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since you've called on me to sing/Compliments Retd

23 Sep 01 - 02:23 PM (#557124)
Subject: since you've called on me to sing
From: Les b (U.K.)

Does anybody have the lyrics for a song which starts.

'Since you,ve called on me to sing i'll see what I can do , but I don't know what to sing about unless it be of you.'

and then the singer goes on by picking people out of the audience and fitting them to the various characters in the song.

cheers Les


23 Sep 01 - 02:34 PM (#557125)
Subject: RE: since you've called on me to sing
From: Malcolm Douglas

It's in the DT:  COMPLIMENTS RETURNED,  with tune, quoted from Frank Purslow's Marrowbones (EFDS Publications, 1965).  It was noted by Dr. Gardiner from Thomas Bennet of South Petherwin, Cornwall, in 1905, though the DT file makes no mention of this.


23 Sep 01 - 05:13 PM (#557218)
Subject: RE: since you've called on me to sing
From: Martin Graebe

Malcolm

There is a strand here that I've not yet had time to pick up on - a number of songs from Feb 1905 were written up in the Baring-Gould manuscripts as having been noted by Dr Gardiner (though not this one). Baring-Gould certainly collected from Bennet. Is this visit to Cornwall documented in Gardiner's papers?

Martin


23 Sep 01 - 06:39 PM (#557275)
Subject: RE: since you've called on me to sing
From: Les b (U.K.)

Many thanks Malcolm, I tried a search with the lyrics I had but to no avail. I did't know it's title until now. Ta Les


23 Sep 01 - 08:42 PM (#557353)
Subject: RE: since you've called on me to sing
From: Malcolm Douglas

Martin:  I'm afraid I don't know the details; just quoted from the Purslow book.  A lot of work clearly needs doing on the connections there.  I haven't seen Gardiner's papers, but I have a nasty suspicion that it's going to have to go on the list of things to do...


24 Sep 01 - 01:41 AM (#557481)
Subject: RE: since you've called on me to sing
From: Martin Graebe

Thanks Malcolm. I guess those lists of things to do never get any shorter.

Regards

Martin


17 Aug 04 - 09:12 PM (#1249907)
Subject: RE: since you've called on me to sing/Compliments Retd
From: Joe Offer

Are there any other versions of this song? Any more information on its background?
I like the melody, and the lyrics are fun. I may have to add this to my repertoire of quirky songs.
-Joe Offer-


18 Aug 04 - 07:57 PM (#1250917)
Subject: RE: since you've called on me to sing/Compliments Retd
From: Herga Kitty

Tony Rose sang this.... I wonder if the Tony Rose thread has turned up recordings?

Kitty


18 Aug 04 - 09:33 PM (#1250981)
Subject: RE: since you've called on me to sing/Compliments Retd
From: Malcolm Douglas

I expect that Tony sang an arrangement of the set already mentioned; do you have any details?

The Roud Folk Song Index (previous edition) has this at number 1602. Beside the example mentioned, there are 3 listed in Greig-Duncan (3, 565-566). Also broadsides, I Don't Think Much of You.

See Bodleian Library Broadside Ballads for several variants:

I don't think much of you

Music hall, mid 19th century at a guess; the earliest tentative broadside dating being c.1840.


19 Aug 04 - 06:14 PM (#1251386)
Subject: RE: since you've called on me to sing/Compliments Retd
From: Tig

Yorkshire Relish (Derek Elliot) used to do a great version of it.