I found this version at this site: Henry Livingston Manuscript
It seems to come from some time around 1770 - 1780. Notice that the title is, as Helen told me "Tarry Woo" not "Tarry Wool" She pointed out that the lines will only rhyme if you sing 'woo'.
I think there must be typos or mondegreens in this version as well, but I am not finding an older source.
Blessings,
Barbara


TARRY WOO
1
Tarry woo, and Tarry woo,
Tarry woo is ill to spin,
Card it well, and card it well,
Card it well e're ye begin:
? When its carded, wrought and spun;
Then the work is half in done.
But when woven, drest & clean
It may be cladding for a Queen.

2
Sing up my bonny, harmless sheep
That feed upon the mountains steep
Bleating swiftly as they go
Thro the winters frost & snow.
Hart & hind & fallow Deer
Not by half so useful are
Freak things to him that heads the plow
Are all oblig'd to Tarry woo.

3
Up ye shepherds dance & skip
O'er the hills & valleys trip.
Sing up the praise of Tarry woo
Sing the flocks that bear it, too.
Harmless creatures without blame
That clothe the back & cram the vein,
Keep us warm & hearty, too,
Lay me on the Tarry woo.

4
How happy is a shepherd's life
Far fray courts & frae of strife
While the gammers bleat & baa
And the lambkin's answer maa
No such music to his ear
Of Thief or Fox he has no Fear
Sturdy shent & Colly, too
Will defend the Tarry woo.

5
He lives content & envy's none
Not e'en a monarch on his Throne
Though he the royal steepler sways
Has not sweeter Hollydays
Who would be a King, can only tell
When a shepherd sings so well
Sings so well & pay his due
With honest heart & Tarry woo.


Scottish air before 1787

TARRY WOO(L) - "is bad to spin - card it well before you begin - card it well and spin it too - Before you make it into TW" "For when carded, row'd & spun, then the wark is hofelins (halfways) done - but when woven dreet & clean, it may be cleading (clothing) for a Queen" - Knitting Song to tune (first part only): "Corn Rigs are bonny" - ROUD#1472 - HERD AMSS 1776 2 pp100-101 (w/o) - RAMSAY TTM 1794 - VOC LIB 1822 p201 - GOW, Nathaniel (1823) 1 p13 m/o - DICKINSON Dialect of Cumberland (quoted in Northall) - JFSS 2 1906 pp215-6 RVW John Mason, Dent, Yorksh 1904 - McCOLL SS 1953 p136 from Ramsay 5v/m - PALMER EBECS 1979 #12 pp33-34 RVW: John Mason -- Lizzie HAYGARTH & Mrs ROWE rec by PK, Dent, Sedbergh, W Yorksh 23/11/54: RPL 22326 with talk about "The Terrible Knitters of Dent"


This music manuscript book of Henry Livingston, Jr.'s was given by Henry's granddaughter, Gertrude Thomas, to her nephew, William Sturgis Thomas, the same year that she gave him Henry's poetry manuscript book. The book was then given by William S. Thomas to his son, W. Stephen Thomas, and is now owned by his son, Stephen Livingston Thomas, as part of The Thomas Collection.
Since Henry Livingston's poetry manuscript passed to Gertrude Thomas from her sister Susan by accident (it was thought by Susan's daughter to have burned, but Gertrude found it in a bookcase she inherited from Susan), the poetry manuscript might have been come into Gertrude's possession in the same way. The music manuscript has Henry's son Edwin's signature on the back, and Edwin lived with his sister Susan.

There are 207 pages in the manuscript book, but only the pages above are currently prepared for inclusion in this website. The others will be added soon.