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16 Dec 00 - 12:36 PM (#358285) Subject: WHERE IS 'LAUGH AND HALF-DAFT' (Wales)? From: GUEST,cheese There is a wonderful trad. song performed by Cran (at least, that's where I know it from) called 'Laugh And Half-Daft'. I remember hearing that this is a joke mispronunciation of the name of a village, but can't remember where. The song says it is in the Welsh mountains. Any clues, anyone? |
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16 Dec 00 - 04:14 PM (#358346) Subject: RE: WHERE IS 'LAUGH AND HALF-DAFT' (Wales)? From: Llanfair There are ever so many Welsh mountains, cheese, north or south? Could they have made it up? Cheers, Bron. |
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17 Dec 00 - 07:27 PM (#358779) Subject: RE: WHERE IS 'LAUGH AND HALF-DAFT' (Wales)? From: GUEST,cheese No, it wasn't made up, I distinctly remember them saying which town/village in Wales it was, but now can't remember the name. Any help, anyone? |
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17 Dec 00 - 07:38 PM (#358790) Subject: RE: WHERE IS 'LAUGH AND HALF-DAFT' (Wales)? From: Ella who is Sooze Have heard this song... but as I live in the Marches of Wales... I don't know where the song was on about... actually... that doesnt have anything to do with it... When I heard it I was a bit Pi eyed and can't actaully remember where it was.... will have a think.... Ella |
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18 Dec 00 - 06:15 PM (#359339) Subject: RE: WHERE IS 'LAUGH AND HALF-DAFT' (Wales)? From: John Moulden No they didn't make it up. They learned it from Brian Mullen who learned scraps of it while at University in Bangor. He later put "his" version together from several sources and maybe he made bits of it up; doesn't everybody? |
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19 Dec 00 - 02:58 PM (#359949) Subject: RE: WHERE IS 'LAUGH AND HALF-DAFT' (Wales)? From: GUEST,visitor I presume Llandaff is too simple to be the answer? |
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19 Dec 00 - 03:06 PM (#359957) Subject: RE: WHERE IS 'LAUGH AND HALF-DAFT' (Wales)? From: MARINER I think it might be somewhere near Aberwristwatch!. |
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19 Dec 00 - 03:39 PM (#359979) Subject: RE: WHERE IS 'LAUGH AND HALF-DAFT' (Wales)? From: Jon Freeman I would guess at Llanwnda which is between Caernarfon and Bangor. Jon |
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19 Dec 00 - 03:42 PM (#359982) Subject: RE: WHERE IS 'LAUGH AND HALF-DAFT' (Wales)? From: Jon Freeman Incidentally, there used to be (and may still be) a regular Thursday night folk singing session in the Mount at Llanwnda. Jon |
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08 Jan 04 - 05:55 PM (#1088979) Subject: RE: WHERE IS 'LAUGH AND HALF-DAFT' (Wales)? From: GUEST,Kees I'd like to have the exact lyrics. Can someone help me please |
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09 Jan 04 - 05:32 AM (#1089278) Subject: RE: WHERE IS 'LAUGH AND HALF-DAFT' (Wales)? From: Nigel Parsons From the title, more likely a mispronunciation of something like:Llanfihangel ar Arth which would seem to translate: Llanfihangel a'r arth = Church of St Michael & the bear, or Llanfihanger ar (y) (g)arth = Church of St Michael on the hill I prefer the former, but the latter seems more likely CHEERS Nigel |
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09 Jan 04 - 06:26 AM (#1089296) Subject: RE: WHERE IS 'LAUGH AND HALF-DAFT' (Wales)? From: Trevor Where are you Ella? |
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09 Jan 04 - 08:00 AM (#1089331) Subject: RE: WHERE IS 'LAUGH AND HALF-DAFT' (Wales)? From: stevethesqueeze I know its on this album...CRAN "The Crooked Stair" CBM CBMCD 002, I thought it was an irish village myself stevethesqueeze |
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09 Jan 04 - 05:58 PM (#1089685) Subject: RE: WHERE IS 'LAUGH AND HALF-DAFT' (Wales)? From: GUEST Somewhere near llareggub? |
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10 Jan 04 - 03:08 PM (#1090077) Subject: RE: WHERE IS 'LAUGH AND HALF-DAFT' (Wales)? From: GUEST,leeneia It's well west of Kraehwinkel and many miles west of Mount Idy. |
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10 Jan 04 - 06:51 PM (#1090164) Subject: RE: WHERE IS 'LAUGH AND HALF-DAFT' (Wales)? From: RiGGy There was a recitation/poem that Jack White used to perform in Boston years ago about Jezebel, who while leaning out of the window "titivating her painted hair, laft like one haft daft" !!! I thought it was Yeats, but not apparently.... Riggy |
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29 Jul 07 - 09:16 AM (#2113912) Subject: Lyric Req: 'LAUGH AND HALF-DAFT' From: Stewie A mate of mine in Perth WA is seeking the lyrics for 'Laugh and Half Daft' as performed by the group Cran. Can any 'Catter supply these or suggest where they may be found. Google and other searches on the Net have been fruitless. Any help at all would be greatly appreciated. --Stewie. |
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30 Jul 07 - 06:02 AM (#2114545) Subject: RE: Where is 'Laugh and Half-Daft' (Wales)? From: GUEST Refresh for one last throw at the stumps. Hopefully, someone can help. --Stewie. |
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30 Jul 07 - 06:05 AM (#2114547) Subject: RE: Where is 'Laugh and Half-Daft' (Wales)? From: Stewie Jeez, I forgot again that Norton's weekly clean-up eats my cookie. --Stewie. |
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30 Jul 07 - 01:38 PM (#2114894) Subject: RE: Where is 'Laugh and Half-Daft' (Wales)? From: Geoff Wallis Here you go. Cran's Seán Corcoran learnt the song from one of his two great mentors, Mary Ann Carolan from County Louth, and definitely reckons that its title is a 'surreal and mischievous re-working' of Llandaff. I've come from Laugh-an-Half-Daft and half o'er the Welsh mountains Where the leeks and the violets and the nanny-goats dwell. I've come here in search of a lovely young maiden And where she has gone to I'm sure I can't tell. She's the pride of her gender, her waist small and slender, Her hair is magenta and she squints with one eye. She talks like a parson, she sings like a nightingale, And if I don't find her I'm sure I will die. Chorus (i.e. the next four lines) So, I'll weep and I'll wander o'rer hills and o'er mountains In search of my Jinny - O, where can she be? I'll weep and I'll wander o'rer hills and o'er mountains In search of my Jinny - O, where can she be? Her home and her family are highly respected, Her mother milks cows on a three-legged stool. Her father's a farmer, her aunt is a lady, Her uncle's a rogue and her brother's a fool. I courted sweet Jenny, I told her I loved her, We were to be married upon a May morn, But there came a young soldier from the Royal Artillery And on the next morning my Jenny was gone. Chorus O, say have you seen her? To you I'll describe her: She wears a red petticoat and a hat on her head, She moves when she's walking, she speaks when she's talking, Her handkerchief's lettered O, P, X, Y, Z. I searched through the mountains, I searched the valleys, I climbed Carrauntoohill, I looked up in the air, I searched holes and corners, I read through the papers, I looked up the chimney, but found her nowhere. So, farewell to you Jenny, you've gone with your soldier, I never will find you wherever you be. No more will I wander o'er hills and o'er mountains, Farewell to you Jenny wherever you be. Chorus |
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30 Jul 07 - 09:02 PM (#2115135) Subject: RE: Where is 'Laugh and Half-Daft' (Wales)? From: Stewie Geoff, Thank you very much for taking the trouble to post the lyrics. I appreciate it very much. I thank you also on behalf of my friends, Colin Smiley and Paddy Connelly, who will be delighted as they want to add it to their performance repertoire. Thanks also for Cran's source. I have heard a couple of recordings by Mary Ann Carolan in the Topic series - good stuff. I have enjoyed reading your excellent reviewa in Musical Traditions, particularly the one for Dessie O'Halloran. I have not heard Cran but, when searching for this song, I noted that they are still active and some of their earlier material is being reissued. I shall certainly seek out a couple of albums. Thanks again. --Stewie. |
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31 Jul 07 - 05:43 AM (#2115343) Subject: RE: Where is 'Laugh and Half-Daft' (Wales)? From: Mick Tems It's Llandaff, three miles north of Cardiff and famous for Llandaff Cathedral. Cardiff has a strong Irish influence, hence its very own ambassador and singer, guitarist and songwriter with The Hennessys, Frank Hennessy - and the Irish built Cardiff Docks. I first heard a woman sing Llandaff in the The Ship And Pilot (which used to be known affectionately as The Six Tits, on account of the three sisters who kept the pub.) The Cardiff version was identical to the Irish version, the verses only deviating a tiny bit: Llandaff I come down from Llandaff, half o'er the Welsh mountains Where the leeks and the violets and the nanny goats dwell I come down in search of a fair gentle maiden But where she's gone to, I'm sure I can't tell. CHORUS I'll weep and I'll wander, o'er hills and o'er mountains In search of my Jenny, oh where can she be? I'll weep and I'll wander o'er hills and o'er mountains In search of my Jenny, oh where can she be? She's the pride of her gender, her waist it is slender Her hair is magenta and she squints with one eye She talks like a parson, she sings like a nightingale And if I don't find her I'm sure I will die. The house of her parents is highly respected Her mother milks cows on the three-legged stool Her father's a farmer, her aunt is a lady Her uncle's a rogue and her brother's a fool. I courted my Jenny, I told her I loved her We were to be married upon the May morn But there came a bold soldier from the Royal Artillery And on the next morning my Jenny was gone. I searched for my Jenny, I promised I'd find her, I went though the cupboards, I looked under the stair, I read through the papers, I looked up the chimney, But the sorrowful story: I found her nowhere. Oh say, have you seen her, to you I'll describe her, She wears a red petticoat and a cap on her head She moves when she's walking, she speaks when she's talking And her linen's marked P, Q, R, X, Y and Z. She's gone with her soldier and I'll never find her, Farewell to you, Jenny, wherever you be No more will I wander o'er hills and o'er mountains Farewell to you, Jenny, now goodbye to thee. Barbara Berry, from Chirk, sent me a song which was collected by Alfred Williams. Barbara says the song was Oxfordshire/Gloucestershire/Wiltshire/Berkshire: The Wandering Boy My name is Dan Largan, Cockloram Cocklane, I come from Llangartan, a land of great fame, With my poor heart turned up and my heart full of fear To seek a Welsh lassie, but I can't find her here. Chorus: Her name it is Jinny, so neat and so sharp, She comes from North Wales and she plays the Welsh harp. I courted sweet Jinny six months and three days, She sat by my side while she played her Welsh lays, Till a man with a banjo came strolling that way, He saw my Welsh lassie and bore her away. I told her I loved her as true as the stars, I thought her a Venus but she turned out a Mars. She shattered my hopes with one single blow, For she tingles her harp to a nasty banjo. If ever I meet them, as sure as the dead, I'll smash his old banjo on the crown of his head, And as for false Jinny, I'll leave her to die For deserting Dan Largan, the wandering boy. Mick Tems |
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31 Jul 07 - 03:55 PM (#2115878) Subject: RE: Where is 'Laugh and Half-Daft' (Wales)? From: Geoff Wallis Hi, Stewie, Thanks for your compliment, but please don't mention my name if you visit Inishbofin. All of Cran's four albums are currently available - check http://www.cranmusic.com - and there's a new one on the way. All the best, Geoff |
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31 Jul 07 - 09:51 PM (#2116104) Subject: RE: Where is 'Laugh and Half-Daft' (Wales)? From: Stewie Geoff, thanks again. I will bear your admonition in mind should I visit Ireland. Actually, I must admit to thinking Dessie's 'Say You Love Me' is not without a certain charm. Mick, many thanks for your complementary posting. I never cease to be amazed at what a wonderful resource the Mudcat is. Because of people's generosity, one is able to tap into the knowledge and personal libraries and record collections of individuals around the globe. All the best to you both, Stewie. |
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27 Sep 19 - 08:40 AM (#4010782) Subject: RE: Where is 'Laugh and Half-Daft' (Wales)? From: GUEST The song was written by Jim McArdle it's on and album call pitcher hill. Jim is from Ireland, maybe Drogheda, not not 100% sure |
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27 Sep 19 - 08:42 AM (#4010783) Subject: RE: Where is 'Laugh and Half-Daft' (Wales)? From: GUEST,Miryam https://jimmacardle.bandcamp.com/track/the-laugh-and-half-daft-song |
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29 Sep 19 - 11:49 AM (#4011072) Subject: RE: Where is 'Laugh and Half-Daft' (Wales)? From: GUEST,John Moulden GUEST, presumably Miryam, if you read further up the thread you will see that Jim McArdle did not write the song, he like everybody else in Drogheda got it from Mary Ann Carolan. |