Lyr Req: Haley paley snow on the ground

Subject: Lyr Req: Haley paley snow on the ground
From: GUEST,Rumncoke
Date: 28 Jul 08 - 04:41 PM

I think I have most of the first part of this song, but suspect I am missing the middle. Can anyone help with this.

Haley paley snow on the ground
the wind blows bitter and raw
a poor young sailor lad dressed up in rags
came to a lady's door

The lady sat up in her window so high
and fixed both her eyes upon him.
'Go away go away you tarry sailor
so ragged and dirty and thin.'

'Oh madam I'm hungry and madam I'm cold.'
the sailor lad cried from the door.
'If you've got a penny to give me,' he said
'I never will want any more.'

'Oh my father my father was drowned in the sea
my mother she cried and she cried
We never again saw a smile on her face
Wi' a broken heart she died.'

I have two more verses - the lady gives a few pennies and the sailor reveals himself to be her William and is invited into the house with promises of greater charity in future, but is that all there is?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Haley paley snow on the ground
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 29 Jul 08 - 10:18 AM

I think the song must have become part of a medley c1900 when such things were popular. I have collected versions attached to other songs of the same early 19thc era. My own family lullaby (at least 4 generations) has your 2 starting verses, a spoken link 'and this is the story he told' then the tune changes to Bayley's 'No place like home' with 2 more verses of the lad's life story.

I also recorded another version that starts off with our 2 and then launches into 'Poor Little Joe', another similar song of the wandering beggar boy type, typical Victorian tear-jerkers.

There were hundreds of these bloody things printed on broadsides and 'Early Pearly' as we call it derives from a broadside which has a wide range of titles 'Lady and the Sailor Boy' being one of the most common though he is just as likely to be 'The Soldier's Boy' and the adjective 'Poor' is often somewhere in the title. They all start with 'The snow fastly falling or descending'. Both Pitts and Catnach printed versions so it's at least pre 1832, and all the major printers had versions. It is rather similar to the female equivalent ' The Poor Little Beggar Girl' which has just as many variants and was popular in America.

Most variannts have 4 or 5 double verses. There are versions of both on the American Memory website, but for a quick find try the Bodleian Ballads website Harding B11 (3527)The Soldier's Boy. I'm sure you'll find lots of other versions on there.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Haley paley snow on the ground
From: Rumncoke
Date: 30 Jul 08 - 07:23 AM

Thanks Steve.

I did try the Bodleian, but just got lots of the same songs over and over - I can never get anything out of that search engine, not easily, it is like pulling teeth.

Maybe I should just do what many collectors did and write my own extra verses.

Anne

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Haley paley snow on the ground
From: GUEST,Maurice Ffelan
Date: 29 Oct 08 - 06:59 PM

The only version I know is on an old Topic Album "Transpennine" by Harry Boardman and Dave Hillery (12TS215). This track is Dave's. Sounds as though that might be the version you have. Certainly the first four verses are familiar though some of the wording seems slightly different and the conclusion is as you describe. Don't seem to be any intervening verses. The lad does not reveal himself as William but the lady recognises him from verse four as her long lost brother. I haven't played it for ages. Never heard it or come across it anywhere else, not even the tune. It's a Christmas Boxing song from Ripon. The sleeve notes refer to an additional "Lucky Birding" chant which might be the missing bit you ask about?

Lucky bu'd, lucky bu'd, chuck chuck chuck.
Master and Missis it's time to get up.
If you don't get up you'll have no luck.
Lucky bu'd, lucky bu'd, chuck chuck chuck.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Haley paley snow on the ground
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 30 Oct 08 - 04:01 PM

Okay
LADY AND THE SAILOR BOY c1870 printed by Forth of Hull

The day was past and the snow fell fast,
The winter's wind did roar,
When a sailor's boy clothed in rags,
Came up to a lady's door,
As the lady sat at the window,
he raised his eyes with joy,
Take pity pray, sweet lady gay,
On a poor sailor's boy.

When my father he was lost at sea,
My mother pined and sigh'd
And ne'er was seen to smile again,
But of a broken heart she died,
Like a ship distress'd at sea,
That wind and waves destroy,
She sunk for ever and left behind,
Her poor sailor boy.

As through the streets I wandering roam,
I oft heave nmany a sigh,
When children run in their parents home
For no home or friends have I,
When hunger gnaws my little heart,
I sit me down and cry,
Then pity take for mercy sake,
On a poor sailor's boy.

Now the snow is fast descending,
And the night is coming on,
Unless you're to me befriending
I'll perish before morn,
Then how 'twould grieve your heart,
And your peace of mind destroy,
To find me dead at your door in the morn
The poor sailor boy.

The lady rush'd from the window,
And open'd the mansion door,
Come in she cried misfortunate child,
You never shall wander more,
my only son was lost at sea,
Who was my earthly joy,
And as long as I live I'll shelter give,
To a poor sailor's boy.

Alternative ending by SG

And when the household were sleeping sound
He tiptoed o'er the floor
He drew the bolts so silently
And opened the mansion door.
His accomplices looked at the silver and gold
And filled their bags with joy,
We'll have a happy Christmas now,
Said the rich little sailor's boy.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Haley paley snow on the ground
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 30 Oct 08 - 04:06 PM

Here's my family version of at least 4 generations

Early pearly snow on the ground,
The wind was bitter and cold,
When a poor little beggar boy came rolling up,
Up to a rich man's door.

The lady she sat in her window so high,
And loudly she did call,
Come in, come in, you por little boy,
And you shall have a warm.

Spoken...And this is the story he told...

(tune No place like home)
I am a little beggar boy,
my mother she is dead,
my father is a drunkard
And will not give me bread.

I sit beside the window
To hear the organ play,
God bless my dear old mother
Who's dead and far away.

If anyone knows the origin of the second part I'd be obliged?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Haley paley snow on the ground
From: GUEST,Robert Ward
Date: 15 Jan 13 - 02:51 PM

Fantastic to find this. My Dad (born Goole 1921) used to sing

Haley Paley, snow on the ground The wind was bitter and cold When a poor little sailor boy tattered and torn Came to a lady's door.

The lady looked out of her window on high And cast her eye upon him Come in, come in, your poor little boy You never shall want any more.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Haley paley snow on the ground
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 16 Jan 13 - 04:05 PM

Interesting Robert, in that 3 of the versions mentioned so far come from Yorkshire albeit in very different versions. Did your dad sing it in the steady way we sing it as a lullaby (waltz) or in the Pacey way they sang it in Ripon (Dave Hillery)(jig)as a house visiting song?

Spent all day today in Goole and will be there all day Saturday Singing and playing. If you live near Goole why not come along to the Waterways Museum and I'll sing it for you?

Do any other members of the family remember how the rest of your dad's version went?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Haley paley snow on the ground
From: Rumncoke
Date: 16 Jan 13 - 06:11 PM

Having seen the versions from Steve Gardham and then after some further fruitless searching, I'm afraid that I created what I felt was missing.

I'll find my book and type them in, see what you think.

The tune I use is brisk - but I'm unable to write it out - I know the theory of music notation, just can't get a tune out of it, nor into it either.