The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #71740 Message #1230919
Posted By: sian, west wales
21-Jul-04 - 06:25 PM
Thread Name: Lyr Req: The Quaker's Courtship
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Madam I have come a courtin- Quaker Song
This is great!
About 12 years ago I was chatting to my friend Phyllis about "The Quaker's Wooing" in Sandburg's American Songbag. We had both noted the similarities between this and a Welsh song, "Cwyd dy Galon" (Lift up your Heart). The fact that I saw a likeness isn't important; Phyllis, on the other hand is one of maybe four real experts in Welsh musicology so she's worth listening too. Also, there was a heavy Welsh presence in Quaker society (seems to me that Penn was at least part Welsh) and also in Ohio where the song has been recorded.
Anyway, it goes:
O mae 'nghariad wedi 'ngada'l,
Ho ho ho, ho ho ho, ho!
Ni chaf eto fyth ei chystal,
Ho ho ho, ho ho ho, ho!
Cwyd dy galon, paid â hitio,
Ffol lol, ladi ei o,
Ti gei gariad newydd eto,
Ffol lol, ladi ei o.
There's actually a singable translation too:
O my love has gone for ever,
Ho ho ho, ho ho ho, ho!
Sore it was our bond to sever,
Ho ho ho, ho ho ho, ho!
Lift thy heart, for there's a morrow,
Fol, lol, la dee i o;
Let today relieve thy sorrow,
Fol, lol, la dee i o.
Literally it would be
O my love has left me (Ho, etc.)
I'll never have his like again, (Ho …)
Lift up thy heart, don't be bothered by it, (fol …)
You'll find a new love again. (fol …)
I think I've given up on ABC, but I have the tonic sol-fa here:
Doh F
| d :- : m | r:-:f| f:-:m|r:d:-|d.r:m:-|d:r:m|d:- :-| -:-||
|d :- :r |m:- :s| d' :- :l |s : - :m |d: -:-|r:-|m :f :m |r: -:-}
|d :- :r |m:- :s| d' :- :l |s : - :m |d: -:-|r:-|m :f :r |d : -:- ||
(I gotta tell ya – I HATE typing solfa!)
The tune was included in a collection of hitherto unpublished folk songs which was sent to the Llangollen Eisteddfod in 1858. It was later published in the Welsh Folk Song Society Journal of 1909 where it was reported as being popular in Glamorganshire. One correspondent suggested that it was similar to some of the ox-driving songs sung in that area.
I'd love to know more. Thanks for all the contributions to date.
siân