Lyr ADD: January Man (Dave Goulder)

Subject: Lyr Req: January Man
From: GUEST,vince
Date: 10 Jan 03 - 11:21 AM

'Ello agin, this may have already featured on a thread but.....in Dave Goulder's song 'January Man', does second verse definately end....'and grins at each new comer'? or is coler as some interpretations seem to state. Also, anyone know what cd's are currently available of Daves? Cheers!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: January Man
From: Schantieman
Date: 10 Jan 03 - 11:28 AM

I sing this (every year at about this time!) and have always sung 'grins at each newcomer' here. For one thing, it rhymes with 'summer'.   What's a coler, anyway?

Having said that I wrote it down from the singing of the blessed Martin Carthy, on Folkweave (or was it Folk on 2?) many years ago - I may have it all arsy versy.

Bloody good song, though!

Steve

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: January Man
From: Stewart
Date: 10 Jan 03 - 11:52 AM

William Pint does a nice version of January Man on his CD "When I See Winter Return" (Waterbug Records, 1997). He sings - "and grins at each new color." It's a great song. Pint and Dale's CD is well worth buying for this and other good songs.

Cheers, S. in Seattle

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: January Man
From: allanwill
Date: 10 Jan 03 - 11:53 AM

So far, it's 3 - 1 on a Google search in favour of "new colour" (or color, depending on where you come from).

I've got Bert Jansch's "Moonsine" at home - I'll see what he says.

Allan

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: January Man
From: Schantieman
Date: 10 Jan 03 - 11:54 AM

Oh yes - I've got that CD and I'd forgotten Jan Man's on it. Why would the man of June grin at each new colour though?

S

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: January Man
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 10 Jan 03 - 12:02 PM

Quoted at Henry's Songbook:

[1992:] I know that Dave Goulder was insistent that people should sing January Man the way he wrote it - "If I had wanted people to sing 'smiles at each newcomer', I'd have written that instead of 'grins at each newcomer'." (Imlach, Reminiscences 167)

I don't know if that's definitive; I seem to recall that Martin Carthy changed the song a bit, but not in what way. You can probably still get copies of Daves's songbook, January Man, if you look around a bit.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: January Man
From: Allan C.
Date: 10 Jan 03 - 02:51 PM

I wholeheartedly agree with Stewart's endorsement of Pint and Dale's rendition of this song. You can find a link here to where you can listen to it. "When I See Winter Return" is one of my very favorite collections of seasonal songs.

By the way, their schedule shows that they will be returning to the UK in May and June.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: January Man
From: Strupag
Date: 10 Jan 03 - 03:33 PM

I'm going to make you all jealous now!
About 18 months ago I was up in Rosehall (Dave's Village in Sutherland) to see Mike Mara.
It was a great night and, as always up there, the concert turned into a great cheilidh with most of the audience having a song to sing.
I've known Dave for 20 odd years now and have never heard him sing "January Man" himself. He had become a bit quirky about it, as is his want!
This night however, my partner Morag asked Dave to sing January man and to our surprise he said OK and gave the definitive rendering of the song.
There is something special about a songwriter singing his own song.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: January Man
From: Willa
Date: 10 Jan 03 - 03:46 PM

I sing 'grins at each newcomer',which is on my copy of the words, but I can't remember where I got it from.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: January Man
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 10 Jan 03 - 03:49 PM

Och Andy, you old name dropper you! ¦¬]
Giok

Subject: Lyr Add: THE JANUARY MAN (Dave Goulder)
From: Stewart
Date: 10 Jan 03 - 05:14 PM

Very interesting. I listened to Pint & Dale again and compared it to that in "Henry's Songbook" (posted by Malcomb). There are other differences. Below is Pint & Dale's version with the changed words underlined. In the liner notes, William Pint says he first heard the song sung by Martin Carthy. Is that the version that William sings or has he made his own changes? I want to learn this song, but not sure which version.

THE JANUARY MAN
by Dave Goulder, as sung by William Pint & Felicia Dale.

The January man he walks abroad in woolen coat and boots of leather
The February man still shakes the snow from off his hair and blows his hands
The man of March he sees the spring and wonders what the year will bring
And hopes for better weather

Through April rain the man goes down to watch the birds come in to share the summer
The man of May stands very still watching the children dance away the day
In June the man inside the man is young and wants to lend a hand
And grins at each new color

And in July the man in cotton shirt he sits and thinks on being idle
The August man in thousands takes the road to watch the sea and find the sun
September man is standing near to saddle up another year
And autumn is his bridle

And the man of new October takes the rain and early frost is on his shoulder
The poor November man sees fire and rain and snow and mist and wintery gales
December man looks through the snow to let eleven brothers know
They're all a little older

And the January man comes round again in woollen coat and boots of leather
To take another turn and walk along the icy road he knows so well
The January man is here for starting off each and every year
Along the road forever

Cheers, S. in Seattle

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: January Man
From: Strupag
Date: 10 Jan 03 - 05:52 PM

Are you referring to Morag Giok?
Next time I'm Rosehall I'll be expecting to hear YOU sing!

PS It looks like oor wee Dave is quite famous!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: January Man
From: Susanne (skw)
Date: 10 Jan 03 - 06:10 PM

The version in Henry's songbook is Iain MacKintosh's. He says he learned it (and thus the 'incorrect' parts of the lyrics) from Archie Fisher.
Strupag, is there a folk club in Rosehall? Then I'll have to look out for it. There are other songs I'd like to ask Dave G. about.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: January Man
From: Strupag
Date: 10 Jan 03 - 07:01 PM

No folk club as such Su but often they have good sessions, I'm sure Giok should keep you posted on that one.
Good point that you mentioned though! Dave has written many other brilliant songs.
I'm not good at keeping records but try finding and listening to:
Sandwood Down to Kyle
Dry Stone Dykes song
Faraway Tom
Requiem for Steam
Seventh Summer ( N/S about the title)
Pinwhirie Dip
The list really does go on.
Many of his songs are about Steam travel which reflect his early days on a locomaotve footplate.
He is now a Master Dry Stane Dyker and has great difficulty in building dry stone steam engines!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: January Man
From: Susanne (skw)
Date: 10 Jan 03 - 08:41 PM

Thanks, Strupag - one of my questions was whether he'd really written Faraway Tom. The other one was about a trad song (as far as I can find out) called Dogger Bank. I found it in some Mudcat thread, though. Must find a CD of him!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: January Man
From: GUEST,Dave Goulder
Date: 11 Jan 03 - 02:30 PM

Who woke me up?
Very flattered by this discussion. Can I help clear anything up?
Back to sleep...

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: January Man
From: Stewart
Date: 11 Jan 03 - 02:44 PM

Yes, Dave. What is your version?
Sorry to keep you awake.

Thanks, S. in Seattle

Subject: Lyr Add: THE JANUARY MAN (Dave Goulder)
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 11 Jan 03 - 02:53 PM

"...grins at each newcomer" is what Dave sang when he came to sing to us in Harlow, and what he put in his book of songs I bought off him.

Here's what he writes with the song there:

I sing this as an unaccompanied folk song using rubato for "colour", though mine is only one interpretation. I've also hear it done as a 6/8 jig and as a slow chant. There are many versions going around and in most of them the words seem to have undergone the "folk process": changing slightly as they pas from singer to singer. The words here are what I finished up with in 1966.

And here are those words (and his punctuation - note the full stops rather than commas at the end of most lines - it makes a difference):

The January man he walks abroad in woollen coat and boots of leather.
The February man still wipes the snow from off his hair and blows his hands.
The man of March he sees the spring and wonders what the year will bring,
And hopes for better weather.

Through April rain the man goes down to watch the birds come in to share the summer.
The man of May stands very still watching the children dance away the day.
In June the man inside the man is young and wants to lend a hand,
And grins at each new color

And in July the man in cotton shirt he sits and thinks on being idle.
The August man in thousands takes the road to watch the sea and find the sun.
September man is standing near to saddle-up and lead the year,
And autumn is his bridle

And the man of new October takes the reins, and early frost is on his shoulder.
The poor November man sees fire and wind and mist and rain and winter air.
December man looks through the snow to let eleven brothers know,
They're all a little older

And the January man comes round again in woollen coat and boots of leather,
To take another turn and walk along the icy road he knows so well.
The January man is here for starting each and every year,
Along the way forever

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: January Man
From: GUEST,Zorg
Date: 11 Jan 03 - 02:57 PM

I just happen to have in my sticky hand a copy of Dave's book & it says 'grins'

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: January Man
From: nutty
Date: 11 Jan 03 - 04:48 PM

McGRATH ...... you still haven't solved the new colour/newcomer conundrum. Having used one in your quote from Dave's book and the other in the posted lyrics. Freudian slip perhaps *grin*

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: January Man
From: Mark Cohen
Date: 11 Jan 03 - 05:21 PM

Especially since if Dave had actually written those words, he would have spelled it "colour." I think I smell a rat...or, at least, an errour.

Aloha,
Mark
(who learned it as "newcomer" from the singing of Jay Wilson in Seattle, who got it, I think, from Gordon Bok, now a neighbor of Dave's. But what do I know?)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: January Man
From: GUEST,Kendall
Date: 11 Jan 03 - 05:42 PM

If this is the real Dave Goulder, I understand you have some physical problem? And, what do you do other than music? The real Dave can answer these questions, (I know the answers)

Subject: Lyr Add: THE JANUARY MAN (Dave Goulder)
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 11 Jan 03 - 06:06 PM

Sorry - it should of course have been "newcomer" (I cheated and lifted the text from the version posted by Stewart, and modified it to match Dave Goulder's book. But unaccountably I missed that line. Sod's Law rules. So here is the version Dave Goulder wrote and sings:

The January man he walks abroad in woollen coat and boots of leather.
The February man still wipes the snow from off his hair and blows his hands.
The man of March he sees the spring and wonders what the year will bring,
And hopes for better weather.

Through April rain the man goes down to watch the birds come in to share the summer.
The man of May stands very still watching the children dance away the day.
In June the man inside the man is young and wants to lend a hand,
And grins at each newcomer.

And in July the man in cotton shirt he sits and thinks on being idle.
The August man in thousands takes the road to watch the sea and find the sun.
September man is standing near to saddle-up and lead the year,
And autumn is his bridle.

And the man of new October takes the reins, and early frost is on his shoulder.
The poor November man sees fire and wind and mist and rain and winter air.
December man looks through the snow to let eleven brothers know,
They're all a little older.

And the January man comes round again in woollen coat and boots of leather,
To take another turn and walk along the icy road he knows so well.
The January man is here for starting each and every year,
Along the way forever.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: January Man
From: Judy Cook
Date: 11 Jan 03 - 06:45 PM

I have Dave Goulder's songbook and in there it is "grins at each newcomer"

Judy Cook

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: January Man
From: sheila
Date: 11 Jan 03 - 11:33 PM

Kendall - I think that there are quite a few of us who know the answers!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: January Man
From: GUEST,Dave Goulder
Date: 12 Jan 03 - 07:32 AM

Yes, it IS me. born 29.6.39, National Insurance number ZS 189764A, and regretfully Gordon bok is not my neighbour (yet). Gordon is till in Maine USA, though we do get together occasionally. Regarding January Man, the line is 'grins at each newcomer'. Some versions have 'smiles' instead of 'grins' but the latter word is stronger in the context.
I'm doing this through my interpreter, Mairi, as I haven't yet found the 'on' switch - and Strupag, you owe me a large malt for all this! (Positive proof of identity, if proof were needed, M.)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: January Man
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 12 Jan 03 - 08:35 AM

Washed down with a bottle of Fiddler's Elbow no doubt! ¦¬]
Giok

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: January Man
From: Strupag
Date: 12 Jan 03 - 12:16 PM

Yer on Dave -as long as it put's a GRIN to your face.
By the way I like the Jack Folley version!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: January Man
From: Dave Bryant
Date: 13 Jan 03 - 06:10 AM

I only ever sing this song during this month and have performed it about three times so far. I must admit that I've always sung "smiles" (even though I've heard Dave sing it quite a few times) but will be careful to sing "grins" from now on.

I'm glad that Kevin gave the corrections to the the words (and spelling) for the September/October sections as otherwise you don't really get the full equestrian symbolism.

Does anyone (Dave are you still looking in on this thread ?) the words to (I think it's called) "The Sexton and the Carpenter". It's one of the most macabre songs I've heard and Dave plays an incredible guitar accompaniment to it.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: January Man
From: GUEST,WPint
Date: 04 May 03 - 01:00 PM

What an interesting thread!
The folk process in action.
Sorry for misleading anyone on the lyrics to this wonderful song. I got the lyrics by way of Martin's version and also a recording of Christy Moore's. Any errors are due to my faulty memory, careless listening or low fidelity sound gear.

Thanks for clearing things up.

William Pint

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: January Man
From: Lin in Kansas
Date: 04 May 03 - 05:51 PM

Hey all--it's in the DT with proper lyrics:

here

Lin

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: January Man
From:
Date: 04 Nov 03 - 06:56 PM

any one know chords to january man sang by bert jansch version

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: January Man
From: Snuffy
Date: 04 Nov 03 - 08:08 PM

Chords? I've only ever heard it sung solo unaccompanied.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: January Man (Dave Goulder)
From:
Date: 18 Oct 04 - 10:20 AM

Anyone got chords for this song?

Tnx, Kev.
http://www.irishbandslist.com/

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: January Man (Dave Goulder)
From: Flash Company
Date: 18 Oct 04 - 12:44 PM

I once heard someone dress each month's man in 'Woollen coat and boots of leather'. It was during one of our normal summers!

FC

Subject: RE: Lyr ADD: January Woman (Elizabeth Block)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 16 Jan 23 - 11:28 PM

And of course, Elizabeth has a parody that she sent in:

THE JANUARY WOMAN
(Elizabeth Block)

The January woman takes the tree down to the curb, stripped of its tinsel
The February woman shovels snow from off the path to her neighbour's door
The woman of March she sends away
For seeds that she will plant some day
When winter's finally over

The April woman takes her muddy boots off so she will not stain the carpet
The woman of May looks through binocs, watching the birds and listening to their songs
The woman of June, her washing done
Hangs it up so wind and sun
Can leave it dry and fragrant

The woman of July, she swims and paddles her canoe into the evening
The August woman sits outside, in sunglasses and hat, and reads a book
It's time, September woman knows
To put away her summer clothes
For days are getting shorter

The woman of October walks the woods to see the leaves in autumn colours
The woman of November gets out toque and mittens, down coat, winter boots
December woman checks her list
In case there's someone she has missed
Then goes out holiday shopping

And the January woman gathers up the wrapping paper for recycling
She stirs upon the stove a pot of hearty soup to chase away the chill
That spring will come again, she knows
And looking through the winter's snows
She sees the buds unfurling

Subject: RE: Lyr ADD: January Man (Dave Goulder)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 17 Jan 23 - 12:57 AM

And then, of course, there is The January June, by Les Barker.

Thread #8760   Message #54931
Posted By: Wolfgang
20-Jan-99 - 03:18 PM
Thread Name: Lyr Add: The January June (parody by Les Barker)
Subject: Lyr Add: THE JANUARY JUNE (Les Barker)^^

Here's the lyrics to a Les Barker gem, but if you really want to enjoy it, hear June Tabor singing it on "Gnus and Roses" Mrs. Ackroyd records DOG 010 ( click here to find more information or to buy it)

Wolfgang

THE JANUARY JUNE
words: Les Barker (tune: January man)

The January June she walks abroad
in sombre mood and boots of leather,
The February June she sings a song
About a pigeon getting lost.
The June of March may briefly smile,
But only for a little while;
It's good to get it over.

In April, it's the Easter Tree;
This June's degree's in misery; a master's;
In May the June of May may say
The June of June is due this afternoon.
Too soon the June of June's come true
To do as June Junes used to do;
Les Barker, you're a bastard.

In July, the July June she hums a tune
Of being poor and getting thinner.
The June of August takes the road
To watch the sea for sinking ships;
September June, she may be poor-,
But not so hungry any more;
Pigeon pie for dinner.

The June of new October's wearing black
And takes a sad song from her folder-,
With glee, November June sings fire and mist
And wind and rain and winter gale.
December June walks through the snow
To let a lot of dachshunds know
It can't get any colder.

And the January June comes round again
In sombre mood and boots of leather,
And inwardly, she fears maybe the year
Will reappear for evermore.
The January June suggests
That if you want to make requests
Don't ask for this one; ever. ^^

Subject: RE: Lyr ADD: January Man (Dave Goulder)
From: GUEST,James Phillips
Date: 17 Jan 23 - 09:56 AM

The great Scottish singer Doug Mackenzie recorded a very nice version of this a few years ago.

Subject: RE: Lyr ADD: January Man (Dave Goulder)
From: GUEST,threelegsoman
Date: 18 Jan 23 - 10:54 AM

The first line and last line of each verse rhyme, therefore to rhyme with "summer" it must be "newcomer"!