Lyr Add: Recruited Collier

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Recruited Collier
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 17 Sep 01 - 10:22 AM

Kate Rusby's version of it also omits the first 4 lines of the last verse... probably because it didn't fit with the Sharpe programmes. Still it's a very evocative song, and if you want the other side, there's one called 'The Recruited Collier's lament' which can be found in the Mudcat song book. Just can't place who wrote it.... (*BG* with faint echoes of trumpet blowing)

LTS

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Recruited Collier
From: GUEST,treaties1
Date: 17 Sep 01 - 08:43 AM

As a Lancashire lass this song has always been appropiate in the once strong mining area of Lancashire UK, where I live and sing and I have always known and sung the last verse as:

For four long years I've followed him Now I must live without him For there's nothing left that I can do but weep and think about him So break my heart and then it's o'er So break my heart my dearie And I'll lie in the cold clay ground For of single life I'm weary

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Recruited Collier
From: GUEST,NSC
Date: 17 Sep 01 - 07:37 AM

Thanks bill/sables.

I knew it was not a Geordie song. I wonder who added the stanza?

I shall check my records to see if i can find out. I did not know that Bert Lloyd had arranged the tune and I certainly respect his comments.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Recruited Collier
From: bill\sables
Date: 17 Sep 01 - 07:01 AM

According to Bert Lloyd the text came from J.T.Huxtable from Workington Cumberland. It appears in R. Anderson's "Ballads in the Cumberland Dialect" (Wigton 1808). Lloyd also states in "Come All Ye Bold Miners" that the usual tune was fitted by himself. Lloyd also omits the first four lines of your last verse.
Bil

Subject: Lyr Add: RECRUITED COLLIER
From: GUEST,NSC
Date: 17 Sep 01 - 06:45 AM

I note from the DT that the only entry for this song is as sung by Dick Gaughan.

I first heard this song in Gosforth Folk Club in Newcastle in the late sixties, sung in a Geordie dialect. I know that the song is not of Geordie origins however.

Anyway, my point is that Dick's last verse omits an important four lines. The version, as I have it, is slightly different to Dick's but the real difference is these four lines.

At some stage in the near future I will post the Geordie Dialect version but I append here Dicks version with the last stanza amended.

RECRUITED COLLIER

O what's the matter wi' you, my lass,
And where's your dashing Jimmy?
O, the soldier boys have ta'en him up
And sent him far, far from me.
Last payday he went off to town
And them red-coated fellows
Enticed him in and made him drunk
And he's better gone to the gallows.

The very sight of his cockade
It sets us all a-crying,
And me I nearly fainted twice.
I thought that I was dying.
My father would have paid the smart
And he ran for the golden guinea,
But the sergeant swore he'd kissed the book
And now they've got young Jimmy.

When Jimmy talks about the wars,
It's worse than death to hear him.
I have to go and hide my face
Because I cannot bear him.
A brigadier or grenadier
He says they're bound to make him,
But aye he laughs and cracks his jokes
And bids me not forsake him.

As I walked ower the stubble fields--
Below it runs the seam--
I thought of Jimmy hewing there,
But it was all a dream.
He hewed the very coals we burn
And when the fire I'm lighting,
To think the coals was in his hands,
It sets my heart to beating.

For three long years he's followed me.
Now I must live without him.
There's nothing now that I can do
But weep and think about him.
So break my heart and then it's ower.
So break my heart, my dearie,
And lay me in the cold ground,
For of single life I'm weary.

Subject: Lyric adjustment - Recruited Collier ^^
From: NSC
Date: 12 Dec 00 - 05:54 PM

I note that there is a version of this song in the DT as recorded by Dick Gaughan. I also believe other people have recorded this song in the same way. i cannot remember my source excepting that it was sung when i got it in Geordie (North East) dialect. The late Mike Donohue used to make a great job of this song.

What's the matter with you me lass,
And where's your dashing Jimmy,
The soldier lads have picked him up
And sent him far far from me.
Last pay day he come into town,
And them red coated fellows,
Enticed him in and med him drunk,
And he'd be better gone to the gallows.

The very sight o' his cockade,
It sets us all a crying,
And me aa nearly fainted twice,
Aa thowt that aa was dying,
Me faather would have paid the smart,
And he'd run for the golden guinea,
But the sergeant swore he'd kissed the book,
So noo they've got young Jimmy.

When Jimmy talks aboot the wars,
Its worse than death to hear him,
And aa must run and hide me face,
Because aa cannot bear him,
A grenadier or a brigadeer,
He says they're sure to make him,
And ayee he jibes and cracks his jokes,
And bids me not forsake him,

As aa walk ower the stubble field,
Below it runs the seam,
Aa thowt o' Jimmy hewing there,
But it was just a dream,
Her hewed the very coals we burn,
And when the fire aa's leeting,
Te think the lumps was in his hands,
It sets me heart a beating.

For 3 lang years he's followed me,
Noo aa must live without him,
There's nothing noo that aa can do,
But weep and think about him,
So break me heart and then it's ower,
So break me heart me dearie,
And aa'll lie doon in the cold green groond,
For of single life aa'm weary.
^^