Origins:Colin and Phoebe (Corydon & Phoebe)

Subject: Tune Req: Colin and Phoebe
From: MARINER
Date: 28 Feb 06 - 03:10 PM

I'm sending out this request on behalf of a friend . He needs the air for the song Colin and Phoebe . It would be acce[table in any form , tonic solfa , notation etc. Can anyone help ?

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Colin and Phoebe
From: MMario
Date: 28 Feb 06 - 03:25 PM

hmmmm - we are suppossed to have it in the mudcat midi's but I can't get it to play. I don't seem to have a copy of it - Joe Offer might.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Colin and Phoebe
From: MARINER
Date: 28 Feb 06 - 03:34 PM

Thanks MMario, I found it there too, but it won't play for me either. Can anyone help out with the air?

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Colin and Phoebe
From: MMario
Date: 28 Feb 06 - 03:54 PM

frustrating as we found this once - but the person who submitted it (according to my records) is deceased - and I cannot find a copy of it under either of the two names I have for the midi file.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Colin and Phoebe
From: Mick Pearce (MCP)
Date: 28 Feb 06 - 04:36 PM

There's a tune in Kidson's Traditional Tunes - I'll post it after I've eaten.

Mick

Subject: Tune Add: COLIN AND PHOEBE
From: Mick Pearce (MCP)
Date: 28 Feb 06 - 05:06 PM

And here it is.

Mick

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X: 1
T:Colin And Phoebe
M:3/4
L:1/4
S:Kidson: Traditional Tunes
K:D
(A/F/)|D F A/F/|(G A>) D|G (F/E/) (D/C/)|D2
w:Well_ met, my dear-est Phoe-be; Oh! why in_ such_ haste
A/A/|d D E|(F/G/) A d|(c/B/) A ^G|A2
w:Thro' the woods and the mea_dows All day_ I have chased,
F/A/|d B G|(F/E/) D> D|B A D|(D C3/2
w:In the search of my fair_ one, Who does me dis-dain!_
A,/4A,/4|B, C D|(E/C/) A, A,|G F E|(F/A/ d/c/ B/A/|B2)
w:But I hope you'll re-ward_ me For all my long pain;______
c/c/|d c B|A d (B/G/)|(F/E/) D C|D2||
w:But I hope you'll re-eard me For_ all_ my long pain.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Colin and Phoebe
From: MMario
Date: 01 Mar 06 - 08:02 AM

Thank you Mick.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Colin and Phoebe
From: MARINER
Date: 01 Mar 06 - 02:15 PM

Thank you Mick , I'm sure my friend will appreciate this.

Subject: Origins: Colin and Phoebe
From: Joe Offer
Date: 03 Nov 18 - 11:22 PM

Here's the Traditional Ballad Index entry on this song:

Corydon and Phoebe

DESCRIPTION: Corydon (Colin) asks Phoebe (Phyllis) why she flees. She is afraid for her reputation. He says they're not alone; she says she will die a virgin. He replies that he'd come to ask for her hand in marriage, but will seek another. She accepts his hand
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1755 (_The New Ballads sung by Mr Lowe and Miss Stevenson at Vauxhall_, included by Kidson)
LONG DESCRIPTION: Corydon (Colin) asks Phoebe (Phyllis) why she makes haste ahead of his pursuit. She replies that she's scarcely sixteen and afraid for her reputation. He points out that they're not alone, so her reputation's safe; she replies that flattery or no, she will die a virgin. He replies that he'd come to ask for her hand in marriage, but since she has slighted him, he's giving up and will seek another. She bids him stay, accepts his hand, and promises "the girl you thought cruel will always prove kind"
KEYWORDS: age hardheartedness courting love marriage virginity dialog lover
FOUND IN: Britain(England(Lond,North,South)) Canada(Newf)
REFERENCES (4 citations):
Kennedy 125, "Colin and Phoebe" (1 text, 1 tune)
Kidson-Tunes, pp. 73-77, "Colin and Phoebe" (3 texts, 3 tunes)
Peacock, pp. 510-511, "Bold Escallion and Phoebe" (1 text, 1 tune)
DT, C&PHOEBE
Roud #512
RECORDINGS:
Freeman Bennett, "Bold Escallion and Phoebe" (on PeacockCDROM) [one verse only]
Harry Cox, "Colin and Phoebe" (on HCox01) (on FSBFTX13)
Pop Maynard, "Colin and Phoebe" (on Voice06)
BROADSIDES:
Bodleian, Harding B 28(77), "Colin and Phoebe" ("Well met, dearest Phoebe, O why in such haste"), W. Armstrong (Liverpool), 1820-1824; also Harding B 16(56a), Firth c.18(208), Firth c.18(209), Harding B 11(1182), Firth b.26(168), 2806 c.17(74), Harding B 15(48b), Firth b.25(75), Harding B 11(1376), Harding B 11(640), Harding B 11(639), Johnson Ballads 15, "Colin and Phoebe"
CROSS-REFERENCES:
cf. "Pastoral Elegy" (theme)
cf. "Come Write Me Down (The Wedding Song)" (plot)
SAME TUNE:
Collinet & Phebe (Revolutionary War version) (Rabson, pp. 40-41)
NOTES [281 words]: She offers the "I will never marry" ploy; he counters with the "I'll marry someone else" gambit. Check and mate.
No question that this is a piece with its origin in minstrelsy and "rural romance" broadsides. But Kennedy cites over half-a-dozen collections from folk tradition, including the indexed version by Harry Cox, and I say that more than qualifies it as a folk song. - PJS
It should be noted that the mere presence of characters with these approximate names does not make a poem this song. Nicolas Breton, for instance, published "Phillida and Coridon" in 1591 in The Honourable Entertainment given to the Queen's Majesty in Progress at Elvetham); it's the same plot, but told in the third person: "In the merry month of May, In a morn by break of day, Forth I walked by the wood side Whenas May was in his pride. There I spied all alone Phillida and Coridon."
Similarly, John Chalkhill published a "Coridon's Song" ("Oh, the sweet contentment The countryman doth find. High trolollie Lolly loe, That quiet contemplation Possesseth all my mind: Then care away, And wend along with me") around 1600.
Again, Dyer published "Corydon to his Phyllis" ("Alas, my heart! mine eye hath wronged thee, Presumptuous eye, to gaze on Phyllis' face... Poor Corydon, the nymph, whose eye doth move thee , Doth love to draw, but is not drawn to love thee") in The Phoenix Nest (1593).
In England's Helicon (1600) we have "Phyllida's Love-Call to Her Corydon, and His Replying" (A dialog: Phyllida" Corydon, arise, my Corydon! Titan shineth clear." Corydon: "Who is it that calleth Corydon? Who is it that I hear?"); this piece has no author, but has a contemporary musical setting. - RBW
Last updated in version 4.4
File: K125

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COLIN AND PHOEBE (Digital Tradition Lyrics)

Well, well, dearest Phoebe, and why in such haste?
Through the fields and meadows all day I have chased.
In search of the fair one who doth me disdain.
And who will reward me?
And who will reward me for all my past pain.

Go, go, boldest Colin, how dare you be seen
With a burden like me and not scarcely sixteen?
To be seen with the fair one, I am so afraid
That the world will soon call me
That the world will soon call me: no longer a maid.

Never mind what the world say for it all proves a lie
We are not alone there's a couple hard by
Let them judge of our actions, be you cheerful, my dear
For no harm is intended
For no harm is intended to my Phoebe I swear.
Say, say, boldest Colin, and say what you will
You may swear, lie and flatter, and prove your best skill
And before I will be conquered, I will let you to know
That I will die a virgin
That I will die a virgin, so I pray let me go

Come, come, dearest Phoebe, such thoughts I now have
I come here to see if tomorrow you'd wed
But since you so slighted me, I will bid you adieu
And will go seek some other girl
And will go seek some other girl more kinder than you

Stay, stay, dearest Colin, just one moment stay
I will venture to wed if you mean what you say
Let tomorrow first come love, and in church you will find
that the girl you thought cruel
that the girl you thought cruel will always prove kind.

@love @courtship
filename[ C&PHOEBE
HB

The DT lyrics are very close to those in the Kennedy book and on the recording by Harry Cox: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sv-Q15vnF9I (may not play outside the US)

Subject: ADD Version: Colin and Phoebe
From: Joe Offer
Date: 03 Nov 18 - 11:32 PM

This was sung by Pop Maynard, recorded by Frank Purslow & Ken Stubbs in the singer's home in Copthorne, Sussex, 27 February 1960.
Voice of the People Volume 6, Tonight I'll Make You My Bride, Track 12 (from the CD booklet)

COLIN AND PHOEBE

“Well met, dearest Phoebe, Oh, why in such haste?
The fields and the meadows all day have I chased
In search of my fair one who does me disdain.
I’d hope that you’ll reward me for all my long pain.”

“Go, go, boldest Colin, how dare you be a-seen
With a virgin like me that is scarcely sixteen?
To be seen all alone with a man I’m afraid
The world will no longer soon call me a maid.”

“Never mind what the world say; it will all prove a lie.
We’re not here alone; there’s a cottage just by.
Let them judge of our actions and say what they will,
There’s no harm here intended to my Phoebe, I’ll swear.”

“Go, go, boldest Colin, you may say what you will.
You may lie, swear or flatter or try your best skill,
But before I’ll be conquered, I will have you to know,
I’ll first die a virgin, so pray let me go.”

“Oh, Phoebe my charmer, such thoughts I never had.
I came for to see if tomorrow you’d wed,
But since you so slighted me, I will bid you adieu
And go and seek some other girl more kinder than you.”

“Stay, stay, dearest Colin, just a few moments stay.
I will venture to wed if you mean what you say.
Let tomorrow first come, my love, in church you will find
The girl you once thought cruel will always prove kind.
Let tomorrow first come, my love, in church you will find
The girl you once thought cruel will always prove kind."

Pop Maynard recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dF4MSdHNpVM (may not play outside US)

Harry Cox: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sv-Q15vnF9I

Subject: ADD Version: Colin and Phoebe
From: Joe Offer
Date: 03 Nov 18 - 11:59 PM

COLIN AND PHOEBE

Well, well, dearest Phoebe, and why in such haste?
Through fields and through meadows all day have I chased.
In search of the fair one, who doth me disdain.
And who will reward me
And who will reward me for all my past pain.

Go, go, boldest Colin, how dare you be seen
With a burden like me and not scarcely sixteen?
To be seen with the fair one, I am so afraid
That the world will soon call me
That the world will soon call me: no longer a maid.

Never mind what the world say, for it all proves a lie
We are not alone, there's a couple hard by
Let them judge of our actions, be you cheerful, my dear
For no harm is intended
For no harm is intended to my Phoebe I'll swear.

Say, say, boldest Colin, and say what you will
You may swear, lie and flatter, and prove your best skill
And before I will be conquered, I will let you to know
That I will die a virgin
That I will die a virgin, so I pray let me go

Come, come, dearest Phoebe, such thoughts I now have
I come here to see if tomorrow you'd wed
But since you so slighted me, I will bid you adieu
And will go seek some other girl
And will go seek some other girl more kinder than you

Stay, stay, dearest Colin, just one moment stay
I will venture to wed if you mean what you say
Let tomorrow first come, love, and in church you will find
That the girl you thought cruel
That the girl you thought cruel will always prove kind.

Singer: Harry Cox, Catfield, Norfolk
Recorded by Peter Kennedy in 1954

Source Folksongs of Britain & Ireland, edited by Peter Kennedy (Schirmer Books, 1976). Song #125, page 301


Notes from Kennedy:
The most dangerous moment in the act of courtship always seems to be when one of the couple appears to have made the irrevocable decision never to marry. This is the cruel test which leads to a happy result. In this case it is Phoebe who tells Colin that she wishes to opt out of their friendship:

That I will die a virgin
So I pray let me go

Fair enough. Colin had only come to ask Phoebe to marry him the very next day. He has been slighted so he is not going to waste any more time on Phoebe. That does the trick. Phoebe is not so heartless after all:

That the girl you thought cruel
Will always prove kind

Kidson mentions that he came across the ‘original’ in a twenty-four page folio The New Ballads sung by Mr Lowe and Miss Stevenson at Vauxhail London 1755. The song is called Corydon and Phoebe: A Dialogue. In the third verse of the version given here there is ‘a couple hard by’, in Kidson’s traditional version there is ‘a cottage’ and in the published ‘original’ it is ‘chaste Cythia’ who is near by. Harry Cox, from whom this song was recorded, sings ‘Colin’ as ‘Col-yeen’, pronouncing it rather like the Irish word ‘colleen’; in the Kidson versions the name is Corydon.

Printed versions

KIDSON: 1891, p. 73: two traditional variants of the tune published ‘original’, dated 1755
GARDINER MS: 1906—9, no. 323 (Hampshire) and no. 1366 (Sussex)
SHARP MS: 1909, vol. V: two variants (Somerset)
GILL: 1917, p. 2
KIDSON AND MOFFAT: 1926, p. 106: another tune
HAMMOND MS: 1906: one variant (Dorset)
PEACOCK 1965, p. 510: Bold Escallion and Phoebe (Canada)

Harry Cox recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sv-Q15vnF9I (may not play outside US)

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Click to play (joeweb)