Subject: Origins: Oh where is king george/john? From: GUEST Date: 25 Jul 04 - 07:20 AM Years ago I was going through my mothers old tapes of songs and music she had recorded off the radio. I happened across a half recorded folk song. The only bit i can remember to this day was a small section of accapella harmony around the lines: " Oh where is king George/John? Oh where is he now? He's off on his Long boat, blah blah blah balh." I can also remember there being something about a "Merry morning in May" It sounded English, and A bit Maddy Prioresque. As I say would like to know what song it is so i can go and find it. many many thanks. |
Subject: RE: Origins: Oh where is king george/john? From: The Borchester Echo Date: 25 Jul 04 - 08:01 AM It's the Padstow May Song, lyrics here. And yes, Steeleye Span have done a version. |
Subject: RE: Origins: Oh where is king george/john? From: GUEST Date: 25 Jul 04 - 08:21 AM oh mega fast answere as well, thank you mate. |
Subject: RE: Origins: Oh where is king george/john? From: masato sakurai Date: 25 Jul 04 - 10:11 AM See also CORNISH MAY CAROL in the DT. |
Subject: RE: Origins: Oh where is king george/john? From: Little Robyn Date: 25 Jul 04 - 03:49 PM That's only a small portion of it in the DT. If you can get a copy of either the Red Ribbon Oss or the Blue Ribbon Oss's set of words, you'll find a whole lot more. The words are normally available on Mayday but I can dig mine out if you like. The bit about Saint George is the slow piece in the middle, when the Oss dies. At the end someone yells out "Oss Oss" and the crowd replies "Wee Oss", then the Oss comes back to life, jumps up and starts dancing again. Robyn Oss Oss! |
Subject: RE: Origins: Oh where is king george/john? From: The Borchester Echo Date: 25 Jul 04 - 03:59 PM OK, here's a link for the full version of the Blue 'Oss day, night and farewell songs. |
Subject: RE: Origins: Oh where is king george/john? From: Little Robyn Date: 26 Jul 04 - 04:13 AM That's more like it! Oss Oss! Robyn (Blue Ribbon follower) |
Subject: Padstow Blue ribbon 'Oss May Song From: Joe Offer Date: 26 Jul 04 - 01:51 PM I think I'll copy/paste the lyrics from the link Countess Richard posted, http://home.freeuk.net/bribbonobbyoss/maysong.html I'd hate to come back three years from now and find that the link is dead. Are all three of these songs traditional? Can somebody tell a Californian like me about the Padstow Blue Ribbon 'Oss? -Joe Offer- Padstow Blue Ribbon 'Oss |
Subject: RE: Origins: Oh where is king george/john? From: Little Robyn Date: 26 Jul 04 - 04:09 PM The Farewell song came back from WW1 with the young men and it sounds like a Victorian Parlour Ballad. The rest goes back into the mists of antiquity and is reputed to be a pre-christian death and resurrection/fertility rite. These festivals used to be held all over Britain (and Europe) but gradually died out with the growth of "modern civilisation" and the help of two world wars. Padstow's Mayday festivities have never had a break, even when the men were away at war, and today they're bigger than ever, with ex-pats and tourists coming from miles around - some even from overseas. The Blue Oss was the Temperance Oss and there's also a Red Oss which used to be the boozy faction but they're much the same these days although there is a (mock) rivalry betwee the two. There are also children's osses and these are the first ones out on Mayday. Like many of these festivals, Padstow's Mayday celebrations exist on several levels - first, it's a great excuse for a booze-up and it brings in the tourists, but it includes sympathetic magic folk-lore, with the oss (a stallion) chasing the girls and there's a rain charm there too. There's also a lot of obscure stuff that can be seen in the words of the songs, like who was Aunt Ursula Birdhood with the old ewe? Is this sexual imagery or just an old lady? Both the Night song and the Day song have the same tune, except when you get to the Saint George bit - that is a small part of another song that seems to have been abandoned during the last century or so. The tunes are not particularly inspiring until you find yourself in the middle of that crowd, when you spend the whole day following the oss around the streets and then late at night everyone starts singing 'Farewell, farewell, my own true love' and all the old men are in tears and everyone is exhausted! You just have to be there! Oss Oss! Robyn |
Subject: RE: Origins: Oh where is king george/john? From: Barbara Date: 26 Jul 04 - 04:47 PM Robyn and all, I've got some questions about the singing of this. I find it great fun to sing this song, but in our informal group of pub singers here in Portland, Oregon there is some controversy about what, if anything is the chorus. In this part of the world, the first stanza ("Unite and unite and let us all unite...") often gets sung as a chorus. Others sings the "Oh where is [King, not Saint] George, oh where is he oh...." as the chorus. Are either of them that? Also, as far as I can tell from the pictures, the "oss" is a great shiny black cylinder worn over someone's body and head, and it has -- something -- a horse's head? a bunch of ribbons? some ornament? on top of it and toward the front. Is that right? Does it have a tail? Does it have more than one person inside? How on earth could someone fall down in that and manage to get up again? Could you tell us a bit more about the rituals involved? Singing, drinking, following the 'oss' through town, I've got, but where does the whole thing come from? Did it ever actually look like a hobby horse? Blessings, Barbara |
Subject: RE: Origins: Oh where is king george/john? From: Little Robyn Date: 27 Jul 04 - 02:35 AM No chorus - the 2nd and 4th lines are a refrain and the whole thing is repeated over and over and over throughout the day and night. The Oss used to be made out of sailcloth painted with pitch or tar sort of stuff - Padstow used to be a ship-building community - so it used to be very heavy, but these days the oss is made with much lighter, more modern stuff. Imagine a large round table, about 6 foot across, throw a black table-cloth over it and that's the basic oss shape. Put a hole in the middle - slightly off centre, and put your head through the hole and lift it up with your shoulders. Then get a black witches hat thing that's so big it covers your whole face. That's the mask, painted black with red and white markings, big eyes, pointy ears, sharp teeth and, for the Blue Oss only, white whiskers. There are blue or red ribbons tied to the top - the pointy bit of the mask, depending on which oss you have. The main body of the oss has a long sort of broom handle thing poking out the front, with a stylised head attached at the end, with vicious 'snappers' in the mouth, and at the opposite side there is a whispy 'tail'. Only one person at a time can wear the oss but once in you can chase the girls and 'catch' them under your skirt. Very sexy! The oldest ones used to be very heavy but modern osses are much more manoeuvrable. The dancer doesn't quite fall down, usually just crouches in the most comfortable way he possibly can. He has to jump up again shortly after. And it's always a man - the girls can dance as 'teaser' but mustn't dance the oss - he is a stallion, after all! The earliest picture of an oss isn't too different from today's ones but no-one knows for sure what the first one was like - perhaps a horse skin draped over the dancer, perhaps more like the Mari-lwyd. No, it's not like a morris horse and I don't think it ever was like that. Oss Oss Robyn |
Subject: RE: Origins: Oh where is king george/john? From: Kevin Sheils Date: 27 Jul 04 - 04:49 AM There is even a theory I've heard that the 'Oss's head is actually a stylised sheeps head, hence the reference to the old ewe in the slow bit of the song. But take anything with a pinch of salt. |
Subject: RE: Origins: Oh where is king george/john? From: Little Robyn Date: 27 Jul 04 - 08:57 AM The pointed mask has OB painted on it, about halfway up and some people will tell you that stands for O B (Obby) oss. However, there is a family of Brentons in Padstow, who had seafaring sons 150 - 200 years ago and it's possible that Octavious Brenton brought it back from his travels. It actually looks similar to masks used in places like Africa or some Pacific islands, but nobody knows for sure. For awhile there was a similar mask used by the 'teaser' but that didn't have a high pointy top. The Minehead horse is similar but not as streamlined as the modern Padstow oss, more like the ones in the photos dated around 1900. Oss Oss! Robyn |
Subject: RE: Origins: Oh where is king george/john? From: GUEST,red oss teaser Date: 24 Mar 05 - 02:17 PM the O B stands for old bugger!!!This is what weve always known it as.The rim of the oss is wooden,then you have straps going across to keep the rim tight.We still use a form of sailcloth to cover the whole thing,which still weighs about 40-50lbs.And you know it after youve danced in it for about ten minutes.The teaser mask was only worn by the blue oss, the red oss never used one,but my grandad did dress as a women and also a mannequin once. |
Subject: RE: Origins: Oh where is king george/john? From: BB Date: 24 Mar 05 - 02:50 PM Not sure what you mean by 'the Minehead horse is similar but not as streamlined as the modern Padstow oss', Robyn. The Minehead horse is only similar in that it is borne on the shoulders of the carrier, and the carrier wears a mask. Otherwise, it's boat-shaped, the top is covered in 'tatters', and the skirt is made of sackcloth with painted circles all over it. I was always told that the OB on the Padstow mask stood for Octavius Bate. Barbara |
Subject: RE: Origins: Oh where is king george/john? From: Little Robyn Date: 24 Mar 05 - 05:31 PM But compared with a Morris horse, which looks somewhat like a merry-go-round horse, carried at the waist of the 'rider', with little legs attached so that the rider seems to be sitting on the back of a more realistic horse, both the Padstow and Minehead horses (used to) have a flowing skirt that almost reaches the ground. The 'rider' isn't much like a real person - just a pointy head with grotesque features. And the horse head isn't realistic either - in fact, if you weren't told it was a horse, you would never guess. I understand the Minehead horse is still the old shape but if you compare photos of the Oss in the early 1900s with today's Oss - well, which one would you rather go under? Both the Bates and Brentons had sea-going sons for many years (as did the Trescowthicks and Henwoods - my link with Padstow) but you could always ask Barry Kinsmen - he might know! Or Donald Rawe. 'Oss Oss' Keep 'er gain' Teaser and Barbara, Robyn in New Zealand |
Subject: RE: Origins: Oh where is king george/john? From: GUEST,Grace Date: 17 Apr 05 - 09:29 AM I live just outside of padstow and was born and raised in Padstow. i attend May Day (obby oss Day) every year and i can comfirm that those lyrics are the May Day lyric's,although i must tell you that The red and blue oss both have the same lyrics. |
Subject: RE: Origins: Oh where is king george/john? From: GUEST,Atheling Date: 29 Aug 08 - 10:40 AM I'm not Cornish and perhaps am not qualified to comment but I have attended the festival several times and followed the night song too,although I have had to leave the night singing after an hour & a half or so to make my way back the 4 or 5 miles to my lodgings to get some sleep. In all the times I have gone none of the verses beginning 'Arise Mr... (or Mrs or Miss) have been sung during the day despite some of the them being shown above as part of the day song. However most, if not all are sung in the night song with the other verses shown there, which makes sense if you think about it. Whether they were once part of the day song but have been moved in recent years because they belong with the night song I don't know. I can confirm just how moving the 'Farewell' is although its not easy to hear it clearly owing to the vast crowds of people congregating in the adjacent areas. The Steeleye Span lyrics refer to King George. I would guess that the St.George version is more authentic and is certainly what is sung in Padstow, but when the Obby Oss festival was revived it would have been in Georgian times so perhaps it has changed with the years. Ursula Birdhood is supposed to be an old lady who rallied the womenfolk of Padstow to drive off French Raiders whilst the menfolk were away, presumably with her old ewe at her side, but the authenticity of this is doubtful. The festivals are not unbroken, there were certainly times in previous centuries when it was banned and therefore it cannot be certain that the current tradition reflects the ancient ceremonies but the Old Oss seems to be much the same as it was in the nineteenth century. Many will tell you that the rivalry between the two Osses is akin the football rivalries in its vehemence, but don't believe it. I have seen Teasers in one colour teasing the Oss of the other and that certainly wouldn't be allowed if the two were such bitter rivals. I would advise anyone interested in folklore or even just a good time to go to Padstow on Mayday, but be prepared to walk in from elsewhere because although the roads are not closed only a fool would drive into town on Mayday. A few years back a Mercedes drove into the town square 15 minutes before the two osses were due to meet at the maypole,only to be confronted with a mass of people in the streets and no way out due to the one way system. The police got him clear but no before a few cries of'F... off back to London' were directed at the poor man and his family. Not all the locals welcome people from outside. There is a feeling amongst some that the vast crowds ruin things for the locals, but most are welcoming and certainly the shopkeepers, pub landlords and guest house owners never have it so good. The celebrations and singing carry on in the pubs of the town way after the Old Oss has retired to its stable and round off the day perfectly, but I wouldn't wan't the job of cleaning up the next day. I hope to have a chance to go again in the next few years. Oss Oss... Wee Oss |
Subject: Lyr Add: SOLDIER'S FAREWELL From: Jim Dixon Date: 01 Apr 09 - 09:41 AM Here's a slightly different version of the FAREWELL song that Joe posted above: From The Boylston Club Collection of German and English Four Part Songs (Boston: Oliver Ditson & Co., 1875): (That book also has musical notation.) SOLDIER'S FAREWELL Words, translated from the German by L. C. Elson. Music, Johanna Kinkel. 1. How can I bear to leave thee? One parting kiss I give thee; And then whate'er befalls me, I go where honor calls me. CHORUS: Farewell, farewell, my own true love. Farewell, farewell, my own true love. 2. Ne'er more may I behold thee, Or to this heart enfold thee; With spear and pennon glancing, I see the foe advancing. CHORUS 3. I think of thee with longing. Think thou, when tears are thronging, That with my last faint sighing, I'll whisper soft, while dying, CHORUS |
Subject: RE: Origins: Oh where is king george/john? From: breezy Date: 01 Apr 09 - 01:29 PM Then there's the 2nd Day of May in Padstow too And as this year it will be a Saturday ,and, if the weather is fine, well it could be a long one. could last until Monday late!! best get some training in |
Subject: RE: Origins: Oh where is king george/john? From: Little Robyn Date: 30 Apr 09 - 06:12 AM It's nearly time - the day before Mayday has dawned. There'll be singing tonight and then in the merry morning of May it'll happen all over again. OSS OSS WEE OSS! Robyn in NZ |
Subject: RE: Origins: Oh where is king george/john? From: Barbara Date: 01 Feb 10 - 12:09 AM Refresh for the 'obby 'oss builders. Blessings, Barbara |
Subject: RE: Origins: Oh where is king george/john? From: GUEST,leeneia Date: 01 Feb 10 - 02:28 AM The version upthread has: I warn you young men everyone For summer is acome unto day, To go to the green-wood and fetch your May home In the merry morning of May. 'Fetch your May home' should be 'Fetch your may." 'May' is an old form of 'maiden.' That is, unless May was a wildly popular given name at the time, which seems unlikely. |
Subject: RE: Origins: Oh where is king george/john? From: Silas Date: 01 Feb 10 - 03:03 AM No one going to mention the Colts then....? |
Subject: RE: Origins: Oh where is king george/john? From: GUEST,S O'P (Astray) Date: 01 Feb 10 - 04:02 AM fetch your May home Not May / Hawthorn Blossom? Which seems to be at the heart of much Maylore on account of a certain - er - Olfactory Simulacra, if Robert Graves is to be believed anyway, though it is rather potent in that respect... |
Subject: RE: Origins: Oh where is king george/john? From: GUEST,FillyW Date: 10 Feb 12 - 01:34 PM 'Summer is acome unto Day' is clearly a corruption of 'Summer is y-comen today' (y-comen being an old form of 'has come'). I reckon 'Aunt Ursula Birdhood' is really something to do with Saint Ursula - a martyred Westcountry Romano-Celtic virgin. She was a princess & daughter of King Dionotus. (Could he be one & the same as King Doniert, I wonder?) Reference to 'an old ewe' in a song about the return of Spring sounds, to me, like a garbled version of something about 'old anew'. Any Cornish or Middle-English speakers have any ideas about meanings of the lyrics? |
Subject: RE: Origins: Oh where is king george/john? From: Paul Burke Date: 10 Feb 12 - 05:35 PM "'Fetch your May home" may blossom. That's when summer is icomen in, and you can cast clouts. |
Subject: RE: Origins: Oh where is king george/john? From: GUEST,Ebor_Fiddler (Well-known pedant) Date: 11 Feb 12 - 05:35 PM Or "A-come in today"? |
Subject: RE: Origins: Oh where is king george/john? From: GUEST Date: 14 Oct 14 - 10:34 PM A song that says: The merry month of May and "where is King George?" |
Subject: RE: Origins: Oh where is king george/john? From: GUEST Date: 23 Mar 18 - 03:29 PM The World Famous Poxy Boggards and The Merry Wives of Windsor have just joined forces to record a version that will be sung live this Spring (and for years to come, I hope) at the Original Renaissance Pleasure Faire in beautiful Southern California, in the good ol' U.S. of A. Our Faire turns 56-years old this year (2018). Most of the folks in those two groups came of age in the digital age and are indebted to this site for so much. Please, seek out our folk music both original and ancient and accept our unconditional thanks for being a member of the folk tradition both digital and ancient. |
Subject: RE: Origins: Oh where is king george/john? From: Richard Mellish Date: 23 Mar 18 - 05:37 PM I've only been the once, in 1970, but I half remember the day song, and it included two verses not shown above. A quick Google found a version of one of them here but I remember it as (approximately) Where are the young men that here today should dance For summer is a-come unto day. Some they are in England and some they are in France In the merry morning of May. And I remember the other (also approximately) as Where are the young maids that here today should sing For summer is a-come unto day. They're out all in the meadow, the flowers a-gathering In the merry morning of May. Someone here should be able to provide accurate versions as currently sung. |
Subject: RE: Origins: Oh where is king george/john? From: GUEST,Malcolm Martyn Date: 21 Apr 18 - 02:36 AM Just noticed the reference to the letters on the hat, O B to me the hat represents the rider of the horse and the horse itself already has a head and tail in the form of snappers. This fellow on the horse is old Hob himself (the Devil) although along with many words at the time the H has been dropped.. he has been nicknamed old Bonaparte on occasion too although its origins are a mystery really. I suppose his place in this is the bringer of bad weather and bad winds, by the End of mayday he has been killed off for another year heralding the coming of summer good fortune and bountiful harvest with a hint of the Hob that will rise again in Autumn and winter ready to be killed off again the next year. I am from Padstow and the Ursula mentioned in the St George part of the song was my Great great great great great great great great grandmother she was born in 1629 real name Ursula Butson. |
Subject: RE: Origins: Oh where is king george/john? From: GUEST Date: 21 Apr 18 - 02:47 AM summer is a come on to day |
Subject: RE: Origins: Oh where is king george/john? From: Tradsinger Date: 23 Apr 18 - 01:00 PM Interesting to see a US perspective on the song. We tend not to sing the song over here in the UK (although I have heard it occasionally in a folk club) as many consider it proper to leave it to the good folks of Padstow to sing it, Incidentally, many years ago, talking to Charlie Bate, he told me 2 variations: one was that on the phrase 'and let us all unite', he would sing G G G F# G rather that the usual G G G F# E. I think everyone sings the latter these days. He also sang the short verse 'All out of your beds...' and said that this often caused a disruption of rhythm when the red and blue teams got together. Does anyone have any views on this? Tradsinger |
Subject: RE: Origins: Oh Where Is King George-Padstow May Song From: Mrrzy Date: 03 Oct 23 - 04:34 PM Just discovered this song, thanks (duh) to the Poxy Boggards, who did a version of this with the Merry Wives of Windsor, here [with the rest of the album. Many crude songs. I recommend "safeword" highly... but be warned]. Back to Padsrow: Wondering about the lines after King George in his longboat... Is the part where someone died in her own park-O, Aunt Ursula or her old ewe, pronounced yow, named to fit the occasion, like Mrs. Johnson, all in your gown of green? Or a reference? To whom? Thanks! |
Subject: RE: Origins: Oh Where Is King George-Padstow May Song From: Mrrzy Date: 03 Oct 23 - 04:36 PM P.S. There were several threads, with some below the line. This seemed the best to refresh with that question I didn't see answered in the ones I checked... |
Subject: RE: Origins: Oh Where Is King George-Padstow May Song From: Mrrzy Date: 03 Oct 23 - 04:34 PM Just discovered this song, thanks (duh) to the Poxy Boggards, who did a version of this with the Merry Wives of Windsor, here [with the rest of the album. Many crude songs. I recommend "safeword" highly... but be warned]. Back to Padsrow: Wondering about the lines after King George in his longboat... Is the part where someone died in her own park-O, Aunt Ursula or her old ewe, pronounced yow, named to fit the occasion, like Mrs. Johnson, all in your gown of green? Or a reference? To whom? Thanks! |
Subject: RE: Origins: Oh Where Is King George-Padstow May Song From: Mrrzy Date: 03 Oct 23 - 04:36 PM P.S. There were several threads, with some below the line. This seemed the best to refresh with that question I didn't see answered in the ones I checked... |
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