Help: Monthelawn???

Subject: Monthelawn???
From: GUEST,Dave the gnome
Date: 21 Jun 00 - 09:24 AM

I heard on UK radio yesterday afternnon that the official term for a mis-heard song lyric is a 'monthelawn' or 'mondelorn' or some such spelling. The reason being that a well known song in folk clubs in the 50's (before my time I hasten to add:-) contained the lyric 'They slew the Earl of Islay and laid him on the lawn.' This became corrupted through mis-interpreation as 'They slew the Earl of Islay and Lady Monthelawn...' The term then apparantly crept into common usage.

Can anyone confirm or deny this or even provide the original lyrics and, better still, tune.

Cheers

DaveP The gnome of Swinton folk club <|;-)

Subject: RE: Help: Monthelawn???
From: IanC
Date: 21 Jun 00 - 09:27 AM

Mondegreen from "laid him on the green" => "Lady Mondegreen"

From "The Bonny Earl of Murray"

Cheers! IanC

Subject: RE: Help: Monthelawn???
From: GUEST,Dave the gnome
Date: 21 Jun 00 - 09:30 AM

Wow! How quick is this site. Thanks Ian - just shows how listen to something when you are driving and then waiting 18 hours before posting a question affects your memory! Obvious example of a mondegreen:-)

Cheers

Subject: RE: Help: Monthelawn???
From: Snuffy
Date: 21 Jun 00 - 10:22 AM

See also THE BALLAD OF LADY MONDEGREEN in the Digital Tradition for a couple of (deliberate) examples

Wassail! V

Subject: RE: Help: Monthelawn???
From: Kim C
Date: 21 Jun 00 - 03:13 PM

Too funny. Mister and I were just commenting the other day that neither one of us EVER thought Jimi Hendrix was singing anything other than "kiss the sky."

But on a recording of "Alan Tyne of Harrow" I was sure the singer (not Jimi Hendrix, just had to clarify) said "One night I robbed a turnip green." Actually what he said was, "one night I robbed at Turnham Green." :)

Subject: RE: Help: Monthelawn???
From: Sandy Paton
Date: 21 Jun 00 - 03:24 PM

The ants are my friends, they're blowin' in the wind.

Subject: RE: Help: Monthelawn???
From: Terry K
Date: 22 Jun 00 - 01:05 AM

surely the so-called Earl of Murray ia actually the Earl of Moray?

Subject: RE: Help: Monthelawn???
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 22 Jun 00 - 07:24 AM

I've seen the Ballad of Lady Mondegreen example. 1st verse is obvious considering the thread. 2nd took me 5 minutes. I still cannot get the third. Am I thick? Anyone want to tell me how thick and explain?

Subject: RE: Help: Monthelawn???
From: IanC
Date: 22 Jun 00 - 07:39 AM

Terry

What's the difference? Murray = Moray - depends where you get it from. Regular spelling's a recent thing.

Sorry if it's not under Murray in DT, perhaps they should have a Soundex search!

Cheers! IanC

Subject: RE: Help: Monthelawn???
From: Snuffy
Date: 22 Jun 00 - 08:48 AM

Dave the Gnome,

Here's a crytpic clue:

The 3rd one is from the same song as the second one, but comes before it.

Wassail! V

Subject: RE: Help: Monthelawn???
From: Grab
Date: 22 Jun 00 - 09:02 AM

And the famous Police song about a newsreader, with the chorus "Sue Lawley, Sue Lawley"... (for UK readers only)

Grab.

Subject: RE: Help: Monthelawn???
From: Brendy
Date: 22 Jun 00 - 09:06 AM

"When apples still grow in November,
when blossoms remain on each tree..."

Only our rivers run free - the way Michael McConnell wrote it.

Also...
"Disco bunny, how we don't talk anymore.."

A much better chorus opening to the Cliff Richard 'classic'.

B.

Subject: RE: Help: Monthelawn???
From: Brendy
Date: 22 Jun 00 - 09:10 AM

And wasn't it Huey Lewis and the News who told us:
"Go and get stuffed"?
([When the] going gets tough)

B.

Subject: RE: Help: Monthelawn???
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 26 Jun 00 - 10:24 AM

Ahhhhh! Got it at last - at least now I know where it came from I don't feel so stupid. How can I be expected to know the words for colonial songs after all.....;-)

Subject: RE: Help: Monthelawn???
From: Diva
Date: 26 Jun 00 - 04:49 PM

Paul Simmon's "Graceland" The way she brushed her hair and farted