Subject: One Morning in May... From: Paul Jay Date: 04 Jan 98 - 05:58 PM I'm looking for the words to a song that (I think) James Taylor recorded in the early 70's or late 60's. The verses I remember are:
One morning, one morning, one morning in May,
Good morning, good morning, good morning, said he, |
Subject: RE: One Morning in May... From: Barry Date: 04 Jan 98 - 06:51 PM Paul, try a search using Nightingale, in the DT you'll find 2 versions (1 is the american cowboy version Wild Rippling Waters). There are a number of other versions, The Bold Grenadier, Solider, Volunteer with slightly varying tunes. Barry |
Subject: Lyr Add: THE NIGHTINGALE'S SONG From: Bruce O. Date: 04 Jan 98 - 07:33 PM Here's a version of 1682-4 The Nightingales Song; Or The Souldiers rare Musick,
As I went forth one Sun-shining Day,
With kisses and compliments, to her he said
And now if you pleased be, I will you bring,
Sweet Sir (said the Damosel) If you will do so,
And having thus spoken, together they went,
A danty clear river, was running them by,
The Maid seem'd unwilling, and said she'd be gone,
Amongst the sweet flowers they Straightway sat down,
And having thus done, he took her about the middle,
Then now said the Souldier 'tis time to give ore,
He struck up his musick, unto a high strain,
Their sport being ended, then homeward they went,
At last with a deep sigh, these words spake she,
Oh no, quoth the Souldier, I may not do so,
You Maides of the City, and Country that be,
Make bargain before hand, for fear you miscarry,
|
Subject: RE: One Morning in May... From: dick greenhaus Date: 04 Jan 98 - 08:16 PM Hi Bruce- You don't happen to have the melody to this, do you? |
Subject: RE: One Morning in May... From: dulcimer Date: 04 Jan 98 - 10:50 PM I have found several versions in American sources. I find it interesting that more "recent" versions are considerably tamer and less explicit. Many versions do not have the warnings to young maidens. |
Subject: RE: One Morning in May... From: Barry Date: 05 Jan 98 - 12:11 AM Come all you young maidens take a warning by me Never place your affections in a cowboy so free He'll go away & leave you like mine did me Leave you to rock cradles sing by oh baby (2x) Barry |
Subject: Tune Add: PEGGIE IS OVER SEE WIE YE SOULDIOR From: Bruce O. Date: 05 Jan 98 - 11:30 AM The tune "No, no, not I" is unknown. "Peggy and the Soldier" is a ballad of c 1635 of which there are two traditional versions in DT (Laws P13). There is a tune which may be the correct one, "Peggy is over Ye Sie wi' ye Souldier" in the Skene MS. [This is the published title. My reading of the title in the MS, 1972, is "Peggie is over see wie ye souldior". This title was added by a different hand than the rest of the titles in the MS.] The tune here is from Dauney's 'Ancient Scottish Melodies'. [The origianl is in mandora tablature.] C. M. Simpson in 'The British Broadside Ballad and Its Music', 1966, transposes the tune to Em.
Incidently, "The Bold Soldier/ Grenedier" is the title of a different song, originally "The Master-piece of Love-songs", by Abraham Miles. ("Jolly Soldier", Laws M27, in DT). (The soldier fights with his love's father and brothers in order to take her away.) There is another broadside version in which a Seaman replaces the Soldier/Keeper. This is no relation to our song here.
X:1
|
Subject: RE: One Morning in May... From: Paul Jay Date: 05 Jan 98 - 11:52 PM Thanks Bruce! This is Much better than the one I remember, and it will work with the same tune that I do remember. It is obviously the some song watered down for 20th c. listening. (Sorry Dick I dont now the name of the origional tune) |
Subject: Lyr Add: THE SWEET NIGHTINGALE (trad. English) From: GUEST,T in Oklahoma (Okiemockbird) Date: 14 Feb 00 - 09:25 PM Here's another one:
The Sweet Nightingale
One morning in May by chance I did rove
All on the grass I sat myself down
Come all you young men, I'll have you draw near, T. |
Subject: RE: One Morning in May... From: Sandy Paton Date: 14 Feb 00 - 10:21 PM R. L. Harmon and his sister, Margie, of Beech Creek, NC, sang a pleasant American variant for me in 1961, which I included on my The Traditional Music of Beech Mountain, NC, a two cassette set that comes with booklets of introductory notes and the texts of all the songs. Check the "custom cassette" section of my Folk-Legacy web site: Click here. Sandy |
Subject: RE: One Morning in May... From: Amos Date: 14 Feb 00 - 10:35 PM Dick:
I can send you a rendition of the tune I know to it, but I have no lineage for it. It would be an .aiff recorded version. Advise if wanted. |
Subject: RE: One Morning in May... From: Barry T Date: 14 Feb 00 - 10:55 PM I've done a midi of the tune with a variation of the lyrics here |
Subject: RE: One Morning in May... From: Amos Date: 14 Feb 00 - 10:59 PM Nicely done! . . The air I learned was a different one, and the recurring theme was "To hear the waters roar, hear the nightingale sing.... . A |
Subject: RE: One Morning in May... From: Barry T Date: 14 Feb 00 - 11:13 PM Actually I should have known better, Amos! I should have said... here is a version of the tune with a version of the lyrics. I've forgotten which library book gave me the melody line, but I do recall that it was also known under the title of The Grenadier and the Lady...
...which itself has its variations of melody and lyrics.
Don't you just love the folk tradition?!! 'Keeps us talking for months! ;-) |
Subject: RE: One Morning in May... From: Amos Date: 14 Feb 00 - 11:26 PM Yep -- it keeps me coming back to the 'Cat when I should be tending to business. I just tell meself at some level this is what I am more really about so it is business, so there.. . A |
Subject: RE: One Morning in May... From: Mbo Date: 14 Feb 00 - 11:42 PM Oohh...Pentangle does a REALLY good version of this song--they call it "The Nightengale." --Mbo |
Subject: RE: One Morning in May... From: jofield Date: 14 Feb 00 - 11:54 PM I've never heard the James Taylor version, but I'd bet dollars to donuts he was singing something he heard from Jim Rooney -- they both used to hang out in the Boston area. Rooney, with Bill Keith on autoharp, did a wonderful and original treatment of what I gather is an old English tune. They did it as a slightly draggy waltz with the bluesy touches that -- to my mind -- made it a real song. When he got to the speaking parts ("Pretty soldier, pretty soldier, please play one tune more."/"Oh no, pretty lady, it's time to give o'er."), Rooney would put a little Willy Nelson "sprächgesang" into it -- it was great. I have heard an old(er) English version, but, American chauvinist that I am when it comes to music, if there isn't a trace of blues, it gets boring real fast. James in Bristol, RI |
Subject: RE: One Morning in May... From: jofield Date: 15 Feb 00 - 12:03 AM Jim used to sing "to see the waters gliding, and hear the nightingale sing." He really made it his own song without losing a real traditional feel. Everyone still asks him for it. |
Subject: RE: One Morning in May... From: GUEST,Annraoi Date: 15 Feb 00 - 09:49 AM There are so many songs beginning one morning in May. Does anyone have the oyrics / sources for the macaronic Irish song "One morning in May agus mé 'dul ag spaisteoireacht" ? Annraoi |
Subject: RE: One Morning in May... From: GUEST,Antaine Date: 15 Feb 00 - 03:15 PM A Annraoi a chara, Féach an snáth díospóireachta faoi 'Peigín mo chroí'. Tá 'One morning in June agus mé.....' ar an gceirnín seo freisin. Feicimid thú ag Sean-Nós Cois Life b'fhéidir????? Antaine |
Subject: RE: One Morning in May... From: Lesley N. Date: 15 Feb 00 - 06:21 PM Another midi of the Nightingale - by John Davis is here (http://www.contemplator.com/folk6/nighting.html). |
Subject: Lyr Add: SOLDIER AND THE MAIDEN (trad. English?) From: Stewie Date: 15 Feb 00 - 06:37 PM The version that Paul wants may be similar to that recorded by Crowdy Crawn in 1974:
SOLDIER AND THE MAIDEN
One morning, one morning, one morning in May
Good morning, good morning, good morning , said he
Now they had not been standing but a minute or so
Oh maiden, fair maiden, 'tis time to give o'er
Oh soldier, kind soldier, will you marry me?
Well I'll go back to London and I'll stay there for a year
Source: Crowdy Crawn: Brenda Wooten and Robert Bartlett 'No Song To Sing?' Sentinel LP SENS 1021 (1974).
|
Subject: RE: One Morning in May... From: GUEST,Singout Date: 15 Feb 00 - 07:34 PM What about One morning, one morning, one morning in May, I heard a married man to a young girl say, "Oh dress you up pretty Katy, and come go with me, across the blue mountains to the Alegany." Etc., Etc. I guess that is another song with a different title, huh? |
Subject: Lyr Add: THE GRENADIER AND THE LADY (trad. English From: Snuffy Date: 15 Feb 00 - 08:54 PM THE GRENADIER AND THE LADY Oh as I walk-ed out one morning in May There I saw a young couple together at play Oh one was a lady, I'll vow and declare, And the other a soldier, a bold grenadier. "Oh now", said the soldier, "shall we walk together?" He wrapped his coat round her to keep her from the weather. They walked till they came down to yonder spring Where the small birds they whistle and the nightingales sing. The soldier he caught up the lady by the middle And out of his knapsack, he pulled out a fiddle And he played her such merry tunes, called The Valleys Do Ring "Hark, hark", said the lady, "how the nightingales sing." "O now", said the soldier, "it's time to give o'er" "O no", said the lady, "play me one tune more. It's the charms of your music and the gauge of your string "Hark, hark", said the soldier, "how the nightingales sing." "Oh now", said the lady, "will you marry me.?" "O no", said the soldier, "That never can be. I've a wife and three children in the North count-e-ry And a prettier woman did your eyes ever see. And to the East Indies, love I am bound out, To enjoy the sweet wine and the city* brown stout [*bitter?] But if I ever return again, it will be in the spring Where the small birds they whistle and the nightingales sing". Collected from Charlie Carver at the Gardeners Arms, Tostock, Suffolk, 1960. |
Subject: RE: One Morning in May... From: Sandy Paton Date: 15 Feb 00 - 10:45 PM "Across the Blue Mountain to the Allegheny" was collected from Mary Bird McAllister in Brown's Cove, Virginia, by Paul Clayton. I recorded in on Folk-Legacy's 1966 recording ("Sandy and Caroline Paton" - EGO-30), Harry Tuft used it as the title song of his Folk-Legacy recording (now on compact disc, CD-63), Jennifer Armstrong has recorded it, and Robin and Linda Williams have also recorded it on one of their CDs. When I was visiting with Vance Randolph and Mary Celestia Parler in Fayetteville, Arkansas, in 1962, Miss Parler asked me if I'd ever come across such a song, as she thought she had collected a unique piece of Americana. She was more than a little disappointed when I sang "Maybird's" song for her. Still, those two examples of the song are the only traditional sources of which I know. And you're right, GUEST SingOut, it's an entirely different song. Good, though! Sandy |
Subject: RE: One Morning in May... From: GUEST,Guest in Albany, NY Date: 16 Feb 00 - 12:27 AM Another good rendition is by Graz M'Taz (sp?) from the Washington, DC area. Al and Pat Pettiway were the leads. It was almost identical to the Crowdy Crawn version above. I recorded it off Dick Cerri's great "Music Americana" radio show down there in the mid 80's. |
Subject: Lyr Add: ONE MORNING IN MAY From: Dicho (Frank Staplin) Date: 27 Apr 02 - 07:41 PM "ONE MORNING IN MAY" has been collected numerous times in North America. Sandburg, 1927, The American Songbag, gives two versions from the Appalachians, pp. 136-138. Vance Randolph, in Ozark Folksongs, 1980, vol. 1, pp. 266-269, gives five versions. A short variant collected in Missouri in 1930 emphasizes the fiddle: C They had not been there scarce an hour or two, When out of his satchel a fiddle he drew, An' he played her a tune caused the valley to ring, Hark, hark, says the lady, hear the nightingale sing. Oh now, says the soldier, it's time to go home, Oh no, says the lady, just play me one more tune, For I'd rather hear the fiddle, one touch of the string, Than to see the water glide, hear the nightingale sing. He tuned up his fiddle to one higher key, An' he played her the same tune right over again, A-causin' the valley to echo and ring, Hark, hark says the lady, hear the nightingale sing. Oh soldier, oh soldier, won't you marry me? Oh no, says the soldier, that can never be, I've a wife in Furlando with children twice three, An' two in the army's too many for me. Another version, also collected in Missouri, concludes with the usual warning to fair damsels that ends so many songs: E Come all ye damsels, take warning from me, Don't place your affections on a soldier so free, He'll love you and leave you and give you no ring, For to rock your own cradle while the nightingale sings. Come all you young damsels, take a warning from me, And never lay down 'neath a green willow tree, My cheeks were once red as the bud of a rose, But now they are white as the lily that blows. It was commonly played as a fiddle tune. |
Subject: RE: One Morning in May... From: GUEST,Thonolan Date: 28 Apr 02 - 06:16 AM Liam Clancy recorded a beautiful version of this song entitled "The Nightingale". It's one of my favorites. Tina Greer's version of "One Morning in May" is also wonderful. |
Subject: RE: One Morning in May... From: JudeL Date: 28 Apr 02 - 06:29 AM May seems to be a very busy month for folk songs "Bold Fisherman" begins "As I rode out one May morning, down by the river-side" |
Subject: RE: One Morning in May... From: Keith A of Hertford Date: 28 Apr 02 - 02:54 PM I forget who sings it, but a lovely "grenadier" version is sung in the film of Hardy's Far From The Madding Crowd. It is sung during the sequence where Sergeant Troy tries to place flowers on poor Fanny's grave, only to have the rain wash them away. Keith. |
Subject: Lyr Add: ONE MORNING IN MAY From: GUEST,Phillip Date: 28 Apr 02 - 04:56 PM The two verses quoted by Paul Jay are almost identical to a bluegrass version recorded by Charlie Waller and The Country Gentlemen in 1973 on their Vanguard album (Vanguard 79331), titled "The Country Gentlemen."
ONE MORNING IN MAY
|
Subject: RE: One Morning in May... From: kytrad (Jean Ritchie) Date: 28 Apr 02 - 05:16 PM I believe that Isla Cameron's was the voice, although she was not the actress in the film, "Far From the Madding Crowd." |
Subject: RE: One Morning in May... From: GUEST,Terry McDonald Date: 29 Apr 02 - 10:12 AM yes, it was Isla Cameron, The actress was, of course, the fabulous Julie Christie. On the actual subject matter - I was always taught by my folkie betters in the 1960s that English versions begin 'as I was a-walking, one morning in May' whereas American ones start 'One morning, one morning, one morning in May.......' |
Subject: RE: One Morning in May... From: GUEST,greg stephens Date: 29 Apr 02 - 10:22 AM Very influential song in the folk revival. One version povided the tune for "the Patriot Game" and "With God on our Side". And the "standard" version in the British folk clubs (with the "arm in arm along the road" chorus) became one of the great anthems of the scene for full on harmony chorus singing. I think that version was originally collected from Aubrey Cantwell in Standlake: just how it spread to become a club classi would be interesting to find out,there must be plenty of Mudcatters from that era. Anybody recall how it was injected into the folkscene? |
Subject: RE: One Morning in May... From: GUEST,Arkie Date: 29 Apr 02 - 10:24 AM To Aunt Ollie Gilbert, a ballad singer from Mountain View Arkansas sing a version of this song go to the Max Hunter collection at http://www.smsu.edu/folksong/maxhunter/0793/index.html Neil Morris, the father of Jimmie Driftwood (James Morris) also sang a nice version of this song. I think that was printed in Sing Out ages ago. |
Subject: Lyr Add: ONE MORNING IN MAY From: Dicho (Frank Staplin) Date: 21 May 02 - 05:38 PM Brown, North Carolina Folklore, vol. 5, "The Music of the Folk Songs," has five different melodies for five different versions of "One Morning In May." An unusual version (1915) was collected by Owen Wister (author of The Virginian" and "Lin McLean") or possibly composed by Wister. The version (E, p. 14-15) attached to Wister, however, is one of five of this type. "The structures of all five versions are identical, and melodically (excepting the Owen Wister version), the second and last measures are identical in all." Multiple versions suggest that Wister collected the song. Lyr. Add: ONE MORNING IN MAY (Wister?) Good morrow, good morrow, good morrow, said she. And where are you going, fair lady?, said he. I am going to the bank, to the bank of Lolee For to see the water gliding, hear the nightingales sing. For to see the water gliding, hear the nightingales sing. Unfortunately, I don't have vol. 3 so I can't set down the remaining verses. If anyone has them, I would greatly appreciate seeing them posted. "Scale: Hexachordial. Tonal center: c. Structure: abb1a1a2 (2.2.2.2.2) (numbers superscript) = abb1a1 (2.2.2.4)." Another thread (4319): Morning in May |
Subject: RE: One Morning in May... From: Declan Date: 22 May 02 - 11:24 AM I can confirm that the versions posted by Stewie and Guest Phillip above are identical to the lyrics recorded by James Taylor in about 1972-73. I'd say there's a good chance that Taylor's version inspired the other two recordings quoted which seem to have come out shortly after this. The "arm in arm along the road" version, called "The Nightengale" was also widely sung by Irish "Ballad Groups" in the 1960s & 70s, although I haven't heard it sung much since then. |
Subject: RE: One Morning in May... From: GUEST,margot m_margot@libero.it Date: 02 Mar 03 - 07:59 AM A version of "The Nightingale song" is in the soundtrak of "Far from the madding crowd" by Schlesinger. Who is the singer of the ballad on the movie? Excuse me for eventual mistakes.. I'm italian |
Subject: RE: One Morning in May... From: Keith A of Hertford Date: 02 Mar 03 - 08:10 AM Hi Margot. That is a lovely version. The singer was Isla Cameron. Best wishes, Keith. |
Subject: RE: One Morning in May... From: GUEST,arabella Date: 02 Jul 03 - 03:57 PM is this the same song that pierre bensusan includes on his first record, "pres de paris"? |
Subject: RE: One Morning in May... From: fox4zero Date: 02 Jul 03 - 09:03 PM I'm particularly partial to Hoagy Carmichael and Mitchell Parish's "One Morning in May" (C) 1930 or 1931. My father told me that it was Hoagy's mother's favorite song. I especially like this version because it has nutritive value....I can afford to eat. Larry P. |
Subject: RE: One Morning in May... From: GUEST,Kaa Date: 10 Oct 04 - 06:48 AM As i was a walking one morning in May I spied a young couple a making of hay Ohoh, one was a fair maid and her beauty shone clear and the other was a soldier a bold grenadier good morning, good morning, good morning, said he, oh where are y ou going my pretty lady? I am going for a walk, by the clear crystal stream, to see cool waters glide and hear nightingales sing oh soldier, oh soldier, will you marry me? oh no, my sweet lady that never can be, for i've got a wife at home, in my own country, two wives and the army's too many for me as i was a walking one morning in may i spied a young couple a making of hay ohoh one was a fair maid and her beauty shone clear and the other was a soldier a bold grenadier |
Subject: RE: One Morning in May... From: Leadfingers Date: 10 Oct 04 - 06:57 AM A slightly more modern version goes -: As I was a walking one morning in May I spied this young couple so boldly did stray And one was a soldier and a bold Grenadier While the other was a Choirboy - I thought 'Now Bugger ! Thats Queer ' |
Subject: RE: Origins: One Morning in May... From: GUEST,Marion Amos Date: 19 Feb 05 - 06:27 PM I'm finding it confusing finding my way round the links, so please bear with me. I came looking for the lyrics and tune of the 'Nightingale Song'as I know it from Northamptonshire. I found it, under the main entry to Sweet Nightingale, and the tune provided is exactly as sung by several drunken villagers at 3am at my wedding. They way it is sung in the English midlands is to have a definite 'tremulous' effect on the chorus. When done well, it really does echo the sound of the nightingale in a valley........ |
Subject: RE: Origins: One Morning in May... From: Joe Offer Date: 19 Feb 05 - 08:26 PM Hi, Marion - yes, this song is a confusing web of variations and songs of varying degrees of relatedness. I take it the song you're thinking of is this one that was posted above, but then I'm wondering which tune you're referring to. Can you enlighten us? Your experience with the song sounds memorable. -Joe Offer- |
Subject: RE: Origins: One Morning in May... From: BB Date: 27 Feb 05 - 06:10 AM Unless I'm much mistaken, that's a version of the one the Coppers sing. Haven't looked it up, so can't remember how close it is. Barbara |
Subject: RE: Origins: One Morning in May... From: GUEST,Marion Amos Date: 12 Mar 05 - 02:09 PM Thanks for the replies - sorry it's taken so long to get back! The tune is definitely very similar to the one given in the Mudcat link at the top of the page (under Nightingale). It's close enough to have brought some great memeories back when I played it! But the lyrics you suggest are not as I remember. The end line of the chorus was definitely something about the nightingales as 'they sang in the valley belooooow' - that last bit is the drawn out warble I refered to. Probably not making much sense! I will be visiting the area in a few weeks. I intend to find what exactly the words sung locally are and, if anyone is interested I can post them here. |
Subject: RE: Origins: One Morning in May... From: GUEST,Marion Amos Date: 12 Mar 05 - 02:17 PM sorry folks - I warned you I was thick! Have just seen the words for The Nightingale - can't think how I managed to miss them before. I am pretty sure the song I am familiar with is the tune offered on the Mudcat Midi with these words. I will get a version of what's sung locally tho'. I know the principal singer in these melees is following a tradition which is as much 'midlands' as Northamptonshire, as the village is close to the joining point of Nortants, Oxfordshire, Warwickshire and Gloucestershire. |
Subject: RE: Origins: One Morning in May... From: Scoville Date: 12 Mar 05 - 02:42 PM There's a pretty, slow, minor-key version in the 1967 movie adaptation of Thomas Hardy's Far from the Madding Crowd (Alan Bates and Julie Christie). The recorded version I have is by Evelyne and Bob Beers and has a lively major-key melody (pretty much the same melodies but in completely different keys and tempos). The Beers version is "Volunteer" and I believe the movie version is "Grenadier". |
Subject: RE: Origins: One Morning in May... From: pavane Date: 07 Oct 08 - 10:22 AM I noticed that the late Bruce O never gave a reference for the 1682 version he transcribed (above) Here is a copy from the Bodleian library which I stumbled across when searching for something else Here |
Share Thread: |
Subject: | Help |
From: | |
Preview Automatic Linebreaks Make a link ("blue clicky") |