Hello Joe Have a look at the Rombalds Mummers link on Mudcat. Ilkley Moor (Rombalds Moor) a favourite ramble for walkers today was a popular Sunday afternoon walk for many groups from the near by mill towns. The story is that on one such ramble a group from a local choir were walking across the moor when a couple disappeared from the group for some considerable time. When the couple rejoined the party looking a little dishevelled and had obviously been doing a bit of courting (making love, playing find the sausage, kissing, having a snog, making out) a member of the choir wrote what is now Yorkshires National Anthem Ilkley Moor Ba Tat. Which translated in to English is On Ilkley Moor without a hat an item of clothing that was missing when the couple returned to the group. So where have you been since last you were seen is the translation for "were hast tha been since I saw thee" The reply on Ilkley Moor with out a hat "on Ilkley Moor baht at" Your going to catch a terminal illness "Thas bound to catch thee death of cold" and so on. I will scan and post a full translation for the Rombalds Mummers Website as soon as I can find the time. I'm just about to deliver West Yorkshire Folk Song and Dance Magazine TYKE'S NEWS Spring 2001.

Now this song proved so popular that the singing of it spread far and wide. Things came to a head when members of church congregations started to find amusement when ever the hymn tune was played in church or chapel. The tune was then removed from the hymn books and that's why you are having trouble finding it.

However if you do a web search for Yorkshire Carols you will find that Whilst shepherds watched there flocks by night can and is still sung to this tune. The words and the dots and the guitar chords can also be found in SKIN AND BONES and other group Folk-songs for Group Singing selected by John Longstaff Harcort, Brace & World, INC.,New York. OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS MUSIC DEPARTMENT 44 CONDUIT STREET, LONDON W1R 0DE United Kingdom ISBN 0 19 330538 0 If you need any more information drop me a line Joe