03 Nov 02 - 10:47 AM (#817403) Subject: Lyr Add: GUY FAWKES From: *#1 PEASANT* The Guy Fawkes Song- already in mudcat but details not extensive enough so here is more. I put the text of the song at the end. Feel free to include any of below into the database. The song appears in a play from 1840 Guy Faux; Or, The Gunpowder Treason An Historical Melo-Drama, In Three Acts, By George Macfarren, in Act 1. (I have transcribed this play and it is here http://www.bcpl.net/~hutmanpr/macfarrenfaux.html) This is the earliest date so far. The Bodleian library has it in two places Pitts publication of 1819-144 and Johnson Ballads no date given. The url for the song music and midi on my pages is http://www.bcpl.net/~cbladey/guy/html/verse.html#fawkes the midi is here: http://www.bcpl.net/~cbladey/guy/fawkes.mid Notation is here http://www.bcpl.net/~cbladey/guy/html/fawksong.jpg Bodleian Library Ballad Collection. Printer: Pitts, J. (London) Date: between 1819 and 1844 Imprint: Pitts, Printer, wholesale Toy and Marble warehouse, 6, Gt. St. Andrews Street, Seven Dials Copies: Harding B 11(2706) 3. Guy Fawkes, and the parliament ("I sing a doleful tragedy: Guy Fawkes the prince of sinisters ...") Subject: Guy Fawkes day; Fawkes, Guy, 1570-1606 Printer: [s.n.] ([s.l.]) Date: [s.a.] Ballads on sheet: 1 Copies: Johnson Ballads 2539 1. Guy Fawkes ("I sing a doleful tragedy -- Guy Fawkes, the prince of sinisters ...") Subject: Guy Fawkes day; Fawkes, Guy, 1570-1606 A Melo Drama, In Two Acts. By. Edward Stirling, Esq. Author of the Pickwick Club, Bachelor's Buttons, Woman's the Devil, Rose of Corbeil, The Devil's Daughters, The Serpent of the Nile, The Dragon Knight, Mr. Horatio Sparkins, &c. &c. &c. The Only Edition Correctly Marked by Permission From the Prompter's Book: To which is added, A description of the Costume-Cast of the Characters-The whole of the Stage Business Situations-Entrances Exits Properties and Description As Performed at the London Theatres. Embellished with a fine Engraving, By Mr. Findlay, from a Drawing, taken expressly in the Theatre London: Printed and Published By J. Duncombe & Co 10, Middle Row, Holborn 1840 GUY FAWKES The Tune! I sing a doleful tragedy—Guy Fawkes, the Prince of Sinisters, Who once blew up the House of Lords, the King, and all his Ministers; That is—he would have blown them up, and folks will ne'er forget him— His will was good to do the deed-that is, if they'd have let him! Chorus- Bow, wow, wow Tol lol de riddle lol de rol lol de ray. He straightway came from Lambeth side, and wish'd the State was undone, And crossing over Vauxhall Bridge, that way com'd into London; That is- he would have come that way to perpetrate his guilt, sirs, But a little thing prevented him- the bridge it was not built, sirs. Then searching through the dreary vaults, with portable gas-light, sirs, About to touch the powder train, at witching hour of night, sirs, That is—I mean, he would have used the gas, but was prevented, 'Cause gas, you see, in James's time, it had not been invented And when they caught him int the fact, so very near the Crown's end, They straightway sent to Bow Street for that brave old runner Townshend; That is—they would have sent for him—for fear he is no starter at— But Townshend wasn't living then-he wasn't born till arter that. So then they put poor Guy to death, for ages to remember, And boys now kill him once a-year, in dreary, dark November; That is—I mean his effigy, for truth is strong and steady— Poor Guy they cannot kill again, because he's dead already. Then bless her Gracious Majesty, and bless her Royal Son, sirs— And may he never get blown up, if to the Throne he comes, sirs; And if he lives, I'm sure he'll reign, so prophesies my song, sirs— And if he don't, why then he won't, and so I can't be wrong, sirs.- Johnson Ballads 2539 |
10 Feb 03 - 10:36 AM (#886775) Subject: Lyr Add: GUY FAWKES (from Louise Pound) From: *#1 PEASANT* A late reference to a variant of this song
American Ballads and Songs, 37 GUY FAWKES
I'll tell you a doleful tragedy -- Guy Fawkes, the prince of sinisters,
Singing bow -- wow -- wow,
Straightway he came from Lambeth side and wished the State was undone;
And as he searched the dreary vaults with portable gas light, sir,
Now, when they caught him in the act, so very near the Crown's end,
So then they put poor Guy to death for ages to remember; 38. Guy FAWKES. Text known to A. J. Leach of Oakdale, Antelope County, Nebraska, 1914, who learned it as a boy in Michigan. A much better known Guy Fawkes song begins, "O don't you remember the fifth of November." P247 |