The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #62307   Message #1006926
Posted By: GUEST,MCP
23-Aug-03 - 08:05 AM
Thread Name: Lyr Add: The Gown of Green
Subject: Lyr/Tune Add: GOWN OF GREEN / GOWN SO GREEN
Here is the tune with the words Kidson included from a broadside. Also the words from Harry Brazil.

Mick



X: 1
T:THE GOWN OF GREEN
M:3/4
L:1/4
S:Frank Kidson: Traditional Tunes
K:D
A|A A F|A B c|d3|e2 d|(c e) c|A B c|d3-|d2
w:As my love and I were a-walk-ing to view_ the mea-dows a-round_
d|c2 B|G2 B|B3|(A G) A|B2 A|G2 E|D3-|D2
w:A-gath-er-ing sweet flow-ers_ as they sprung from the ground_
A|A2 F|(A B) c|d2 d|e3|c e c|(A B) c|d3-|d2
w:She turned her head_ and smi-ling said "Some-bo-dy here_ has been_
d|c2 B|G2 B|B2 A|A (G A)|B2 A|G2 E|D3-|D2||
w:Or else some charm-ing shep-herd-ess has_ won the Gown of Green_"


THE GOWN OF GREEN

As my love and I were walking to view the meadows around,
A-gathering sweet flowers as they sprung from the ground,
She turned her head, and smiling, said, "Somebody here has been,
Or else some charming shepherdess has won the Gown of Green."

........

"O, Polly love! O, Polly, love! mind what I write to thee,
And when that you do read it 'twill cause you many a tear;
'Twill cause you many tears, my love, and grieve you heart full sore,
For to relate our story when we left our native shore.

"It was early the next morning, all by the dawn of day,
From New York down to Imos we all did march away;
From New York down to Imos we all did march away,
To fight our own relations in North America.

"Thro' fields of blood we ranged, while cannons loud did roar,
And many a valiant sailor lay bleeding in his gore;
There was many a valiant sailor who on the deck did lay,
Who was both killed and wounded in North America.

"It would grieve your heart with pity for to hear the sailors' wives
Lamenting for their husbands, and the melancholy cries,
The children cried out, 'Mammy, we will make them rue the day,
As they did kill my father in North America.'"

........

Source: Kidson - Traditional Tunes

In addition to the comment given by nutty above, Kidson introduces the song with:
"An air, apparently old, sent to me by Mr.Charles Lolly, who heard it many years ago in the East Riding of Yorkshire. The words are from a broadside. The old English songs have frequent allusions to wearing the "green gown", just in the same manner the Scotch ones speak of the loss of the snood, or of the "bonny broom"."

In 1st verse, note walking in text and a-walking in the tune.



THE GOWN SO GREEN

Now as-broad as I was walking all on the King's highway,
I been weary of my travelling of many a long day,
I met a lovely woman with a babe all in her arm
And she kissed the babe and said she wished its father would return.

"Now, good evening, lovelie woman, but I love to meet you here,
With that pretty babe all in your arms you seem to love so dear.
I think I knew its father and you before I've seen,
And don't you remember the day, my love, when you wore the gown so green.

Now her arm, she placed it round him and fainted away.
"Is it you, my lovely 'Enery, 'turn home to me again?
Long time I've made a remention but now I'll make a voh,
Not peace nor comfort have I had since from me you've been gone."

"Now, I've lost one limb in battle, love, and that you plain can see
I'll save the bold commander's life, it proved the prince of me.
I'm left a noble pension, both silver, gold and store,
And I means to make you my nawful bride and go abroad no more."

"Now, let's you and I take a licence, and on the very day
Let's you and I get married, love, 'dout any more delay
With your sweet faddlin' baby more pleasure you will see
And never no more you'll repent the day when you wore the gown so green."


Source: Harry Brazil on LP, Travellers - Songs, Storied and Tunes from English Gypsies


I haven't tried to give Harry's pronunciation everywhere (the Romany singers have a style of their own), but a few obvious ones: as-broad for abroad, voh for vow. I like nawful for lawful. I don't know if faddling as an adjective has any special Romany meaning, but the verb to faddle meant to fondle or pet a child.