Stumping the Mudcat #2

Subject: Stumping the Mudcat #2
From: GUEST,Raggytash
Date: 04 Feb 16 - 02:52 PM

I think I can pre-date stumping the Mudcat thread by a good few years.

Back in the late 70's I heard a song by two lassies at Bracknell Folk Festival which started:

One fine summers day a woman went walking
down by the river so gentle and free
and there she espied a beautiful sailor
sitting alone in the shade of a tree
she boldly went to this young man
pray tell to me from whence you came
for my eyes have not feasted on such beauty
and may never do so again

The sailor replies and eventually the lass has her wicked way with him and he laments to his mother "I am quite undone"

I seem to recall the lassies who sang the song were Canadian but I have not heard it since, so for 36 years I've been searching for it.

Can anyone help ?????

Subject: RE: Stumping the Mudcat #2
From: cnd
Date: 04 Feb 16 - 03:26 PM

There's already several (unfulfilled) threads on this song on Mudcat: thread.cfm?threadid=23013 . It seems as if several people here remember the song but no one knows what it is. Based on searches it seems to resemble the song "Down by the (Old) Riverside (see: https://mainlynorfolk.info/folk/songs/downbytheoldriverside.html).

Subject: RE: Stumping the Mudcat #2
From: GUEST,Raggytash
Date: 04 Feb 16 - 04:08 PM

Hi cnd, One of the threads mentioned on your first link is the one I placed in 1998 !!

I'm still looking ............ and hoping. Someone out there must know the song ............. I hope.

Subject: RE: Stumping the Mudcat #2
From: Mrrzy
Date: 04 Feb 16 - 05:10 PM

Ha, I *knew* that if I claimed to have stumped y'all the answer would be found! Guest Pound Sign, thank you, and Joe, you are the best and posing it as a challenge was the only thing I could think of, given that you had fwustwated yourself seeking it on my behallf!

Why O why are are the lyrics absolutely nowhere? I find it hard to believe I am the first to be interested enough in them to type them up.

Keep hoping, the rest of you! The Knowledge Is Out There!

Subject: RE: Stumping the Mudcat #2
From: GUEST,#
Date: 04 Feb 16 - 09:05 PM

This ring any bells?

http://www.ukrockfestivals.com/caesars-camp.html

Subject: RE: Stumping the Mudcat #2
From: cnd
Date: 04 Feb 16 - 10:15 PM

So based on all five or six of the threads about this I've compiled a sort-of-complete and generally accepted version of the lyrics:

One fine summer's day a woman went walking
Down by the river so gentle and free
And there she espied a beautiful sailor
Sitting alone in the shade of a tree

She boldly stepped up to this young man
"Pray tell to me from whence you came
For my eyes have not feasted on such beauty
And may never do so again"

"Oh madam, I am a lonely sailor
Recently returned from sea."
...la la la la [somewhat questionable: only given in one version]

And he arose and cried in anguish
"Mother, I am quite undone
And you'll hang your head in shame and sorrow
When you hear of what I have done"

So she's lifted him up in both her arms
And kissed his lips so tenderly...


And that's as far as anyone's remembered. I thought it might be useful to have the "whole" song in one place.

Subject: RE: Stumping the Mudcat #2
From: cnd
Date: 04 Feb 16 - 10:47 PM

Looks like a version of "The Crystal Spring" - http://www.joe-offer.com/folkinfo/songs/299.html

Or "Green Bushes" - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_Bushes

As one resource I found said (regarding The Crystal Spring) "The sentiment of the fourth verse is faintly suggested in " The Boys of Kilkenny " (Croker's Popular Songs of Ireland, p. 208). See also the Journal of the Folk-Song Society, Vol. I, p. 96, 205 and 208 ; "The Little Turtle Dove," in this volume ; and "Bonny Paisley " in Logan's Pedlars Pack of Ballads, p. 4.05. The words in the text are almost exactly as Mr. King sang them." (Source: https://archive.org/stream/imslp-songs-from-somerset-sharp-cecil/SIBLEY1802.5603.14255.334b-39087013594496secondseries_djvu.txt)

Subject: RE: Stumping the Mudcat #2
From: GUEST,#
Date: 05 Feb 16 - 09:27 AM

Did Bill Boazman (Sonny Black) play that year?

Subject: RE: Stumping the Mudcat #2
From: Joe Offer
Date: 06 Feb 16 - 02:56 AM

Hi, cnd - why do you think "Crystal Sing" and "Green Bushes" fit the bill? I think the distinctive thing about this song is that it's the maid doing the wooing (and admiring the sailor's beauty).

-Joe-

Subject: RE: Stumping the Mudcat #2
From: GUEST,Raggytash
Date: 06 Feb 16 - 04:04 AM

I should point out that I recall the song was sung with tongues firmly pushed into cheeks. It was a comedy performance par excellence.

Subject: RE: Stumping the Mudcat #2
From: cnd
Date: 06 Feb 16 - 07:47 AM

I thought it just had the genders switched. There's been some discussion of that in past threads.

Subject: RE: Stumping the Mudcat #2
From: GUEST,#
Date: 06 Feb 16 - 08:29 AM

I think the key to locating this song is locating the performers.

Subject: RE: Stumping the Mudcat #2
From: GUEST,Raggytash
Date: 06 Feb 16 - 08:43 AM

I think the two lassies were Canadian for some reason. They were a booked turn at Bracknell folk Festival in 1980 (ish) Might have been a year earlier or later. I tried contacting the festival organisers but they didn't have a programme that was relevant.

Subject: RE: Stumping the Mudcat #2
From: GUEST,#
Date: 06 Feb 16 - 12:40 PM

Have you queried this at fRoots? They have some articles/reviews that date to that time and some refer to Bracknell Folk Festival.