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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lyrics from a song dad sang in my yo From: kytrad (Jean Ritchie) Date: 13 Aug 01 - 06:09 PM Across the fields of gold and green A young boy's head is plainly seen
A-hoo-ya, hoo-ya, hoo-ya-ya
O no, 'tis not a young boy's head-
A-hoo-ya, etc. This also is Czech, I think. I learned it at the John C. Campbell Folk School in North Carolina, long ago in my youth! |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lyrics from a song dad sang in my yo From: Sorcha Date: 13 Aug 01 - 06:11 PM Is that all of it, Jean? There is nothing on the web. |
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Subject: Origins: Lyr Req: Above a plain?? From: itsRena Date: 09 Feb 06 - 03:21 PM Another one of my favorites is what I remember calling 'Above a Plain' I just signed up as a member yesterday after reading through all the 'Old Girl Scout Songs' thread. All the information has been very helpful with the song research that I'm doing. I'm not a girl scout but a 1960's campfire girl from Camp Nawakwa in So. Cal. As a [I went by 'Sam'] campfire girl I see that we all love & sing many of the same songs. Here is how I sing it: Above a a plain of golden and green a young boy's head is planely seen Awh, who-yah-who-yah-who-yah-yah swiftly flowing water Awh, who-yah-who-yah-who-yah-yah swiftly flowing water (la-beh-e) sp? But notice not his lifted head 'tis Ifka's castle spire instead Awh, who-yah-who-yah-who-yah-yah swiftly flowing water Awh, who-yah-who-yah-who-yah-yah swiftly flowing water (la-beh-e)sp? ---I sing it in rounds--- Thanks again for your help! rena |
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Subject: ADD: Above a Plain / Swiftly Flowing Labe From: Joe Offer Date: 10 Feb 06 - 02:54 AM Hi, Rena - I found it at the Four Winds Camp Songbook, but then I verified the text from a songbook called Happy Meeting: Folk Songs from Czechoslovakia (World Around Songs). Above a Plain (Swiftly Flowing Labe) (Czech Marching Tune) (arranged by Fjeril Hess and Lilian Jackson) Above a plain of gold and green, A young boy's head is plainly seen Chorus: Huya, huya, huya,ya, Swiftly flowing water Huya, huya, huya,ya, Swiftly flowing Labe. But no, 'tis not his lifting head, 'Tis Ifca's castle spires instead. (Chorus) For our pleasure it was made, This gray old building deep in shade. (Chorus) "Labe" is the Elbe River (it's "La-be," two syllables). The song is included as "Swiftly Flowing Labe" in The Ditty Bag a songbook compiled in 1946 by Janet E. Tobitt. This translation originally appeared in The Song Book of the Y.W.C.A., 1926. Click to playI'm still looking for River in My Heart, but no cigar there. -Joe Offer- |
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Subject: RE: Origins: Lyr Req/ADD: Above a plain?? From: Joe Offer Date: 10 Feb 06 - 01:22 PM MIDI added. This Google Search will take you to some castles along the Labe River. This one is particularly notable.
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Subject: RE: Origins:/ADD: Above a Plain / Swiftly Flowing Labe From: GUEST,Robin 'Arty" Date: 26 Jan 07 - 01:50 PM Hi Sam, I think we know each other. Seeing as how it's been a year since you were on this site, you might not find my message, but "hi". Remember the Mt. Whitney trip? I have some photos. I answered your "River' song question a couple of weeks ago, but now I have found this other thread. There is no personal message feature here, so please look for me at: http://www.ganeshahighschool.com/ Type Nawakwa in the search window. Robin (Arty)
-Joe Offer- |
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Subject: RE: Origins:/ADD: Above a Plain / Swiftly Flowing Labe From: GUEST,itsrena Date: 10 Feb 07 - 10:53 PM hey Robin, couldent find a search window. . . checkout clubhouserecords.com. . . the site is not very up to date but all the info is correct you can get ahold of me there. bye,rena |
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Subject: RE: Origins:/ADD: Above a Plain / Swiftly Flowing Labe From: GUEST Date: 12 Feb 07 - 05:43 PM Rena/Sam~ Found your photo... yep, that's you! We were at Nawakwa together several summers. The biggie, of course, was the backpacking trip along the John Muir trail and up Mt. Whitney. (I have photos and a scanner!) I was friends with Laurie, who you probably remember. The last time I saw you, you were working in a shop at the Montclair Plaza and I was home from college for a few days. Joe~ THANKS so much! ~Robin / Arty |
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Subject: RE: Origins:/ADD: Above a Plain / Swiftly Flowing Labe From: GUEST,Robin 'Arty' Date: 14 Feb 07 - 06:31 PM Rena~ I remember that you brought a guitar to camp that inspired many of us to get guitars of our own. Thank you for that. I loved singing rounds when we had enough people to maintain the parts. Your version of Rise! (Up O Flame) is awesome. I've been hearing it in my head all day while running errands. I also love Paddle. Very lovely. Lots of them are goodies, but those are sticking with me for now. Apologies if I was wrong about you being on the Whitney trip. Wishful thinking on my part, wanting to find someone else from that adventure. Robin |
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Subject: RE: 'Singing Together' 1958 UK From: GUEST,ifcas castle Date: 10 Sep 07 - 06:29 PM I'm looking for some info on ifcas castle. everything I've searched has brought me right back in a circle. Is it a real castle ? My daughter and her choir are singing the song and would like some background on it . Please anyone with any info would be great. Even pics of the castle if there is one. |
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Subject: RE: Origins:/ADD: Above a Plain / Swiftly Flowing Labe From: Joe Offer Date: 11 Sep 07 - 04:39 AM I don't think we were ever able to tie down the significance of Ifca's castle. For that matter, I don't think we ever found Czech lyrics or a correct spelling of the Czech name of the castle. http://www.czechcastles.com/ has lots of information about Czech castles - but not about this one. -Joe- |
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Subject: RE: Origins:/ADD: Above a Plain / Swiftly Flowing Labe From: Joe Offer Date: 12 Sep 07 - 01:50 AM WHAT??? Nobody knows this castle? I was in the Czech Republic a couple years ago, but the only castle I saw was the big one in Prague. One Website says there are 2,000 castles in the Czech Republic, mostly in ruins. It's a wonderful country to visit - I'll vouch for that. -Joe- |
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Subject: RE: Origins:/ADD: Above a Plain / Swiftly Flowing From: GUEST,Guest, TLC Date: 03 Aug 08 - 10:48 AM My mother of Irish/Welsh/Cornish descent taught the song to us this way: All the same as above but last part: But, no, tis not a boy at all; 'Tis Ifgus (spelling is just phonetic) Castle spires so tall. I have been looking for an Irish spelling for the castle and no luck in the Bristish Isles either. |
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Subject: RE: Origins:/ADD: Above a Plain / Swiftly Flowing Labe From: Melissa Date: 04 Aug 08 - 04:46 AM We learned/taught 'no, tis not a boy at all' at camp. ..one of my favorite long rounds. |
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Subject: RE: Origins:/ADD: Above a Plain / Swiftly Flowing Labe From: GUEST,Dave Date: 11 Aug 08 - 07:35 AM When I was young, my mother sang this to me. She told me it was hawaiian. Dave |
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Subject: RE: Origins:/ADD: Above a Plain / Swiftly Flowing Labe From: GUEST,Elizabeth, Wisconsin Date: 25 Sep 08 - 05:04 PM This song is almost dangerous! You begin singing or humming it, and you can't stop. But you can't remember all of the words, so it drives you to distraction. Please, if anyone is sitting on those lyrics, let them out! I have begun to lean on The Happy Wanderer in the meantime, but would really appreciate knowing all the lyrics and historic background of Ifka's Castle. |
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Subject: RE: Origins:/ADD: Above a Plain / Swiftly Flowing Labe From: GUEST,mg Date: 26 Sep 08 - 04:24 PM We sang it in girl scout camp long ago. Very pretty tune. I think I have seen the Czech words somewhere. mg |
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Subject: RE: Origins:/ADD: Above a Plain / Swiftly Flowing Labe From: GUEST,dogboysdad Date: 27 Oct 08 - 10:29 PM I remember this song from childhood. I have not heard it for 30+ years. |
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Subject: RE: Origins:/ADD: Above a Plain / Swiftly Flowing Labe From: GUEST Date: 04 Dec 08 - 11:27 PM Learned this in third grade in the 1950s. Imagine, a singing class in public school! Loved it then, love it now, but my mother once pointed out to me the illogic of the lyrics: not much resemblance between the head of a young boy and the spires of a castle. -- Katie Watts |
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Subject: RE: Origins:/ADD: Above a Plain / Swiftly Flowing Labe From: GUEST,Felice Date: 02 Jan 09 - 12:48 AM I learned "Above a Plain" at Camp Barree, Hemlock Girl Scout Council's resident camp in Barree, PA in the 1970's. We were taught it as follows: Above a plain of golden green A young boy's head is plainly seen. Refrain: A hoya hoya hoya yaaa, swiftly flowing laaabeee A hoya hoya hoya yaaa, swiftly flowing laaabeee. Oh wo, 'til not his lifted head 'tis Ifca's castle's spires instead. Refrain And for our pleasure it was made This grand old castle, deep in shade. |
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Subject: Lyr Add: Isla Marina From: Artful Codger Date: 02 Jan 09 - 06:26 PM The tune and chorus (at least) belong to this song, which is a Slovak (one source says Moravian) folk song, sometimes performed as a round: IŠLA MARINA Išla Marina do cintorína, Šuhajček za ňou s holbičkou vína. Huja, huja, hujajá, teče voda kalná, Huja, huja, hujajá, teče voda z hor. Počkaj, Marina, napij se vína, Budeš červená ako malina. Huja, huja... Nechcem ja vína, ani pálenia, Mala bych potom srdca bolenia. Huja, huja... Translation: Mirina went to the cemetery; A young man [following] after her with a mug of wine. Huja, huja, huja-ja, the water flows muddy, Huja, huja, huja-ja, the water flows from the mountains. Wait, Marina, drink some wine You'll be as red as the raspberry. I don't want wine or brandy Because then my heart would ache. I haven't found a version anywhere close to the English translation. As is common when "translating" earthy folks songs for impressionable Girl Scouts, I suspect the authors considered a glancing resemblance to the original would suffice. Though it wouldn't surprise me if this song had a number of regional variants or additional verses. |
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Subject: Isla Marina: additional lyrics From: Artful Codger Date: 22 May 10 - 04:20 PM In the "Stodola Pumpa" thread, Zaba wrote: Išla Marina is very nice song my Grandma and my Daddy did sing. Joe Offer's translation is really good. I have found some other verses: Čože ma, čože, do Tvojho vína, mala bych dcéru, alebo syna. Huja, huja, hujajá, tečie voda kalná, huja, huja, hujajá, tečie voda z hôr. Ak bude chlapec, dám ho do školy, bude sa učiť, zlaté litery. Huja, huja, hujajá, tečie voda kalná, huja, huja, hujajá, tečie voda z hôr. Ak bude dievča, bude Katrenča, bude husárom, švárne frajerča. Huja, huja, hujajá, tečie voda kalná, huja, huja, hujajá, tečie voda z hôr. It's hard to understand even for me :-). It's something like that: I don't care your wine, I would have a daughter or a son. Huja.. If it'll be a boy, I'll send him to school, he will learn gold letters. Huja... If it'll be a girl, she will be "Katrenča" (I can't imagine, what it could mean, maybe a name Kateřina (Catherine), or anything else), she will be a pretty lass for hussars. |
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Subject: RE: Origins:/ADD: Above a Plain / Swiftly Flowing Labe From: GUEST,Charlie Thomas Date: 06 Jul 10 - 09:37 AM At McGuffey elementary school in old north Dayton, Ohio, we learned this version in the early 1940s: Across the plain of gold and green a young boy plainly can be seen A huya huya huyaya swiftly tumbling waters A huya huya huyaya swiftly tumbling waters But no, 'tis not a boy at all 'Tis Ifca's castle's spire so tall repeat chorus I'm now 74 years old, have never forgotten this song, and still don't know anything about Ifca! Charlie Thomas charli36@hotmail.com |
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Subject: RE: Origins:/ADD: Above a Plain / Swiftly Flowing Labe From: GUEST,Marion Baumgarten Date: 24 Aug 10 - 10:12 PM I learned it as a round in junior high- 1972-1973 Above the fields of gold and green, a young boy's head is plainly seen A huya huya huy ya ya Swiftly flowing river A huya huya huya ya Swiftly to the sea That's how I remember it any any rate. |
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Subject: RE: Origins:/ADD: Above a Plain / Swiftly Flowing Labe From: GUEST,wdbf Date: 13 May 11 - 06:47 PM Well I learned this at age 6 (45 years ago) in Catholic school and we always sang it as a round! |
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Subject: RE: Origins:/ADD: Above a Plain / Swiftly Flowing Labe From: GUEST Date: 28 May 11 - 12:36 PM the tune we learned (in rounds, of course) was to Habanera from CARMEN the opera. I did not make the connection until recently though |
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Subject: RE: Origins:/ADD: Above a Plain / Swiftly Flowing Labe From: GUEST,Deborah Date: 06 Oct 15 - 08:12 PM My father sings it as Charlie wrote it in this thread. He may have learned it in Alabama or Illinois, as he went to school in both places. Charlie wrote the same lyrics - here they are, but my father has no information about the meaning or history of the song, which I too would like to know. How can a castle be mistaken for a young boy? Across the plains Of gold and green A young boy plainly Can be seen. Te hoo ya hoo ya hoo ya ya Swiftly tumbling water (repeat) But no 'tis not A boy at all It's Ifka's castle With spires so tall. Te hoo ya hoo ya hoo ya ya Swiftly tumbling water (repeat) |
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Subject: RE: Origins:/ADD: Above a Plain / Swiftly Flowing Labe From: GUEST,Ripov Date: 06 Oct 15 - 09:04 PM Just why should it should resemble a boys head? But merely as a suggestion, how about "Ithaca? At least in the right part of the world, and with a famous - at least in legend - castle . |
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Subject: RE: Origins:/ADD: Above a Plain / Swiftly Flowing Labe From: GUEST,Beane Date: 25 Aug 16 - 01:46 PM My mother used to sing this to me when I was a child and she sang it very different. Among the fields of gold and green A young boys head is plainly seen A-huja Huja hujaja Swiftly running waters A-Huja Huja hujaja Swiftly running waters But no tis not a boy at all It's just a castle spire so tall A-Huja Huja hujaja Swiftly running waters A-Huja Huja hujaja Swiftly running waters |
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Subject: RE: Origins:/ADD: Above a Plain / Swiftly Flowing Labe From: GUEST,The Piper Date: 15 Apr 17 - 01:01 PM 48.712957,34.413778 geoposition Here on the dneiper there are a number of towns that end in 'ifka. This is closer to Moldavia than the Elbe. |
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Subject: RE: Origins:/ADD: Above a Plain / Swiftly Flowing Labe From: GUEST Date: 21 Jun 17 - 08:10 PM This is the version I learned as a young child: Among the fields of golden green A young boy's head is plainly seen. Refrain: A huya huya huya-ya Swiftly running water (repeated) No, it's not a head at all! It is a tower on a castle wall. Refrain: A huya huya huya-ya Swiftly running water (repeated) |
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Subject: RE: Origins:/ADD: Above a Plain / Swiftly Flowing Labe From: GUEST Date: 25 Dec 17 - 10:43 PM I'm now 70 years old and for some reason this song just popped into my head. I learned it almost word for word as above (from Guest 21 June 17), in the Chicago public school system back in the 1950's when an hour a day was spent on singing. Specifically Mary Lyons Elementary School on McVickers avenue. Fond memories. The words I learned differ minimally as follows, Amoung the fields of gold and green, A young boys head is often seen, refrain, But no tis not a boy at all, tis just a castle spire so tall, refrain. Thank you all. God bless. Ira. |
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Subject: RE: Origins:/ADD: Above a Plain / Swiftly Flowing Labe From: GUEST Date: 20 Apr 18 - 03:07 AM West coast girl scouts 60s version: Ahooya hooya hooya ya swiftly running water but no twas not a boy at all twas Ifkas castle spire so tall. |
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Subject: RE: Origins:/ADD: Above a Plain / Swiftly Flowing Labe From: GUEST,kathy Date: 22 Dec 18 - 11:05 PM I learned this in my high school days early 1960's as as Across the fields of gold and green, a young boy plainly can be seen,,,shoots, hoots, hooya-yay swiftly tumbling water (repeat) But no tis not a boy at all,it's Ifka's castles spires so sleepwear refrain Seems there were additional verses...anyone know? |
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Subject: RE: Origins:/ADD: Above a Plain / Swiftly Flowing Labe From: GUEST,Dan Axtell Date: 02 Jan 19 - 10:19 PM Ifca's Castle FOUND! I've also been wondering about this song and I stumbled onto this old thread. Thanks to Joe Offer for the clue about the YWCA songbook. It turns out that Ifca is a Czech pronunciation of YWCA, so the answer has sort of been on this page for 13 years. I've made a web page with my findings so far and I plan to add to it: danaxtell.com/ifca I plan to add a comments section, but you can email me in the meantime (see bottom of the linked page) Enjoy. -Dan |
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Subject: RE: Origins:/ADD: Above a Plain / Swiftly Flowing Labe From: Joe Offer Date: 19 Jan 19 - 08:16 PM I'm glad you emailed me about this, Dan. I was recovering from music camp when you made this post, and I missed it. Your page on the song is terrific! Here's a school performance of the song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=riRq-jXTLeU And here's a very enthusiastic fourth grade performance: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_gPJkuHx4EU Here's an 8th grade performance: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-6gTI_Yjt34? -Joe- This thread has been hit heavily by spammers. If you with to contribute more content contact Joe or one of the other mods to reopen it. Thanks. |
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