Lyr Add: The False Young Sailor

Subject: The False Young Sailor
From: Wincing Devil
Date: 21 Jun 01 - 03:35 PM

THE FALSE YOUNG SAILOR

There was a sailor, a false young man
He lived down by the sea
Six pretty maidens he drownd'd to death
By a lonely whalery

When he went forth with Sally Brown
They walked down by the sea
An evil thought came into his mind
To hurl her into the sea

"But first take off your golden gown
Take off your gown" said he
"For though I'm going to murder you
I'll not spoil your finery"

"Turn your face, you false young man
Turn your face", said she
"For it's not right that a nice young sailor
A naked lady should see"

So then he turned his back on her
He turned his face to the sea
And with a push and a mighty shove
She hurled him into the sea

"Lie there, lie there you false young man
Lie there, lie there" said she!
"Six pretty maidens you've drownd'd to death
Now go keep them company!"

Wincing Devil   >;-( That which is learned without pleasure is forgotten without regret.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The False Young Sailor
From: Wincing Devil
Date: 21 Jun 01 - 03:42 PM

It's another variation on The Outlandish Knight or Lady Isobel and the Elf Knight

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The False Young Sailor
From: MMario
Date: 21 Jun 01 - 03:46 PM

or Child #4.

got a tune?

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The False Young Sailor
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 21 Jun 01 - 03:48 PM

Or a source?

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The False Young Sailor
From: Snuffy
Date: 21 Jun 01 - 08:17 PM

There's a very similar song in the DT THE LONELY WILLOW TREE . It has a midi

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The False Young Sailor
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 21 Jun 01 - 08:29 PM

That entry names no source, either, unfortunately.  I've put a list of links to other sets available here and in other places in this thread:  The Outlandish Knight

The list needs updating, and I'll try to do it tomorrow.  Meanwhile, Wincing Devil: where did yours come from?  The world needs to know...

Malcolm

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The False Young Sailor
From: Charley Noble
Date: 21 Jun 01 - 10:52 PM

Probably from an old cookbook.;-)

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The False Young Sailor
From: Wincing Devil
Date: 22 Jun 01 - 01:17 AM

Source:
Nottingham Ale: Tavern Songs of Colonial Williamsburg.

From the Liner Notes:
During the late nineteenth century, many previously unpublished ballads were collected. Francis Child, one of the foremost collectors of this period, classified his collection in a system that has remained the standard for classifying ballads. This song is a variant of Child Number 4, "Lady Isabel and the Elf Knight"

Wincing Devil   >;-( "The cat was created when the lion sneezed." - Arab myth

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The False Young Sailor
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 22 Jun 01 - 09:47 AM

Ah, a good start; thankyou.  Now, did the "Colonial Williamsburg Foundation" say where they got it from?  (Besides Colonial Williamsburg).

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The False Young Sailor
From: Charley Noble
Date: 22 Jun 01 - 10:17 AM

Colonial Williamsburg has a "stable" of re-enactment singers who perform at their various restaurants and taverns, and are recorded on their tapes and CD's. The performers certainly add some nice notes to the atmosphere, as I have observed, and are very appreciative when someone actually joins them on refrain or chorus (in key). I don't know how much "folk-processing" was involved in what's been recorded.