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05 Mar 05 - 10:56 AM (#1427335) Subject: Thomas the Ryhmer (NOT S.Span) From: DrAM Anyone know of a recording of the whole ballad Thomas the Rhymer (NOT the S.Span one)? |
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05 Mar 05 - 12:38 PM (#1427399) Subject: RE: Thomas the Ryhmer (NOT S.Span) From: open mike speaking of him, where is the mudcat who went by that name?? Thomas the Rhymer...? |
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05 Mar 05 - 12:53 PM (#1427416) Subject: RE: Thomas the Ryhmer (NOT S.Span) From: DMcG A good way to answer that sort of question is to search the GraceNote CDDB, which brings up lots of entries, only some of which are Steelete Span! |
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05 Mar 05 - 03:09 PM (#1427485) Subject: Lyr Add: THOMAS THE RHYMER From: wildlone Taken from The Oxford book of Ballads Ed James Kinsley THOMAS THE RHYMER TRUE Thomas lay on Huntlie bank; A ferlie he spied wi' his e'e; And there he saw a ladye bright Come riding down by the Eildon Tree. Her skirt was o' the grass-green silk, Her mantle o' the velvet fyne; At ilka tett o' her horse's mane, Hung fifty siller bells and nine. True Thomas he pu'd aff his cap, And louted low down on his knee 'Hail to thee Mary, Queen of Heaven! For thy peer on earth could never be.' 'O no, O no, Thomas' she said, 'That name does not belang to me; I'm but the Queen o' fair Elfland, That am hither come to visit thee. 'Harp and carp, Thomas,' she said; 'Harp and carp along wi' me; And if ye dare to kiss my lips, Sure of your bodie I will be.' 'Betide me weal; betide me woe, That weird shall never daunten me.' Syne he has kiss'd her rosy lips, All underneath the Eildon Tree. 'Now ye maun go wi' me,' she said, 'True Thomas, ye maun go wi' me; And ye maun serve me seven years, Thro' weal or woe as may chance to be.' She 's mounted on her milk-white steed, She 's ta'en true Thomas up behind; And aye, whene'er her bridle rang, The steed gaed swifter than the wind. O they rade on, and farther on, The steed gaed swifter than the wind; Until they reach'd a desert wide, And living land was left behind. 'Light down, light down now, true Thomas, And lean your head upon my knee; Abide ye there a little space, And I will show you ferlies three. 'O see ye not yon narrow road, So thick beset wi' thorns and briers? That is the Path of Righteousness, Though after it but few inquires. 'And see ye not yon braid, braid road, That lies across the lily leven? That is the Path of Wickedness, Though some call it the Road to Heaven. 'And see ye not yon bonny road That winds about the fernie brae? That is the Road to fair Elfland, Where thou and I this night maun gae. 'But, Thomas, ye sall haud your tongue, Whatever ye may hear or see; For speak ye word in Elfyn-land, Ye'll ne'er win back to your ain countrie.' O they rade on, and farther on, And they waded rivers abune the knee; And they saw neither sun nor moon, But they heard the roaring of the sea. It was mirk, mirk night, there was nae starlight, They waded thro' red blude to the knee; For a' the blude that 's shed on the earth Rins through the springs o' that countrie. Syne they came to a garden green, And she pu'd an apple frae a tree: 'Take this for thy wages, true Thomas; It will give thee the tongue that can never lee.' 'My tongue is my ain,' true Thomas he said; 'A gudely gift ye wad gie to me! I neither dought to buy or sell At fair or tryst where I might be. 'I dought neither speak to prince or peer, Nor ask of grace from fair ladye!'— 'Now haud thy peace, Thomas,' she said, 'For as I say, so must it be.' He has gotten a coat of the even cloth, And a pair o' shoon of the velvet green; And till seven years were gane and past, True Thomas on earth was never seen. Huntlie---A tributary of the river Tweed, near Melrose ferlie-----marvel Eildon---hills in the parish of Melrose ilka tett---each tuft louted----bowed carp-------sing/recite wierd-----fate daunton--downcast/cast down syne------then maun-----must lily--------lovely leven------lea mirk------dark stern------star dought---dare tryst------market even cloth-smooth cloth An interesting link |
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05 Mar 05 - 04:03 PM (#1427506) Subject: RE: Thomas the Rhymer (NOT S.Span) From: GUEST,leeneia Thanks very much for the post, wildlone. I enjoy this kind of thing very much. |
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05 Mar 05 - 07:00 PM (#1427646) Subject: RE: Thomas the Rhymer (NOT S.Span) From: Joe Offer I looked and looked for this one, but the only recording I could find was the one by Steeleye Span, which is on several of their CD's. Seems a shame - it's a great tune and a good story. It's certainly one of the better-known ballads. Maybe some Mudcat balladeer should record it. -Joe Offer- |
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05 Mar 05 - 07:16 PM (#1427658) Subject: RE: Thomas the Rhymer (NOT S.Span) From: masato sakurai THOMAS THE RHYMER is on Ewan McCOLL: RIVERSIDE RLP-12-621 1956 (info from folktrax). |
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05 Mar 05 - 07:34 PM (#1427668) Subject: RE: Thomas the Rhymer (NOT S.Span) From: GUEST,MCP You can check out the entries in The Child Ballads Project, a start at listing recorded sources of Child Ballads. (6 entries shown for #37 I think. I came across the site a while ago when I found I'd got 3 entries there -#76, #183, #209!) Mick |
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05 Mar 05 - 08:39 PM (#1427696) Subject: RE: Thomas the Rhymer (NOT S.Span) From: Malcolm Douglas The Kinsey text (from Scott, though unatttributed here) has been posted before and is also, I think, in the DT. Plenty of information in various earlier threads on the song: see links above. |
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06 Mar 05 - 12:41 AM (#1427802) Subject: RE: Thomas the Rhymer (NOT S.Span) From: Phil Cooper I believe the storyteller Duncan Williamson has recorded a version on a cassette of some of his stories. I'm not sure if a label or publisher released it, or whether it's a self-released project. |
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06 Mar 05 - 02:35 AM (#1427816) Subject: Lyr Add: THOMAS RYMOUR / THOMAS THE RHYMER From: Roberto Two fine recordings, one by Ewan MacColl and the other by Duncan Williamson. I have another recording of this ballad, by Hermes Nye, on Folkways. R a) Thomas Rymour Ewan MacColl, English and Scottish Popular Ballads (Child Ballads) sung by Ewan MacColl, volume 1, Folkways FG 3509, 1961 True Thomas lay on Huntlie bank A ferlie he spied wi' his e'e And there he saw a lady bright Come riding down by Eildon Tree Her skirt was o' the grass-green silk Her mantle o' the velvet fyne At ilka tett o' her horse's mane Hung fifty siller bells and nine True Thomas he pull's aff his cap And louted low down to his knee: All hail, thou mighty Queen o' Heaven! For thy peer on earth I never did see O no, o no, Thomas – she said That name does not belong to me I am but the queen of fair Elfland That am hither come to visit thee Harp and carp, Thomas – she said Harp and carp along wi' me And if ye dare to kiss my lips Sure of your body I will be Betide me weal, betide me woe That weird shall never daunton me Syne he has kissed her rosy lips All underneath the Eildon Tree Now ye maun gang wi' me – she said True Thomas, ye maun gang wi' me And ye maun serve me seven years Thro' weal and woe, as may chance to be She mounted on her milk-white steed She's ta'en True Thomas up behind And aye whene'er her bridle rung The steed flew faster than the wind O they rode on and farther on The steed gaed swifter than the wind Until they reached a desert wide And living land was left behind Light down, light down now, True Thomas And lean your head upon my knee Abide and rest a little space And I will show you ferlies three O see ye not yon narrow road So thick beset with thorns and briars? That is the path of righteousness Tho' after it but few enquires And see ye not that braid, braid road That lies across that lily leven? That is the path of wickedness Tho' some ca' it the road to heaven And see ye not that bonny road That winds about the fernie brae? That is the road to fair Elfland Where thou and I this night maun gae But, Thomas, ye maun hold your tongue Whatever ye may hear or see For if you speak word in Elfyn land Ye'll ne'er get back to your ain countrie Syne they came on to a garden green And she pu'd an apple frae a tree: Take this for thy wages, True Thomas It will gi' ye the tongue that can never lie My tongue is mine ain – True Thomas said A guidly gift ye wad gie to me! I neither dought to buy or sell At fair or tryst where I may be I dought neither speak to prince or peer Nor ask of grace from fair ladye. Now hold thy peace – the lady said For as I say, so must it be He has gotten a coat of the even cloth And a pair of shune of velvet green And till seven years were gane and past True Thomas on earth was never seen b) Thomas the Rhymer Duncan Williamson, Put another log in the fire, Songs and tunes from a Scots Traveller, Veteran Tapes VT128 (cassette) O true Thomas he lay on a Huntly bank Beneath an Eilton tree O when he saw a lady fair Comin ridin oer the lea O her mantle it was of the forest green And her tresses they were so fair And from every tass of her horse's mane Hung twenty siller bells and mair O Thomas he doffed off his hat He got down upon his knee He said - Lady you're the greatest queen That ever I did see O no O no O Thomas - she said That name does not belong to me For I have come from Elfinland I have come to visit wi thee And you maun come O Thomas - she said You maun come along wi me For I am bound for Elfinland It is very far away So they rode and they rode and they merrily merrily rode They rode for a night and a day Until they came to a red river That lay across their way What river is this? O Thomas he said O please to me do say This is a river of blood - she said That is spilled on this earth in one day So they rode and they rode and they merrily merrily rode O merrily they rode away Until they came to a crystal river That lay across their way What river is this? O Thomas he said O please to me do say This is a river of tears - she said That is spilled on this earth in one day So they rode and they rode and they merrily merrily rode O merrily they rode away Until they came to a thorny road That lay across their way What road is that? O Thomas he said O please to me do tell That is a road you must never lead For that road it leads to hell So they rode and they rode and they merrily merrily rode Merrily they rode away Until they came to a great orchard That lay across their way Lie down, lie down O Thomas - he cried O it's hungry that I maun be Lie down, lie down O Thomas he cried Some fine apples I do see O touch them not - the Elfin queen said Please touch them not I say For they are made from the curses That fall on this earth in one day Then reachin up into a tree Into a tree so high She plucked an apple from a tree As they went riding by O eat you this O Thomas - she said As we go riding by And it will give to you a tongue You shall never tell a lie So they rode and they rode and they merrily merrily rode O they rode for a year and a day Until they came to a great valley That lay across their way What place is this? O Thomas he said O please to me do say O this is Elfinland - she said And it's here that you maun stay So Thomas got a coat of lovely brown And some shoes of elfin green And for seven long years and a day On earth he was never seen |
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06 Mar 05 - 08:55 AM (#1427981) Subject: RE: Thomas the Rhymer (NOT S.Span) From: John C. I know that Bob Blair sings this (brilliantly!) but I don't think that he has recorded it. If you get to hear Bob sing live it might be worth asking him to sing it. |
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07 Mar 05 - 06:21 AM (#1428641) Subject: RE: Thomas the Rhymer (NOT S.Span) From: DrAM Anyone GOT the Ewan McColl version, from LP Eng and Scots Popular Ballads Vol 1 (Riverside or Folkways labels)? I'd love to buy the album or pay for a copy. Thanks for all the useful stuff ... |
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07 Mar 05 - 10:29 AM (#1428839) Subject: RE: Thomas the Rhymer (NOT S.Span) From: GUEST,Bill the Collie Child no.37 "Thomas Rhymer", from Scott's Minstrelsy (1802), 2.251. Emily Lyle, by the way, notes that the earliest references in the ballads to historical characters or events are in the late 13th century - the time of the earliest named poet in Scots, Thomas of Erceldoune called the Rhymer, who lived in the reign of Alexander III. See also E.B.Lyle, "The relationship between Thomas the Rhymer and Thomas of Erceldoune", Leeds Studies in English 4, 23-30. |
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07 Mar 05 - 11:07 AM (#1428875) Subject: RE: Thomas the Rhymer (NOT S.Span) From: Stilly River Sage I'll bookmark this thread and take a look at my LPs this evening. I have several McColl albums--but best I could do is make a copy. SRS |
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07 Mar 05 - 07:40 PM (#1429301) Subject: RE: Thomas the Rhymer (NOT S.Span) From: Snuffy IIRC I have two differtent versions by Steeleye - one about 4 minutes and the other over 7 minutes. Perhaps their longer version might be suitable. |
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07 Mar 05 - 10:33 PM (#1429378) Subject: RE: Thomas the Rhymer (NOT S.Span) From: Stilly River Sage I don't have that album, at least not on LP. Dad had lots of cassettes and reel-to-reel copies of things, but I haven't looked there (they're not in any order yet). I have some McColl and Peggy Seeger, should you go looking for that, but those are probably pretty easy to come by. SRS |
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07 Mar 12 - 01:51 PM (#3318783) Subject: RE: Thomas the Rhymer (NOT Steeleye Span) From: GUEST,Wulv413 There's also a nice (though not complete) version of this song on the 2009er Album "Sing as you slay" by Lamp of toth, there's a chorus inserted and it only covers about half of the original lyrics, but its a nice version anyways.... Made me look for the lyrics in the first place! |
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08 Mar 12 - 01:39 PM (#3320080) Subject: RE: Thomas the Rhymer (NOT Steeleye Span) From: Jim Carroll As somebody said, Bob Blair makes a beautiful job of this - I believe it was included on the Argo series 'Poetry and Song' by him - long out of pressing but well worth a search There's some quite rare stuff in the 14 albums by McColl, Seeger and The Critics Group -and others (Tom Paley among others). The same goes for a similar Argo series, 'Voices'. Jim Carroll |
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08 Mar 12 - 02:10 PM (#3320088) Subject: RE: Thomas the Rhymer (NOT Steeleye Span) From: Jim McLean I researched and produced a version of Tam Lin sung by Alastair McDonald and recorded for Young Blood Records in 1971. I believe Alastair recently issued an LP on his own label which I assume is a copy of my arrangement/production but haven't heard it. |
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09 Mar 12 - 08:47 AM (#3320398) Subject: RE: Thomas the Rhymer (NOT Steeleye Span) From: Susan of DT Some Recordings: Ewan MacColl Child Ballads, 1 Hermes Nye Early English Ballads Folkways FA2305 (vinyl) Jenny Armstrong The Leaves Entwine Sileas File Under Christmas(?) Tania Opland Choice Fare Uncle Dirtytoes Make Them Come |
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09 Mar 12 - 05:44 PM (#3320621) Subject: RE: Thomas the Rhymer (NOT Steeleye Span) From: Reinhard Mary Macmaster and Patsy Seddon not only sang True Thomas on their hard to find Sileas cassette "File Under Christmas" but also in 1995 as part of Clan Alba on the group's same-named double CD. |
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10 Mar 12 - 11:10 AM (#3320942) Subject: RE: Thomas the Rhymer (NOT Steeleye Span) From: Elmore Rick Lee, an excellent singer from the Boston Ma area recorded "True Thomas" on his album, "Look What Thoughts Will Do." He has three albums which can be purchased at Swift River Music, or Waterbug records. I highly recommend them. |
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10 Mar 12 - 03:05 PM (#3321015) Subject: RE: Thomas the Rhymer (NOT Steeleye Span) From: Reinhard Halewijn Vandijk's Child Ballad Database lists 63 recordings of Child Ballad 037: Thomas Rymer, 20 of them being by Steeleye Span. |
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10 Mar 12 - 03:20 PM (#3321020) Subject: RE: Thomas the Rhymer (NOT Steeleye Span) From: Bettynh The Folkways album is available as a download or custom CD from the Smithsonian, Britain's greatist gift to the American people. The liner notes are also available (free) as a PDF. Please let me know if there's difficulty outside the US with this. |