Lyr Req: Bewcastle (Maddy Prior, Rick Kemp)

Subject: Lyr Req: Snow on Newcastle Fair
From: GUEST,mary
Date: 19 Nov 04 - 09:28 PM

I have been looking for a song for years and cannot find it. All I have are some lyrics that may or may not be accurate but here goes. If anyone knows this song...please let me know!

The snow is a-lying upon Newcastle Fair
And the wind strips the skin from my face
The bare bones of a tree gives some shelter to me
Our bid (?) is a drafty old place
oh yes, it's a drafty old place.

The lands lie like a bog in the rain upon rain
wet upon wet upon wet
nine months of winter three months bad weather
and never a dry day yet
no, never a dry day yet

Anyone familiar with this??????? [e-mail]

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Snow on Newcastle Fair
From:
Date: 20 Nov 04 - 02:27 PM

Didn't find that, but found this excellent resource:

Conrad Bladey's Book of Newcassel Sangs

IT lists a Newcastle Fair, but the lyrics are from 1811, and nothing like what you have above.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Snow on Newcastle Fair
From: Peace
Date: 20 Nov 04 - 04:18 PM

In the excellent link provided by GS is a connection to a guestbook. You could ask there also and see what results.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Snow on Newcastle Fair
From: MartinRyan
Date: 20 Nov 04 - 05:36 PM

Wrong castle! Try this one.

Regards

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Snow on Newcastle Fair
From: GUEST
Date: 20 Nov 04 - 05:56 PM

It's a Maddy Prior track. I've got it on a compilation Steeleye Span CD somewhere. It's not Newcastle though, it's somewhere at the back of the Lakes where she lives (or did at the time). I think it might be Bewcastle. I'll have a dig around and get back to you. It is a lovely song that grows on you.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Snow on Newcastle Fair
From: GUEST
Date: 20 Nov 04 - 05:56 PM

Wow! Thank you Martin! Only wrote the words after hearing it on the radio about 10 years ago. Thanks so much!!!!!!! Mary

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Snow on Newcastle Fair
From: MartinRyan
Date: 20 Nov 04 - 06:00 PM

Well remembered, GUEST #1! Bewcastle it is. I did a google search on a phrase from Mary's fragment - and up it popped!

Regards

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Snow on Newcastle Fair
From: Peace
Date: 20 Nov 04 - 06:04 PM

Mudcat Detective Agency.

Remarkable.

Subject: Lyr Add: BEWCASTLE (Maddy Prior, Rick Kemp)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 21 Nov 04 - 06:50 PM

Might as well have it here.
Copied from http://www.informatik.uni-hamburg.de/~zierke/steeleye.span/songs/bewcastle.html

BEWCASTLE
(Maddy Prior, Rick Kemp)

The snow is a-lying up on Bewcastle Fells
And the wind strips the skin from my face
The bare bones of a tree give some shelter to me
Our bit is a draughty old place
Oh yes, it's a draughty old place

The land's like a bog with rain upon rain
Wet upon wet upon wet
Nine months winter and three months bad weather
And never a dry day yet
No never a dry day yet

There's always the beasts waiting for a feed
And it's just the same with the men
With the kids home today and the hens are off lay
And I'll never get all this work done
No I'll never get all my work done

The snow is a-lying up on Bewcastle Fells
And the wind is chasing the sun
The forestry shroud of lowering cloud
Tells that there's more rain to come
There's always some more rain to come

But the snow drops are gone there'll be primroses soon
And lambing time's well on its way
Lord bless us and hear no silage this year
Give us a hot month for making the hay
Make it hot for the making the hay

But the snow is a-lying up on Bewcastle Fells
And the wind strips the skin from my face
The bare bones of a tree give some shelter to me
Our bit is a draughty old place
Oh yes, it's a very old place

[As sung by Maddy Prior & Rick Kemp on their album "Happy Families." It is also on the Maddy Prior compilation "Memento."]