Lyr/Tune Req: How Many Miles to Babylon

Subject: How many miles to Babylon
From: Elise Kress
Date: 11 Feb 98 - 09:12 PM

I'm looking for words and music to an old song with this refrain. Does anyone know it and its origins? I'm also looking for a traditional song with the lyric, "it's a cold wind that blows unforgiving." Thanks!

Subject: RE: How many miles to Babylon
From: Murray
Date: 12 Feb 98 - 01:06 AM

[I suggest you create another thread for your second request.] As for "Babylon", look it up if you can in The Oxford Dictionary of Nursery Rhymes (by Iona & Peter Opie)--several versions and a bit of discussion.They refer you to Lady Gomme's Traditional Games of England, Scotland, and Ireland (1894), = vol.I p. 231. She, alas, gives no music. The Opies have another book on singing games you can try. Cheers Murray

Subject: RE: How many miles to Babylon
From: Wolfgang Hell
Date: 12 Feb 98 - 05:24 AM

here's a bit on How many miles to Babylon
Wolfgang

Subject: RE: How many miles to Babylon
From: Joe Offer
Date: 13 Feb 98 - 03:28 AM

Elise, is this the song you're looking for?

Malmsteen Yngwie
Fire And Ice

HOW MANY MILES TO BABYLON

In this wasteland without any shadows
There is no water for my dusty throat
There is no rainbow days filled with silent sorrow
And for our sins there are no antidotes.
Eternal sand
There is no end to this no man's land
We all must pay
For the piper we dance while he plays
How many miles to Babylon
How many years must I carry on.
In this our endless searching for the Holy Grail
There is no sleep for the souls who find no rest
Ships of the desert without rings or sails
Flotsam and Jetsam floating from the west
Eternal sand
There is no end to this no man's land
We all must pay
For the piper we dance while he plays
How many miles to Babylon
How many years must I carry on.

Subject: RE: How many miles to Babylon
From: Joe Offer
Date: 13 Feb 98 - 03:42 AM

I found a great Mother Goose Web site that has the words to the nursery rhyme:

How many miles to Babylon?
Three score and ten.

Can I get there by candlelight?
Aye, and back again.

If your feet are nimble and light,
You'll get there by candlelight.

-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Lyr/Tune Req: How Many Miles to Babylon
From: An Pluiméir Ceolmhar
Date: 16 Feb 08 - 05:08 PM

My wife has just been reading Jennifer Johnstons novel(la) "How many miles to Babylon?".

I was unaware that the phrase came from a nursery rhyme, and confidently told her that it was from a poem by Wilfred Owen. Did I just make that up unconsciously, or does it occur in one of his poems too?

Subject: RE: Lyr/Tune Req: How Many Miles to Babylon
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 17 Feb 08 - 07:36 PM

From The Popular Rhymes of Scotland by Robert Chambers, 1826, page 298, under the heading "RHYMES APPROPRIATE TO GAMES":

King and Queen of Cantelon,
How many miles to Babylon?
It's eight and eight and other eight,
Try to win there wi' candle-licht.


From The Boy's Own Book by William Clarke, 1829, page 35:

THREAD THE NEEDLE.
Thread the needle may be played by a considerable number of boys, who all join hands, and the game commences with the following dialogue between the two outside players at each end of the line: "How many miles to Babylon?" "Threescore and ten." "Can I get there by candlelight!" "Yes, and back again." "Then open the gates without more ado, and let the king and his men pass through." In obedience to this mandate, the player who stands at the opposite end of the line and the one next him, lift their joined hands as high as possible; the other outside player then approaches, runs under the hands thus elevated, and the whole line follows him, if possible, without disuniting. This is threading the needle. The same dialogue is repeated, the respondent now becoming the inquirer, and running between the two players at the other end, with the whole line after him. The first then has his turn again.


From The Little Girl's Own Book by Lydia Maria Francis Child and Eliza Leslie, 1847, page 294:

HOW MANY MILES TO BABYLON.
This is a very simple play, but is good exercise in cold weather. It is generally played by three, or five. When three only are engaged in it, one stands at each end of the room, and the third at one side; the latter is called the witch. Fanny calls out, "How many miles to Babylon?" Lucy replies, "Threescore and ten." Fanny asks, "Can I get there by candle-light?" Lucy answers, "Yes, and back again; but take care the old witch don't catch you on the road." Susan, who performs the witch, then starts forward and tries to catch one of her playmates, as they all run about in every direction to save themselves from her grasp. The one that she succeeds in catching then becomes witch, and the play proceeds as before. If five are playing, four stand in the four corners of the room, and the fifth, who is the witch, takes the middle.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Tune Req: How Many Miles to Babylon
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 17 Feb 08 - 08:11 PM

or
Chip, chip my little horse
Chip and chip again, sir
How many miles to Babylon
Three score nd ten, sir.

hip, chip my little horse
Chip and chip again, sir
Can I get there by candlelight?
Yes and back again, sir.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Tune Req: How Many Miles to Babylon
From: An Pluiméir Ceolmhar
Date: 18 Feb 08 - 02:55 PM

Thanks. It looks as if I was hallucinating!

Subject: RE: Lyr/Tune Req: How Many Miles to Babylon
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 18 Feb 08 - 05:14 PM

Truly one of the oldest children's rhymes and games.
The name has changed, but the rhyme remains essentially the same.
The following from Opie and Opie:

"In a Latin sermon of the 13th c., the preacher compared the behaviour of those Christians who at one moment make haste to Heaven and at another relapse with the play of boys, and instances this very game:
[1st boy]
Quot leucas habeo ad Beverleyham?
[2nd boy]
Eight
[1st boy]
Possum venire per lucem?
[2nd boy]
Ita potes-
and runs quickly, gets to where he wants, and then dances back to his original place, jeering at the others slowness:
'Ha ha petipas (small pace) *Zuot ich am Þer ich was.'"
*don't have symbol

Gerald Langbaine, 1609-58, commented... "As I remember, when I was a young boy at schole I have seene this play, and then the Questions and responses were these.
Q. Pe, pe, postola. How many miles to Beverlay?
R. Eight, eight, and other eight.
Q. Think you I shall gett thither to-night?
R. Yes if your horse be good and swift (or light)
"The rest, Langbaine commented, "I have forgott."

Common current form in England-

How many miles to Babylon?
Three score and ten.
Can I get there by candlelight?
Yes, and back again.
Open your gates as wide as the sky
And let the king and his men pass by.

Many minor variants to words and game. Opie and Opie, 1985, "The Singing Game," pp. 44-46; Oxford University Press.