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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Children in the Wood From: GUEST,SteveG Date: 06 Feb 12 - 03:42 PM Sheer laziness on my part. Yes it's the top one but it finished a year and a half ago and my memory's not that good. For c1784 read c1794-8 |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Children in the Wood From: Stilly River Sage Date: 06 Feb 12 - 03:20 PM Look at the top of this thread and you'll see links to related threads. You might try one of those. SRS |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Children in the Wood From: GUEST,SteveG Date: 06 Feb 12 - 01:21 PM I'm sure there's another thread floating about somewhere which tells of how the song indirectly originated from the ashes of the ballad. Basically the song was written and published with the music c1784 by a chap from Leicester who was inspired by hawkers selling pot effigies of the 2 lost children on the streets of Leicester, the story being very well-known from the popularity of the ballad. |
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Subject: ADD Version: Babes in the Wood From: GUEST,Guest Elaine Wakefield 7/3/09 11"'19pm Date: 07 Mar 09 - 07:39 AM I remember my mother singing this to me over 60 yrs ago POOR LITTLE BABES IN THE WOOD Now my dear you must know That a long time ago There was two little children Their names I don't know They were carried away On a bright summers day And left in the woods As I heard some folk say And when it grew night The moon it shone bright But the woods they were dim For the moon gave no light So they sobbed and they sighed And they bitterly cried And when they grew weary They laid down and died The robin so red When he found they were dead Laid strawberry leaves And all over them spread On a branch so strong He sits and he sings And this is his song Poor Babes in the wood How sad is the fate Of the Poor Little Babes in The Wood I didn't realize there is so many versions of this song nor realize how popular it is Thanks everybody |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Children in the Wood From: GUEST,Samalama DingDong Date: 07 Jan 09 - 11:23 PM I am super excited about this. My grandparents used to sing this to my sister and I as children, thanks! |
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Subject: ADD Version: Babes in the Wood From: GUEST,Lorrie Shields Date: 05 Jun 08 - 11:12 PM My parents used to sing a song to me when I was a child called Babes in the Woods. Words follow: BABES IN THE WOOD Well do you remember a long time ago of two little babes their names I don't know went strolling through the woods one bright summer day and lost in the woods, I've heard people say. And when it grew night so sad was their plight the moon went down, the stars gave no light They sobbed and they sighed and they bitterly cried poor babes in the woods they laid down and died. And when they were dead the robin so red took strawberry leaves and over them spread and all the night long he sang them a song Poor babes in the woods, poor babes in the woods. ariesgirl41668@yahoo.com |
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Subject: Lyr Add: THE CHILDREN IN THE WOOD From: Jim Dixon Date: 29 May 08 - 11:21 PM This version is from Patmore, Coventry Kersey Dighton. The Children's Garland from the Best Poets. Cambridge [Eng.]: Sever and Francis, 1863, page 102ff: THE CHILDREN IN THE WOOD NOW ponder well, you parents dear, These words which I shall write; A doleful story you shall hear, In time brought forth to light. A gentleman of good account In Norfolk dwelt of late, Who did in honour far surmount Most men of his estate. Sore sick he was, and like to die, No help his life could save; His wife by him as sick did lie, And both possess'd one grave. No love between these two was lost, Each was to other kind; In love they lived, in love they died, And left two babes behind. The one, a fine and pretty boy, Not passing three years old; The other, a girl more young than he, And framed in beauty's mould. The father left his little son, As plainly doth appear, When he to perfect age should come, Three hundred pounds a year. And to his little daughter Jane, Five hundred pounds in gold, To be paid down on her marriage-day, Which might not be controll'd: But if the children chanced to die Ere they to age should come, Their uncle should possess their wealth; For so the will did run. 'Now, brother,' said the dying man, 'Look to my children dear; Be good unto my boy and girl, No friends else have they here: To God and you I recommend My children dear this day; But little while be sure we have Within this world to stay. 'You must be father and mother both, And uncle all in one; God knows what will become of them, When I am dead and gone.' With that bespake their mother dear, 'O brother kind,' quoth she, 'You are the man must bring our babes To wealth or misery. 'And if you keep them carefully, Then God will you reward; But if you otherwise should deal, God will your deeds regard.' With lips as cold as any stone, They kiss'd their children small: 'God bless you both, my children dear'; With that their tears did fall. These speeches then their brother spake To this sick couple there: 'The keeping of your little ones, Sweet sister, do not fear. God never prosper me nor mine, Nor aught else that I have, If I do wrong your children dear When you are laid in grave.' The parents being dead and gone, The children home he takes, And brings them straight unto his house, Where much of them he makes. He had not kept these pretty babes A twelvemonth and a day, But, for their wealth, he did devise To make them both away. He bargain'd with two ruffians strong Which were of furious mood, That they should take these children young And slay them in a wood. He told his wife an artful tale: He would the children send To be brought up in fair London, With one that was his friend. Away then went those pretty babes, Rejoicing at that tide, Rejoicing with a merry mind, They should on cock-horse ride. They prate and prattle pleasantly, As they rode on the way, To those that should their butchers be, And work their lives' decay. So that the pretty speech they had, Made murder's heart relent: And they that undertook the deed Full sore did now repent. Yet one of them, more hard of heart, Did vow to do his charge, Because the wretch that hired him Had paid him very large. The other won't agree thereto, So here they fall to strife; With one another they did fight About the children's life: And he that was of mildest mood, Did slay the other there, Within an unfrequented wood: The babes did quake for fear! He took the children by the hand, Tears standing in their eye, And bade them straightway follow him, And look they did not cry; And two long miles he led them on, While they for food complain: 'Stay here,' quoth he, 'I'll bring you bread, When I come back again.' These pretty babes, with hand in hand, Went wandering up and down; But never more could see the man Approaching from the town: Their pretty lips with blackberries Were all besmear'd and dyed, And when they saw the darksome night, They sat them down and cried. Thus wandered these poor innocents Till death did end their grief, In one another's arms they died, As wanting due relief: No burial this pretty pair Of any man receives, Till Robin Redbreast piously Did cover them with leaves. And now the heavy wrath of God Upon their uncle fell; Yea, fearful fiends did haunt his house, His conscience felt an hell: His barns were fired, his goods consumed, His lands were barren made, His cattle died within the field, And nothing with him stayed. And in the voyage to Portugal Two of his sons did die; And to conclude, himself was brought To want and misery. He pawn'd and mortgaged all his land Ere seven years came about, And now at length this wicked act Did by this means come out: The fellow that did take in hand These children for to kill, Was for a robbery judged to die, Such was God's blessed will. Who did confess the very truth, As here hath been display'd: Their uncle having died in gaol, Where he for debt was laid. You that executors be made, And overseers eke Of children that be fatherless, And infants mild and meek; Take you example by this thing, And yield to each his right, Lest God with such like misery Your wicked minds requite. [This text is very similar to broadside Harding B 4(33), THE BABES IN THE WOOD, at the Bodleian Library ballad collection.] |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Children in the Wood From: GUEST,Tommie Reynolds Sandlin Date: 27 May 08 - 09:45 PM My Mother(Mable Moss Reynolds) sang that song to me as far back as I can remember.I know it is very old her Mother sang it to her when she was a little girl.(she is 81 now)My Sister and I have taught it to our children and our children to their children.Babes in the Woods Oh say do you now how a long time ago two little babes their names I dont know Were stolen away on a bright summers day and left in the woods I've heard people say and when it was night so sad was there plight the sun went down and the moon gave no light they sobbed and they sighed and bitterly cried and the two little babes they laid down and died and when they were dead the robins so red took straberry leaves and over them spread and all the night long they sang them this song poor babes in the wood poor babes in the wood This song will stay with me til the day I die. |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Children in the Wood From: GUEST,TERRY FENWICK Date: 11 Dec 06 - 06:04 PM My great auntie Maybelle sang those songs to me in the 30s and 40s - and I sang them to my children - I am 74 now. I have 15 grandchildren and I plan to give them copies of these - one great grandson now, too. How sweet this is to have found Babes in the Woods and Orphan's Lament. How sweet. |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Children in the Wood From: GUEST,zero Date: 08 May 05 - 03:24 AM I'm a new nember,my english is not vevry good,i wanna make friends with you ,if you like music,sport,eat,sleep,hehe~ life is a parper,take it by youself,it's yours |
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Subject: RE: LYR REQ Children in the Wood From: GUEST,Uncle Dan Date: 12 Sep 04 - 10:08 PM I don't suppose anyone has the guitar chords for the simple version of this song. My mother used to sing it to my sister and I almost 60 years ago. |
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Subject: Lyr/Tune Add: BABES IN THE WOOD From: Joe Offer Date: 22 Jul 99 - 02:04 AM Here's the tune and the second version of the song from Folksongs of Florida. It's very similar to the one in the database, but there are several interesting differences. -Joe Offer- BABES IN THE WOOD Oh, dear-ie do you know a long time a-go Two poor lit-tle babes, whose names I don't know, Were sto-len a-way one bright sum-mer's day And were lost in the woods, I've heard peo-ple say. And when it was night, so sad was their plight The sun it went down, and the moon gave no light; They cried and they cried, to go home they cried And the poor lit-tle babes, they lay down and died. And when they were dead the ro-bins so red Brought straw-ber-ry leaves and o-ver them spread And all the day long they sing their sad song, "Poor babes in the woods, Poor babes in the woods. From "Folksongs of Florida" Alton C. Morris, 1950 DT #542 Laws Q34 @child @death JRO MIDI file: BABEWOOD.MID Timebase: 192 Name: BABES IN THE WOOD This program is worth the effort of learning it. To download the March 10 MIDItext 98 software and get instructions on how to use it click here ABC format: X:1
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Subject: RE: LYR REQ Children in the Wood From: Lesley N. Date: 19 Jul 99 - 09:58 PM What a cool place... just what I need - another book store to frequent... |
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Subject: RE: LYR REQ Children in the Wood From: Joe Offer Date: 19 Jul 99 - 07:59 PM Well, Babe (grin), Folksongs of Florida doesn't have a tune for the lyrics I posted, but it does have a tune for another version, which I'll post sometime soon. Watch this space. In the meantime, why not go to Edward R. Hamilton, Bookseller and order your own copy of the book for $7.95 ? It's a great bargain. There's also an Irving Burgie songbook - gotta get that one before the rest of you buy it out. -Joe Offer- |
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Subject: RE: LYR REQ Children in the Wood From: Lesley N. Date: 19 Jul 99 - 07:07 PM Joe - does Folksongs of Florida have sheet music for Babes? (of course you'll think I mean be sheet music for me or alison and the other sweet things at DT, but I mean "Babes in the Woods"...)
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Subject: RE: LYR REQ Children in the Wood From: Date: 19 Jul 99 - 04:07 PM Great Joe! Are you ready to tackle "The Turkey Factor (Factor's Song)" (ZN396), Q37, now? The copy in DT is only missing 54 verses.
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Subject: ADD: Babes in the Wood From: Joe Offer Date: 19 Jul 99 - 01:27 PM THE BABES IN THE WOOD Now ponder well, you parents dear, These words which I shall write; An awful story you shall hear In time brought forth to light. A gentle man of good account In Northforth (Norfolk) dwelt of late, Whose wealth and riches did surmount Most men of high estate. So sick he was and like to die, No help there could he have; His wife as sick as him did die; They both possessed one grave. So love between these two was lost, And to the other kind; And as they lived, in love they died, And left two babes behind. One was a fine and pretty boy Not passing three years old; The other a girl more younger was, And made in beauty's mold. The father left his little son, Which plainly doth appear, When he to proper age should come, Three hundred pounds a year. And to his little daughter dear Two hundred pounds in gold, For to be paid on her marriage day, Which should not be controlled. And if these children chanced to die, And ne'er to age do come, Their uncle should their wealth possess, For so the will begun. "Dear Brother," said the dying man, "Look to my children dear; Be good unto my boy and girl; No friend else have they here. "To God and you I do commend My children night and day; 'Tis but a little time I have Within this world to stay. "You must be father and mother both, And uncle all in one; You know what will become of them When I am dead and gone." These words spoke their mother dear, "Attention to me give; Keep both my babes carefully, That they may never grieve." With lips as cold as any stone She kissed her children small; Saying, "God bless you both, my babes." With that the tears did fall. Now then the brother spake again To that sick couple there, "The keeping of these children dear Sweet Sister, do not fear. "God never prosper none of men, Or aught else what I have, If I do wrong your children dear When you are in the grave." The parents being dead and gone, These children then he takes; He carried both into his house, And much of them he makes. He did not keep these children dear A twelve month and a day, Before their wealth he did desire To put them both away. He bargained with two ruffians rude, Which was of curious mode, All for to take these young children, And slay them in the woods. He told his wife and all of them He would these children send To be brought up in London By one who was a friend. Away then with these little babes, Rejoicing at the tide, Rejoicing in a merry mode, They should on horseback ride. They played and prattled on the way As they rode off astray With those who would their butcher be And work their lives away. How then the pretty talk they had Made the murderer's heart relent; The one that took the deed to do Full sore he did repent. The other one more hardened heart He vowed to do his charge, Because the man that hired him had paid hem very large. The other one would not agree; So then they fell to strife; With another they did fight About these children's lives. But he that was of the wildest mode Did slay the other there, While in an uncreek (unintelligible) wintered Those babes did quake with fear. He took these children by the hand While tears stood in their eyes, And bid them go along with him But they could not but cry. Now two long miles he led them there While they for bread complained "Stay here," said he, "I'll bring you bread When I return again." Now hand in hand these little babes Went wandering up and down, But never more they saw the man, Approaching from the town. Thus wanders these two little babes Till death did end their grief; In one another's arms they died, As babes a-wanting relief. Their little lips with blackberries Was all besmeared and dyed; And when they saw the darkness of night, They sat them down and cried. The burying of these little babes They did no man accuse. The robin redbreast lovingly Did cover them with leaves. Now then the heavy wrath of God Upon the uncle fell; The awful friend he'd haunters have And his conscience fell in Hell. His barns was fired; his goods were croomed; His lands were barren made; All cattle died within his field, And nothing with him stayed. And in a voyage to Portugal Two of his sons did die, And to conclude himself he brought Unto such misery. He pawned and mortgaged all his lands In seven years brought about, And now at length these wicked ways By these words did come out. Come all that are executors Of orphans weak in sight; Do what is right and just And give to each that's right. Do what is right and just By them both day and night, Lest God by such misery Your wicked minds requite. The very man that took in hand These children for to kill Fared robber's fate until he died, Which was God's blessed will. He did confess the very truth Which is plainly here expressed; Their uncle died, and he in death Did long in prison dwell. Source: Folksongs of Florida, Alton C. Morris, 1950. DT #542 Laws Q34 @child @death JRO ^^ ...now you know the rest of the story. Good story, isn't it? -Joe Offer- |
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Subject: RE: LYR REQ Children in the Wood From: Date: 17 Jul 99 - 05:49 PM I forgot that another tune, called "The Children in the Wood", appeared for the song in the 18th century, and it's B066 of the broadside ballad tunes at www.erols.com/olsonw . |
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Subject: RE: LYR REQ Children in the Wood From: Joe Offer Date: 16 Jul 99 - 04:45 PM I toldjaso - Bruce is getting lazy. Seems my website isn't working this afternoon, maybe because I said nasty things about Microsoft. Try the recording later. -Joe Offer- |
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Subject: RE: LYR REQ Children in the Wood From: Date: 16 Jul 99 - 04:34 PM I have at least 4 copies of different broadside issues of it, and I don't want to type it (20 8-line verses). Original tune, "Rogero" in ABC is B398 in the broadside ballad tunes at www.erols.com/olsonw. |
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Subject: RE: LYR REQ Children in the Wood From: Joe Offer Date: 16 Jul 99 - 02:57 PM I think I have the link (above) to the recording fixed. If it doesn't work, Click here to get to my home page and you'll find links to songs at the bottom of the page. I was trying to link direct to the RealAudio file so you wouldn't have to see the dumb Microsoft popup advertising, but maybe that can't be done. Let me know if it doesn't work. If you're at all interested in this song, you should hear this excellent recording. I'll type the thirty verses over the weekend. I know Bruce is waiting in the wings for me to do it. He's probably got 'em, too, but wants somebody else to do the typing. (grin) Oh, well, he's certainly done his share of typing on his site. -Joe Offer- |
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Subject: RE: LYR REQ Children in the Wood From: Jeri Date: 16 Jul 99 - 01:01 PM Interesting - it's a variant of the one I'm familiar with and has a different tune and fewer verses. |
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Subject: RE: LYR REQ Children in the Wood From: Dale Rose Date: 16 Jul 99 - 10:12 AM You can't get there from here. It says you have to go to Joe's page first, and then click on the song, but the link they give works, so who knows? The Whitfield Girls (quite young as you can hear) recorded this for Jimmie Driftwood's label in 1972 on the second of two Rackensack samplers of musicians from the Stone County, Arkansas area. Their wording is almost identical to that given in Vance Randolph's book, so I would suspect that his book was their source, at least indirectly. (cited in the DT as From Ozark Folksongs, Randolph Collected from Marie Wilbur, Pineville MO 1929) In an interesting side trip, you can find a bit more on Vance Randolph at the Library of Congress http://lcweb.loc.gov/spcoll/193.html ~~ it is difficult to beat reading his books for information on the music and folklore of the Ozarks. I would also recommend the works of W. K. (William/Bill) McNeil. You can search at Amazon for available listings for both authors. |
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Subject: RE: LYR REQ Babes in the Wood From: Joe Offer Date: 16 Jul 99 - 04:57 AM Dale Rose sent me a RealAudio of a 1972 recording of this song by the Whitfield Girls. Click here to play. After it starts loading, Click here to see the lyrics from the Digital Tradition database. -Joe Offer- |
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Subject: Lyr Add: BABES IN THE WOOD From: Jeri Date: 15 Jul 99 - 10:57 PM There's one that goes:
Oh don't you remember a long time ago |
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Subject: Lyr Add: BABES IN THE WOODS From: Lesley N. Date: 15 Jul 99 - 10:18 PM Kathleen - got your e-mail and thought I'd respond here to kill two birds with one stone - give both you and DT the lyrics! You said the the e-mail that the songs was also known as "Babes in the Woods" - that's in Sharp's English Folk Songs from the Southern Appalachians.
And then those pretty little babes
Unlike many of the tunes in the book there are no other variants. Sharp says the tune is in Chrisite's Traditional Ballad Airs and Chappell's Music of the Olden Times - a later source would be McGills Folk Songs of the Kentucky Mountains. |
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Subject: RE: LYR REQ Children in the Wood From: Date: 15 Jul 99 - 08:53 PM See source code at the begining. RB2 and E are works reprinting ballads. It's also in Percy's 'Reliques'.
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Subject: RE: LYR REQ Children in the Wood From: Joe Offer Date: 15 Jul 99 - 08:16 PM Bruce, I checked your page and found the index reference, but not the lyrics. Where should I look? -Joe Offer- |
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Subject: RE: LYR REQ Babes in the Wood From: Joe Offer Date: 15 Jul 99 - 07:58 PM Gee, it's good to have you around, Bruce. So, is it not a Child ballad at all? I found a long, long rendition of this in Folksongs of Florida, but I don't have time to type it until the weekend (it's at least 30 verses). Is it already posted somewhere? -Joe Offer- |
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Subject: RE: LYR REQ Children in the Wood From: Date: 15 Jul 99 - 07:48 PM In the search box at the upper right of this page put Q34 then click on 'search'. If you want the full original of Oct., 1595, see ZN1966 in the broadside ballad index at www.erols.com/olsonw |
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Subject: RE: LYR REQ Children in the Wood From: Joe Offer Date: 15 Jul 99 - 07:46 PM I didn't have any luck, Kathleen, but maybe this will help eliminate something. The Traditional Ballad Index says Child 135 is "Robin Hood and the Shepherd," and that doesn't sound like what you're looking for. A search of the Digital Tradition database here for #135 shows we have no listing for Child 135. Can you give us anything else you recall from the song? do you know of fragments of verses, or can you tell us where you found a recording? -Joe Offer- |
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Subject: LYR REQ Children in the Wood - Babes in the Wood From: Kathleen Date: 15 Jul 99 - 06:49 PM Hello--I am looking for the lyrics to what I think is entitled Children in the Wood, maybe Child #135? Thanks for your help, I am new to this! Click for related thread |
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