Lyr Add: The Dandylion Clock

Subject: Lyr Add: THE DANDYLION CLOCK (Alexander Hay, 1879)
From: *#1 PEASANT*
Date: 23 Jun 04 - 02:45 PM

THE DANDYLION CLOCK

Tune-"Days we went a-gipsying."

When wor aud toon was the aud toon,
Wi' mony a grassy nyuk,
And posies ivvoreewhere adorn'd
It like sum pikter-byuk;
We lay above the sighin' burn,
On hills ov fern and rock,
To blaw thraw balloon life away,
Maw "dandylion clock."

Two bonnie lasses and me-sel,
But bairns-dash! hoo we play'd
Wiv buttercups and daises pure,
And babby-hooses made.
Before the manly cares cam oot
To gie won's heart a shock,
We lay and blaw'd to tell the time-
The "dandylion clock."

Luk! the dear sunshine's teeming doon
Neagarrays of joy,
On Lizzie's bonnie curly heed,
Like dolls her lovin' toy.
It sparkles like the goold itsel-
Aw might hev had a lock
Is easy as aw blew for her
The "dandylion clock."

And there wis little Katie, tee,
Whe's figur aw wad paint;
But God saves me the trubbil noo,
He's tyun hur to the saint.
And Lizzie tee's an angel gud,
Iv her brite lalock frock;
Aw think aw see her blawin' yet
The "Dandylion clock."

-Alexander Hay, 1879

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Dandylion Clock
From: GUEST, TheBigPinkLad
Date: 23 Jun 04 - 06:05 PM

Any idea where I could find the tunes (audio files) to these diamond Geordie songs, *#1 PEASANT* ?

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Dandylion Clock
From: CapriUni
Date: 23 Jun 04 - 06:57 PM

Thanks, Peasant!

Dandilions are my favorite flowers... once I learn the tune, I may be singing this song.

BTW, does anyone know if this bit of folklore is in the slightest way accurate? That is: does it generally take more puffs to blow off the seeds at noon than it does in the early morning, or late afternoon?

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Dandylion Clock
From: Joybell
Date: 23 Jun 04 - 07:33 PM

What a great little song. Thank you *1PEASANT*.
CapriUni, do you have dandilion seeds at the moment? If not we will have them here in Australia soon - it being Winter now. I'll try your folk-theory. We called the seeds "Faeries" when we were kids - some of us still call them that. Joy

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Dandylion Clock
From: CapriUni
Date: 23 Jun 04 - 09:08 PM

Joybell --

not at the moment... it's at the peak of summer now... though I had lots of dandelions earlier in the spring...

Wonder where they've got to...

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Dandylion Clock
From: *#1 PEASANT*
Date: 24 Jun 04 - 11:56 PM

Just finished transcrbing the songbook. I have two more major collections to finish then on to serious tune locations.
Anyone with tune leads fire away and I will check them out....

Thanks in advance!
(some consider dandelion Brigids flower as it is an indicator of arival of spring....)

Conrad