The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #114320 Message #2438878
Posted By: Malcolm Douglas
12-Sep-08 - 08:45 PM
Thread Name: Lyr Req: Maid of Listowel
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Maid of Listowel
Traditional source? This one was noted by Cecil Sharp on October 17 1908, from one John Murphy, aged 67, who was at that time an inmate of the Marylebone Workhouse in London. See Journal of the Folk-Song Society, V (18) 1914, 45-7. Though 'Timon' may have been meant, Mr Murphy certainly pronounced the word 'Damer'. Five Hand Reel got the song from the Journal, and seem to have stuck reasonably faithfully to Mr Murphy's words. At present it's the sole example listed in the Roud Folk Song Index, at number 2556.
It seems that the song was printed on broadsides as 'The Kerry Courtship', but the Bodleian website isn't working properly just now, so I can't check. Try this link later on: