Lyr Req: Tell no lies

Subject: Lyr Req: Tell no lies
From: Dave Rado
Date: 18 Sep 17 - 06:30 AM

I was recently at a folk club where someone sang a wonderful singalong song about a bloke who led a girl up the garden path, telling her he loved her when he didn't, and she ended up dying and going to heaven and he went to hell; and the moral of the story was "tell no lies" - which the singer told me was also the song's title.

However, googling for that title gives nothing, and nor does searching the DT.

Does anyone have any idea what song it might have been? It was one of those songs in which there's no chorus but it's very easy for the audience to pick up the words of the verses and to join in with all but the first line of each verse.

Dave

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Tell no lies
From: Dave Rado
Date: 19 Sep 17 - 07:30 AM

I should have mentioned that it's an Irish song. Also it could possibly have been "Don't tell lies," rather than "Tell no lies."

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Tell no lies
From: Mo the caller
Date: 19 Sep 17 - 09:37 AM

Try this thread
Various versions, a DIY kit

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Tell no lies
From: Dave Rado
Date: 21 Sep 17 - 05:19 PM

That's the one! Many thanks, Mo. The best version I can find, which includes the tune, is here.

The titles used for the song seems to be variously "Oh, How He Lied," "Never tell Lies," and "She Sat Neath the Lilacs" (which makes searching for it long-winded); and as far as I can gather from the thread you linked to, the song seems to have originated in the US, rather than Ireland, and to be early 20th century in origin - more recent than I had thought.

Anyway, many thanks again.

Dave

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Tell no lies
From: Dave Rado
Date: 21 Sep 17 - 05:38 PM

The DT has a version under the title "Oh How He Lied," here .

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Tell no lies
From: Mo the caller
Date: 22 Sep 17 - 08:47 AM

Not sure that I like the chorus in your Youtube version. We never sang that. The downward arpeggio on the last word is chorus enough.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Tell no lies
From: Dave Rado
Date: 22 Sep 17 - 07:01 PM

I don't like that "Oom ching-a ching-a" chorus either, but it's still the best recording of the song I could find; and it gives you the tune. (I don't like the words of Pete Seeger's version as much).