Subject: Joe Heaney version of 'Capt. Wedderburn' From: RoyH (Burl) Date: 07 Nov 04 - 12:20 PM Reading the thread on 'bird without a gall' reminds me of something in Joe Heaney's version of this riddle song. In the verse mentioning 'A sparrow's horn, a priest unborn' one Melcassadek' (spelling approximate) is named as the priest. Who is this person?. And what does 'priest unborn' mean?. This has puzzled me for years. Can anyone help? Joe sings it beautifully by the way. Burl. |
Subject: RE: Joe Heaney version of 'Capt. Wedderburn' From: Malcolm Douglas Date: 07 Nov 04 - 12:56 PM The relevant biblical passage is Hebrews, 7, 1-3 (King James version): "For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him; To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace; Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abiding a priest continually." Melchisedec turns up only in Irish forms of the song, so far as I know. |
Subject: RE: Joe Heaney version of 'Capt. Wedderburn' From: GUEST Date: 07 Nov 04 - 12:57 PM Well, I found from looking up the words from the albu that the priest's name was Melchizidek if that's any help. Brian |
Subject: RE: Joe Heaney version of 'Capt. Wedderburn' From: GUEST Date: 07 Nov 04 - 01:01 PM Here's more. Brian |
Subject: RE: Joe Heaney version of 'Capt. Wedderburn' From: Larkin Date: 07 Nov 04 - 01:18 PM Are the lyrics avialable? I'd love to get a copy of them. Martin |
Subject: RE: Joe Heaney version of 'Capt. Wedderburn' From: Q (Frank Staplin) Date: 07 Nov 04 - 02:29 PM I would like to see Heaney's lyrics as well. There are several good ones, inc. Hart and Prior, and Jean Redpath, of this old ballad (Child 46). Other information in thread 52865: Wedderburn |
Subject: RE: Joe Heaney version of 'Capt. Wedderburn' From: Malcolm Douglas Date: 07 Nov 04 - 03:03 PM Joe Heaney's text is transcribed in the MacColl/Seeger interviews at Musical Traditions: Joe Heaney: Interview transcript - part 8: The Remaining Songs Scroll down nearly to the bottom of the page. I don't think I've heard Heaney's rendition, but Alec Foster of Belfast had a similar set, including Melchisedec (Hugh Shields (rec) Folk Ballads from Derry and Donegal, Leader LEA 4055, 1972). I ought to have said a rather than the relevant passage, since, as Brian's link shows, the man also appears in Genesis and (briefly) in Psalms. |
Subject: RE: Joe Heaney version of 'Capt. Wedderburn' From: Q (Frank Staplin) Date: 07 Nov 04 - 07:51 PM Thanks. I have Musical Traditions bookmarked for several sections, but I still have a hard time navigating the large content. |
Subject: RE: Joe Heaney version of 'Capt. Wedderburn' From: RoyH (Burl) Date: 08 Nov 04 - 10:49 AM Thanks everyone for these fine answers. Those looking for Joe's lyric should look up the Musical Traditions link quoted by Malcolm Douglas, a wonderful interview. |
Subject: RE: Joe Heaney version of 'Capt. Wedderburn' From: Uncle_DaveO Date: 08 Nov 04 - 11:13 AM In the version of "Wedderburn" with which I am familiar (sung by Ewan McColl), there is no mention of Melchizedek. The answering reference to "a priest unborn" is that "The priest is standing at the door Just ready to come in No one can say that he was born No one unless he sin A wound cut in his mother's side And he out o't did fall And we'll baith lie in ae bed And You'll lie niest the wall!" It's possible this is no news to anyone, but I can't tell from previous posts whether this is widely familiiar. Dave Oesterreich |
Subject: RE: Joe Heaney version of 'Capt. Wedderburn' From: Joe Offer Date: 05 Mar 21 - 10:43 PM Anybody have Joe Heaney`s lyrics? |
Subject: RE: Joe Heaney version of 'Capt. Wedderburn' From: Reinhard Date: 06 Mar 21 - 01:57 AM See above at 07 Nov 04 - 03:03 PM: Malcolm Douglas' reference to the Joe Heaney interview on Musical Traditions. |
Subject: RE: Joe Heaney version of 'Capt. Wedderburn' From: GUEST,Peter Laban Date: 07 Mar 21 - 06:12 AM The Joe Heaney archives are the obvious place to go for this sort of query: Captain Wedderburn’s Courtship @ Cartlanna Sheosaimh Uí Éanaí |
Subject: RE: Joe Heaney version of 'Capt. Wedderburn' From: The Sandman Date: 07 Mar 21 - 08:13 AM sad that burl and malcolm douglas are no longer with us |
Subject: RE: Joe Heaney version of 'Capt. Wedderburn' From: Felipa Date: 07 Mar 21 - 08:37 AM from link previously givenL Captain Wedderburn (Roud 36, Child 46) A gentleman's fair daughter walked down a narrow lane. She met with Captain Wedderburn, the keeper of the game. He said unto his servant 'If only for the law, I'd have that girl in bed with me and she'd lie next to the wall'. 'Musha, go your way, young man,' she said, 'and do not bother me, Before you and I on one bed lie, you must answer me questions three. Three questions you must answer me and I'll set forth them all, Ere you and I on one bed lie and I lie next the wall. For my breakfast, you must get for me a cherry without a stone, For my dinner, you must get for me a chicken without a bone, For my supper, you must find for me a bird without a gall, Then you on and I on one bed lie, and I'll lie next the wall.' 'A cherry when in blossom surely has no stone, A chicken when its in the egg surely has no bone, The dove it is a gentle bird, it flies without a gall, Then you and I on one bed lie and you'll lie next to the wall.' 'Now go your way, young man' she said 'and do not me perplex, Before you and I on one bed lie, you must answer me questions six. Six questions you must answer me and I'll set forth them all, Ere you and I one bed lie at either stock or wall.' Oh, what is rounder than a ring, what's higher than a tree, Oh, what is worse than women's wrath, what's deeper than the sea, What bird sings best, what flower buds first and on it the dew first fall Then you and I in one bed lie and I'll lie next to the wall.' 'The world is rounder than a ring, heaven is higher than a tree, The devil is worse than women's wrath, hell is deeper than the sea, The lark sings best, the heath buds first and on it the dew first fall, So you and I on one bed lie and you'll lie next to the wall.' 'You must find for me some winter fruit that in December grow, You must get for me silk mantle that's neither warped nor worn, A sparrow's horn, a priest unborn that'll wed us two in twa, Then you and I on one bed lie and you'll lie next to the wall.' Oh my father has some winter fruit that in December grow, My mother has a silk mantle that's neither warped nor worn. A sparrow's horn is easily found, there is one on every claw And Mitchelllis (Melchizidek) was a priest unborn, so you'll lie next to the wall.' |
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