Lyr Req: Walling (Keith Scowcroft/Derek Gifford)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Walling (Keith Scowcroft/Derek Gifford)
From: FreddyHeadey
Date: 28 Nov 16 - 06:33 PM

Lydia Noble singing it 2014
https://www.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=792980880743272&id=447079212000109

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Walling Song
From: GUEST,padgett
Date: 04 Sep 15 - 06:27 PM

Good to hear from you David, hope you are getting over your operation

Scowie wrote the Walling song many years ago ~ not sure he had Will

Noble in mind at the time, but appropriate of course

Ray

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Walling Song
From: Noreen
Date: 04 Sep 15 - 05:44 PM

Derek Gifford's CD "When All Men Sing", Matthew, consists of Scowie's poem set to music by Giff, including as you say The Walling Song as well as the title song.

A relevant snippet from Giff's biography (link given above by Matthew):

A few years ago at the National Folk Festival someone entered the Traditional Singers' competition with the Walling Song announcing it as traditional. Thus Derek and Scowie now rank among the best 'traditional' song writers!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Walling Song
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 04 Sep 15 - 05:11 PM

Thanks, all, for presenting two fine songs, even if one was posted in error.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Walling Song
From: Matthew Edwards
Date: 04 Sep 15 - 02:13 PM

And I see that Derek Gifford has indeed recorded both of the songs which have been discussed here on his CD 'When All Men Sing', still available from Derek's website here:- Derek Gifford's Recordings.

Matthew

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Walling Song
From: Joe Offer
Date: 04 Sep 15 - 01:55 PM

Glad we have that sorted out now.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Walling Song
From: MoorleyMan
Date: 04 Sep 15 - 01:47 PM

As you rightly said Noreen, one of Scowie's best, for sure.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Walling Song
From: Matthew Edwards
Date: 04 Sep 15 - 01:39 PM

Thanks to MoorleyMan for the lyrics.
I'm curious to know whether Scowie wrote it with Will Noble in mind; certainly Will, and his children Lydia and Cuthbert (all of whom are dry stone wallers), have adopted this song as their own. I love hearing Will sing it.

Matthew

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Walling Song
From: GUEST,Noreen at work
Date: 04 Sep 15 - 12:00 PM

Thanks David, that's the one!

Though I've heard it sung many a time, seeing it written points up the clever construction of the poem with its internal rhyming.

Very fitting that this song should be so well constructed, as are the walls :)

One of Scowie's best, I think.

Subject: Lyr Add: WALLING (Keith Scowcroft/Derek Gifford)
From: MoorleyMan
Date: 04 Sep 15 - 10:19 AM

Not wishing to "stonewall" your attempts to supply the correct words, Raymond, but here they are; I feel sure this is the song you wanted, Guest!!

Walling   (Keith Scowcroft/Derek Gifford)
(The last line of each verse is repeated.)

I've walled the in-bye to the peewit's wild cry,
On the fell with the wind in the heather,
I've laid the rough stone on the hill all alone
For to shelter the yow and the wether;
Stone wall and stone drain, in the wind and the rain,
I've fettled and set them together,
I've heard the snipe drum by an early pale sun,
And the grouse call a change in the weather.


I've a spade in me sack which I take on me back
And a tommy-bar short and well-hipped
To clear all the fall from the gap in the wall
And to dig out the founds that have slipped;
With the rack of my eye I can tell a stone's lie
And I'd never have courses that's dipped;
Yet a stone once selected is seldom rejected,
With copings all tight and well-nipped.


There's no fortune made at this stonewalling trade,
Ten shillings a rood is the rate;
Stoop, stile and smoot hole are all reckoned as whole
And there's no waller paid for a mate;
Still it's gritstone for me, that's as rough as can be,
For I care not for shingle nor slate;
And it's faster headway at the end of the day
That pays for the coal in the grate.


Now I said to me dad when I was a lad
That I'd wall for a trade if I could,
For the winter storms bring you fresh work every spring
As the drifts give the stone walls a shove;
So as man, lad and boy, I've found full employ,
And when Jesus calls me up above*,
I'll ask the Great Caller does he want a waller,
For walling's the trade that I love;
Yes, walling's the trade that I love.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Walling Song
From: GUEST,padgett
Date: 04 Sep 15 - 08:00 AM

O my goodness sorry got the wrong song of Scowies ~ fast asleep as usual, good to see my friends Marj Patterson and Dave Cowan aka Fyrish singing on the link even if its the wrong un

Ray

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Walling Song
From: GUEST,Singer Dave
Date: 04 Sep 15 - 06:50 AM

Thanks Joe and Noreen that's the song I was looking for, just need the lyrics now, thanks again.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Walling Song
From: Noreen
Date: 03 Sep 15 - 05:01 PM

Hey? Wake up at the back there, Mr. Padgett- this is a totally different song from WAMS, which has anyway already been posted, possibly more than once, on Mudcat, and much discussed.

Good to hear this lovely song getting some attention.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Walling Song
From: Joe Offer
Date: 03 Sep 15 - 04:21 PM

Here's one YouTube rendition:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RD_tbiSqaS0

Subject: Lyr Add: WHEN ALL MEN SING
From: GUEST,padgett
Date: 03 Sep 15 - 03:15 PM

When All Men Sing

When snow transforms the hedgerow thorn
And frost engilds the berry
Good men and true the firelogs hew
And in the inns make merry
When singing all as with one voice
It seems the very walls rejoice
And merriment about does spring
When all men sing.

Chorus:
Let every man so pitch his song
To help his neighbor sing along
To each and all contentment bring
When all men sing.

2. When lambs are seen and trees spring green
Come forth in bloom the daisies
For winters end our thanks we'll send
At Easter-time sing praises
Then with a will, yea one accord
We'll raise our voices to the Lord
And praise above our heavenly King
When all men sing.

Chorus:

3. When in the fields his scythe he wields
Then hear his summer sound
As man and boy their lungs employ
The songs they echo round
Rebound from hill and roof and spire
Starting lowly building higher
So surely then his scythe will swing
When all men sing.

Chorus:

4. When leaves they fall from elm tree tall
Then every back must bend
As young and old with courage bold
Their efforts they expend
Ensuring autumn's gifts are stored
Afore cold winter winds is blowed
Then comes and end to foraging
When all men sing.

Chorus:

5. Here's songs in season every year
Some voices sweet with others strong
Gently round ascending
With harmonies a-blending
In unison pours forth the song
Uplifting beams of Inn or Hall
And shaking plaster from the wall
When all men sing.

Chorus:

From the mudcat digitrad song base, tune on youtube

Ray

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Walling Song
From: GUEST,padgett
Date: 03 Sep 15 - 03:11 PM

Also known as "When all men sing"

Ray

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Walling Song
From: GUEST,#
Date: 03 Sep 15 - 02:07 PM

In the event no one comes forth with the lyrics, please know that both songs--this and the other you're looking for lyrics for--are available on YouTube.

Subject: Lyr Req: The Walling Song
From: GUEST,Singer Dave
Date: 03 Sep 15 - 12:15 PM

Can anyone provide the lyrics for the above song, believe written by Keith Scowcroft and possibly recorded by Derek Gifford please.