Lyr Req: Here's to the Maiden of Bashful 15

Subject: Here's to the Maiden of Bashful 15
From:
Date: 13 Jan 01 - 01:04 PM

To all:

If anyone has the lyrics to Here's to the Maiden, would you please forward to the following:

[e-mail]

Thank you in advance,

Jeff

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Here's to the Maiden of Bashful 15
From: Barry T
Date: 13 Jan 01 - 01:11 PM

My midi and lyrics are over here.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Here's to the Maiden of Bashful 15
From: Stewart
Date: 13 Jan 01 - 02:30 PM

Thanks Barry, that's a nice song and tune. Any background information on it?

Cheers, S. in Seattle

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Here's to the Maiden of Bashful 15
From: GUEST,Murray on Saltspring
Date: 14 Jan 01 - 03:22 AM

The words are by Sheridan, from his play "The School for Scandal" (1777). The tune as far as I know is anonymous, and traditional by this time. Chappell (Popular Music of the Olden Time) compares the second part to the first part of another tune, "Half Hannikin", from about 1650. BTW there's a 4th verse, thus:

For let her clumsy, or let her be slim,
Young or ancient, I care not a feather;
So fill up a bumper, nay, fill to the brim,
And let us e'en toast 'em together.
[Let the toast pass, etc.]

Subject: Lyr Add: HERE'S TO THE MAIDEN OF BASHFUL FIFTEEN
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 21 Jul 02 - 08:29 PM

Copied from http://www.library.utoronto.ca/utel/rp/poems/sheridan2b.html

HERE'S TO THE MAIDEN OF BASHFUL FIFTEEN
(Richard Brinsley Sheridan)

Here's to the maiden of bashful fifteen;
Here's to the widow of fifty;
Here's to the flaunting extravagant quean,
And here's to the housewife that's thrifty.

CHO: Let the toast pass,--
Drink to the lass,
I'll warrant she'll prove an excuse for the glass.

Here's to the charmer whose dimples we prize;
Now to the maid who has none, sir:
Here's to the girl with a pair of blue eyes,
And here's to the nymph with but one, sir. CHO.

Here's to the maid with a bosom of snow;
Now to her that's as brown as a berry:
Here's to the wife with her face full of woe,
And now to the damsel that's merry. CHO.

For let 'em be clumsy, or let 'em be slim,
Young or ancient, I care not a feather;
So fill a pint bumper quite up to the brim,
And let us e'en toast them together. CHO.

Subject: LYR ADD:Here's to the maiden
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 21 Jul 02 - 09:01 PM

We seem to have varying versions here, and no standard to the verse layout.

Some start the second line with a repeat of "Here's to", some with "Now to"

The 4th verse was added by "Murray on Saltspring" and 'pulled together' by Jim Dixon in a 4 verse version.

I now post a version (open to comment)


HERE'S TO THE MAIDEN
(Richard Brinsley Sheridan. 1776)

Here's to the maiden of bashful fifteen
Now to the widow of fifty
Here's to the flaunting extravagant quean
And here's to the housewife that's thrifty.

Chorus
Let the toast pass, drink to the lass
I warrant she'll prove an excuse for the glass
Let the toast pass, drink to the lass
I warrant she'll prove an excuse for the glass.

Here's to the charmer whose dimples we prize
Now to the damsel with none, sir
Here's to the girl with a pair of blue eyes
And now to the nymph with but one, sir.

Chorus

Here's to the maid with a bosom of snow
Now to her that's as brown as a berry
Here's to the wife with a face full of woe
And here's to the damsel that's merry.

Chorus

For let her be clumsy or let her be slim,
Young or ancient, I care not a feather;
So fill up the bumper, nay, fill to the brim,
And E'en let us toast 'em together

Chorus


Notes: this song appears in the Scottish Students Song Book (6th edition 1897) as an arrangement by John Tait. Whilst the scansion is fairly consistent, for the third and fourth verse, an extra 2 quavers are put in at the start of the second line, in place of a crotchet rest, as seen in the first two verses.

NP

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Here's to the Maiden of Bashful 15
From: masato sakurai
Date: 22 Jul 02 - 12:02 AM

It may be hairsplitting, but the chorus in Chappell (vol. 2, p. 744; title: "Let the Toast Pass"), Old English Ditties (vol. 2, [1884], p. 42), and The Scottish Students' Song Book (1897, p. 183) is of two lines:

Here's to the maiden of bashful fifteen,
Now to the widow of fifty;
Here's to the flaunting extravagant quean,
And here's to the housewife that's thrifty.
Let the toast pass, drink to the lass,
I warrant she'll prove an excuse for the glass.

CHORUS:
Let the toast pass, drink to the lass,
I warrant she'll prove an excuse for the glass.

According to Plymouth Song Index, this song is in the following books:

Scottish students' songbook 1897 Score
Ernest newton community song book, complete edit Score
Community sing-song book, arr. e. newton, vol.2 Songbook
Community song book, francis & day, vol.5 Songbook
Oxford song book, vol.1 1948 Songbook
Francis and Day's community song book, vol.5 Songbook
Minstrelsy of england, ed. e. duncan (songbook) Songbook

~Masato

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Here's to the Maiden of Bashful 15
From: GUEST,.gargoyle
Date: 22 Jul 02 - 12:24 AM

Ah perfect, for a wedding next weekend. The words alone are enough....

But.... the melody is?

Sincerely,

Gargoyle Who truly WILL use a verse next week....and who is also truly thankful for this serindipitous thread.)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Here's to the Maiden of Bashful 15
From: masato sakurai
Date: 22 Jul 02 - 12:45 AM

There're two songs to the same tune in the Bodleian Library.

(1) (CLICK HERE)
Printer: Magnus, C. (New York, N.Y.)
Date: 1864
Imprint: Published by Chas. Magnus, 12 Frankfort St. N.Y.
Illus. Ballads on sheet: 1
Note: The illustration is numbered in Wolf: Magnus 179. Coloured.
Copies: Harding B 18(513)
Ballads: 1. Drink to them all! ("Here's to the drummer of only fourteen! ...")
Author: Dix, John Ross
To the tune of: Here's to the maiden of bashful fifteen
Subject: Drinking

(2) (CLICK HERE)
Printer: Weston, R. and sons (Edinburgh)
Date: [1838]
Imprint: Published by R. Weston & Sons, No. 1, South College Street, and 31, Lothian Street
Ballads on sheet: 1
Copies: G.A. Edinb. 8o 112(17)
Johnson Ballads 1697b
Ballads: 1. The heroes of thirty-eight ("Here's to the heroes of thirty-eight! ...")
To the tune of: Here's to the maiden of bashful fifteen
Subject: Edinburgh University, student riots

(3) One song in the Levy (CLICK HERE; the same song as (1) above):

Title: Song Sheet Drink To Them All!
Composer, Lyricist, Arranger: Air "Here's to the Maiden of Bashful Fifteen." By John Ross Dix.
Publication: New York: Charles Magnus, 12 Frankfort St., n.d..
Form of Composition: strophic with chorus
Instrumentation: na
First Line: Here's to the Drummer of only fourteen!
First Line of Chorus: Drink to them all
Subject: Civil War--Union
Subject: Soldiers
Subject: Toasting
Subject: Alcoholic beverages
Subject: Patriotism
Subject: Nurses
Call No.: Box: 193 Item: 057

~Masato

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Here's to the Maiden of Bashful 15
From: GUEST,.gargoyle
Date: 22 Jul 02 - 12:51 AM

Thank you Mr. Sakurai

May your kind benevolence be a guiding light to my wayward feet.

If one spirit, and one spirit alone, could rekindle the the flame of the orginal DT it is yours.

Thank You,
Gargoyle

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Here's to the Maiden of Bashful 15
From: masato sakurai
Date: 22 Jul 02 - 01:55 AM

"Here's To the Maiden of Bashful Fifteen" (words only) is in Harper's new monthly magazine (Volume 77, Issue 461, October 1888, pages 674-675). The link is THIS.

~Masato

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Here's to the Maiden of Bashful 15
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 22 Jul 02 - 04:22 AM

Masato: Thanks for the correction, having typed in the words I didn't look at the source for confirmation of where the chorus started.
It seems strange to have all 4 verses ending with the same couplet, and then that couplet repeated as a chorus.
It seems to be the original meaning of chorus, where a soloist (possibly) is singing each verse,and a "chorus" repeats the last two lines. Indeed, the "Chorus" is scored for 4 part harmony, whilst the verse is scored for melody and accompaniment only

Thanks again Nigel

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Here's to the Maiden of Bashful Fifteen
From:
Date: 09 Jun 06 - 12:22 PM

Good Evening,

In the context of this thread the following parody may be of interest ...

Enjoy !

Best regards Jonathan Robin


Here's to the Maiden





At a club of which I am a member we had an informal sing-song the other evening. One of the fellows who is a vocalist, was called on for a turn, and he responded with that old favourite, "Here's to the Maiden" – No doubt you will remember how it goes :

Here's to the maiden of bashful fifteen;
Here's to the widow of fifty;
Here's to the flaunting extravagant quean,
And here's to the housewife that's thrifty.
Let the toast pass, Drink to the lass,
I'll warrant she'll prove an excuse for the glass.

After the first verse a member from beyond the Tweed arose and insisted upon rendering a Caledonian version of the song. This is what he gave us. Incidentally
it's the only thing he ever has given us.

Her-re's to the bonnie wee lassie frae Skye,
Wor-r-th her ain weight in pure gold, sir;
Weighs eighteen stone, so I'm thinkin', och aye !
It's just aboot time she was sold, sir.
Let the toast swell, drink tae the bell,
If ye're wantin a drink you can buy it yersel'.


An Irishman sitting in the corner said that the only girl he had ever loved had married another swine. But he found being miserable was quite pleasant when yu got used to it.. So he ung of his unrequited affections :


Here's to the colleen that bloighted me loife,
Said I was too poor for to court her;
Maybe 'tis thrue, Oi could not kape a wolfe,
Bejabbers, but Oi can "sup - porter."
Let her go by, why should I sigh ?
Oi'm far better off wid the pigs in the sty.

After that, Clarice got up. Clarice is a young man who wears and eyeglass and an expression of complete abstraction. He spluttered thus :


Here's to the flapper, by Jove, I could slap 'er,
Smokes all my gaspers, - won't drom them;
First bobs her tresses and then bobs her dresses –
My eyes ! if she should Eton-crop them !
Let the toast splosh – (mine's lemon-squash,)
Here's how ! Cheery bing ! and all that sort of tosh !


Amongst those present was a gentleman called robinson. But before he was called Robinson he was called Goldenblaum. He lisped the song this way :


Hereth to Rebecca from Whitechapel vay,
Got loth of moneys put by her;
Marry for Gold is what I always thay,
Den a vedding's a good as a fire.
Let the toast vent, ven you're up-spent,
I'll lend you thome more at ten thousand per thent.

The next to rise was one who is known to his friends as Horn-Rimmed Hector. He is an American who has decided to remain in England because he likes our "wet" climate. This is what he said went down his nose:

Here's to the frill with her mouth full of gum,
Here's to the sweetie – some goll, sir !
No sir, we ain't got no beer, wine, or rum,
So we'll toast her in cod-liver oil sir !
Let the toast rip, here's to the pip,
I'll tell all the world she's an elephant's hip.


Then a little chap jumped on a chair and shouted, "Look 'ere, mates ! Ah coom frum the place wheer there's moor factory chimbleys, an' moor tripe shops, and moor good-lookin' women than onywheer else in th' world, so Ah'll sing it to you my road :


Here's to th' Lancashire lass in 'er clogs an' 'er shawl.
A gradely good weaver and winder;
Earns 'er own keep – an' 'er husband's an' all
So Ah'll wed one as soon as Ah find 'er.
Let the toast pass, if Ah'd th'brass,
Ah'd sup 'er good 'ealth in a bottle o' Bass.


Finally, as every man had had his individual say , we agreed to finish the song altogether, like this :

Here's to our mothers, and sweethearts and wives,
Long may they love and adore us;
Lift up your voices and sing for your lives,
Together we'll finish the chorus.
Let the toast pass, drink to the lass,
I warrant she'll prove an excuse for the glass.


Parody Robert RUTHERFORD Editor Reynolds & Co. n.d.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Here's to the Maiden of Bashful Fifteen
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 09 Jun 06 - 12:34 PM

B.R.A.V.O. Bravo!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Here's to the Maiden of Bashful Fifteen
From: GUEST,david porter
Date: 21 Sep 06 - 03:09 PM

A late friend of mine set this to music for a play in 1993. I don't know what play this was for. The last Sheridn he set was "The Kiss" which was used in "The Rivals" along with Anstey's Bath Song. Anyone care to hear the MIDI?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Here's to the Maiden of Bashful Fifte
From: stallion
Date: 21 Sep 06 - 08:16 PM

music is on digital tradition