Origins: John o' Dreams (Bill Caddick)

Subject: John O' Dreams
From: Ron
Date: 25 Sep 97 - 12:54 AM

The words to John o' Dreams were set to Tchaikovsky's music. Anyone know which Tchaikovsky piece. Also, to who or to what does John o' Dreams refer? The only other reference I can find is in Shakespeare where he refers to John a' Dreams.

Subject: RE: John O' Dreams
From: Joe Offer
Date: 25 Sep 97 - 01:07 AM

Hi, Ron, it's adapted from Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 6, Pathetique.
-Joe Offer-

---

Here are the lyrics we have in the Digital Tradition. Any corrections?

JOHN OF DREAMS (from DT)
(Bill Caddick)
C F C / C F C / C G Am / C F C / C F C

When midnight comes, good people homeward tread;
Seek now your blankets and your feather bed.
Home is the rover, his journey's over.
Yield up the nighttime to old John of Dreams,
Yield up the nighttime to old John of Dreams.

Across the hills the sun has gone astray;
Tomorrow's cares are many dreams away
Home is the rover, her journey's over.
Yield up the darkness to old John of Dreams,
Yield up the darkness to old John of Dreams.

Both man and master in the night are one;
All things are equal when the day is done.
The Prince and the plowman, the slave and the freeman.
All find their comfort in old John of Dreams,
All find their comfort in old John of Dreams.

Now as you sleep the dreams come winging clear;
The hawks of morning cannot harm you here.
Sleep is a river, flows on forever,
And for your boatman choose old John of Dreams,
And for your boatman choose old John of Dreams.

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Words copyright by Bill Caddick, Music by Tchaikovsky (tune
borrowed from a southern Italian lullabye entitled Piva Piva).

Recorded on Fashioned in the Clay, FSI-104, Gordon Bok, Ann Mayo
Muir, and Ed Trickett. Also recorded by Mick Maloney on the
Green Linnet label, SIF-1010.

filename[ DREAMJON
TUNE FILE: DREAMJON
CLICK TO PLAY
DC

---

Here's one Italian song entitled "Piva Piva." Does it sound like the theme from Pathetique at all? Not to me. You decide: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-aSUFDGG-Sc

Subject: RE: John O' Dreams
From: Wolfgang (Hell)
Date: 25 Sep 97 - 07:26 AM

It is the main theme of the second part of that symphony.

And Tchaikovsky took it from an Italian folksong (source of that information: Mick Moloney). Wolfgang

Subject: RE: John O' Dreams
From: Ron
Date: 25 Sep 97 - 10:25 AM

Thanks for the info re: Pathetique. Still, as to the lyrics - who was, who is, or what was John o' Dreams?

Subject: RE: John O' Dreams
From: Jon W.
Date: 25 Sep 97 - 11:06 AM

From the context of the song, my guess would be a mythical figure not unlike The Sandman. I.E. dreams personified. The song seems to be simply a wish for the listener to have pleasant dreams. Your Shakespearean reference might shed a little more light. Who was the character John A'Dreams? What play?

I like the song a lot, seems like a great one to end a concert with.

Subject: RE: John O' Dreams
From: Wolfgang (Hell)
Date: 26 Sep 97 - 04:22 AM

To improve upon what I wrote yesterday from memory, here is what Mick Moloney writes on the cover of a vinyl from '78:
"This is another I learned from Sean Cannon. The words were written by Bill Caddick from Wolverhampton. The tune he took from Peter Tchaikovsky's...Pathetique. However, Sean Cannonwas informed by Toni Savage, who studied opera and belcanto in Italy, that the tune was borrowed by the Russion composer from a Southern Italian lullaby entitled Piva Piva [any help, Ezio, or other Italians?]. So, in a remarkable way, the tune has come full circle."
After typing this I found that the gist of this information can actually be found in the notes to this song in the database. I'm impressed. Nevertheless I'll submit it, since maybe not everybody looks it up there.
Wolfgang

Subject: RE: John O' Dreams
From: Bill in Alabama
Date: 26 Sep 97 - 11:12 AM

John-a-dreams is mentioned in HAMLET, Act 2, scene 2, line 568. The only gloss I can find for the reference is that, in Shakespeare's day it was used to refer to a "sleepy, dreaming idler." I'll check more sources later.

Subject: Tune Req: John O Dreams-Bill Caddick
From: Leadfingers
Date: 15 Oct 02 - 06:42 PM

I've just had an argument about the tune Bill used for John O Dreams.
I think we agreed it was Peter Ilyitch,but which piece??? Help Please
without going through all of Tchaikovski's work.

Subject: RE: John O' Dreams
From: Joe Offer
Date: 15 Oct 02 - 06:58 PM

Hi, Leadfingers. I moved you over to this thread, which has the answer to your question (Tchaikovsky, Symphony No. 6, Pathetique; lyrics copyright Bill Caddick, 1967). Hope you don't mind. I'll also cross-link to related threads.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: John O' Dreams
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 15 Oct 02 - 07:15 PM

Bill Caddick now sings the parody of his own song that was written by Les Barker, about eating biscuits in bed (Custard Creams).

Subject: RE: John O' Dreams
From: Joe Offer
Date: 15 Oct 02 - 07:24 PM

Sounds fun - can anybody post lyrics to "Custard Creams"?
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: John O' Dreams
From: Leadfingers
Date: 15 Oct 02 - 07:30 PM

Gawd I knew the 'Cat'was fast,but I didnt expect to get so much so
fast.Thanks,Joe,and all the other Catters . Especially as I lost the argument.I always thought it was from Sleeping Beauty.

Subject: RE: John O' Dreams
From: John Routledge
Date: 19 Oct 02 - 08:43 PM

I have just heard the author of John o' Dreams singing it at Manchester Extravaganza.
Bill admitted he didn't know where the Shakespeare reference was.

Subject: RE: John O' Dreams
From: Harry Basnett
Date: 20 Oct 02 - 06:45 AM

Bill performed this song plus many others off his new CD, 'Unicorns' at the Open Door Extravaganza 3 yesterday...sgame a few more people wern't there to enjoy it!
Jane and Amanda Threlfall, Roam and Martin Carthy are on today (see Manchester Extravaganza 3 thread ) - - get along if you can - - treat yourselves!

Subject: RE: John O' Dreams
From: Leadfingers
Date: 20 Oct 02 - 06:52 AM

I Knowsomeone who has ALL of Les Barkers Books. Iwill try to get
Custard Creams for the Cat

Subject: RE: John O' Dreams
From: Leadfingers
Date: 20 Oct 02 - 08:00 AM

And its nice to know Bill is still out there.I've not seem him for too long.

Subject: RE: John O' Dreams
From: Watson
Date: 20 Oct 02 - 01:58 PM

That Len Basker wot rote Custard Creams sends Bill other alternative versions from time to time.
Next time you see Mr Caddick, ask him to do Reg o' Dreams, the song about John's lesser known brother.

Subject: RE: John O' Dreams
From: Leadfingers
Date: 20 Oct 02 - 02:20 PM

I have spoken to my contact and will be able to supply custard creams
and the latest parody(I dont know if its Reg)in a few days,so hang fire there,catters.unless someone else comes up with it first

Subject: RE: John O' Dreams - favorite version
From: mmb
Date: 20 Oct 02 - 05:28 PM

My all-time favorite version of this song is on Vol II, Track 5 of Bok, Muir & Trickett: The First 15 Years (Folk Legacy, 1992). Their harmonies and accompaniment are so delicate!
    When I first heard them perform it years ago, part of the intro was that John O-Dreams was a metaphor for Sleep, the Great Equalizer, needed by all persons, whatever their station in life.

Subject: RE: John O' Dreams
From: GUEST,Roy
Date: 16 Jun 03 - 12:43 PM

Just browsin' this thread,where did lyrics for Custard Creams and Reg o' Dreams go.

Subject: DTADD: Custard Creams (Les Barker)
From: Bernard
Date: 16 Jun 03 - 08:06 PM

CUSTARD CREAMS
(Les Barker)

Those midnight snacks bring what you always dread.
Crumbs in your blanket and your feather bed.
Crumbs without number
Keep you from slumber;
Yield up the night time to old custard creams.
Yield up the night time to old custard creams.

The late night sandwich and the ginger nut
Stick in your shoulder, lie underfoot.
Huntley and Palmer
There is no armour
Yield up the darkness to old custard creams
Yield up the darkness to old custard creams.

Barm cakes and biscuits, whole loaves of bread
Mate on your mattress, breed in your bed
One million croutons
All on one futon
And down your duvet there's old custard creams
And down your duvet there's old custard creams.

I think I know now why my mother said
That gentlemen don't take tarts to bed
And when you're restive
Blame the digestive
You'll find no comfort with old custard creams
You'll find no comfort with old custard creams.

Subject: RE: John O' Dreams
From: Bernard
Date: 16 Jun 03 - 08:15 PM

Before anyone asks, Huntley and Palmer was a British biscuit manufacturer... they were taken over by Nabisco in 1982, and ceased trading in 1989...

How's that for thread creep?!

Subject: RE: John O' Dreams
From: Gorgeous Gary
Date: 16 Jun 03 - 08:17 PM

It's also an old Clam Chowder favorite; there's a nice version on their SALVAGED CD.

-- Gary

Subject: RE: John O' Dreams
From: Gurney
Date: 17 Jun 03 - 02:47 AM

The tune to John-O-Dreams may have distant origins, but I heard a recording once of the exact tune, except for the last note of the repeated last line, and the credit was given to two lads from Glenn Miller's trumpet section.

It was on the radio, I was driving, and I've never bothered to verify.
This was just a few years after Bill wrote it.

I suspect that at one stage Bill thought HE wrote the tune, because somewhere I have a song sheet saying "Words and music by Bill Caddick"
Yo carn't trust Brummies nohow!

Subject: RE: John O' Dreams
From: Watson
Date: 17 Jun 03 - 05:08 AM

Gurney, Bill has never claimed that he wrote the tune. He has always acknowledged it was from Tchaikovsky.
...and how does someone born half-way between Wolverhampton and Dudley, now living in Shropshire become a Brummie?

Subject: RE: John O' Dreams
From: vectis
Date: 17 Jun 03 - 06:27 PM

Tine please to les's ditty
Mary

Subject: RE: John O' Dreams
From: GUEST,Roy
Date: 18 Jun 03 - 11:26 AM

Ta for the biscuits.

Subject: RE: John O' Dreams
From: MMario
Date: 18 Jun 03 - 11:30 AM

vectis - Les's ditty uses the tune of "John o' Dreams' - see the midi via the DT link to J. o' Dreams at the top of the page

Subject: RE: John O' Dreams
From: Gurney
Date: 19 Jun 03 - 05:44 AM

Watson, I did say "suspect," and for a good reason. Bill himself sold me the song-sheet at a gig of his in Coventry. I don't know who printed it. About 1973. Good Grief.
There isn't a Bow Bells for Brummigem. Halfway down the road from Coventry will do. Dont take it too seriously.
There isn't a Brummigem either. Long ago, in a serious attempt to find the origin, I laboriously went through the Doomsday Book looking for it. No Birmingham, but there was a Brymwichham. Sounds near enough folk memory for me. Regards.

Subject: RE: John O' Dreams
From: GUEST,Pete Thomas
Date: 27 Jun 03 - 07:50 AM

Broadside would have been by John Crane who did a whole series ofBills songs in the early 70's including a booklet of King Sun and Queen Moon. I have also got a set of songs from Pete Coe in the same series.

Pete Thomas

Subject: RE: John O' Dreams
From: Blackcatter
Date: 04 May 05 - 01:24 AM

Any one have more info on the John O' Dreams connection - who he was, etc?

Blackcatter

Subject: RE: John O' Dreams
From: akenaton
Date: 04 May 05 - 02:12 AM

I think "John o' dreams" would be based on the old scots lullaby "Dream Angus".

Angus was a mythical gaelic figure who brought dreams to sleeping children.
The dreams were always good and brought peace .
"Dreams to sell, fine dreams to sell,
Angus is here with dreams to sell.
Hush little baby and sleep without fear,
Angus has brought you a dream my dear"

Subject: RE: John O' Dreams
From: Boab
Date: 04 May 05 - 03:55 AM

Possible, Akenaton, but in my opinion not very likely. There is quite a number of similar songs in the theme. Mind you, you do mention another great song, "Dream Angus".

Subject: RE: John O' Dreams
From: RobbieWilson
Date: 04 May 05 - 07:51 AM

Why don't you ask the horse himself? [e-mail]

Subject: RE: John O' Dreams
From: Blackcatter
Date: 04 May 05 - 09:36 AM

done. I'll let you know what I hear.

Subject: RE: John O' Dreams
From: Den
Date: 04 May 05 - 03:26 PM

I think its just giving sleep a personality. When I was a kid in Ireland my mother used to refer to the night as old Johnny Dark. She would say, "its time for bed Old Johnny Dark's down." Scared the crap out of us to I must admit imagining this wierd old guy creeping around outside.

Subject: RE: John O' Dreams
From: Blackcatter
Date: 09 May 05 - 12:06 PM

Here's the response from Bill Caddick:

Hello Tom,

Thanks for the interest. It was a very long time ago but I seem to
remember a black and white TV version of "Hamlet" (this may be fantasy but I think it was actually filmed in Denmark) starring Richard Chamberlain (he of "Dr. Kildare fame in those days) and John o' Dreams was mentioned. I'd already thought of Tchaikovsky's theme from his No. 6 Symphony as a great tune (!) and the two just went together. The melody is "flattened out" a bit but is always recognised as Pete's as far as PRS etc are concerned. Will that do?

Cheers, Bill

Subject: RE: John O' Dreams
From: Blackcatter
Date: 09 May 05 - 03:29 PM

refresh

Subject: RE: John O' Dreams
From: Blackcatter
Date: 10 May 05 - 09:18 AM

refresh

Subject: RE: Origins: John o' Dreams
From: GUEST,Angela Brown
Date: 16 Dec 13 - 06:32 AM

I realise this thread is a few years old, but Scottish poet, William Sharp in 1906, tells a beautiful folk tale about A man referred to as John o' Dreams under his pseudonym Fiona Macleod in 'The Lynn of dreams'. I love the story so much that I was looking for more information on John o' Dreams as a folkloric figure.

Subject: RE: Origins: John o' Dreams
From: Mr Red
Date: 16 Dec 13 - 07:19 AM

Yo carn't trust Brummies nohow!
Whom youm accusin of bein a Brummie? Owr Kid
AFAIK Bill wus frum Wolverhampton ma mon. A million miles distant - culturally!
Nar he's aliven in Telford, (He got a free downgrade ) and at the last count ran an acoustic session once a month in the Black Swan, Jackfield.
see here

Subject: DT Correction: John o' Dreams (Bill Caddick)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 13 Jul 17 - 01:52 AM

Somebody sent me an email questioning the Digital Tradition lyrics to "John o' Dreams," and I figured I'd better check. I found two Bill Caddick performances, but he leaves out the last verse in the first one. Here's my transcription. Differences from the Digital Tradition are in italics. Any corrections?
-Joe-


JOHN O' DREAMS
(Bill Caddick)

When midnight sings, good people homeward tread;
Seek now your blankets and your feather bed.
Home is a rover, his journey's over.
Yield up the nighttime to old John o' Dreams,
Yield up the nighttime to old John o' Dreams.

Across the hill the sun has gone astray;
Tomorrow's cares are many dreams away.
The stars are flying, your candle's dying,
Home is the rover, her journey's over.
Yield up the darkness to old John o' Dreams,
Yield up the darkness to old John o' Dreams.

Both man and master in the night are one;
All things are equal when the day is done.
The Prince and the Ploughman, the slave and the freeman.
All find their comfort with old John o' Dreams,
All find their comfort with old John o' Dreams.

Now as you sleep the dreams come winging clear;
The hawks of morning cannot harm you here.
Sleep is your river, float on forever,
And for your boatman choose old John o' Dreams,
And for your boatman choose old John o' Dreams.

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Words copyright by Bill Caddick, Music by Tchaikovsky (tune
borrowed from a southern Italian lullabye entitled Piva Piva).

I listened to this Bill Caddick performance - he stops after the first line of the fourth verse, so I can't verify the fourth verse.

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

A kindly Mudcatter sent me a Bill Caddick studio recording of the song from an album titled Unicorns-Disk 1, so the above is my transcription from the two Bill Caddick recordings.

---

Here are the Mudcatter's notes, comparing Caddick to the Redpath recording:

Hi Joe
Bill re-recorded this for a CD 'Unicorns' in 2002. The version there is similar to the Jean Redpath version, but with several small differences.

Some changes sound much better to me:
'The prince and _the_ ploughman...'

Some worse:
'When midnight _sings_ ...'
'Home _is_ a rover.'.'
'_Float_ on forever'..'

Which is 'right' I've no idea. Anyway, have a listen.

Subject: RE: Origins: John o' Dreams (Bill Caddick)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 13 Jul 17 - 02:12 AM

Well, lacking a Bill Caddick recording, let me post a transcription of Jean Redpath's recording. I've always appreciated Jean's scholarship.

JOHN O' DREAMS
(Bill Caddick)

When midnight comes and people homeward tread,
Seek now your blanket and your feather bed;
Home comes the rover, his journey's over.
Yield up the nighttime to old John o' Dreams,
Yield up the nighttime to old John o' Dreams.

Across the hills the sun has gone astray,
Tomorrow's cares are many dreams away;
The stars are flying, your candle's dying,
Yield up the darkness to old John o' Dreams,
Yield up the darkness to old John o' Dreams.

Both man and master in the night are one,
All things are equal when the day is done;
The Prince and Ploughman, the slave and freeman,
All find their comfort in old John o' Dreams,
All find their comfort in old John o' Dreams.

And when sleep comes, the dreams are running clear;
The hawks of morning cannot reach you here.
Sleep is a river, flows on forever,
And for your boatman choose old John o' Dreams,
And for your boatman choose old John o' Dreams.



Jean Redpath recording (from A Fine Song for Singing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9MsQ_vlHsY

Subject: RE: Origins: John O' Dreams (Bill Caddick)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 13 Jul 17 - 02:23 AM

We Americans learned the song on the Folk-Legacy Fashioned in the Clay album by Gordon Bok, Ann Mayo Muir, and Ed Trickett. Here's their recording and my transcription of it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IFH_mhiUpwI

JOHN O' DREAMS
(Bill Caddick)

When midnight comes, good people homeward tread,
Seek now your blankets and your feather bed;
Home is the rover, his journey's over.
Yield up the darkness to old John o' Dreams,
Yield up the darkness to old John o' Dreams.

Across the hills the sun has gone astray,
Tomorrow's cares are many dreams away;
Home is the rover, her journey's over.
Yield up the nighttime to old John o' Dreams,
Yield up the nighttime to old John o' Dreams.

Both man and master in the night are one,
All things are equal when the day is done;
The Prince and the Plowman, the slave and the freeman,
All find their comfort in old John o' Dreams,
All find their comfort in old John o' Dreams.

Now as you sleep the dreams come winging clear;
The hawks of morning cannot harm you here.
Sleep is a river, flows on forever,
And for your boatman choose old John o' Dreams,
And for your boatman choose old John o' Dreams.


Almost the same as what's in the Digital Tradition. I guess we must have gotten the DT lyrics from Bok-Muir-Trickett.

Still, does anyone have the definitive Bill Caddick lyrics?

While we're waiting for definitive Bill Caddick lyrics, here's a nice performance by Rachel Ries & Anaïs Mitchell https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rm3ofBThXP8

Subject: RE: Origins: John O' Dreams (Bill Caddick)
From: Peter the Squeezer
Date: 13 Jul 17 - 02:41 AM

Yet another version by Les Barker


RON OF DREAMS

When midnight comes good people homewards tread
They don't see me they all see John instead
I'm just the other's less famous brother
Turn out your light I'm only Ron of Dreams
Turn out your light I'm only Ron of Dreams

Across the hills the sun has gone astray
The world's ignored me just like Yesterday
He's got charisma,He's John - I isna
Here in the darkness You'll find Ron of Dreams
Here in the darkness You'll find Ron of Dreams

Both man and master in the night are one
All things are equal except maybe Ron
The prince and the ploughman,the slave and the free man
All take no notice of old Ron of Dreams
All take no notice of old Ron of Dreams

My brother John is all they ever see
That bastard Caddick never noticed me
Him and Tchaikovsky,they wrote me offski
They said,I quote:"Man who's old Ron of Dreams?"
They said I quote:"Man who's old Ron of Dreams?"

Subject: RE: Origins: John O' Dreams (Bill Caddick)
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 13 Jul 17 - 07:19 AM

The tune comes from the second subject group of the first movement of Tchaikovsky's Symphony no 6, the Pathetique.

Subject: RE: Origins: John O' Dreams (Bill Caddick)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 03 Aug 17 - 03:52 AM

Still looking for definitive Bill Caddick lyrics.

Subject: RE: Origins: John O' Dreams (Bill Caddick)
From: Georgiansilver
Date: 03 Aug 17 - 06:28 AM

John o' Dreams
Author: words-Bill Caddick; music Tchaikovsky


When midnight comes and people homeward tread
Seek now your blanket and your feather bed
Home comes the rover, his journey's over
Yield up the nighttime to old John o' Dreams
Yield up the nighttime to old John o' Dreams

Across the sky, the sun is gone astray
Tomorrow's cares are many dreams away
The stars are flying, your candle's dying
Yield up the darkness to old John o' Dreams
Yield up the darkness to old John o' Dreams

Both man and master in the night are one
All things are equal when the day is done
The prince and the ploughman the slave and the freeman
All find their comfort in old John o' Dreams
All find their comfort in old John o' Dreams

When sleep it comes the dreams are rushing clear
The hawks of morning they cannot reach you here
Sleep is a river, flow on forever
And for your boatman choose old John o' Dreams
And for your boatman choose old John o' Dreams

Subject: RE: Origins: John O' Dreams (Bill Caddick)
From: GUEST,Mark Bluemel
Date: 03 Aug 17 - 07:14 AM

I can't transcribe this at work, but the originator sings it himself
here - anyone fancy transcribing it?

Subject: RE: Origins: John O' Dreams (Bill Caddick)
From: GUEST,Mark Bluemel
Date: 03 Aug 17 - 04:22 PM

I've now listened to Bill's version on YouTube. This must be the same as Joe referenced in his post at "13 Jul 17 - 01:52 AM", changing song at the start of the last verse :-(

Joe's transcription there seems to match what I hear, and what I remember - including the last verse. I think I first heard it sung by Sean Cannon nearly 40 years ago.

I suspect a lot of people have learnt the song second or third hand - probably from Christy Moore (I note that it's another song that seems to have been claimed by the Emerald Isle - can people not understand that Christy Moore singing something doesn't make it Irish? Let's hope one day he'll cover "Rule Brittania" or "The Star Spangled Banner" just for the fun of making people think they're Irish too).

Most of the variations seem to me to have lost a lot of the original's poetry.