Origins: The Whitby Maid

Subject: Origins: The Whitby Maid
From: GUEST,Lea
Date: 01 Dec 06 - 10:19 AM

Hi everyone,
I'm looking for more information about the song "The Whitby Maid". It starts

There was a maid in Whitby town who was both fair and clever,
she would sit by her father's door no matter what the weather".
Chorus: "Blow away you northern winds / Blow away so cruelly..."

I know a recording of this song by Kathryn Roberts on "two", but there are no sleeve notes about that song. So I would be interested in everything about it. Thanks if there's anyone who can help...

Subject: RE: Origins: The Whitby Maid
From: nutty
Date: 01 Dec 06 - 12:58 PM

A sample of the song can be heard HERE

Subject: RE: Origins: The Whitby Maid
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 01 Dec 06 - 01:24 PM

The song appeared on John Leonard and John Squire's album Broken Down Gentlemen (Rubber Records RUB 018, long unavailable) back in 1976. I'd guess that is where Kathryn got it. Someone round here must have a copy; perhaps the sleevenotes will prove more informative than Kathryn's (is any copyright information at all given, incidentally?)

Subject: RE: Origins: The Whitby Maid
From: GUEST,Peter Taylor
Date: 01 Dec 06 - 01:53 PM

Amazon are advertising a CD by Kathryn Roberts and Sean Lakeman that has this song. I typed 'whitby maid' into Google and it was the first thing that came up.

Subject: RE: Origins: The Whitby Maid
From: GUEST,Guest Brian
Date: 01 Dec 06 - 03:16 PM

Info from sleeve

"Whitby Maid, Its nice to lose the head once in a while amd on this track we did.Fred and Graham are really working overtime."

Fred - Neil Hopwood

Graham - Graham Jones

Martin Miller and Martin Carter also on as special thanks.

Info from LP COPYWRIGHT LEONARD (COPYWRIGHT CONTROL)

Subject: RE: Origins: The Whitby Maid
From: GUEST,Lea
Date: 04 Dec 06 - 05:43 AM

Hi, thank you!!! Well, that sleeve notes are quite illuminating ;-))) I'll keep on searching for more backstory...

Subject: RE: Origins: The Whitby Maid
From: GUEST,brightyoungfolk
Date: 21 Jan 09 - 12:42 PM

Does anyone know if this song is traditional, or if not, do you know who wrote it? Anyone know the songs origins? Also does the version on 'two' use the tune normally associated with this song, or did Kathryn Roberts just attach a tune to it for the purpose of the CD?

Sorry to ask so many questions- its just that I want to learn this song and therefore wish to know its backstory :)

Subject: RE: Origins: The Whitby Maid
From: gnomad
Date: 21 Jan 09 - 04:36 PM

The tune used by Kathryn in Nutty's link is the one used by Johns Leonard & Squire on their earlier LP mentioned above, the one from which the cover notes are quoted.

John L could presumably therefore provide more info on whether he made it up or got it somewhere else. A fun song either way, anyone know JL well enough to ask him?

Subject: RE: Origins: The Whitby Maid
From: Grampus
Date: 21 Jan 09 - 06:01 PM

As Guest Brian says above, on the label on the LP, it credits Whitby Maid to Leonard (Copyright Control) so I would assume that he (John Leonard) composed it. All the other tracks are duly credited to their respective authors/composers or Trad arr Leonard/Squire.

G.

Subject: RE: Origins: The Whitby Maid
From: Betsy
Date: 22 Jan 09 - 03:05 PM

Hi Grampus, Lea and others. Writing the song and (copyright control) may not always be the same thing.
I know some singers who approach song writers with a view to singing their song , providing the writer sells (or lends for a particular duration)the copyright.
I'm certainly not saying THAT in this case, and it would be interesting all round if you could establish ( for this thread ) that Leonard and or Squires penned this piece.

Subject: RE: Origins: The Whitby Maid
From: Reinhard
Date: 22 Jan 09 - 05:15 PM

Cara (the German one, not Cara from Lincolnshire) have a very fine version of "The Maid of Whitby" on their recent CD "In Between Times". They say it is traditional, but unfortunately don't cite their source. For the song text, switch to the German part of their website and use the link in the first topic of the Aktuell (news) section.

Subject: RE: Origins: The Whitby Maid
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 22 Jan 09 - 05:50 PM

The text is the same, but they seem to have written a new tune for it. The 'original' tune is, I think, an adaptation of an older and quite well-known one that I can't place just at the moment, but I don't believe for a moment that the words are traditional.

Subject: RE: Origins: The Whitby Maid
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 22 Jan 09 - 07:28 PM

I'm with you, Malcolm, and I haven't even seen or heard the words.

Subject: ADD: The Maid of Whitby
From: Joe Offer
Date: 23 Jan 09 - 04:13 AM

Well, I can't see why we can't post the lyrics from the Cara Website. It's a little bit different from the version in the Digital Tradition.

THE MAID OF WHITBY
(words: trad., music: G. Walther/J. Treyz, arr. J. Treyz)

It's of a maid in Whitby town
She was both fair and clever
She would sit by her father's door
No matter what the weather

A sailor coming home from sea
Pockets overflowing
He saw the maiden sitting there
Quietly with her sewing

"Oh won't you come along with me
My bonny oh my honey
And we will go down to Whitby town
And spend a little money"

"Father he would not agree
Would be against his wishing"
With a twinkle in her eye she said that
"He's gone fishing"

Blow away you northern winds
Blow away so cruelly
Blow away you northern winds
But none so cruel as a pretty maid
They deceive you surely
Blow away you northern winds

This couple's gone to Whitby town
And soon were making merry
In every tavern in the town
They spent a little money

The night came down, the stars came out
The lady said "My sailor
Oh won't you come back home with me
I feel I must repay you"

They went home and went upstairs
The maid turned down the covers
Saying "come to bed my sailor boy
Let's you and I be lovers"

Blow away you northern winds...

The sailor jumped out of his clothes
No quicker than he ought to
When the door broke down and a man came in
Sayin "who's that with my daughter!"

Sailor through the window leapt
And to his ship's gone running
He's left behind his clothes, his watch
And the best part of his money

Father with the daughter went
Down to the kitchen table
They shared the sailor's money out
As quick as they were able

Father's gone to buy new boots
And a new suit from the tailor's
Daughter to the door has gone to
Watch and wait for sailors

Blow away you northern winds...



Dieses Lied aus Yorkshire gefiel uns sofort wegen der cleveren Geschäftsidee dieses kleinen Familienunternehmens!

(we liked this song from Yorkshire because of the clever business idea of this little family enterprise.)

The Kathryn Roberts recording has almost the same lyrics, but the chorus sounds like this to me:

Blow away you northern winds
Blow away so cruelly
None so cruel as a pretty maid
They'll deceive you surely

Subject: RE: Origins: The Whitby Maid
From: Bob the Postman
Date: 23 Jan 09 - 12:50 PM

Here's an odd coincidence: I had never heard of The Whitby Maid until this thread came along, but recently, while walking between Whitby and Scarborough, I made up several extra verses for Child 110 The Knight and the Shepherd's Daughter which turned it into the story of a girl who victimises dim but randy princelings for her own and her father's benefit.

Subject: RE: Origins: The Whitby Maid
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 23 Jan 09 - 02:20 PM

Seen 'em now and I'm still with Malcolm!

Subject: RE: Origins: The Whitby Maid
From: GUEST,McDobbins
Date: 10 Mar 09 - 06:09 PM

On the subject of the "2" album, could anyone enlighten me as to the origins of The Red Barn?

Subject: RE: Origins: The Whitby Maid
From: GUEST,anglo
Date: 12 Sep 19 - 06:49 AM

John Leonard's tune is a variant of The Trooper and the Maid - Bonnie Lassie I'll lie near you. Thank you Malcolm Douglas. We miss you.

Subject: RE: Origins: The Whitby Maid
From: Mick Pearce (MCP)
Date: 12 Sep 19 - 08:15 AM

And if McDobbins is still looking for info on The Red Barn, it's a version of The Murder Of Maria Marten In The Red Barn - see The Red Barn Murder (wikipedia) for background. See Lyr Add: Murder of Maria Marten - update here on Mudcat for a set of lyrics.

Mick

Subject: RE: Origins: The Whitby Maid
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 12 Sep 19 - 02:45 PM

The song gives a nod to Arthur Wood's excellent version of The Tailor's Breeches' from the Whitby area. Indeed Arthur sets it in Whitby. The plot is a common one on broadsides. Very little doubt that John L crafted it. A good song none the less.

Subject: RE: Origins: The Whitby Maid
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 12 Sep 19 - 02:46 PM

I'm pretty sure John would have been pleased that people were setting it down as traditional, as I would had I written it.