Lyr Req: Some Say That Kissing's a Sin

Subject: ADD: Some say that kissing's a sin
From: Hilary
Date: 26 Feb 02 - 06:06 PM

I wonder if anyone can help with this song.
I've assumed it's called 'Some Say That Kissings A Sin', but I wouldn't like to swear to that. I think The Dubliners used to do it.

What I never did figure out was the second half of the last line of the chorus, it could be :
Pure folk would get none OR poor folk could get hung Or something else entirely different.

Anyway, the words as I remember them...

Some say that kissing's a sin,
But tell me how can that be true ?
For Kissing has been in this world
Since the very first day there were two

Chorus :
Now if it wasn't legal, well the lawyers they would sue,
And the prisons would be full o'folks who'd had a kiss (bet/curse/smoke/drink) or two
And if they didn't like it -away the girls would run
And if there wasn't plenty, well, the ?poor they would get ?none

Remaining verses :
Well, some say that gambling's a sin,
But I'll bet you fifty to one,
That gambling has been in this world,
Since greyhounds and horses first run.

CHORUS

And some say that swearing's a sin,
But where is the man that can tell,
For swearing has been in the world,
Since the Divil was told "go to hell".

CHORUS

Now some say that smoking's a sin
And a pipe now & then is enough,
But smoking has been in the world,
Since Adam taught Eve how to puff.

CHORUS

And some say that drinking's a sin,
But a gargle is fine now and then,
But drinking has been in this world,
Forever and ever, AMEN !

CHORUS

Line Breaks <br> added.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Part lyrics- Some say that kissing's a s
From: Hilary
Date: 26 Feb 02 - 06:11 PM

damn, hit send button too soon,

I also suspect there may be more verses, there are certainly plenty of sins to choose from.(BG)

I've checked the DT and few Irish sites, without success.

Any help would be much appreciated,

Hilary.

Subject: RE: Part lyrics- Some say that kissing's a sin
From: GUEST
Date: 26 Feb 02 - 07:07 PM

The 17th century original, "Kissing go by favour", and the 18th century Scots, "Some say that kissing's a sin" are both in the Scarce Songs 1 file at www.erols.com/olsonw. I have little doubt that there are 50 to 100 new verses by this time.

Subject: RE: Part lyrics- Some say that kissing's a sin
From: nutty
Date: 26 Feb 02 - 07:23 PM

The original song is called Kissin's nae sin

There is a wonderful sound clip of Bob Blair singing it here

KISSINS NAE SIN

Subject: RE: Part lyrics- Some say that kissing's a sin
From: GUEST,Frogmore
Date: 26 Feb 02 - 10:35 PM

You might also like the Carter Family's "Kissin' is a Crime." I do. (Also recorded by the Red Clay Ramblers and Gamble Rogers on his first album.)

Subject: RE: Part lyrics- Some say that kissing's a sin
From: Dicho (Frank Staplin)
Date: 26 Feb 02 - 10:43 PM

Carter family lyrics here: Kissing

Subject: RE: Part lyrics- Some say that kissing's a sin
From: Wolfgang
Date: 27 Feb 02 - 04:07 AM

Yes, the Dubliners did it titled 'seven deadly sins' and it is in the Forum including that half line: click

Wolfgang

Subject: RE: Part lyrics- Some say that kissing's a sin
From: Hilary
Date: 03 Mar 02 - 07:17 PM

Thanks for help everyone, sorry it's taken me a while to follow up your links.

Hi Wolfgang, much thanks for the title & the link, Harvard posted a final line that makes sense to me - I'll stay with something close to :' If there wasn't plenty, well the poor folk would get none.'

Thanks Guest, the Bruce Olson site is wonderful - I hadn't come across it before.

...But still only 5/7 of the sins.

Thanks again.

Hilary

Subject: RE: Part lyrics- Some say that kissing's a sin
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 05 Mar 02 - 09:20 PM

I posted the lyrics to the Carter Family's "Kissing Is a Crime" in the thread Lyr Add: Some Carter Family Songs.

Subject: Lyr Add: KISSIN'S NAE SIN (Traditional Scottish))
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 05 Mar 02 - 09:46 PM

Copied from The Tradition Bearers' web site:

KISSIN'S NAE SIN
(Traditional Scottish)

There's some say that kissin's a sin;
But I think it's nane at a',
For kissin' has wonn'd in this world
Since ever there has been twa,

For, if it wisnae lawful, lawyers wouldnae allow it;
And if it wisnae holy, ministers wouldnae dae it;
And if it wasnae modest, maidens wouldnae tak' it;
And if it wasnae plenty, puir folk wouldnae get it.

---

"This version of the text comes from Robert Chalmers' introductory essay to his Scottish Songs. No other version contains the succinct social criticism of 'If it wasna plenty, puir folks wadna get it.'"

[Recorded by Bob Blair on "Reaching for the High, High Lands," LTCD1001; also by Beth Holmgren and Jane Peppler on "Courting Disaster," and by Ewan MacColl.]

Subject: Lyr Add: SOME SAY THAT KISSING'S A SIN (Scottish)
From: GUEST
Date: 05 Mar 02 - 10:32 PM

Chambers said the tune was "The Mautman" (The Maultman comes on Monday). It's in 'The Scots Musical Museum', #433, and earlier in Oswald's CPC, book 9 (c 1759), and earlier in the Cuming MS, 1723, as "The Maltman or Roger the Cavalier". This last brings us to it's earlier English title of 'Roger de Coverly" in Playford's 'Divison Violin', 1685, and 'The Dancing Master', 1696. If you can't find the Playford tune on the Playford-Dancing Master website, you can find it in Wm. Chappell's PMOT, II, p. 535.

The text above has been tinkered with. The way Chambers actually gave it is as follows: [indent even numbered lines

Some say that kissing's a sin,
But I think it's nane ava,
For kissing has wonned in the warld,
Since ever that there was twa.

O, if it wasna lawfu',
Lawyers wandna allow it;
If it wasna holy,
Ministers wadna do it.

It it wasna modest,
Maidens wadna tak it;
If it wasna plenty,
Puir folk wadna get it!

Bring a' your maut to me,
Bring a your maut to me;
My draff ye'se get for ae pund ane,
Though a' my deukies should dee.

..................

That last verse is obviously a fragment of "The Maultman", and not part of the song.

Subject: Lyr Add: SEVEN DEADLY SINS (sung by The Dubliners)
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 05 Mar 02 - 10:40 PM

"Seven Deadly Sins" recorded by The Dubliners. (I've thought about learning it for years.) I'll have to look up which LP it's on.

SEVEN DEADLY SINS
(from the Dubliners)

Some say that kissing's a sin
But tell me, how can that be true?
For kissing has been in this world
Since the very first day there was two.

Chorus:
Now if it wasn't legal
Then the lawyers they would sue.
And the prisons would be full of folk
Who'd had a kiss or two.
And if they didn't like it
Then away the girls would run.
And if it wasn't plenty
Then the poor folk would get none.

Some say that gambling's a sin
But I'll bet you 15 to 1
That gambling has been in this world
Since horses and greyhounds could run.
(Chorus) Who'd had a bet or two.

Some say that swearing's a sin
But where is the man that can tell.
For swearing has been in this world
Since the devil was told, "Go to hell!"
(Chorus) Who had a curse or two.

Some say that smoking's a sin
But a pipe now and then is enough.
But smoking has been in this world
Since Adam taught Eve how to puff.
(Chorus) Who had a smoke or two.

Some say that drinking's a sin
But a gargle is fine now and then.
For drinking has been in this world
Forever and ever, amen.
(Chorus) Who had a drink or two.

Subject: RE: Part lyrics- Some say that kissing's a sin
From: masato sakurai
Date: 06 Mar 02 - 12:21 AM

In The Dancing Master, 1651-1728: An Illustrated Compendium By Robert M. Keller, the tilte is "Roger of Coverly" [the image of the original is given]. For the tune of "The Maltman, or Roger the Cavalier", CLICK HERE (Frank Kidson: his 'Grove' contributions, under the entry of "Sir Roger de Coverly"); to listen to MIDI, click on the music.

~Masato

Subject: RE: Part lyrics- Some say that kissing's a sin
From: Jim McLean
Date: 24 Jul 04 - 08:50 AM

I wrote the song called Seven Deadly Sins and one can see that I used Kissin's Nae Sin as a base.
Jim McLean

Subject: RE: Part lyrics- Some say that kissing's a sin
From: Sweetfia
Date: 24 Jul 04 - 01:09 PM

Apparently kissing leads to babies aswell...!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Some say that kissing's a sin
From: s6k
Date: 29 Jul 04 - 06:33 PM

that explains why im not a dad yet??

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Some say that kissing's a sin
From: kendall
Date: 29 Jul 04 - 07:12 PM

I hope you don't mind but I added a verse. Too sarcastic to sing.

Some say that war is a sin
But we must have a war now and then
For if we had naught to control them
We'd be up to our ears in young men.