Tune Req: The Old Threshing Mill

24 Sep 04 - 08:47 AM (#1279867)
Subject: Tune Req: Tune for 'The Old Threshing MIll'
From: GUEST,Desdemona

Hiya,

A chum of mine has been requested to sing something called "The Old Threshing Mill"; he has the lyrics, but lacks a tune and/or sheet music for it.

Anyone???

Thanks in advance for any assistance this eminent assemblage might be able to offer!

D

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24 Sep 04 - 09:26 AM (#1279904)
Subject: RE: Tune Req: Tune for 'The Old Threshing MIll'
From: Snuffy

It was recorded by the Irish folk group Brier and is on their Sicknote CD

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24 Sep 04 - 12:04 PM (#1280058)
Subject: RE: Tune Req: Tune for 'The Old Threshing MIll'
From: GUEST,Auldtimer

The tune is known as Vilikins and Dinah or possibly Vilikins and his Dinah.

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24 Sep 04 - 12:05 PM (#1280061)
Subject: RE: Tune Req: Tune for 'The Old Threshing MIll'
From: MMario

or in the states - Sweet Betsy from Pike

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24 Sep 04 - 12:06 PM (#1280062)
Subject: RE: Tune Req: Tune for 'The Old Threshing MIll'
From: Joe Offer

Anybody have lyrics to this one? It may also be called "The Old Thrashing Mill," and the songwriter name may be Duggan. Foster & Allen recorded it.
-Joe Offer-

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24 Sep 04 - 03:28 PM (#1280235)
Subject: Lyr Add: THE OLD THRESHING MILL
From: MartinRyan

Joe

Here's a set from the Web:

The Old Threshing Mill

As I walked down the road on this fine autumn morn'
I can see the great combine collecting the corn
And my mind wanders back in a moment of joy
To the day of the thresher when I was a boy

All over the valley you could hear the strange sound
Of that mighty machine on its annual round
All the men in the town land would follow at will
And they'd all lend a hand with the old threshin' mill

So boil up the bacon and the cabbage that's green
Have plenty of spuds laced with butter between
For eight empty bellies will soon need a fill
For it makes a man hungry, the old threshing mill

There were two on the thresher and two on the stack
And the man with the fork kept the straw flyin' back
There were bottles of porter and plenty of fags
And old Larry Andy looked after the bags

Then a few of the boys built the straw in the reek
While the young ones were found playing hide-and-go-seek
And myself and my brother with the dogs and the cats
Had the time of our lives chasing after the rats

So boil up the bacon and the cabbage that's green
Have plenty of spuds laced with butter between
For eight empty bellies will soon need a fill
For it makes a man hungry, the old threshin' mill

But the times keep on changing and nothing stands still
Larry Emdy is gone like his old threshin' mill
And the most of the workers I knew as a child
Have reaped the great harvest for which they have toiled

No more in the valley we'll hear that machine
For just like the corn crate they're gone from the scene
But it makes me feel sad as I dream of it still
For I long for the dear sound of the old threshin' mill

So boil up the bacon and the cabbage that's green
Have plenty of spuds laced with butter between
For eight empty bellies will soon need a fill
For it makes a man hungry, the old threshin' mill
For it makes a man hungry, the old threshin' mill

I see a few fairly obvious minor errors/typos there - but it will do for a start

Regards

p.s. Found it HERE

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24 Sep 04 - 07:55 PM (#1280421)
Subject: RE: Tune Req: Tune for 'The Old Threshing Mill'
From: Joe Offer

Thanks, Martin. I looked, but didn't have any luck.
-Joe Offer-

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04 Apr 07 - 12:54 PM (#2016274)
Subject: RE: Tune Req: Tune for 'The Old Threshing Mill'
From: GUEST,Tonydoh

Hi Martin

I don't know how to work this site, so I've replied to you instead of elsewhere,

Here are what I think are more correct words to the Old Threshing Mill by Brier in verse order of your printout..:
1st verse - ..walk.. not walked
I see.. not I can see
2nd v. - you'd hear the great sound...
OH the men in the valley...
..a hand AT the old threshing mill.
5th v. - a reek
..lives AS WE MURDERED the rats
7th V. - Larry ANDY.. NOT EMDY
8th V. - Just like the corncrake (bird)
OH it makes me feel sad..
For I LOVED the dear sound..
Then in the chorus they seem to sing For "ale-empty bellies.." (Larry Andy had bottles of porter..) if that makes sense.
Regards, Tony Doherty

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04 Apr 07 - 02:49 PM (#2016399)
Subject: RE: Tune Req: Tune for 'The Old Threshing Mill'
From: MartinRyan

Thanks, Andy - I never got round to fixing the errors in that version, which I nicked from the Web somewhere long-forgotten.

I'd go along with all your suggestions, with the sole exception of the bellies! I've always heard it as "eight" - the word "ale" is unlikely to be used in that way in Ireland, in my expereince.

Regards
p.s. I used to count corncrakes many years ago - never had occasion to count crates....

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15 Jul 08 - 11:54 AM (#2389689)
Subject: RE: Tune Req: Tune for 'The Old Threshing Mill'
From: Barry Finn

I know this by a tune different from Master McGrath (a.k.a. Villikins, a.k.a. Sweet Betsy).
So I can tell you what it ain't but ot what it is. Sorry

But it is a great tune & a great song

Barry

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23 Jul 08 - 08:02 AM (#2395854)
Subject: RE: Tune Req: The Old Threshing Mill
From: Jim Dixon

Bardis Music, an Irish music publisher, says John Duggan wrote THE OLD THRESHING MILL. It's on his album "The Greatest of the Gael." It's also on Foster & Allen's "The Greatest Hits."

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27 Jul 18 - 08:36 AM (#3939823)
Subject: RE: Tune Req: The Old Threshing Mill
From: GUEST,John Lynch

For versions recorded by Irish artists, the melody to the verses would be similar to those of the Scottish song, The River Clyde, though the chorus melodies (of both) are somewhat different.

To me, the best recording of this song was made by West Clare singer, PJ Murpihy and can be found on his album, Bygone Days and for which he had a stellar line-up of Cork musicians; Matt Cranitch, Dave Hennessy and Matt's sister Brid.

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27 Jul 18 - 07:10 PM (#3939966)
Subject: RE: Tune Req: The Old Threshing Mill
From: GUEST,John Lynch

Correcting a typo, PJ Murrihy is the singer's name I referred to.

Also, the chorus of the song usess the same melody as the second half of each verse, unlike that of Song of the Clyde.

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