Lyr Req: Virginia

Subject: Lyr Req: Virginia
From: GUEST,DanBangs
Date: 19 Mar 07 - 06:21 PM

Looking for full lyrics to a transportation song I blieve to be called 'Virginia'. Recorded by Bob Fox under that title, but can't find lyric listings anywhere. Sample Lyrics; 'No robber in England lived better than me, now me beds the cold ground across the salt sea, how hard is me fate in Virginia', 'If I could just live to see seven years more, I'd soon bid farewell to Virginia'.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Virginia
From: Peace
Date: 19 Mar 07 - 06:29 PM

Place to start.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Virginia
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 19 Mar 07 - 06:39 PM

Dunno Fox, but sounds like Virginia Lags or Lads of Virginia, in which case there is a lot here at Mudcat.

Thread 4241- Virginia Lags
Thread 41994- Lads of VA Also try 1845- Lags

Also the Virginny site linked by Peace.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Virginia
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 19 Mar 07 - 11:32 PM

Topic Records, "Borowed Moments," Virginia. Listed at amazon.com

Subject: ADD Version: Virginia (Bob Fox)
From: Sugwash
Date: 20 Mar 07 - 05:02 AM

Virginia
As sung by Bob Fox:


Now come all you young fellas where ere you may be
Come listen awhile and I'll tell you
For it's many the young man myself I have seen
More fitted to serve than to die on the string
But those hard hearted judges how cruel they have been
For they've sent us poor lads to Virginia
For they've sent us poor lads to Virginia

Now when I was in service in fair London town
I worked long and hard for my master
Till those pretty young ladies they led me astray
And my work I neglected for sport and for play
And for to maintain it robbed on the highway
And for that I was sent to Virginia
And for that I was sent to Virginia

Now when we got to Virginia, that cold shameful place
Which now I recall in my story
Our captain he stood with a whip and a cane
And he bargained for us, to be sold out of hand
Like horses they yoked us that ploughed the salt main
And they sold us for slaves in Virginia
And they sold us for slaves in Virginia

Now when I robbed on the highway well I lived at my ease
I laid down me head on soft feathers
With a glass in me hand and a lass on me knee
No robber in England lived better than me
Now me bed's the cold ground, far across the salt sea
And how is my fate in Virginia
And how is my fate in Virginia

Oh England, oh England, I fear I'll not see more
If I do it's ten thousand to twenty
For me fingers and rotting and me back it is sore
And I wander around right down at death's door
But if I could just live to see seven years more
Well I'd soon bid farewell to Virginia
Yes I'd soon bid farewell to Virginia

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Virginia
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 20 Mar 07 - 07:10 PM

Where did he get it?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Virginia
From: Stewie
Date: 20 Mar 07 - 10:35 PM

Malcolm, he notes that he 'compiled this version from many verses received down the phone from Marting Carthy who recorded the song in a shorter form on his album 'Crown of Horn' ...' [From liner notes to 'Borrowed Moments'].

--Stewie.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Virginia
From: GUEST
Date: 21 Mar 07 - 02:36 AM

MacColl found it in a broadside collection
He sang it regularly
Jim Carroll

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Virginia
From: Barry Finn
Date: 21 Mar 07 - 02:46 AM

Where did MacColl get the music? It's his version that I've been doing.

Come all you young rebels where er you may be
Come listen awhile & I will tell thee
Concerning the hardships that we undergo
In this damable place called Virginny

Such clever young fellows myself I have seen
Like scarecrows a dragging their chains on the green
Those hard hearted duties so cruel & mean
That lag us poor lads to Virginny

When I was apprentice in fair London town, manys the hours I worked duly & truly
Till buxom young lassies they lead me astray, my work I neglected more every day
And to maintain I went on the highway
By that I got laged to Virginny

Back home in ol England I could live at me ease
Rest me head on a bed of soft feather
With a jug in me hand & a girl on me knee
I thought myself fit for all weather

But here in Virginny I lie like a hog
My pillow at night is a brick or a log
We scratch for our vittals (sp?) like some hungry dog
In this damable place called Virginny

When we came to Virginny that famous ol town, that place which is so much admired
Where the captain he stands with a whip in his hands, & I with a heart full of sorrow did stand
With tears in me eyes in this damn foregin land
And was sold as a slave in Virginny

Old England, ol England I'll ne'r see you more, if I do it's ten thousand to twenty
My bones they are rotten my feet they are sore I'm burned up with fever I live at death's door
But if I should live to see 7 yrs more
Then I'll bid adieu to Virginny

Barry