Lyr Req/Add: The Spinning Wheel (John Waller)

Subject: The Spinning Wheel - I think...?
From:
Date: 14 Jan 97 - 08:08 PM

I think this song is called The Spinning Wheel but I can't remember any words except:

Slower and slower and slower the wheel turns Lower and lower and lower the [something] [somthings]

Sound familiar to anyone?

Thanks for any help, Una

Subject: Lyr Add: THE SPINNING WHEEL (Waller)
From: Chris Sheffield
Date: 15 Jan 97 - 05:52 PM

THE SPINNING WHEEL

Mellow the moonlight to shine is beginning.
Close by the window young Eileen is spinning.
Bent o'er the fire her blind grandmother sitting,
Crooning and moaning and drowsily knitting.

*Merrily, cheerily, noiselessly whirring
Spins the wheel, rings the wheel, while the foot's stirring.
Lightly and brightly and airily ringing,
Sounds the sweet voice of the young maiden singing.

"What's the noise that I hear at the window, I wonder."
"'Tis the little birds chirping the holly bush under."
"What makes you be shoving and moving your stool on,
And singing, all wrong, that old song of 'The Coolun'?"

There's a form at the casement, the form of her true love,
And he whispers with face bent, "I'm waiting for you, love.
Get up from the stool. Through the lattice step lightly.
We'll rove in the grove while the moon's shining brightly."

*Merrily, cheerily, noiselessly whirring,
Spins the wheel, rings the wheel, while the foot's stirring.
Sprightly and lightly and airily ringing,
Trills the sweet voice of the young maiden singing.

The maid shakes her head, on her lip lays her fingers,
Steals up from the stool, longs to go and yet lingers.
A frightened glance turns to her drowsy grandmother,
Puts one foot on the stool, spins the wheel with the other.

*Lazily, easily, swings now the wheel round,
Slowly and lowly is heard now the reel's sound.
Noiseless and light to the lattice above her
The maid steps then leaps to the arms of her lover.

*Slower and slower and slower the wheel swings.
Lower...and lower...and lower the reel rings.
Ere the reel and the wheel stop their ringing and moving,
Through the grove, the young lovers by moonlight are roving.

By John Waller (1809-1894)
Popularised in the 1950s I think by Delia Murphy
* = a sort of chorus (to a (slightly) different tune

Subject: RE: The Spinning Wheel - I think...?
From: Una Grey
Date: 15 Jan 97 - 08:45 PM

Thank you... thank you... thank you... This had been driving me crazy for months!

Una

Subject: RE: The Spinning Wheel - I think...?
From:
Date: 20 Jan 97 - 10:11 AM

There's an old spinning wheel in the parlor, Spinning dreams of a long, long ago, Spinning dreams of an old-fashioned garden, And a maid with her old-fashioned beau.

Sometimes I feel that I can see her in the twilight, At the organ softly singing, "Sweet and Low" There's an old spinning wheel in the parlor, Spinning dreams of a long, long ago. (in early versions "Sweet and Low" read "Old Black Joe")

Subject: RE: The Spinning Wheel - I think...?
From: Joe Offer
Date: 09 Dec 03 - 03:39 PM

Somebody came in today and asked if I knew "Rose of Tralee," so I started singing it to her. She said that wasn't the song, and she gave me the CD she was listening to - something called A Tear and a Smile from the Emerald Isle, but the Boys of the Isle. They titled the song "A Rose of Tralee," but I can find it only as "Spinning Wheel." I gather it was a poem written by John Waller, later put to music. Anybody know who wrote the tune, and when it was published?
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: The Spinning Wheel - I think...?
From: GUEST,Big Jim from Jackson
Date: 09 Dec 03 - 09:33 PM

A group called The Vipers (an English Skiffle group, contemperaries of Lonnie Donegan)have a nice version of the song. They have it on an album called "The Original Soho Skiffle Group" and sung by Wally Whyton. It was writen in the middle of the 1800's in Ireland---at least that is what I was told. It can also be found on an album called "The Fields of Athenry" done by members of the Missouri Folklore Society.

Subject: RE: The Spinning Wheel - I think...?
From: Barry T
Date: 09 Dec 03 - 10:24 PM

Sing along with my midi file version here... The Spinning Wheel

My source confirms the info provided by Chris: written by John Waller and made popular by Delia Murphy.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Spinning Wheel - I think...?
From: GUEST,erin_draiodor_mna
Date: 20 Dec 04 - 07:26 PM

I have been trying to work out the chords for this song, does anyone know them?

Subject: Chords Add: THE SPINNING WHEEL SONG
From: s&r
Date: 21 Dec 04 - 08:18 AM

Bar by bar in C:

C C C G G G G C C C F C G7 C G C

Chorus C C C G G G G C C C7 F C G C G C

Stu

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Spinning Wheel - I think...?
From: JeffB
Date: 22 Jan 10 - 05:42 PM

Looking up the words for this, I noticed that verse 8 above hasn't been added to the DT. Could an elf please oblige? Thanks

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Spinning Wheel - I think...?
From: Jim Carroll
Date: 23 Jan 10 - 10:02 AM

Described in Connor McPherson's wonderful play, 'The Weir' as "That creepy feckin' song" - and it is!
Jim Carroll

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Spinning Wheel - I think...?
From: JeffB
Date: 23 Jan 10 - 02:16 PM

Matter of opinion I suppose

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Spinning Wheel - I think...?
From: Jim Carroll
Date: 23 Jan 10 - 03:18 PM

"Matter of opinion I suppose"
It wasn't a criticism Jeff, (I'm rather fond of the song, and have been since my childhood) It was just a comment in a play about haunted houses and superstition.
Jim Carroll

Subject: Chords Add: THE SPINNING WHEEL (Waller)
From: GUEST
Date: 05 May 11 - 05:59 AM

[D]Mellow the moonlight to shine is be[A7]ginning,
Close by the window young Eileen is[D] Spinning;
Bent o'er the[D7] fire her blind[G] grandmother, [D]sitting,
Is[A7] crooning, and moaning, and drowsily [D]knitting: -

(D) Eileen, a chara, I hear someone (A7)tapping
'Tis the ivy dear mother against the glass(D) flapping
Eileen, I (D7)surely hear (G)somebody(D) sighing
'Tis the (A7)sound mother (D) dear of the (A7 ) autumn winds (D)dying.

(D)Merrily cheerily noisily (A7)whirring
Swings the wheel spins the wheel while the foot's (D)stirring
Sprightly and (D7)lightly and (G)airily(D) ringing
(A7) Sounds the sweet (D)voice of the (A7)young maiden (D)singing.

There's a form at the casement - the form of her true love -
And he whispers, with face bent, "I'm waiting for you, love;
Get up on the stool, through the lattice step lightly,
We'll rove in the grove while the moon's shining brightly."
Merrily, cheerily, noiselessly whirring,
Swings the wheel, spins the wheel, while the foot's stirring;
Sprightly, and brightly, and airily ringing
Thrills the sweet voice of the young maiden singing.
The maid shakes her head, on her lips lays her fingers
Steps up from the stool, longs to go and yet lingers
A frightened glance turns to her drowsy grandmother
Puts her foot on the stool spins the wheel with the other

Lazily, easily, now swings the wheel round
Slowly and lowly is heard now the reel's sound
Noiseless and light to the lattice above her
The maid steps, then leaps to the arms of her lover.

Slower... and slower... and slower the wheel swings
Lower... and lower... and lower the reel rings
Ere the reel and the wheel stop their ringing and moving
Through the grove the young lovers by moonlight are roving.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Spinning Wheel
From: threelegsoman
Date: 05 May 11 - 07:19 AM

Check out my version of this song on YouTube where I include the lyrics and chords.

http://youtu.be/atNrathlWys

The Spinning Wheel performed by threelegsoman

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Spinning Wheel
From: GUEST,DEsi C
Date: 05 May 11 - 07:25 AM

I see Chris has provided the words below. Oddly enough I performed this last night at our club. BUt the last two verses that Chris included are hardly ever sung and I think were ossibly added in the 20th century, I just don't think they fit or are needed. Beautiful tune and yes Chris was revived in the 1950's by Delia Murphy who I heard perform at our town hall in Castlecomer Kilkenny when I was about 5 with harp accompaniment

Subject: Lyr Add: A SPINNING-WHEEL SONG (J F Waller)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 13 Nov 11 - 09:54 PM

From an article, "Midsummer Melodies," by Jonathan Freke Slingsby* in The Dublin University Magazine, Vol. 42, No. 248 (August, 1853), page 133:


A SPINNING-WHEEL SONG.
Air—"The Little House under the Hill."

1. Mellow the moonlight to shine is beginning;
Close by the window young Eileen is spinning;
Bent o'er the fire her blind grandmother, sitting,
Is croaning, and moaning, and drowsily knitting—
"Eileen, achora, I hear some one tapping."—
"'Tis the ivy, dear mother, against the glass flapping."
"Eileen, I surely hear somebody sighing."—
"'Tis the sound, mother dear, of the summer wind dying."
                  Merrily, cheerily, noisily whirring,
                  Swings the wheel, spins the reel, while the foot's stirring;
                  Sprightly, and lightly, and airily ringing,
                  Thrills the sweet voice of the young maiden singing.

2. "What's that noise that I hear at the window, I wonder?"—
"'Tis the little birds chirping the holly-bush under."—
"What makes you be shoving and moving your stool on,
And singing all wrong that old song of 'The Coolun'?"—
There's a form at the casement—the form of her true love—
And be whispers, with face bent, "I'm waiting for you, love;
Get up on the stool, through the lattice step lightly,
We'll rove in the grove while the moon's shining brightly."
                  Merrily, cheerily, noisily whirring,
                  Swings the wheel, spins the reel, while the foot's stirring;
                  Sprightly, and lightly, and airily ringing,
                  Thrills the sweet voice of the young maiden singing.

3. The maid shakes her head, on her lip lays her fingers,
Steals up from the seat—longs to go, and yet lingers;
A frightened glance turns to her drowsy grandmother,
Puts one foot on the stool, spins the wheel with the other.
Lazily, easily, swings now the wheel round;
Slowly and lowly is heard now the reel's sound;
Noiseless and light to the lattice above her
The maid steps—then leaps to the arms of her lover.
                  Slower—and slower—and slower the wheel swings;
                  Lower—and lower—and lower the reel rings;
                  Ere the reel and the wheel stopped their ringing and moving,
                  Through the grove the young lovers by moonlight are roving.


[* A pseudonym for John Francis Waller.]

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Spinning Wheel (Waller)
From: open mike
Date: 14 Nov 11 - 10:47 AM

I like how you had the lyrics and chords combined in the clip.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Spinning Wheel (Waller)
From: GUEST,Desi C
Date: 22 Jan 14 - 11:20 AM

In Ireland it's nearly always played as a simple A7-E7-A7-D-A7 3/4 tume, sometimes also called 'Mellow The Moonlight' I often heard it as a child

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Spinning Wheel (Waller)
From: MartinRyan
Date: 18 Mar 15 - 05:25 AM

Waller's main collection of poetry, including this one, is now at Archive.org:

Click here

Regards

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Spinning Wheel (Waller)
From: GUEST,Fred McCormick
Date: 18 Mar 15 - 11:56 AM

I once knew somebody who was not noted for saying sensible things. However, on mention of The Spinning Wheel he said "If such a thing were possible, I'd like to blow it up". Amen to that.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Spinning Wheel (Waller)
From: Gallus Moll
Date: 18 Mar 15 - 01:30 PM

- often it is not the fault of the song, but the way it has been sung / performed -- -

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Spinning Wheel (Waller)
From: GUEST,Desi C
Date: 20 Mar 15 - 07:27 AM

You can find the full lyrics and chords here along with hundreds of other Irish songs

http://www.irish-folk-songs.com/