The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #159270 Message #3953507
Posted By: Steve Gardham
28-Sep-18 - 07:13 PM
Thread Name: DTStudy: King John and the Bishop (Child #45)
Subject: RE: DTStudy: King John and the Bishop (Child #45)
Joe, the tune as widely used for 3 centuries at least is better known simply as 'Derry Down'. As there are lots of 'derry down' tunes, or choruses that have similar refrains such as some Robin Hood ballads, The Keeper, Three Ravens, 'Derry Down' means 'Down, down, down derry down' or 'Derry, down, down, down derry down' or close variants. Versions 1 to 10 in Bronson.
In the 17th century for a brief spell a more popular ballad 'A cobbler there was' used the tune and for nearly a century the tune was designated with that title.
For me a far better use of the tune is a stirring piece of derring-do like 'La Pique'.