) From: GUEST,Rory Date: 26 Jun 24 - 08:12 AM You Rambling Boys of Pleasure Roud# 386 Earliest reference to this song is from a 1756 printers broadside catalogue. Printer: Chas. Sanderson catalogue (a) p.14 (Edinburgh) Date: 1756 The earliest printed versions can be found in broadsides from about 1800 which are of three verses, but do not contain the 'sally's gardens' verse. Printer: Davenport (London) Date: 1799-1807 Source: Cambridge University LIbrary, Madden Collection, Slip Songs O-Y (VWML micro 73, item 1601) A three verse version can be found in a broadside from the Bodleian Llibrary Broadside Ballads. Printer: Evans, Long-lane, London Date: between 1780 and 1812 You rambling boys of pleasure, who in roving take delight, It's true I am a gay rover, and in roving take delight; I fix'd my mind on a fair maid, But oftentimes she did me slight, My mind was ne'er right easy, But when my love was in my sight. The second time I saw my love, I thought her heart it had been mine, Her graceful and handsome face, I thought her quite Devine; But gold's the root of evil, Altho' it bears a glittering hue, Causes many a lad and lass to part, Let their hearts and minds be e'er so true. There's one thing more I do disdain, That's to be call'd a runaway, Yet in this country born and bred, And Cupid will not set me free; I leave my love behind me, Alas! and alas! what shall I do? Must I become a rover, Into the land I never knew. Later, by about 1850, this ballad became six verses, and included the 'sally's gardens' verse. This may indicate two different songs were merged into one. Printer: Printed and Sold by J. Bebbington, Printer by Steam Power, 31, Oldham Road, Manchester Date: between 1858 and 1861 Ye rambling boys of pleasure, Give ear unto these lines I write, It's true I am a rover, In roving I take great delight; I fixed my mind on a fair maid, Tho' ofttimes she did me slight, I never could be easy, But when my love was in my sight. It was down by Sally's gardens, One evening as I chanced to stray, There I beheld my charmer, She appeared to me like the queen of May, She bid me take love easy, Just as the leaves fall from the tree, But I being young and airy, My love and I could not agree. The second time I saw my love, I thought her heart was mine, But as the weather alters, So did this fair maid change her mind, Gold is the root of evil, Tho' it shines with a glittering hue, And makes many a lad and lass to part, If their hearts or minds be ever so true. I wish I was in Dublin, And my true love along with me, Money to support us, And keep us in good company; Money to support us, And a flowing bowl on every side, Hard fortune ne'er should daunt me, For I am young and the world is wide. One thing more I do disdain, That is to be called a run away, Now in this country bred and born, But Cupid did not set me free, I leave my love behind me, Good lack! and what shall I do, Now I am become a rover, Unto the land I never knew. It's now I'm on the ocean still, Constant unto her I'll prove, Altho' from her I'm parted, There's none on earth but her I love, I'll rove about for pleasure, That all the world may plainly see, And if e'er I return from the ocean, Rich prizes, love, I'll bring to thee. A hand-written copy of a version in a manuscript dated 1784 is in the possession of the Dartmouth Libraries Archives & Manuscripts, Hanover, New Hampshire. Joseph Goffe notebook, Mss 783626, 1784. Rauner Library Archives and Manuscripts, Hanover, New Hampshire Description Notebook from Joseph Goffe (1766-1846), born in Bedford New Hampshire, containing an account of the labor and cost of building a saw mill in Bedford, N.H. Entries for work done for Samuel Goffe. On last six pages are songs. Dates: 1783-11-26 - 1784-12-17 A thankyou to Scout Noffke, for providing images of manuscript, Reference & Administrative Specialist Rauner Special Collections Library 1 It's down in Sally's Garden O there hangs Rosies three O there I met a fair maid who told to me her mind so free She bids me take love easy as leaves they do fall from the tree But I being young and Crazy Could not with her agree. 2 A letter of agreement I sent unto my turtle dove With many a kind compliment and seal'd it with a kiss of love Saying if you dont accept of this you will prove cruel to my fair I ne'er will be a slave to your fair female sex again 3 I wish I was in Ireland or some such country of my own Where girls I could get plenty But here I can't have none Where girls they are so plentiful although their portion be but small Sweetheart I could have twenty Could I but maintain them all 4 I wish I was in Liverpool and my true love along with me and every thing was settled to serve his Royal Majesty Where liquor is so plentiful and flowing bowls on ev'ry side Hard fortune should not daunt me I am young and the world is wide Although the hand-written song does not have a title, three of the four verses are in keeping with the 1850's versions of You Rambling Boys of Pleasure. The author of the manuscript Joseph Goffe (1721-1846) was born in Bedford, New Hampshire, and this hand-written version of the ballad has no references to North America, so this ballad would have its origins from the British Isles with references to Ireland, Liverpool and His Royal Majesty. It would have been transported to North America from the British Isles by immigrants sometime in the 18th century, and existed here by 1784 or earlier. The broadside versions of the early 1800's are assumed to not have the 'sally's gardens' verse, which was assumed to be added later by the 1850's. However, this hand-written version of 1784 indicates that the 'sally's gardens' verse was present in the earliest versions in the 18th century. These two different early versions were later combined by the 1850's. The "sally's garden" verse is claimed to have provided the poet W. B. Yeats with the inspiration of his poem, ‘An Old Song re-Sung’, later called ‘Down by the Salley Gardens’. The poet is said to have first heard from an old woman who sang it as she sat milking her cow in a field outside the village of Ballysodare in County Sligo.” This “old song” is very probably You Rambling Boys of Pleasure, composed in the 18th century. |
Subject: RE: Andy Irvine: You Rambling Boys of Pleasure (Yeats) From: GUEST,IS Date: 26 Jun 24 - 01:13 PM I strongly associate this song with Robert Cinnamond - surprised that he hasn't yet been mentioned in this thread. |
Subject: RE: Andy Irvine: You Rambling Boys of Pleasure (Yeats) From: Hagman Date: 27 Jun 24 - 03:45 AM Olivia Chaney has a languid version of RBOP with harmonium and string quartet on the Kronos Quartet's "Folk Songs" on Nonesuch from 2017. Source is given as Traditional, arr. Donnacha Dennehy |
Subject: RE: Andy Irvine: You Rambling Boys of Pleasure (Yeats) From: Hagman Date: 27 Jun 24 - 04:14 AM YouTube |
Subject: RE: Andy Irvine: You Rambling Boys of Pleasure (Yeats) From: GUEST,Rory Date: 27 Jun 24 - 05:57 AM Recording Title: Rambling Boys of Pleasure Artist: Tulua Album: No Coming No Going (2023) Tulua Ye rambling boys of pleasure, give ear unto these lines I write. Although I am a rover, in rambling I take great delight. I cast my mind on a handsome girl though oftentimes she does me slight, My mind is never easy until my true love's in my sight. Down by yon flow’ry gardens where me and my true love do meet, I took her in my arms and unto her gave kisses sweet. She bade take love easy, just as the leaves fall from the tree. But I being young and foolish with my own true love could not agree. And the second time that I met my love I thought that her heart was surely mine. But as the season changes my darling girl has changed her mind. Gold is the root of all evil although it bears a glistening hue; Cause many's the lad and the lass do part, though a heart, like mine, be e’er so true. And I wish I was in Belfast town and my true love along with me; And money in my pocket to keep her in good company. Liquor to be plenty, a flowing glass on every side. Hard fortune would ne’er daunt me for I am young and the world is wide. |
Subject: RE: Andy Irvine: You Rambling Boys of Pleasure (Yeats) From: GUEST,He Date: 27 Jun 24 - 04:54 PM The song appeared again on 'Parachilna' by Andy Irvine with Rens van der Zalm, but under the title 'I wish I was in Belfast Town'. The change in title indicates that Andy Irvine has contributed either words or an arrangement - or both - to the song. He has changed the title when he has rewritten other songs. |
Subject: RE: Andy Irvine: You Rambling Boys of Pleasure (Yeats) From: Thompson Date: 28 Jun 24 - 04:52 AM Yes, grass grows on weirs. |
Subject: RE: Andy Irvine: You Rambling Boys of Pleasure (Yeats) From: GUEST,Peter Laban Date: 28 Jun 24 - 09:24 AM Excuse the diversion of the topic but, speaking of Andy Irvine, Fergal Keane wrote a nice tribute to him in last week's Irish Times : Here. Fixed your link. ---mudelf |
Subject: RE: Andy Irvine: You Rambling Boys of Pleasure (Yeats) From: GUEST Date: 28 Jun 24 - 10:50 AM Thx. |
Subject: RE: Andy Irvine: You Rambling Boys of Pleasure (Yeats) From: GUEST,Steve Shaw Date: 29 Jun 24 - 11:37 AM Cheers, Peter. I knew nothing about Irish music until I heard a few Planxty songs on a double LP compilation of all sorts of stuff (even including a couple of Billy Connolly songs) that I'd bought off a market stall for a quid. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. It took me months to even work out what instruments were being played! I've never looked back... |
Subject: RE: Andy Irvine: You Rambling Boys of Pleasure (Yeats) From: GUEST,Peter Laban Date: 29 Jun 24 - 05:12 PM Strange ways and unexpected turns, Steve. Crooked roads and the unexpected places they kead us. I saw Andy Irvine in 1975 orvthere about. With Paul Brady. I had the lp at that point so Planxty must have been on my radar too. But I gave no recollection when I encountered his music first. I have seen him lots of times since, in all sorts of places and in all sorts of combinations. Last time about a year ago in a small theatre in Kilkee. He had a hundred people singing 'you fascists bound to loose'. Here's hoping he is right about that. And meanwhile I ended up in a rickety cottage on the West Coast of Clare. Swings and roundabouts. |
Subject: RE: Andy Irvine: You Rambling Boys of Pleasure (Yeats) From: GUEST,henryp Date: 30 Jun 24 - 06:30 AM We used to wake up on Sunday morning to Ciarán Mac Mathúna on RTE's Mo Cheol Thú. He would often play Planxty's languorous performance of You Rambling Boys Of Pleasure - all 7'45" of it! From Collins Dictionary; languorous - If you describe an activity as languorous, you mean that it is lazy, relaxed, and not energetic, usually in a pleasant way. Paddy Tunney sang The Rambling Boys of Pleasure on his 1966 Topic album The Irish Edge. Sean O’Boyle commented in the original album’s liner notes: "I first heard this song in 1954 from Robert Cinnamond of Aghadalgan on the shores of Lough Neagh in County Antrim." From Mainly Norfolk, which contains much more information. |
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