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15 Aug 12 - 02:46 PM (#3390587) Subject: Origins: Happy Happy Were The Days From: GUEST,Millie Apologies if this song has already been talked about but i did a search and couldn't find it anywhere.. I'm interested in a song called Happy Happy Were The Days and it's on Peta Webb's album, The Magpie's Nest. Does anyone know anything about it? The lyrics are: HAPPY, HAPPY WERE THE DAYS Last night as I lay on my pillow No rest there could I find For thinking on my own true love Since I've been left behind He's my love, my one and own true love My love wherever he be If I had my will I would be still In my love's company Happy happy were the days And pleasant were the hours I spent in my love's company Beneath those shady bowers I spent in my love's company When old Ireland's fields were green Oh may God be with those happy days Will they ever again be seen? An old man he came courting me He had lands and money too My parents advised me "marry him And shun my old love true I know his wages are too small But I'll work and toil for more For I'd rather live on a meal a day With the boy that I adore Happy happy were the days… Some people they talk about my true love Whilst others may talk about me So let them all be talking I'll keep my love's company And when the war is over And my true love comes home I will lead him to the altar Oh never again to roam. Happy happy were the days… |
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26 Aug 12 - 10:57 AM (#3395395) Subject: RE: Origins: Happy Happy Were The Days From: GUEST,Millie Does no one have any info on this song? :-) |
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26 Aug 12 - 12:03 PM (#3395424) Subject: RE: Origins: Happy Happy Were The Days From: Owen Woodson There's quite a lot of songs about young girls being forcibly married to old men and, as far as I can remember, Peta said she learned that one from the landlady of a pub in Ireland (Kerry, I think). It's not a very commmon song at all, and the only other version I can bring to mind is one which Jeannie Robertson of Aberdeen used to sing as 'The Moon Shined On My Bed Last Night'. Indeed, Steve Roud's Folksong Index has just seven entries for this song, all of them from Jeannie. Even so I'm pretty certain it's Irish and there may be a lot more Irish versions out there. Steve himself will tell you that his index is nothing like as comprehensive, regarding Irish sources, as it should be. Why do I think it's Irish? Well, it's partly because of the tune and partly because of the song's subject matter. In Ireland, up until fairly recently, economic circumstances encouraged arranged marriages between young girls and older men - often much older men, who had had to delay marrying until they inherited the family farm. I don't know of any recent work which has been done on this phenomenon, but Arensberg & Kimball's study, Family and community in Ireland is still regarded as authoritive. Also, IIRC, Arensberg, The Irish Countryman has something to say on the subject. |
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26 Aug 12 - 01:51 PM (#3395474) Subject: RE: Origins: Happy Happy Were The Days From: GUEST Thanks for this info Owen! Much appreciated |