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Subject: 'My Love He Is A smuggler' (English folk From: GUEST,Fred Johnston/sylfredcar@iolfree.ie Date: 18 Jun 02 - 07:39 AM Sirs - I am trying to trace a song, probably from Devon/Cornwall, England, with first line as :'My Love He Is A Smuggler . . . . ' Any clues? I'd be grateful for even being pointed in the right direction! Best, Fred Johnston. |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'My Love He Is A smuggler' (English folk From: Sorcha Date: 18 Jun 02 - 09:05 AM I looked here, and asked Google. No joy. Anybody else? |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'My Love He Is A smuggler' (English folk From: MMario Date: 18 Jun 02 - 09:13 AM no luck at the levy sheet music site. |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'My Love He Is A smuggler' (English folk From: Sandy Paton Date: 18 Jun 02 - 06:25 PM Hang in there, Fred. Someone may come through for you still! We have quite a few very knowledgeable UK participants who may not have seen this thread yet. Sandy at Folk-Legacy |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'My Love He Is A smuggler' (English folk From: Dicho (Frank Staplin) Date: 18 Jun 02 - 07:39 PM "Watch the wall, my darling, while the gentlemen go by." Not the right song, but a good'un. Rudyard Kipling, A Smuggler's Song. Smuggler Michael Longcor has written music for it. |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'My Love He Is A smuggler' (English folk From: Malcolm Douglas Date: 18 Jun 02 - 07:43 PM I haven't managed to find anything; there aren't all that many smuggler songs, and none of those I'm aware of sound like yours; neither the Roud index nor the Bodleian Library broadside site seem to have anything related. Can you give us any additional information at all? At the moment, I'm thinking it's not a traditional song but a revival composition "in the idiom" from perhaps the 1960s or '70s... |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'My Love He Is A smuggler' (English folk From: ciarili Date: 18 Jun 02 - 10:41 PM If you've never read Kipling's The Post That Fitted, do! It's hilarious! ciarili |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'My Love He Is A smuggler' (English From: greg stephens Date: 19 Jun 02 - 08:20 AM I've never heard of it. Certainly the language does not have the ring of traditional English song, though it would be easy to be mistaken over such a small fragment. Hope someone comes up with it soon...intriguing. Trying to guess an appropriate tune or structure: wonder if "smuggler" is sung with two or three syllables? |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'My Love He Is A smuggler' (English folk From: Gaffer Date: 19 Jun 02 - 04:59 PM Even in Cornwall, smuggling songs are thin on the ground - in fact in terms of traditional ones, I think they could be counted on the fingers of one foot. There are one or two composed in the early part of the twentieth century but I suppose that work-songs might be considered counter-productive in the smuggling industry. I know it never stopped highwaymen, but it might explain why they're extinct and smugglers aren't! With respect to the number of syllables, I imagine the facility to switch from 2 to 3 might make for a bit of flexibility at various points in a line. |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'My Love He Is A smuggler' (English From: greg stephens Date: 19 Jun 02 - 05:29 PM The almost total absense of smuggling songs fromthe tradition is interesting, considering ithas been a major British industry since the day after they invented Customs and Excise.The absense of worksongs seems a very valid point, Gaffer.You do nee dto keep quiet!! Perhaps a general discretion explains the whole thing. But somehow, even if the smugglers themselves didnt advertise their activities, you'ld think those jolly 18th century squires who actually bought the brandy would have had a few indiscreet songs they'd sing about the sources of their booze after they'd had a few. |
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Subject: Lyr Add: ALL PURPOSE FOLK SONG (Gaiman, Garland... From: John in Brisbane Date: 20 Jun 02 - 02:29 AM Sorry if I can't find the song, but this will have to suffice for the moment:
ALL PURPOSE FOLK SONG (Child Ballad #1) Regards, John |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'My Love He Is A smuggler' (English folk From: GUEST,ozmacca Date: 20 Jun 02 - 03:03 AM Generic multi-function folk songs - a whole new panorama opens up before us...... |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'My Love He Is A smuggler' (English From: greg stephens Date: 20 Jun 02 - 04:13 AM Nice one, John. I imagine Malcolm Douglas will be along in a minute pointing out you've got the words wrong and giving us the Phil Tanner original. |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'My Love He Is A smuggler' (English folk From: John in Brisbane Date: 20 Jun 02 - 09:25 AM The discussion about the lack of smuggler songs had me intrigued, because I have a nagging suspicion that I've seen a similar song in print. If I had to take a punt I'd say Scottish or Northern England 'cos they tend to be the tomes that I used to plough through from time to time. Whether there's any real historical base for smugglers in this area, I have not a clue. But I bet that if anyone can track this down then Malcolm certainly could. In order to have a bit of fun I changed the word 'knight' to 'smuggler' in the song I posted. But my intention was to point out that rather than looking for a smuggler's song, is it possible that as part of the folk process someone has likewise changed 'sailor' or 'soldier' or 'Avon sales rep' in order to make the song more relevant? There's certainly no shortage of songs containing 'My love he is a ...' Regards, John |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'My Love He Is A smuggler' (English folk From: Malcolm Douglas Date: 20 Jun 02 - 09:37 AM That's a very distinct possibility, but we need more clues! What happens in the song? Where was it heard? ...stuff like that. I like the All Purpose Folksong. |
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Subject: Lyr Add: THE SMUGGLER (from Scolds Bridle) From: Joan from Wigan Date: 21 Jun 02 - 07:20 AM I have an album by Scolds Bridle which has the song "The Smuggler" - is this perhaps the one you're after? THE SMUGGLER (Trad) My love he is a smuggler, he sails upon the sea And I wish I were a smuggler to sail along with he To sail along with he for the brandy and the wine And run the tubs at Slapton when the moon do shine For Hollands it is a fine drink for them that feels the cold And brandy is a better drink for them that's getting old There are lights upon the clifftop when he is homeward bound And we run the tubs at Slapton when the word goes round For the king he is a fine man in his bright red coat Oh but I do love my smuggler in his little fishing boat For he runs the finest(?) lace and he spends his money free Oh I wish I were a smuggler to sail along with he Oh the Channel it is his kingdom from England down to France And he leads the revenue carters(?) a very merry dance And when he comes ashore he confounds the exciseman And leaves his boat safe moored and he comes to me again My love he is a smuggler, he sails upon the sea And I wish I were a smuggler to sail along with he To sail along with he for the brandy and the wine And run the tubs at Slapton when the moon do shine To sail along with he for the brandy and the wine And run the tubs at Slapton when the moon do shine The two words followed by question marks are not correct, but are the closest I can come phonetically to what is sung. There are no notes on the song, other than "Trad". Joan |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'My Love He Is A smuggler' (English folk From: IanC Date: 21 Jun 02 - 07:34 AM Joan 2nd word will be "Cutters" |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'My Love He Is A smuggler' (English folk From: Malcolm Douglas Date: 21 Jun 02 - 07:35 AM That has to be the one, though I still doubt that it's really traditional. Carters would be cutters, I should think. |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'My Love He Is A smuggler' (English folk From: GUEST,Bagpuss Date: 21 Jun 02 - 07:40 AM John in Brisbane - re that "All purpose folk song" - do you know if the Neil Gaiman listed as author is the Neil Gaiman, author of Sandman and co-author of Good Omens (with Terry Pratchett)? |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'My Love He Is A smuggler' (English folk From: MMario Date: 21 Jun 02 - 08:39 AM Joaqn - is the tune anything recognizable? |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'My Love He Is A smuggler' (English folk From: John in Brisbane Date: 21 Jun 02 - 09:00 AM Neil is a well known author and lyricist. You'll find plenty of references to him in Google. Regards, John |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'My Love He Is A smuggler' (English folk From: GUEST,MCP Date: 21 Jun 02 - 09:11 AM This has been niggling me since it first came up - the line was tantalisingly familiar, but I couldn't place it. Now having seen the "run the tubs at Slapton" line, I realise I have heard this a lot in the past, and I think it was Ian Woods who used to sing it. Mick |
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Subject: Tune Add: THE SMUGGLER From: Joan from Wigan Date: 21 Jun 02 - 12:40 PM MMario, I've not heard any other words to this tune. Here's my attempt at ABC notation: X:1 T:The Smuggler M:4/4 K:G B,D|E3FEDB,2|A4B3A|G3EE2B,2|D6B,D|E3FEDB,2|A4B3A|G2E2FED2|E6GA|B2B2BAG2|A6Bc|B3EE2B,2|D6B,D|E3FEDB,2|A4B4|G2E2FED2|E6|| And the chords: My [Em]love he is a [D]smugg[Em]ler, he sails upon the [Bm]sea And I [Em]wish I were a [D]smugg[Em]ler to sail a[D]long with [Em]he To [G]sail along with [D]he for the [Em]brandy and the [Bm]wine And [Em]run the tubs at [D]Slap[Em]ton when the [D]moon do [Em]shine And thanks to Ian and Malcolm for the correction. Joan |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'My Love He Is A smuggler' (English folk From: MMario Date: 21 Jun 02 - 12:50 PM Thank you Joan.
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'My Love He Is A smuggler' (English folk From: The Walrus at work Date: 21 Jun 02 - 12:56 PM Going back to the quote lyics.
Could the line: "...For he runs the finest(?) lace and he spends his money free..." be "...For he runs the Venice lace and he spends his money free..." Venice lace is described as "Damask heavy lace with an open background usually in large floral leaf patterns".) Walrus
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'My Love He Is A smuggler' (English folk From: MMario Date: 21 Jun 02 - 01:17 PM NWC file sent to Joe. |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'My Love He Is A smuggler' (English folk From: Malcolm Douglas Date: 21 Jun 02 - 02:28 PM The tune sounds quite like some versions of The Lowlands of Holland; I rather think it's another Gilderoy/Dives and Lazarus variant. |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'My Love He Is A smuggler' (English folk From: GUEST,MCP Date: 21 Jun 02 - 07:46 PM In a typical arrival of several buses at the same time, I was playing Joan's ABC, when my partner said "I know that song - it's The Smuggler isn't it?". She thought she got it from Mal Waite's "By Request" album. Mick |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'My Love He Is A smuggler' (English folk From: Sandy Paton Date: 21 Jun 02 - 08:00 PM I'm proud of you, 'catters all. When I first suggested to Fred that he ask here for his song (since I couldn't help him) I was confident that you'd find the answer for him. I must admit you had me worried for a wee while, but you came up the answer for him, by golly. Well done, Joan from Wigan! Sandy |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'My Love He Is A smuggler' (English folk From: Malcolm Douglas Date: 21 Jun 02 - 08:02 PM Can anybody add anything as regards provenance? I'm still thinking it's a relatively modern text set to a traditional tune, but I could easily be wrong. |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'My Love He Is A smuggler' (English From: greg stephens Date: 21 Jun 02 - 09:23 PM I must ring Ian Woods and ask him, which reminds me I havent seen him in years, Hope he's still around. Anybody seen anything of him recently? As regards the song: I'll eat my hat if that's a traditional folk song, it's just too specific and larded with historical information. Looks like something written for a community theatre project c1980(not knocking it, it takes one to know one!) |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'My Love He Is A smuggler' (English folk From: Joan from Wigan Date: 22 Jun 02 - 01:47 AM I last saw Ian Woods last summer at the Merseyside Shanty Festival, singing with a Polish shanty crew - he'd been living in Poland for some years, and as far as I know, is still there. I have emailed Liz and Sue of Scolds Bridle to ask for further info from them. Joan |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'My Love He Is A smuggler' (English folk From: John in Brisbane Date: 22 Jun 02 - 10:13 AM Have not these lyrics been posted here before in a previous century? John |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'My Love He Is A smuggler' (English folk From: GUEST,MCP Date: 22 Jun 02 - 10:51 AM John - as far as I can see, in the last 2 centuries only the Kipling song ("watch the wall...") and the Smugglers (DT - "smugglers drink fo the Frenchman's wine") have been posted in the Forum before, not this one. Mick |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'My Love He Is A smuggler' (English folk From: Joan from Wigan Date: 22 Jun 02 - 11:47 AM Before I posted the words, I did a search not only on Mudcat but on Google as well, not wanting to waste effort by duplicating previous work. But I couldn't find the words anywhere, hence I had to get them from the album. To be perfectly honest, I hate taking words down from a record, as there are always one or two I have difficulty with, so it's usually a very frustrating exercise. Unless, of course, someone else (and thanks again here to Ian and Malcolm, and to Walrus) can come up with viable suggestions for the dicey bits. I'm still awaiting a reply from Liz & Sue - they may well come up with their actual words, either in a reply to me or direct to the forum, and hopefully as well, a history of the song as they know it. Joan |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'My Love He Is A smuggler' (English folk From: John in Brisbane Date: 22 Jun 02 - 11:19 PM Thanks Mick and Joan - I'm fairly sure that I've seen those lyrics in print before. Probably just premature senility. Regards, John |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'My Love He Is A smuggler' (English folk From: Joan from Wigan Date: 27 Jun 02 - 06:06 AM I've had a reply from Sue of Scolds Bridle. She says she "was given the words by Ian Woods in the early 1980s. He said that he found the words in the form of a broadsheet ballad in an old spectacle case brought into a local school by a schoolchild. He sings it vaguely to the tune of the Lowlands of Holland. The missing words are Revenue Cutters (as in ship) and Mallin's Lace." John, you may well have seen the lyrics in print, I just couldn't find them anywhere on the web - or in any of my books, and I have a fairly extensive music library. But it's likely that it has been printed somewhere. Joan |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'My Love He Is A smuggler' (English folk From: GUEST,Nobody Date: 08 Apr 09 - 06:52 PM Mal Waite did a lovely version of this song on her cassette"By Request" |
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Subject: Lyr Add: THE SMUGGLER (from John Masefield) From: Jim Dixon Date: 09 Apr 09 - 11:07 PM From A Sailor's Garland selected and edited by John Masefield (London: Methuen & Co., second edition, 1908). THE SMUGGLER (Air: White Cockade) O my true love's a smuggler and sails upon the sea, And I would I were a seaman to go along with he; To go along with he for the satins and the wine, And run the tubs at Slapton when the stars do shine. O Hollands is a good drink when the nights are cold, And Brandy is a good drink for them as grows old. There is lights in the cliff-top when the boats are home-bound, And we run the tubs at Slapton when the word goes round. The King he is a proud man in his grand red coat, But I do love a smuggler in a little fishing-boat; For he runs the Mallins lace and he spends his money free, And I would I were a seaman to go along with he. |
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Subject: Lyr Add: THE SMUGGLER'S GIRL (from J. E. Patterson From: Jim Dixon Date: 09 Apr 09 - 11:17 PM A similar version. From The Sea's Anthology edited by John Edward Patterson (New York: George H. Doran Company, 1913): THE SMUGGLER'S GIRL. Oh, my true love's a smuggler bold, and he sails the salt, salt sea; And I wish I were a sailor too, to go along with he— To go along with he o' nights for the satin and the wine, And run the tubs on Slapton beach when the merry stars do shine. Oh, Hollands is a warming drink, when nights are wet and cold; And brandy is a good man's drink for them as getting old. There's lights on the cliff-top high, when boats are homeward bound; And we run the tubs on Slapton beach, when the welcome word goes round. The King he is a great, proud man, all in his purple coat; But me, I love a smuggler lad in his little fishing boat; For he brings the Mallin laces fine, and he spends his money free; And I wish I were a seaman, oh, to sail along with he! |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'My Love He Is A smuggler' (English folk From: Artful Codger Date: 10 Apr 09 - 12:04 AM Masefield noted that the air was "The White Cockade". |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'My Love He Is A smuggler' (English folk From: mg Date: 10 Apr 09 - 01:46 AM started to say that there were some great rum running songs..well of course Thunder Road..or whiskey I guess..tune is old Finnish polka..Old Home Bill Gallagher has a great one about outrunning everyone.. it seems to me there is another one out there..at least...mg |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'My Love He Is A smuggler' (English folk From: Mick Pearce (MCP) Date: 10 Apr 09 - 04:02 PM I (UK) can't see the books on google (exept the info about the book), but both are available for download at archive.org. Mick |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Smuggler: 'My love he is a smuggler' From: GUEST,pete (GUEST) Date: 24 Sep 10 - 05:43 PM Have a CD copy of an LP recorded by Ian Woods & Charlie Yarwood hundreds of years ago but probably in the early 80s. "The Smuggler" noted as being words Anon and the tune Trad. Likely that John Masefield has the version which Ian sings. Will follow up sources for further info. Pete |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Smuggler: 'My love he is a smuggler' From: GUEST,Folk Filly Date: 12 Jun 11 - 04:08 PM Lush have brought out 4 cds of folk music that is played in their spa shops. The Smuggler song has been redone on there in a really nice way. It's worth a listen it's on itunes under fresh handmade sound validation. |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Smuggler: 'My love he is a smuggl From: GUEST,John Foxen Date: 13 Jun 11 - 12:09 PM On the subject of smuggling: does anyone remember a song Brenda Wootton used to do - I think it was the King of Prussia - with the refrain: "It's my delight on a moonlit night to run the buggers in"? - the buggers being barrels or wine etc |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Smuggler: 'My love he is a smuggler' From: Jim Dixon Date: 20 Jun 11 - 02:52 AM You can hear Brenda Wootton (an an unnamed man) sing THE KING OF PRUSSIA on this page. Here's a start at a transcription. I've numbered the lines for easy reference. Let's hear your corrections. Let me say at the outset I don't see why the song is called The King of Prussia, since I don't hear those words anywhere in the song. 1. Of Fresher(?) Cove where I was born a song I'll here begin 2. Me father is a smuggler bold and well do he ... 3. To land a cargo of the goods he never thought a sin 4. And 'tis my delight on a moonless night to run the cargo in 5. And 'tis my delight on a moonless night to run the cargo in 6. John Carter is me father's name, the king of all his kin 7. He is an honest man and keeps his word through thick and thin 8. For mounted men and ... guard he doesn't give a pin 9. And 'tis my delight on a moonless night to run the cargo in 10. And 'tis my delight on a moonless night to run the cargo in 11. Our locker is the Rose and Crown; we've locked her down from rain(?) 12. A double button(?) to her, she is snug as any bin 13. To see the kegs she brings from France 'twould make a donkey grin 14. And 'tis my delight on a moonless night to run the cargo in 15. And 'tis my delight on a moonless night to run the cargo in 16. No mark of kegs nor sinking stone is ever seen within 17. Across the channel rough or smooth so sweetly do she spin 18. What joy me boys to land the goods nor lose a guilder kin 19. And 'tis my delight on a moonless night to run the cargo in 20. And 'tis my delight on a moonless night to run the cargo in 21. We've friends galore along the shore; there's dear old Squire Prynn 22. And every farmer near or far ... 23. And Parson ... don't despise a case of ... 24. And 'tis my delight on a moonless night to run the cargo in 25. And 'tis my delight on a moonless night to run the cargo in 26. For speed to all preventive spies from ... sands to ... 27. They'd saw a poor man's boat in half and joy to do him in 28. Why should they take the bread away we work so hard to win 29. And 'tis my delight on a moonless night to run the cargo in 30. And 'tis my delight on a moonless night to run the cargo in |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Smuggler: 'My love he is a smuggler' From: GUEST,Cassandra Knight Date: 20 Jul 11 - 06:49 AM I agree, on the Validation facial cd that lush has come out with for their spa treatments, there is a beautiful version of this song on there. Definately worth listning to. I own the cd and listen to it as I fall asleep! |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Smuggler: 'My love he is a smuggler' From: Jim Dixon Date: 21 Jul 11 - 04:44 PM I listened again and can add this much: Line 23: And Parson ... don't despise a case of Holland gin |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Smuggler: 'My love he is a smuggler' From: Snuffy Date: 22 Jul 11 - 03:38 AM 18. probably kilderkin |
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