To Thread - Forum Home

The Mudcat Café TM
https://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=23892
21 messages

Lyr Req: When Celia was Learning

30 Jul 00 - 05:26 PM (#268088)
Subject: When Celia was Learning
From: Lanfranc

Looking for some old and scurrilous lute tunes, I came across Watkins Ale in the Digitrad, but cannot find another (allegedly by Purcell) called "When Celia was learning".

It starts "When Celia was learning on her spinet to play, her tutor beside her to show her the way"

I remember it being sung by the City Waites years ago.

Another such began "when making a mantle for a lass of pleasure, he pulled out his long, his long and lawful measure, nine inches ..."

Any help will be much appreciated.


30 Jul 00 - 05:47 PM (#268099)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: When Celia was Learning
From: GUEST

In 'the Second Book of the Pleasant Musical Companion', 1707 (and in the 1709 edition).


31 Jul 00 - 12:20 AM (#268325)
Subject: Lyr Add: CELIA LEARNING ON THE SPINNET
From: Elise

CELIA LEARNING ON THE SPINNET by Mr. John Ifum

When Celia was learning on the spinnet to play
her tutor stood by her to show her,
to show her, to show her the way

She shook not the note
which angered him much
and made him, and made him
and made him cry zounds 'tis a long prick
a long prick, a long prick'd note you touch

Surpriz'd was the lady to hear him complain
and said, and said,
and said I will shake it, I will shake it when I come to't again

I believe this is what is known as a catch, which is meant to be sung in a round so that the repeated lines come out to a complete and amusing on, much like When Ere my Dame a'hedging Goes.

The funny one by Purcell is Sire Walter, Enjoying His Damsel One Night.


31 Jul 00 - 02:54 AM (#268379)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: When Celia was Learning
From: Liz the Squeak

It's also been recorded by Steel Bunnies - aka something else vaguely medieval, but can't remember because I'm supposed to be getting ready for work.

Three larger ladies, who perform medieval stuff, they do a great version of it.

LTS


31 Jul 00 - 06:16 PM (#268904)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: When Celia was Learning
From: Lanfranc

Elise,

Thank you!

Could I also have the lyrics to When Ere my Dame a'hedging Goes. ?

Please


01 Aug 00 - 01:05 AM (#269212)
Subject: Lyr Add: WHEN MY DAME A-HEDGING GOES
From: Elise

Alan, you asked for it, you got it. You may be sorry someday. This is from memory, so forgive me if it ain't perfect:

When ere my dame a hedging goes
she gets a little prick between her toes
a little prick between, a little prick between,
she gets a little prick between her toes

And then alas she loudly cries
for the anguish spreads above her thighs
her thighs, her thighs
above her thighs, above her thighs

And every remedy I can obtain
is not enough to ease her pain
is not enough, is not enough
to ease her pain to ease her pain.

So, in short, a little prick between her thighs is not enough to ease her pain. A real tough customer sez I. Some people are never satisfied.


01 Aug 00 - 01:12 AM (#269213)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: When Celia was Learning
From: GUEST

Thanks, now how about giving the one about Sire Walter?


01 Aug 00 - 11:26 PM (#270005)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: When Celia was Learning
From: Elise

Are none of these on Mudcat already?


01 Aug 00 - 11:54 PM (#270034)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: When Celia was Learning
From: GUEST,Bruce O.

Nothing in DT under 'Walter' could be the one noted above. I think it may be one I heard once (about 12-15 years ago) and recognized to be based on an anecdote about an affair between Sir Walter Raleigh and a Lady-in-Waiting to Queen Elizabeth, Elizabeth Throgmorton (in 1591 or 1592). It seems that many in London knew about the affair in the castle before the Queen heard of it, but when she learn of it she demanded that they get married. Which they did, and it seems to have been a very happy marriage until Raleigh was executed (about 26 years later). Swatter! Swatter ?


02 Aug 00 - 01:16 AM (#270077)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: When Celia was Learning
From: Elise

The lady in questions name, I believe, was Throckmorton. I'm pretty sure, since she was single, she was a maid of honor and not a lady in waiting. The affair was scandalous for two reasons: First, because the queen was responsible for the conduct and virtue of her maids of honor while they were at court, and second because the queen herself was pretty darn fond of Raleigh. I'm dubious as to whether Bess was indeed the damsel in question, but who knows?


02 Aug 00 - 01:39 AM (#270084)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: When Celia was Learning
From: GUEST,Bruce O.

I've seen both spellings. I didn't know maid of honour and lady in waiting were different. Essex had supplanted Raleigh [Ralegh in England] in her affections a few years earlier. See "Fortune my Foe" in Scarce Songs 1 on my website, which is based on a complaining poem by Raleigh to Elizabeth and Elizabeth's answer (both also given).


25 Apr 06 - 08:03 PM (#1727445)
Subject: Lyr Add: TOM THE TAYLOR (Henry Purcell)
From: Artful Codger

The other catch mentioned from the City Waites album they call "Tom making a mantle", but is in fact:

TOM THE TAYLOR
by Henry Purcell

Tom making a Manteau for a lass of pleasure
Pull'd out, pull'd out, pull'd out
His long, his long and lawful measure.

But quickly found tho' woundily streight lac'd Sir
nine Inches, nine Inches, nine Inches,
nine Inches wou'd not half surround her wast Sir:

Three Inches more, at lenght brisk Tom advances
yet all, yet all too short, yet all, all, all too short, all too short,
yet all too short, all too short to reach her swinging Hances.


And the author of "Celia &c." is John Isum (s, not f.)


13 Dec 06 - 07:28 PM (#1908927)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: When Celia was Learning
From: GUEST

Anybody got the music written down? We sang this at the Renaissance Faire in California back in the late 70's, but I can no longer find the sheet. I remember the tune to the first two verses but not the third.

Mary Wondra


13 Dec 06 - 07:40 PM (#1908939)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: When Celia was Learning
From: ClaireBear

Mary! Long time no hear. It's Claire (Jeni) from Cyderman's Fancy here. I'll check my songbooks at home, and maybe ask Jon for you.

Cheers,
Claire


14 Dec 06 - 09:17 AM (#1909384)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: When Celia was Learning
From: Dazbo

The village wakes do a version of this which is downloadable.

Here (hopefully)


14 Dec 06 - 09:19 AM (#1909388)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: When Celia was Learning
From: Dazbo

http://thevillagewakes.co.uk/

Try there instead:-(


14 Feb 07 - 03:23 PM (#1967709)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: When Celia was Learning
From: GUEST,Mary Wondra

Claire - Great to see your name pop up! My email is wndrwmn@rockisland.com - would love to chat, but need to take it away from this forum. Hope to hear from you.

Mary


14 May 07 - 12:03 PM (#2051534)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: When Celia was Learning
From: GUEST,Dante Ferrara

Hello lovers of Restoration bawdiness! My new album 'Bazimakoo' is shortly to be released and it contains Celia, Tom, Sir Walter and many many more. 33 tracks in all, 24 songs and 9 instrumentals played on cittern, hurdy gurdy, milanese mandolin, english guittar and bass colascione. The CD will have a lyrics warning on the front cover - draw your own conclusions! Dante Ferrara (.co.uk)


15 May 07 - 05:54 PM (#2052836)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: When Celia was Learning
From: JohnB

I have a CD of the Baltimore Consort called The Art of Bawdy Song, they do most of the above and more besides. Well worth getting a copy, their lead singer I think is called Custer LaRue, anyhow she has a GREAT voice.
JohnB


03 Feb 10 - 03:58 PM (#2829131)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: When Celia was Learning
From: robd

Better late than never, herewith, another catch:

Her Whole Estate (from a album called, The Earthy Side)

Here dwells a pretty maid whose name is Sis
You may come in and kiss

Her whole, her whole, her whole
Her whole estate is seventeen pence a year

Yet you may kiss, you may kiss
You may kiss, you may kiss her
If you come but near.


15 May 12 - 05:55 PM (#3351289)
Subject: RE: When ere my Dame a-hedging Goes
From: GUEST,Meala Caimbeul

Looking for historic provenance on "When ere my Dame..."

Anyone have any sources for it?

~Meala_Caimbeul (at) Juno.com