And Another Alphabet Quiz

Subject: And Another Alphabet Quiz
From: IanC
Date: 18 Sep 02 - 06:20 AM

And ... Another Alphabet Quiz.

Here's another complete alphabet, this time entirely made up of songs. Answers, as usual, on the forum.

A - Where would you wear it for a distant lover? Or is it farewell he?
B - Almost the perfect place for a shirtless miner.
C - You may hear the first of May and the last of June, but she'll tell you no lies.
D - Morris dancers may try to do it, but the real threat comes from the French, so they say.
E - At daybreak, his Mary sings in the valley and laments idle promises.
F - Ladies the worse for wear lose their coats, dresses and all.
G - The gunner kills his shape-changing stepson, as well as the child's father.
H - The roast beef of Old England gets decidedly tough. Pity the tradesman.
I - Irish comic sea song may have been written by Fred Weatherley. He certainly gets about a bit!
J - A mirror image of the Three Wise Men ends up in the pub.
K - Sylvan sexual activities are thinly veiled, but what kind of game is this?
L - Song for a corpse walk or a vigil. Learn the lesson and avoid the pain.
M - Advice for young ladies. Eschew superannuated partners.
N - He'd like some summer loving, but she's got a serious allergy.
O - Rural mystery - the farmer does his stuff, but who can tell what happens next?
P - A thorny problem - if he can get out, he won't be back in a hurry.
Q - She may dance, she may be kissed, but it's all done merrily.
R - Beautiful old man prepares to fiddle.
S - Well known Scottish Jacobite song, written by English Harry.
T - A pair of birds from the tower comment cynically on loyalty.
U - Aylesbury inn is a bit of a roller coaster!
V - Some French animals, in pairs, getting out of the rain.
W - The sentence may be harsh, but at least the shackles are personalised!
X - A large crowd, a couple of dozen at least, and all of them feared of a snail.
Y - Burns song, to a Scottish air he got from an Englishman.
Z - African military leader held down for drinking song.

If you do as well as for the previous quizzes, it should probably take about 3 hours or so. Collaboration is strongly encouraged and comments about songs, tunes, writers, performers (or anything else) are very welcome.

Good luck. Ian

Subject: RE: BS: And Another Alphabet Quiz
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 18 Sep 02 - 06:31 AM

H Heart of oak
N Night Fever
W don't know the title, but it's "The train I ride is 21 coaches long" in which the shackles have an initial on each link
Z Hold him down you Zulu Warriors

Nigel

Subject: RE: BS: And Another Alphabet Quiz
From: greg stephens
Date: 18 Sep 02 - 06:37 AM

Cuckoo,Great Silkie, Lyke Wake Dirge, Maids Whenyoure young, Prickly Bush, Quaker,Rosin the Beau, Twa Corbies(??), Ups and Downs, Worried Man, Ye Jacobites by Name, Zulu Warrior.

Subject: RE: BS: And Another Alphabet Quiz
From: greg stephens
Date: 18 Sep 02 - 06:59 AM

Drink Old England Dry.
Did Fred W write the Irish Rover, as well as Danny Boy?

Subject: RE: BS: And Another Alphabet Quiz
From: greg stephens
Date: 18 Sep 02 - 07:07 AM

Around my hat. Four Drunken Maidens.

Subject: RE: BS: And Another Alphabet Quiz
From: IanC
Date: 18 Sep 02 - 07:08 AM

Good work so far ...

A - ??
B - ??
C - The Cuckoo
D - Drink Old England Dry
E - ??
F - ??
G - Great Silkie of Sule Skerry
H -
I - Irish Rover
J - ??
K - ??
L - Lyke Wake Dirge
M - Maids When You're Young
N - ??
O - ??
P - Prickly Bush
Q - The Quaker's Wife
R - Rosin The Beau
S - ??
T - Twa Corbies
U - Ups and Downs (Aylesbury Girl)
V - ??
W - Worried Man Blues
X - ??
Y - ??
Z - Zulu Warrior (not in DT)

Notes for Irish Rover:
Fred E.Weatherley,1848-1929 was an English High Court Judge, Poet and Lawyer who wrote the original song Danny Boy. He also seems to have written "The Irish Rover" as well, at least I have seen it attributed to him, though I haven't yet been able to confirm this definitively. I'm going down to the British Library on Friday to check this if someone can't give it to me definitively before that.

All I can say is it wouldn't surprise me. He was enormously prolific and, though he was an amateur, he made a small fortune for "Roses of Picardy".

:-)
Ian

Subject: RE: BS: And Another Alphabet Quiz
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 18 Sep 02 - 07:14 AM

A = All around my hat

Subject: RE: BS: And Another Alphabet Quiz
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 18 Sep 02 - 07:15 AM

E= Early one morning, just as the sun was rising

Subject: RE: BS: And Another Alphabet Quiz
From: greg stephens
Date: 18 Sep 02 - 07:17 AM

Hard Times?

Subject: RE: BS: And Another Alphabet Quiz
From: greg stephens
Date: 18 Sep 02 - 07:37 AM

V must be something to do with Noah. Anybody know any French songs on the subject?

Subject: RE: BS: And Another Alphabet Quiz
From: DMcG
Date: 18 Sep 02 - 07:45 AM

X is 'Four and twenty tailors'. I guess Ianc is doing the Roman numeral trick again! J is, I think, the Jug that the Three Drunken Maidens pushed about. O is 'Oats and beans and Barley grows.

Subject: RE: BS: And Another Alphabet Quiz
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 18 Sep 02 - 07:50 AM

Y= Ye banks and braes

Subject: RE: BS: And Another Alphabet Quiz
From: DMcG
Date: 18 Sep 02 - 08:02 AM

S=Skye Boat Song

Subject: RE: BS: And Another Alphabet Quiz
From: greg stephens
Date: 18 Sep 02 - 08:14 AM

Subject: RE: BS: And Another Alphabet Quiz
From: DMcG
Date: 18 Sep 02 - 08:17 AM

B-Byker Hill

Subject: RE: BS: And Another Alphabet Quiz
From: greg stephens
Date: 18 Sep 02 - 08:38 AM

"Kiss in the ring" somehow springs to mind but Icant think of any explanation why.

Subject: RE: BS: And Another Alphabet Quiz
From: DMcG
Date: 18 Sep 02 - 08:42 AM

That crossed my mind as well, greg. The other things that seem to not-fit-either are the the Knave from the "Game of all Fours" and various Knights with or without Shepherd's daughters.

Subject: RE: BS: And Another Alphabet Quiz
From: greg stephens
Date: 18 Sep 02 - 09:02 AM

Those Knaves are blurring into Jacks which I'm trying to fit into the adjoining clue, with no success so far.

Subject: RE: BS: And Another Alphabet Quiz
From: IanC
Date: 18 Sep 02 - 09:39 AM

Coming on ... now we've got

A - All Around My Hat
B - Byker Hill
C - The Cuckoo
D - Drink Old England Dry
E - Early One Morning
F - Four Drunken Maidens
G - Great Silkie of Sule Skerry
H - ??
I - Irish Rover
J - ??
K - ??
L - Lyke Wake Dirge
M - Maids When You're Young
N - ??
O - Oats and Beans and Barley
P - Prickly Bush
Q - The Quaker's Wife
R - Rosin The Beau
S - Skye Boat Song
T - Twa Corbies
U - Ups and Downs (Aylesbury Girl)
V - ??
W - Worried Man Blues
X - XXIV Tailors (Four and Twenty Tailors)
Y - Ye Banks and Braes
Z - Zulu Warrior (not in DT)

H is staring you in the face. For N, i was going to add that the serious allergy's him (though I left it out because it might have distracted you from other associations).

;-)
Ian

Subject: RE: BS: And Another Alphabet Quiz
From: greg stephens
Date: 18 Sep 02 - 09:45 AM

Ianc: wasn't Hard Times right? I thought it was quite a good answer, I'm disappointed.

Subject: RE: BS: And Another Alphabet Quiz
From: DMcG
Date: 18 Sep 02 - 10:04 AM

If its not Hard Times of Old England, I think IanC will have to be disqualified! It fits exactly. Perhaps a clue that first your answer but not Hard Times is needed?

Subject: RE: BS: And Another Alphabet Quiz
From: Wolfgang
Date: 18 Sep 02 - 10:11 AM

'Hard times' alone still could have been 'Hard times come again no more', I think that's why the answer didn't qualify at first.

Wolfgang

Subject: RE: BS: And Another Alphabet Quiz
From: greg stephens
Date: 18 Sep 02 - 10:24 AM

I think he just didnt notice my answer while making his list.

Subject: RE: BS: And Another Alphabet Quiz
From: IanC
Date: 18 Sep 02 - 10:27 AM

H is "Hard Times of Old England" (far as I know, "Hard Times" is by Charles Dickens). Some notes:

A - All Around My Hat
Besides Gaudete, this was Steeleye Span's only hit single (originally with the B-side Black Jack Davy), which reached No. 3 in the British charts in December 1975. The song became so popular that it was the subject of a lampoon in folk circles ("I'm going to drown my cat'', etc.). Apart from the chorus, the verses were taken from the song "Farewell He".

B - Byker Hill
Also called Walker Pits. It was first printed in John Bell's 'Rhymes of Northern Bards' (Newcastle-upon-Tyne, 1812, facsimile reprint, 1971), it was directed to be sung to the tune of "Off She Goes" (The A part is essentially "Humpty Dumpty"). Other melodies have been attached to these words in recent years, including the tune of the American camp-meeting hymn, "Where Are the Hebrew Children [...]", and a version of the north-eastern dance tune "My Dearie Sits Ower Late Up".

D - Drink Old England Dry
According to Barrett this was written around the time Napoleon threatened to invade England, circa 1800. The song is also known as "Old England Dry" and "He Swore He'd Drink Old England Dry". The song was later adapted for the Crimean War (1853-1856). In 1936 a version of the song mentioned Lord Roberts and in the Second World War, Winston Churchill took his place. In much later versions the enemies were the Russians. In most versions the French are the enemy.

F - Four Drunken Maidens
Normally called "Three Drunken Maidens" but I'm using the title from the version in DT. Bruce Olson has some interesting information here.

G - Great Silkie of Sule Skerry
Child #113. The ballad (as well as a number of Silkie stories) originated in the Orkney Islands.

H - Hard Times of Old England
The song "The Roast Beef of Old England" was a composed 'gentlemen's' song until its parodies passed into oral tradition. It was used for many years as a party campaign song, originally by the Tories but later, with suitably ironic words, by supporters of the working-class movement. In the early days of the nineteenth century, it was adapted as "The Hard Times of Old England", a bitter comment on prices, low wages, unemployment and poor living conditions.

L - Lyke Wake Dirge
The song is in main a reference to "the 7 works of mercy" and the punishment for avoiding them. See this site for some explanation.

M - Maids When You're Young
The version made famous by The Dubliners once again originated from Norfolk. This time from an 83-year-old English fisherman by the name of Sam Larner, via Ewan MacColl. When The Dubliners released the song, it was considered too explicitly sexual for the public service airwaves, and again it was left to the pirate radio stations to broadcast it.

S - Skye Boat Song
The "Speed Bonnie Boat" Lyrics were written by Sir Harold Boulton, Bart., in 1884. The first half of the tune is said to be an old sea shanty; the other half is traditionally attributed to Annie MacLeod (is that the "Miss McLeod of McLeod's Reel?). There are other words, mostly pretty wet(!) including the R. L. Stevenson "Sing me a song of a lad that is gone".

:-)
Ian

Subject: RE: BS: And Another Alphabet Quiz
From: DMcG
Date: 18 Sep 02 - 10:30 AM

O! The Hard times of Charles Dickens, Ian C knows he wrote Hard Times!

Subject: RE: BS: And Another Alphabet Quiz
From: greg stephens
Date: 18 Sep 02 - 10:49 AM

I stand corrected. I'm afraid I wrote Great Silkie as well, instead of Great Silkie of Sule Skerry. He's a tough examiner, this IanC.

Subject: RE: BS: And Another Alphabet Quiz
From: IanC
Date: 18 Sep 02 - 10:56 AM

greg

You may have noticed I let you have that one.

;-)

Subject: RE: BS: And Another Alphabet Quiz
From: IanC
Date: 18 Sep 02 - 11:37 AM

Meanwhile ...

There's still J, K, N and V left ... surely someone out there can put up a few suggestions ...

:-)

Subject: RE: BS: And Another Alphabet Quiz
From: greg stephens
Date: 18 Sep 02 - 11:47 AM

Sorry, ground to a halt here.There isnt a song called "Venez ici, animaux" about Noah, is there?Oh, OK..

Subject: RE: BS: And Another Alphabet Quiz
From: Wolfgang
Date: 18 Sep 02 - 11:58 AM

J: John Barleycorn?

Wolfgang

Subject: RE: BS: And Another Alphabet Quiz
From: IanC
Date: 18 Sep 02 - 12:09 PM

Well done, Wolfgang ...

J - John Barleycorn
John Barleycorn appeared in the Journal of Folk Song Society Volume VIII, 41. It was printed in the reign of James I but is said to be much older. There were several 17th century broadsides of the song (see Bruce Olsen's Scarce Songs "Sir John Barleycorn"). It was well-known throughout England. Variants from Sussex, Hampshire, Surrey, Somerset and Wiltshire were published in the Journal of Folk Song Society.

greg
You're on the right track ... the title needn't be much to do with the plot though! (also it's not in DT which makes things more difficult).

:-)

Subject: RE: BS: And Another Alphabet Quiz
From: DMcG
Date: 18 Sep 02 - 12:11 PM

IanC or Wolfgang - Why the 'mirror image of Three Wise Men'? I still don't see it ...

Subject: RE: BS: And Another Alphabet Quiz
From: IanC
Date: 18 Sep 02 - 12:25 PM

Well ... if you take a mirror to 3 men coming from the East, you get "There were 3 men came out of the West".

:-)

Subject: RE: BS: And Another Alphabet Quiz
From: greg stephens
Date: 18 Sep 02 - 12:36 PM

Brilliant. Couldnt understand that clue at all. I like it.

Subject: RE: BS: And Another Alphabet Quiz
From: IanC
Date: 18 Sep 02 - 12:43 PM

Well, there's still K, N and V to try your skill on.

K doesn't involve a card game, by the way. The game's a very different kind.

;-)

Subject: RE: BS: And Another Alphabet Quiz
From: IanC
Date: 18 Sep 02 - 12:52 PM

Got to go. Elucidation in the morning (UK) if there are any not sorted by then.

:-)
Ian

Subject: RE: BS: And Another Alphabet Quiz
From: DMcG
Date: 18 Sep 02 - 02:01 PM

Aha! Game as in deer or bird, perhaps!

Subject: RE: BS: And Another Alphabet Quiz
From: greg stephens
Date: 18 Sep 02 - 02:32 PM

Could N be Nutting Girl? I cant make it fit the clue, though. He fancies summer loving, but she isnt allergic to the nuts, she just throws them away. Doesnt seeem quite right.

Subject: RE: BS: And Another Alphabet Quiz
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 19 Sep 02 - 04:25 AM

I thought "Night Fever" in my first post fitted the clue!

Nigel

Subject: RE: BS: And Another Alphabet Quiz
From: greg stephens
Date: 19 Sep 02 - 04:54 AM

well it fitted the clue, Nigel, but it wasnt the answer. Dont feel hurt. I didnt even get allowed Hard Times, even though I was right, because in my hurry I hadnt typed out "of old England".Frankly, Nigel, just between you and me and the gatepost, I think this IanC can dish it out, but he can't take it. I've noticed he's always setting quizzes, but he never answers any of mine. Suspicious,eh? I think he gets all his quizzes out of a magazine, and doesn't really understand the answers. But don't tell anyone I said so. Mum's the word, eh? Well,toodle pip, must be getting along.

Subject: RE: BS: And Another Alphabet Quiz
From: IanC
Date: 19 Sep 02 - 06:17 AM

Greg/Nigel

For N ... Lost somewhere above is the clue that it's him she's allergic to. Tell you what Greg, just get the first word right and I'll give it to you. DMcG's on the right track with K as well ... should get it any second.

;-)
Ian

Subject: RE: BS: And Another Alphabet Quiz
From: greg stephens
Date: 19 Sep 02 - 07:00 AM

The Keeper! With thanks to DMcG

Subject: RE: BS: And Another Alphabet Quiz
From: DMcG
Date: 19 Sep 02 - 07:22 AM

I'd forgotton that, so it would have been a very long second before I came up with it.

I remember being taught this when I was 8 at school singing lessons ... no one pointed out any sexual overtones then!

Subject: RE: BS: And Another Alphabet Quiz
From: Wolfgang
Date: 19 Sep 02 - 07:29 AM

I do wonder a bit, Greg, whether Ian would have been contented with the very first word alone.

How do I get a list of all animals in French that start with 'V'? I only recollect 'vache'.

Wolfgang

Subject: RE: BS: And Another Alphabet Quiz
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 19 Sep 02 - 07:34 AM

Are we definitely looking for animals in the French language, could we be looking for a song collected by Percy French, or could we be looking for a song in English about a French animal.
Three distinct possibilities

Nigel

Subject: RE: BS: And Another Alphabet Quiz
From: IanC
Date: 19 Sep 02 - 09:01 AM

Nigel

Or parhaps we're looking for "some French" ... perhaps a song in English with a French title?

:-)

Subject: RE: BS: And Another Alphabet Quiz
From: IanC
Date: 19 Sep 02 - 09:14 AM

btw - I'm still happy with the first word alone for N!

Subject: RE: BS: And Another Alphabet Quiz
From: IanC
Date: 19 Sep 02 - 11:05 AM

There's still N and V to go and I'd like to wrap this up in the next hour if possible.

Can I just summarise where we are with these two.

N - He'd like some summer loving, but she's got a serious allergy.
She's allergic to him but there's another allergy association ... what's a common cause of allergies in summer? (3 words). V - Some French animals, in pairs, getting out of the rain.
It has a French title, is about Noah and has pairs of animals getting out of the rain.

Any takers?

:-)

btw well done Greg for "The Keeper".

Subject: RE: BS: And Another Alphabet Quiz
From: DMcG
Date: 19 Sep 02 - 11:25 AM

Ok, time for some wild guesses!

Nellie the Milkmaid ... no hay associations I can see North Country Maid ... making hay, certainly

Subject: RE: BS: And Another Alphabet Quiz
From: IanC
Date: 19 Sep 02 - 11:28 AM

try looking for Hay then. ;-)