Lyr/Chords Req: On We Go

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: On We Go
From: GUEST
Date: 10 Jan 20 - 11:02 AM

So what sat as a jockey for his pay means?

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: On We Go
From: GUEST,Nancy McCallion
Date: 21 Sep 14 - 12:39 AM

I wrote the song and any similarity to traditional songs such as the The Woman of Wexford is purely coincidental. The tune does have a traditionalish tune, the walk from the relative minor to major on the verses is a fairly common riff in traditional Irish music; after all there's nothing new under the sun. That's Shakespeare, NOT Nancy McCallion.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: On We Go
From: katlaughing
Date: 08 Nov 05 - 03:14 PM

Just heard this on Hober and went off to find out more about Nancy. Found a full download of this song available at her website: Clickety (scroll down.)

The tune reminds me of the The Souling Cake song. I sure thought it was a trad when I heard it this morning. I LOVE her voice!

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: On We Go
From: Genie
Date: 05 Jul 02 - 05:15 PM

BTW, I did find a link to the Women Of The World-Celtic CDs, and it is Nancy McCallion singing the song on Vol. I. I have the CD on hold for me at the library and will listen to the song again to try to determine whether my friend and I simply mis-heard the lyrics she is singing.

I'm still interested in whether the song has trad roots, but I don't have too much time to spend researching the matter right now.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: On We Go
From: Genie
Date: 29 Jun 02 - 12:28 PM

michael, I'm sure your "Song Theft Police" comment was tongue-in-cheek. I don't think you can "steal" a traditional song by writing and claiming copyright to a new arrangement or version of it. Tons of folk and c/w and jazz artists do that. [Unfortunately, many folks may see the © on your sheet music or recording and be deterred from using even the public-domain versions.] *G*

So if Nancy's song is a new version or arrangement of a trad song, she is, of course, entitled to songwriting royalties if someone else uses her version. Folks can still work from the older versions, though, without owing royalties.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: On We Go
From: GUEST,Will
Date: 29 Jun 02 - 04:15 AM

One small error. It seems the CD I referred to above is "Women Of The World - Celtic; Vol. 2." Tried to find it on the web but could find only Vol. 1 -- same artists, but different songs.

WW

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: On We Go
From: michaelr
Date: 29 Jun 02 - 02:02 AM

Will - thanks so much for the info on the slang terms. It seems to corroborate Genie's post -- we're getting to the bottom of this! As I like that recording, I've been following this thread with interest. It looks to me like :
tune: traditional
lyrics: trad with variations written and/or misheard by Nancy.

I wonder whether she's receiving songwriting royalties for this one?
Should we alert the Irish Song Theft Police? ;-)

Cheers,
Michael

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: On We Go
From: GUEST,Will
Date: 29 Jun 02 - 12:51 AM

RE:  On We Go

I have been interested in this song ever since I heard it on the "Women Of The Celtic World" Vol. 1 CD.  I sing it pretty much that version, though I do not recall the artist.

I was curious about clarity of certain terms so I played the CD for no less an authority than the famous Biddy of Biddy McGraw's Pub who is Belfast Irish and it would not be polite to speculate on her age.  She had heard the song or similar song in Belfast over 30 years ago.  The version on the Celtic Women compilation is of fairly common tradional Irish melody and arrangment and the lyrics this version uses are old Irish slang.

"Cozy as a codfish"  I've heard all of my life.  "Chucky for his pay" is old Irish sailor slang for whore and the term is still used in Ireland and Jamaica, where the natives learned it from Irish sailors.

It is my opinion that the song is at least of traditional derivation and the version the Molly's does is a bowdlerization-- a highly homogenized variant on an original Irish bawdy ditty.

The Mollys version has several non-sequitur-ish phrasings and a duller tale and motif.

I could be wrong, but I intend to do a little more research.

Will

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: On We Go
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 27 Jun 02 - 11:44 AM

I'm sorry if my remark seemed to be directed at you; it was intended as a general comment addressed to the world at large, not a personal one! The Mollys website does say specifically that Nancy McCallion wrote the song, and, though she'd likely be aware of Johnny Sands and so on, there don't seem to be any identifiable borrowings so far as I can tell.

As to the quoted expressions making sense, I didn't mean that they don't, just that they don't need to, if they are what was originally written.

Subject: Lyric Clarification: On We Go
From: Genie
Date: 27 Jun 02 - 10:33 AM

Well, folks, I'm still curious about the two lyric variants. I have sometimes seen outright errors in lyrics printed on liner notes--e.g., whole lines of the song or whole verses left out.

I asked about the background and meaning of those words and phrases because, if nothing else, it would help me understand how someone hearing the original song could mistake the lyrics for the other ones. And if, as Malcolm says, none of the expressions I asked about makes sense, I'm even more curious.

I did e-mail The Mollys to ask whether the song is a completely new composition by Nancy McCallion or based on a trad song, etc. [You can't always tell by who is listed as the author on the jacket or even in sheet music. I could give you a long list of songs attributed to (i.e., "words and music by...") modern singer-songwriter or composers, where the new song was based very largely on a traditional song (as much as 90% of the words and tune not original.]

And, Malcolm, if it turns out the version I heard is nothing more than a mis-hearing of the words to a fully modern composition by Nancy McCallion, I wouldn't dream of accepting that version as "folk process." It's kind of a pet peeve of mine that mis-heard or mis-remembered lyrics so readily become part of the public consciousness because someone cuts a CD or prints sheet music with the mistakes in it. I just need more than liner notes to go on.

Genie

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: On We Go
From: MMario
Date: 26 Jun 02 - 09:35 PM

well - dorareever says the booklet from the CD says "jockey" - and Nancy was a member of the group that put out the Cd, yes?

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: On We Go
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 26 Jun 02 - 08:46 PM

None of those expressions needs to make sense; the question would just be, what did Nancy McCallion write? It's her song, after all, and anybody else's "version" is either true to the original or not, presumably. (Please don't pull that lazy "folk process" excuse; this is a modern song, not a traditional one, and it really doesn't apply here.)

Subject: Lyr: On We Go
From: Genie
Date: 26 Jun 02 - 03:53 PM

This discussion brings to mind the threads on the many variations of "Wildwood Flower," wherein "...pale emelita [or amanita] and islip so blue" morphed into "...pale and the leader and eyes look so blue."

In trying to figure out which version is older, and whether one may be based on mondegreens of the other, I'm curious as to which, if any, of the following are (or used to be) common Celtic or English expressions, and what they mean:

•"to sit as a jockey" as an occupation [I thought one "sat as a judge" but "rode as a jockey"]
• "cozy as a codfish show"
• "cozy as a codfish"
• "she's her mother's darling" • "a chucky for his pay" [or just "chucky"]

Maybe you 'cats from the other side of the pond can enlighten me.

Thanks,

Genie

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: On We Go
From: Genie
Date: 26 Jun 02 - 12:14 AM

dorareever,
Is THAT why the Mollys' heroine done it?  I thought it was 'cuz he was boring!  *G*

[Interesting, MMario, that a version that removes all reference to premarital sex, prostitution, and out-of-wedlock birth--but leaves in a (spousal) murder--would be considered a "cleaned-up" version.  Hmmm....]

My friend tells me, dorareever, that the recording he had was not by Nancy McCallion or The Mollys, and I have heard the song from that CD, and the lyrics they sing are the ones I posted, not the ones MMario and Sorcha posted.  If I can get hold of that CD again, I'll post who it is.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: On We Go
From: Mrrzy
Date: 25 Jun 02 - 02:28 PM

Thanks for the clarif re: marrowbones.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: On We Go
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 25 Jun 02 - 01:47 PM

I don't know where I got the impression that the tune was a borrowed traditional one; it certainly doesn't say that on the site I indicated. My mistake.

The song seems to have been recorded by several "Celtic" acts; you can hear "Celtic Soul" playing it at (amongst other places) Paddy Reilly's Radio Links, where it is implied that the song is traditional, and Irish.

Nancy McAllion herself can be heard singing it, in a brief excerpt from Women Of The World - Celtic at CDNow

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: On We Go
From: dorareever
Date: 25 Jun 02 - 12:54 PM

Well,in the Mollys version she has the justification that the husband basically never gave love to her.Can I ask you,if you know,who was the artist you heard this version from? On the Putamayo compilation about Celtic Women the song was done indeed by Nancy McCallion,is this another Celtic Women compilation? I'd love to hear this version too.

Subject: Lyr Add: ON WE GO
From: Genie
Date: 24 Jun 02 - 08:36 PM

I finally talked to my friend who first played this song for me. Between the two of us, and using the above posts to jog our memories, I've come up with these lyrics, which are pretty much dead on, as far as the version he played for me goes.
He said the CD was some compilation of Celtic women's music, but that it was NOT by Nancy McAlion or The Mollys.

 ON WE GO

 There was an old woman and there was an old man,
 Who laid upon the high road.
 He once said, as a chucky for his pay,
 That she was her mother's darlin'-O.
 
Chorus:
On we go, on we go
Can you recall that we'd be married-O?
On we go, on we go,
Would ye leave me pregnant, see me die alone?
Come a little closer to me, darlin'-O.
 
"Come with me, you silly old man,
Cozy as a codfish-O.
I've never seen anyone hard as you,
At least not after breakfast-O.

 Chorus:

 She took the old man by the hand
 And led him across a moonlit night.
 She took him to the public house
 And filled 'im full o' whiskey-O!

 Chorus: 

 On the way back home from town,
 Oh, woe, my darling-O!
 She pushed him in the water and held him down, [shouting:]
 "Can you recall that we'd be married-O?"

 Chorus: 
 On we go, on we go
 Can you recall that we'd be married'-O?
 On we go, on we go,
 Would ye leave me pregnant, see me die alone?
 Come a little closer to me, darlin'-O.
 [Softer] Come a little closer to me, darlin'-O.
 [Whispered very pointedly] Come a little closer to me, darlin'-O!.

Personally, I think this version is more interesting, and the woman has more justification for her actions than is apparent in the Mollys' version. But that's folk music, innit?

Genie

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: On We Go
From: dorareever
Date: 24 Jun 02 - 08:18 PM

The lyrics printed on the booklet are "he once sat as a jockey for his pay."

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: On We Go
From: Genie
Date: 24 Jun 02 - 07:26 PM

dorareever, as I recall, the friend who introduced me to this song did not present it as "traditional."  He has it on a CD [probably The Mollys], but the terms "chucky" [hooker] and saying that someone "is her mother's darlin'" are [or used to be], he says, common colloquial phrases.

Two questions come to mind, then:

• Are the lyrics that MMario and Sorcha posted above transcriptions written by someone who just wrote what they thought they were hearing [cf. all the threads on  Mondegreens], or are they lyrics printed in the CD liner notes?

• Even if they are from liner notes, is it possible that they were either "cleaned up," as MMario suggests, for public consumption, or even, perhaps themselves the product of a third party hired to put together liner lyrics from listening to the CD?
 

I ask these Qs, because I think the story loses a lot of its spark when substitute "he once sat as a jockey for his pay"  [which begs the question, "So what does that have to do with the story?] for "he once said [told her], as a chucky for his pay ...".

Also, I've heard the song on my friend's CD, and it sounds to me like they're singing "chucky," not "jockey."

Genie

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: On We Go
From: dorareever
Date: 24 Jun 02 - 06:01 PM

I guess the lyrics and theme are based on a traditonal,but the music is by Nancy herself I think.On the This is My Round CD the tunes based with a traditional melody are two other songs.Or at least they credited two other songs as "traditonal",not "on we go".Anyway the Mollys were and are great both in their mex-celtic days and now in this new country-songwriter phase.They are simply a wonderful band to see live and ALL of their CD's worth a listening.I just love 'em.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: On We Go
From: MMario
Date: 24 Jun 02 - 04:22 PM

or someone may have "cleaned it up"

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: On We Go
From: GUEST,Genie (whose cookie keeps disappearing)
Date: 24 Jun 02 - 04:18 PM

MMario and Sorcha,
The lyrics you posted are similar to the version I know. But that one main line is "He once said, as a chucky for his pay, that she was her mother's darlin-O." I'm told that it means he once told her that for a whore/prostitute ["chucky for his pay"}, she was [or fancied herself] pretty hot stuff ["she was her mother's darlin'-O].

The story's kind of between the lines, but it seems they were lovers in their younger years, he knocked her up, promising marriage, and then brushed her off as a whore, and she catches up with him many years later, gets him drunk and has her revenge.

I don't know if your line is just a different version [he really was a jockey?] or if someone mis-transcribed it.

The input from all of you folks is most appreciated. Thanks.

Genie

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: On We Go
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 24 Jun 02 - 01:36 PM

Not related to any of the Marrowbones family, as the lyric isn't traditional, despite what it says at http://www.3pintsgone.com/lyrics/StValery/OnWeGo.htm.

Some details of the record from which that band learned the song can be seen at http://www.mollys.com/mollys/buy.htm, where it is stated that "This Is My Round (Apolkalips, 1995) contains 14 songs, all Mollys originals with the exception of two tradiontal [sic] tunes given new lyrics by Nancy McCallion". On We Go is one of those; there is no indication as to what the tune might be, or to where they got it.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: On We Go
From: Sorcha
Date: 24 Jun 02 - 12:05 PM

That is weird---when I posted the 1 min. thing, my clock said Genie asked at 11:42---now it says she asked at 11:35. Oh well.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: On We Go
From: Declan
Date: 24 Jun 02 - 12:02 PM

Some similarities between the two songs in that the wife tries to drown her husband in both cases. Except in the Woman of Wexford the husband comes out better having drowned the wife. In this one she succeeds in drowning him.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: On We Go
From: MMario
Date: 24 Jun 02 - 11:59 AM

?? my list shows two minutes...still, I think that's the first time I've broken three!!!!!

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: On We Go
From: Sorcha
Date: 24 Jun 02 - 11:57 AM

Mario, did you realize that was a 1 minute answer??? Congratulations, me mon!

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: On We Go
From: MMario
Date: 24 Jun 02 - 11:53 AM

'peers as it may be...

opinions?

Old Woman from Wexford

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: On We Go
From: Mrrzy
Date: 24 Jun 02 - 11:51 AM

Is this a version of the Old Woman from Wexford?

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: On We Go
From: MMario
Date: 24 Jun 02 - 11:49 AM

I'm sorry.

shuffles feet, hangs head, whimpers

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: On We Go
From: Sorcha
Date: 24 Jun 02 - 11:45 AM

DAGNABIT MARIO!!

Subject: Lyr Add: ON WE GO
From: Sorcha
Date: 24 Jun 02 - 11:44 AM

1) There was an old woman and there was an old man
Who lived upon the high road
He once sat as a jockey for his pay
And she was her mother's darling'O

Chorus:
On we go, and on we go
Call you recall the day we married'O
On we go, and on we go
Wouldn't you be frightened to die'O
Come a little closer to your darlin'O

2) Come with me you silly old man
Cozy as a cod fish show
I've never seen anyone as sorry as you
At least not after breakfast'O

Chorus:

3) She took the old man by the hand
She lead him across a moon lit night
She took him to the public house
And filled him up with whisky 'O

Chorus:

4) On the way back home from town
Oh, wo my darling "O
She pushed him in the water and held him down
Call you recall the day we married'O

Chorus:

End= Verse one as round until fade

From:http://www.3pintsgone.com/lyrics/StValery/OnWeGo.htm

Subject: Lyr Add: ON WE GO (from Nancy McCallion)
From: MMario
Date: 24 Jun 02 - 11:43 AM

"ON WE GO," performed by Nancy McCallion of The Mollys, can be found of Women of the World: Celtic.

There was an old woman and there was an old man
Who lived upon the high road.
He once sat as a jockey for his pay,
And she was her mother's darling-o.

CHORUS: On we go, and on we go.
Can you recall the day we married-o?
On we go, and on we go.
Wouldn't you be frightened to die-o?
Come a little closer to your darlin'-o.

Come with me, you silly old man,
Cozy as a codfish-o.
I've never seen anyone as sorry as you,
At least not after breakfast-o.

Chorus:

She took the old man by the hand.
She led him across a moonlit night.
She took him to the public house
And filled him up with whisky–o.

Chorus:

On the way back home from town,
Oh, woe my darling-o!
She pushed him in the water and held him down.
Can you recall the day we married-o?

Chorus:

End= Verse one as round until fade

Subject: On We Go
From: Genie
Date: 24 Jun 02 - 11:35 AM

Looking for lyrics to an Irish or English [I think] folk song called "On We Go."  The tune is reminiscent of
"Heigh, Ho, Nobody Home," and I don't really need the chords all that much [but if you've got 'em handy, ...].

Here are some of the lyrics I can recall:
 

There was an old woman and there was an old man,
They loved upon the high road, oh.
He once said, as a chucky for his pay,
That she was her mother's darlin', oh.
 

Chorus:
On we go, on we go
Would ye see me pregnant, see me die alone?
On we go, on we go,
Come a little closer to me, darlin', oh.
 
 

"Come with me, you silly old man,
Cozy as a codfish, oh.
................
................
 

She took him by his ........ hand
And led him to an alehouse, oh.
...................
And filled him full o' whiskey, oh.
 

----

Anyway, she drowns him in a well and then we all sing the chorus again.
 
 

I've searched the DT and forum for "On We Go," and for "Come a little closer" and for "cozy as a codfish," and I've come up with zilch.  I figured one of you 'cats may know the song.

Thanks,

Genie