ADD Version: The Sweet Kumadie (Ian Manuel)

Subject: Lyr Req: THE SWEET KUMADIE (Ian Manuel)
From: Roberto
Date: 09 Mar 04 - 11:28 PM

Please, someone to correct this transcription. I have the text sung by Ewan MacColl on The English and Scottish Popular Ballads – vol.2, Folkways FG 3510, 1964. Ian Manuel sings a very similar one, and I have tried to get it, but I'm not sure of all the words. Thank you. Roberto


The Sweet Kumadie
Ian Manuel, The Dales of Caledonia, Topic 12TS301, 1976

There once was a ship sailed frae the north country
And the name of the ship was the Sweet Kumadie
She was built o' the pine and the bay oak tree
And she sailed on the Lowlands,Lowlands
And she sailed on the Lowlands low

Well, we hadna been sailing a league but barely three
When the look-out man he sighted a French gaudie
And he said - We'll all be sent tae the bottom o' the sea
As we sail on the Lowlands,Lowlands
As we sail on the Lowlands low

Well, it's oot and spak our cabin-boy, oot spak he
Cryin' - Captain, o captain,what will ye gie to me
If I swim alang the side o' your French gaudie
And I sink her in the Lowlands,Lowlands
And I sink her in the Lowlands low?

Oh, it's I'll gi'e ye gowd and I will gi'e ye fee
And my eldest dochter your bride for to be
Gin ye'll swim alang the side o' yon French Gaudie
And you sink her in the lowlands, lowlands
And you sink her in the lowlands low

The boy bent his back and awa' swam he
He swan till he cam' to the French Gaudie
And wi' his instruments aboot him, he started to mak' free
To sink her in the lowlands, lowlands
For to sink her in the lowlands low

Oh, some were at the cairds and some were at the dice
Four and twenty holes he has pierced in her side
Until the salt water, aye, it flashed before their eyes
And she sank in lowlands, lowlands
And she sank in the lowlands low

O captain, O captain, be as guid as your word
You'll throw me a rope and ye'll pu' me on board
For your gaudie, oh she lies at the bottom of the road
She lies in the lowlands, lowlands
Oh, she lies in the lowlands low

I'm not throwin' ye a rope or pu' ye on board
Ye can swim till ye sink, just as true as my word
Ye can swim till ye sink tae the bottom of the road
Ye can sink in the lowlands, lowlands
Ye can sink in the lowlands low!

Ye'll throw me a rope and ye'll pu' me frae the sea
Or I'll swim alang the side o' your Sweet Kumadie
And I'll send her to the bottom like your French Gaudie
And you'll sink on the lowlands, lowlands
And you'll sink on the lowlands low!

Oh, he's thrown him a rope and they've pu'd him frae the sea
He's gi'en to him the gowd and he's gi'en to him the fee
And his eldest dochter his bride for to be
As they sailed on the lowlands, lowlands;
As they sailed on the lowlands low

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Ian Manuel's Sweet Kumadie
From: GUEST,padgett
Date: 10 Mar 04 - 07:50 AM

I think you need to contact someone a bit closer to Ian 'Jock' Manuel from Hull, someone like Gill Pidd or even Mike Waterson, possibly John Curtin from Leeds

Jock was a real character who always had anumber of big hard drinking lads with him, i remember him from Cleethorpes FF on the pier

he was bothy ballad exponent, a good one!

Saw a documentary film on Yorkshire TV about his son, who became Mr Britain (body building)which was enlightening and moving (each to his own)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Ian Manuel's Sweet Kumadie
From: Folkiedave
Date: 10 Mar 04 - 07:57 AM

I suspect Ian got this from the MacColl record. I had a whole rake of Folkways stuff bought from Rare Records in Manchester in the early 60's which I took to Hull with me when I moved there about 1965. Ian certainly listened to them.

Never knew about his son thoughand that is good news. There were times when I suspect he wasn't the best of fathers. Beryl his wife had a lot to put up with.

Regards,

Dave

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Sweet Kumadie (Ian Manuel)
From: GUEST
Date: 24 Jul 15 - 05:07 PM

Thanks to all j Manuel

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Sweet Kumadie (Ian Manuel)
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 24 Jul 15 - 06:14 PM

Jamie, is that you?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Sweet Kumadie (Ian Manuel)
From: GUEST,RoyH
Date: 25 Jul 15 - 05:37 AM

Ian 'Jock' Manuel was a magnificent singer.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Sweet Kumadie (Ian Manuel)
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 09 Dec 15 - 04:39 PM

Jamie,
That was 6 months ago. We have had a conference in Wilberforce House a couple of weeks ago you would have appreciated. Your dad was much mentioned and I played a track of one of his songs.

We are also digitising a lot of the old club recordings for the Hull Folk Archive. If you let me have your number or your email address I can let you know when we have the material ready for listening. It will all be eventually deposited in the Hull History centre and available for all to listen to.

Subject: RE: golden vanity
From: maeve
Date: 09 Dec 15 - 05:23 PM

If Jamie would (wisely) prefer to not put his email and other contact information here for all to see, he can either become a member and send a PM (Private Message) to Steve or he could send an email to Mudcat archivist Joe Offer, [e-mail] who will forward it along only to Steve. What a handsome invitation from Steve Gardham!

Subject: RE: golden vanity
From: LadyJean
Date: 09 Dec 15 - 11:42 PM

Nice to see the song with a happy ending.

Subject: RE: golden vanity
From: Joe_F
Date: 10 Dec 15 - 06:00 PM

Yes, indeed! Tho, I hope the daughter wasn't terribly miffed about not being consulted.