|
|||||||
Origins: The Fall of The Leaf / Life of a Man DigiTrad: WHAT'S THE LIFE OF A MAN Related thread: Lyr Req: What's the Life of a Man (15) |
Share Thread
|
Subject: ZDTStudy: The Fall of The Leaf From: IanC Date: 31 Aug 01 - 08:54 AM While I was looking for something else, I accidentally stumbled on this version of The Fall of The Leaf (aka Life of A Man) in the Bodleian collection. There didn't seem to be a previous thread discussing this song, so I've started this one. THE FALL OF THE LEAF
I observed the leaves as they fell from the trees; They were nip'd by the frost, and withered withall, As the cold came upon them, it caused them to fall.
By further observation at last I did perceive,
Those leaves in some places lay thick on the ground,
To look at those leaves but a little while ago,
To view the Church Yard what dead bodies may be seen,
Now the season is over and the leaves are all gone,
The scriptures plainly tell us of something more beside, The entry says Harkness J., Printer, 121, Church Street, Preston. (between 1840 and 1866) though I'd think that the song may well be a good deal earlier than this, both because of some of the words used and because it has the "feel" of one of the puritan songs like "The Truth From Above". The text is often said to come from The Epistle of James, but this is not quite accurate as the verse in James is itself a quotation from a verse in Isaiah 40. BTW, the song doesn't seem to appear in the Traditional Ballad Index, though there is some information about it here and, of course, it's in the DT. There's also some information in this article on George Townshend, which gives it as Roud 848 (Roud apparently has 26 versions, though non from broadsides(!)). The folk music index has one version listed, by Joe Hickerson. I'm particularly interested in this one, as I've been singing a version similar to the one in DT almost since I can remember.
Cheers! |
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Fall of The Leaf From: IanC Date: 03 Sep 01 - 04:50 AM How silly of me. I went away, Friday really pleased with myself having accidentally stumbled on a broadside which takes "Life of a Man" 60 or 70 years back and gives some possibilities for tracing it still further. I came back expecting someone might have come up with something more, like some suggestions for where I might look for Puritan songs etc. Not one response. I suppose I should have asked! Perhaps you were all too busy in the "I'nt Morris dancin stupid" thread. Anybody got any ideas?
;-) |
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Fall of The Leaf From: Malcolm Douglas Date: 03 Sep 01 - 10:38 AM The Bodleian Library Broadside Collection also has a number of (probably) slightly earlier copies: Fall of leaves Printed between 1796 and 1853 by J. Swindells of Manchester (2 copies showing significant textual variation from the above).
The Fall of the Leaf (printed by J. Hirst of Oldham in 1843) is an unrelated piece written by Thomas Rhodes.
Alfred Williams had a set from Thomas Dunn of Stratton St. Margaret, c.1914-16 (Folk Songs of the Upper Thames, 1923) and commented, The piece is old, and was a favourite throughout the Thames Valley. Vaughan Williams got one in 1904 from J.W. Wright of Coombe Bissett, Wiltshire (Roy Palmer, English Country Songs, 1979; Palmer comments, The song appeared on broadsides in the nineteenth century under the title of The Fall of the Leaf, though it was considerably improved by the refining and polishing action of oral circulation) Bob Copper gives a set from Rottingdean in Early To Rise (1976); I don't have time just now to see if he refers to the song in the narrative. That's all I can add at the moment, beyond noting that such internet references as exist are mostly to unattributed texts or to recordings by revival performers. |
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Fall of The Leaf From: IanC Date: 03 Sep 01 - 10:47 AM Thanks, Malcolm I've so far got nowhere with collections of puritan songs. Does anyone have any suggestions as to where any of these may appear? BTW "The Fall of The Leaf" (poem) by Robert Burns is also unrelated.
Cheers! |
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Fall of The Leaf From: GUEST,Boab Date: 04 Sep 01 - 01:57 AM For more years than I care to admit, I have sung a shorter version of this song , which I always knew as "Life of a Man". The chorus goes-- "What's the life of a man any more than a leaf? A man has his season, so why should he grieve? All thro' this life we appear fine and gay' Then like leaves we will wither, and soon fade away" Verse- "Had you seen the leaves but a few days ago----etc." Certainly not a little-known version; singing it on-stage some years back, found the [offstage] Macalmans joining me in the chorus. |
Subject: Folklore: life of a man? From: GUEST,Forsh Date: 07 Jul 04 - 05:58 AM Anyone tell me the 'Folklore' behind this song, please? (what's the life of a man anymore than a leaf) Thanks! |
Subject: RE: Folklore: life of a man? From: IanC Date: 07 Jul 04 - 06:53 AM Forsh Try this thread for some information. :-) |
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Fall of The Leaf From: Joe Offer Date: 24 May 20 - 03:02 AM Needs more work - sung by Bev Praver |
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Fall of The Leaf From: r.padgett Date: 25 May 20 - 02:59 AM Can now be found in the New Penguin Book of English folk songs 2012 Roud 848 MTCD 304 Points to collected in Canada not so much in England ~ surviving prints from 1810 {broadsides) Fall of the leaf I sing this mainly at funerals of folky friends and like me odd extra verses made up Ray |
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Fall of The Leaf From: r.padgett Date: 25 May 20 - 03:09 AM (What's) The Life of a Man? / The Fall of the Leaf [ Roud 848 ; Ballad Index K264 ; Bodleian Roud 848 ; Wiltshire 1008 , 1092 ; trad.] Harry Holman sang The Life of a Man on 16 December 1959 at The Cherry Tree in Copthorne above from Mainly Norfolk website ~ where there are extensive notes Ray |
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Fall of The Leaf From: Joe Offer Date: 22 Jun 22 - 11:26 PM joe- do cleanup |
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Fall of The Leaf / Life of a Man From: EBarnacle Date: 23 Jun 22 - 07:41 AM Bernie Klay used to do this one regularly at X-Seaman's concerts on the pier at South Street, New York. |
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Fall of The Leaf / Life of a Man From: Joe Offer Date: 06 Nov 23 - 03:59 PM This one needs some study. WHAT'S THE LIFE OF A MAN (DT) As I was a walking one morning at ease A viewing the leaves as they fell from the trees All in slow motion appearing to be And those that had withered, they fell from the trees What's the life of a man anymore than the leaves A man has his season, so why should we grieve Though all thru this life, we appear fine and gay Like the leaves we will wither and soon fade away If you'd seen the leaves just a few days ago So beautiful and bright they all seemed to grow A frost came upon them and withered them all A storm came upon them and down they did fall If you look in the churchyard, there you will see Those that have passed like the leaves from the trees When age and affliction upon us do fall Like the leaves we must wither and down we must fall _____ sung for Bob Beers at Fox Hollow @plant @religion filename[ LIFEMAN TUNE FILE: LIFEMAN CLICK TO PLAY SOF |
Subject: RE: Origins: The Fall of The Leaf / Life of a Man From: GeoffLawes Date: 09 Nov 23 - 11:53 AM Various recordings of What's the Life of a Man? on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=What%27s+the+Life+of+a+Man |
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Fall of The Leaf / Life of a Man From: Joe Offer Date: 06 Nov 23 - 03:59 PM This one needs some study. WHAT'S THE LIFE OF A MAN (DT) As I was a walking one morning at ease A viewing the leaves as they fell from the trees All in slow motion appearing to be And those that had withered, they fell from the trees What's the life of a man anymore than the leaves A man has his season, so why should we grieve Though all thru this life, we appear fine and gay Like the leaves we will wither and soon fade away If you'd seen the leaves just a few days ago So beautiful and bright they all seemed to grow A frost came upon them and withered them all A storm came upon them and down they did fall If you look in the churchyard, there you will see Those that have passed like the leaves from the trees When age and affliction upon us do fall Like the leaves we must wither and down we must fall _____ sung for Bob Beers at Fox Hollow @plant @religion filename[ LIFEMAN TUNE FILE: LIFEMAN CLICK TO PLAY SOF |
Subject: RE: Origins: The Fall of The Leaf / Life of a Man From: GeoffLawes Date: 09 Nov 23 - 11:53 AM Various recordings of What's the Life of a Man? on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=What%27s+the+Life+of+a+Man |
Share Thread: |
Subject: | Help |
From: | |
Preview Automatic Linebreaks Make a link ("blue clicky") |