Lyr Req: Bluebell Polka (F. Stanley/Paddy Roberts)

Subject: Lyr Req: lyrics for the bluebell polka?
From: GUEST,Fogie
Date: 28 May 09 - 05:26 AM

Out on a walk at Upton folk festival I mentioned that my mother now decd. from Glasgow used to sing to me as a child and one of the part songs she used to sing was the bluebell polka - I only remember a verse and I wonder if anyone knows any more of it , or whether it was a made up children's rhyme. Anyone from up North?

Picking the bluebells in the merry month of May,
When suddenly I saw him comming down my way,
He was a handsome laddie and he looked so good,
I promised that I'd meet him in the Bluebell wood.

Half past seven by the old oak tree,
There I was waiting, anticipating,
What would happen to a girl like me,
When he came along.........

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: lyrics for the bluebell polka?
From: GUEST,Silas
Date: 28 May 09 - 07:36 AM

??????????

We play this a lot (And the Primrose) Never knew there were words to it. They don't seem to scan though...

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: lyrics for the bluebell polka?
From: GUEST,Silas
Date: 28 May 09 - 07:39 AM

Actually, revisiting it, it does scan - I too would love to know what happened next....

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: lyrics for the bluebell polka?
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 28 May 09 - 05:06 PM

I have the sheet music somewhere, 1950s I think, and it might have been Doris Day and it might have been called 'Bluebells in the Merry Month of May' or possibly not!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: lyrics for the bluebell polka?
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 28 May 09 - 05:28 PM

Just had a quick search for the sheet music. Couldn't find the song version but found the sheet music for 'Bluebell Polka'. It's by F Stanley arr by Marion McClurg copyright 1953 by James S Kerr, pub by Essex Music (EM Ltd 1002). It's one of my favourites. I particularly like the key changes GDC. Not good if you've only got a GD box. Used to play it DAG when I had a 3 row.

I'd guess the song version came after the tune so probably after 53.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: lyrics for the bluebell polka?
From: Jack Campin
Date: 28 May 09 - 05:55 PM

The tune was published in Kerr's Merry Melodies volume 1, about 1879.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: lyrics for the bluebell polka?
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 29 May 09 - 09:12 PM

Billboard says that THE BLUEBELL POLKA, performed by Jimmy Shand (from Scotland) was issued in the USA by Capitol Records, #3364, in 1956, b/w THE BARN DANCE.

Subject: Lyr Add: BLUEBELL POLKA (F. Stanley/Paddy Roberts)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 29 May 09 - 10:14 PM

Copied from the web site of Medley, a German "Celtic" band:


BLUEBELL POLKA
(Florence Stanley/Paddy Roberts)

Pickin' a bluebell in the merry month of May,
And suddenly I saw him strolling on his way,
Pickin' a bluebell just the same as I was too,
I thought I could be happy with a boy like you.

And as he turned and smiled at me my heart stood still,
I never knew a smile could give me such a thrill.
He was a handsome laddie and he looked so good,
I promised that I'd meet him in the bluebell wood.

Half past seven by the old oak tree,
I was waiting anticipating
What would happen to a girl like me
When he came along?

Pickin' a bluebell in the merry month of May,
And suddenly I saw him strolling on his way,
Pickin' a bluebell just the same as I was too,
I thought I could be happy with a boy like you.

He looked wonderful, oh so wonderful,
How was I to see he would make a fool of me?
Two dark flashing eyes looked like paradise;
My heart flickered like a flame.

What was I to do? Met my Waterloo.
There I stood for him, waiting in the wood for him;
I'm confessing, I learned my lesson
And now I'll never be the same.

Pickin' a Bluebell in the merry month of May
Is something I'll remember when I'm old and grey,
And if I live to ninety-two I know darn well,
I never want to see another Scots bluebell.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bluebell Polka (F. Stanley/Paddy Roberts)
From: GUEST
Date: 13 Oct 11 - 10:37 AM

One of the folks who talking about Bluebell Polka; the words that were written later on. As I understand it, no one knows who wrote them but the first recording of those words was the Brand Sisters, (Anne and Laura) in 1959, and I think sung for the White Heather club - a show featuring Andy Stuart, and a new song called 'Come In, It's nice to see you'. Moira Anderson may have sung these words too, so I just wanted to raise that issue!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bluebell Polka (F. Stanley/Paddy Roberts)
From: GUEST,SteveG
Date: 13 Oct 11 - 04:26 PM

The instrumental version by Jimmy Shand on Parlophone got to number 18 in the charts in December 55. Still can't find the sheet music with the song version and I still seem to think that Doris Day recorded it. Yes it would take some nifty singing to fit those words to it at the pace Shand played it, but I just tried it and it is just possible.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bluebell Polka (F. Stanley/Paddy Roberts)
From: GUEST
Date: 24 Sep 14 - 03:40 PM

You're confusing it with you mention of Doris Day - she sang 'The Bluebells of Broadway' in the movie 'Lucky Me'

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bluebell Polka (F. Stanley/Paddy Roberts)
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 24 Sep 14 - 08:06 PM

I sing it quite often, and don't find it that tricky.
The verses, as shown above, go : G G D G C C G so not the same pattern as in the usual sequence of the tune.

And it WAS Paddy Roberts who wrote the lyrics. The sheet music is at Boosey and Hawkes.
Apart from him, it was Alma Cogan who recorded it in 1955.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bluebell Polka (F. Stanley/Paddy Roberts)
From: GUEST,#
Date: 24 Sep 14 - 09:01 PM

http://www.strathspey.org/list/strathspey/archive/thread/22932/

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bluebell Polka (F. Stanley/Paddy Roberts)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 26 Sep 14 - 12:28 PM

Shona Campbell sings BLUEBELL POLKA on her album "Scotland My Home" and on "The Whiskey Collection." That's the only vocal version I could find on Spotify. The lyrics seem to match those I posted above.

Spotify has tons of other recordings that seem to be instrumental only:
Andrew Rankin
Dermot O'Brien
Foster & Allen
Jimmy Shand
Ron Goodwin and His Concert Orchestra
The Scottish Fiddle Orchestra
The Tartan Lads
... and many others.