25 Aug 03 - 10:44 AM (#1007776) Subject: Lyr Req: Scottish folk tune From: GUEST,nancyjo I'm looking for the lyrics to a Scottish folk tune that the patron thinks starts like this: As I came up to Garrick, just by the bridge of Dee, i a saw a little robin a'sittin in a tree. I did a keyword search in mudcat for Garrick, but only came up with the composer David. Anyone know this tune? Thanks. nancyjo |
25 Aug 03 - 11:38 AM (#1007800) Subject: Lyr Add: THE ROBIN'S LAST WILL From: Malcolm Douglas It's fairly old, and known by a number of titles. Found mainly in Scotland, it appears, but also in the North of England. There are several texts in the Digital Tradition database: Robin Redbriest's Testament. They don't include the fragement you quoted, though; here is a set from Northumberland which does: THE ROBIN'S LAST WILL (From the Mitford family, Northumberland. M. H. Mason, Nursery Rhymes and Country Songs, 1909) As I cam' past by Garrick, And by the brig o' Dee, I saw a little robin, Sitting on a tree. Tooraloo, tooraloo, Tooraloora tooraloo. I said, "My pretty robin, Hoo lang hae ye sat here?" He said, "I've lived upon this tree These four and twenty year." Tooraloo &c. "I'm going to mak' my testament Just here upon this tree, I'm going to mak' my testament This day before I dee." Tooraloo &c. "I'll give my pretty head, It is baith round and sma', Unto the boys o' Garrick, To play at the foot-ba'." Tooraloo &c. I'll give my pretty legs, They are baith slim and ta', Unto the brig o' Garrick: I hear it's going to fa'." Tooraloo &c. As little Robin ended, He shut his pretty eyes, And doon he dropped unto the groond, Never more to rise. Tooraloo, tooraloo, Tooraloora tooraloo. Number 3900 in the Roud Folk Song Index. |
25 Aug 03 - 11:56 AM (#1007805) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Scottish folk tune From: Sorcha Yo, Malcolm, tune? |
25 Aug 03 - 12:18 PM (#1007822) Subject: Tune Add: THE ROBIN'S LAST WILL From: Malcolm Douglas All in good time... X:1 T:The Robin's Last Will S:Mitford family, Northumberland. B:M. H. Mason, Nursery Rhymes and Country Songs, 1909 N:Roud 3900 L:1/8 Q:1/4=100 M:6/8 K:A E|A2 A B2 c|A3 E2 E|A2 A B2 c|A3 z2 w:As I cam' past by Gar-rick, And by the brig o' Dee, E|A2 A B2 c|A3 E3|F2 E C2 E|E2 z w:I saw a lit-tle rob-in, Sit-ting on a tree. E2 F|=G3 B2 G|F3 A2 F|E2 E F2 A|A3-HA2|] w:Too-ra-loo, too-ra-loo, Too-ra-loo-ra too-ra-loo. |
25 Aug 03 - 01:45 PM (#1007860) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Scottish folk tune From: Sorcha LOL! (just keeping Mario off your case.......) |
25 Aug 03 - 02:10 PM (#1007865) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Scottish folk tune From: nancyjo Thanks so much! This is just what I needed. I did a search of the database, but since I didn't know the title I guess I didn't recognize it as being the answer when it came up. I am not new to the Mudcat site, but I am new to being a poster. So I really appreciate the help and the promptness. I am a reference librarian and receive a fair number of lyric requests. For repaying in kind, you might keep me in mind when searching for cowboy lyrics. I have a huge collection of cowboy music, with an emphasis on yodeling. nancyjo |
10 Aug 08 - 04:35 PM (#2410027) Subject: Lyr Add: THE ROBIN'S LAST WILL From: GUEST,Anne This is extremely belated but felt I wanted to give you the lyrics as I know them. THE ROBIN'S LAST WILL As I came past by Garrick And by the Brig o' Dee I saw a little robin Sitting on a tree Too-ra-loo, too-re-loo too-ra-loo-raloo ra-loo I said, "My pretty robin, How long ha' ye sat there?" He said, "I've lived upon this tree These four and twenty year". Too-ra-loo etc "I'm going to make my testament This day before I dee. I'm going to make my testament Right here upon this tree." too-ra-loo etc. "I'll gi' my pretty head, It is both round and sma', Unto the boys of Garrick To play at their footba'. Too-ra-loo etc. "I'll gi' my pretty legs, They are both strong and ta', Unto the Brig of Garrick. I hear its goin' to fa'." Too-ra-loo etc. If there are further verses I'm afraid I don't know them |
10 Aug 08 - 04:52 PM (#2410036) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Scottish folk tune From: George Seto - af221@chebucto.ns.ca Thanks, Anne. Any help is appreciated no matter when it comes in. |
10 Aug 08 - 05:24 PM (#2410045) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Scottish folk tune From: GUEST I was whistling the melody posted by Malcom some time back and ended up with Yankee Doodle. Anyone else hear it? |
10 Aug 08 - 05:41 PM (#2410056) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Scottish folk tune From: GUEST,Lighter Bird relative of Derby Ram |
28 Mar 15 - 06:52 AM (#3697826) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Robin's Last Will From: GUEST This tune has haunted me since early schooldays... it always, and even now was so sad it made me feel like crying. I could find no trace of it on internet until now.
I spied a little robin, twas on the brig o Dee..... Dinas Powys Primary School, Glamorgan 1950 |
23 Jan 16 - 11:01 AM (#3767555) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Robin's Last Will From: GUEST,Pat This little song has been in my head since I was in elementary school some75 years ago. I too did not remember the last verse so am very grateful to the guest who filled me in. |
25 Feb 18 - 01:31 PM (#3907885) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Robin's Last Will From: GUEST,a GUEST I THINK I'VE BEATEN THE SYSTEM> I REMEMBER THIS SONG FROM THE INFANT SCHOOL I WENT TO IN 1948 BUT I REMEMBER IT SLIGHTLY DIFFERENTLY. tHE TUNE WAS VERY MINOR. |
05 Mar 18 - 06:10 PM (#3909661) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Robin's Last Will From: GUEST It is on Spotify & Amazon https://www.amazon.co.uk/Robins-Last-Will/dp/B001GA5T0E |
07 Jan 22 - 08:02 PM (#4131464) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Robin's Last Will From: GUEST,Cwester51 Back in the 60’s we had an album of Irish/Scottish folk songs The last verse: The little robin ended He closed his eyes Down upon the ground he fell Never more to rise The the chorus |