Lyr Add: Guy Fawkes

Subject: Lyr Add: GUY FAWKES
From: *Conrad Bladey Peasant-Inactive
Date: 04 Oct 00 - 10:52 PM

GUY FAWKES

I sing a doleful tragedy—Guy Fawkes, the Prince of Sinisters,
Who once blew up the House of Lords, the King, and all his Ministers;
That is—he would have blown them up, and folks will ne'er forget him—
His will was good to do the deed-that is, if they'd have let him!

Chorus- Bow, wow, wow
              Tol lol de riddle lol de rol lol de ray.

He straightway came from Lambeth side, and wish'd the State was undone,
And crossing over Vauxhall Bridge, that way com'd into London;
That is- he would have come that way to perpetrate his guilt, sirs,
But a little thing prevented him- the bridge it was not built, sirs.

Then searching through the dreary vaults, with portable gas-light, sirs,
About to touch the powder train, at witching hour of night, sirs,
That is—I mean, he would have used the gas, but was prevented,
'Cause gas, you see, in James's time, it had not been invented

And when they caught him int the fact, so very near the Crown's end,
They straightway sent to Bow Street for that brave old runner Townshend;
That is—they would have sent for him—for fear he is no starter at—
But Townshend wasn't living then-he wasn't born till arter that.

So then they put poor Guy to death, for ages to remember,
And boys now kill him once a-year, in dreary, dark November;
That is—I mean his effigy, for truth is strong and steady—
Poor Guy they cannot kill again, because he's dead already.

Then bless her Gracious Majesty, and bless her Royal Son, sirs—
And may he never get blown up, if to the Throne he comes, sirs;
And if he lives, I'm sure he'll reign, so prophesies my song, sirs—
And if he don't, why then he won't, and so I can't be wrong, sirs.- Bodliean Ballad Collection, Johnson Ballads 2539

Subject: Tune Add: GUY FAWKES
From: *Conrad Bladey Peasant-Inactive
Date: 05 Oct 00 - 07:30 AM

This ballad appears in several forms in the Bodliean collection of broadsides. For the most part all the verses are present. This is the version with the most verses. Unfortunately, because it is so funny, the last verse is often ommitted. There is no date given but it appears to be firmly within the mid 19th century if not earlier. The version with the last line must have been written after the birth of a queen's son. Victoria? Click for tune

Click for gif of notation Here are abcs

T:Guy Fawkes
 M:4/4
 L:1/8
 K:Eb
 |z B|E> E E E E E E>E|F> F BA G>F EzE/2|F> F F F F F F>F| B> B c e d> c
 B z B/2|
 BeedcBAG|AAAc B>A G F|E> E E F G G G E| E C F E DC B|E2 E2 E2 z2|B> B c
 d e c B G|E2 E2 E2||

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Guy Fawkes- NEW!INFORMATION DICKENS
From: *#1 PEASANT*
Date: 10 Dec 00 - 05:01 PM

The Center for Fawkesian Pursuits has found the following information concerning the relation of Charles Dickens to this song-

Singing the Guy Fawkes Song to his Children

From: Glimpses of Charles Dickens by Charles Dickens the Younger
The North American review. / Volume 160, Issue 462
University of Northern Iowa  May 1895, Cedar Falls, Iowa

"Another favorite song of ours---and I thnk my father enjoyed them all even more than we did --was one that was concerned with the history of Guy Fawkes: "Guy Fawkes, that prince of sinisters, who once blew up the House of Lords, the King, and all his ministers." The beginning of each verse contained some startling statement of this kind, which was afterwards modified and eplained away in what we considered a most artful and humorous manner.  I forgot exactly what happened to interfere with the final stage  of Guy Fawke's nefarious project, but in another verse it was stated that Guy "crossing over Vauxhall Bridge, that way came into London.  That is, he would have come that way to perpetuate hi guilt, sir.  But a little thing prevented him--the bridge it wasn't built, sir," and also that when they wanted to arrest him "they straightway sent to Bow Street for that brave old runner Townshend.  That is they would have sent for him, for he was no starter at, but Townsend wasn't living theen, he wasn't born till artere that." To each verse there was a chorus of the good old-fashioned sort, with an "oh, ah. o, ri fol de riddy oddy, bow wow wow" refrain, and a great part of the point of the joke lay in the delivery of the introductory monosyllables; the first "oh" being given, as it were, with incredulity, or a tone of inquiry; the second "ah" strongly affirmatively, and the last "oh" with an air  as of one who has found conviction  not without difficulty....."-pp 525-526

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Guy Fawkes- full lyrics from Johnson
From: *#1 PEASANT*
Date: 10 Dec 00 - 05:02 PM

If you are interested at all in Dickens relationship to the gunpowder plot and his writings on it go here Clickit right here! CB