Lyr &Tune:Seven Months I've Been Married

Subject: RE: Lyr &Tune:Seven Months I've Been Married
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 20 Mar 04 - 04:13 PM

"Decored" is what Mr Phillips sang. The Norwich broadside has "flower'd".

Subject: RE: Lyr &Tune:Seven Months I've Been Married
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 20 Mar 04 - 04:07 PM

Stewie: Should that be "decorated with gold"? Oddly enough, "decored" (pronounced "decker'd"?) fits the rhythm better.

Subject: Tune Add: SEVEN MONTHS I'VE BEEN MARRIED
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 18 Mar 04 - 12:18 PM

Thanks, Stewie. Now, the tune:

X:1
T:Seven Months I've been Married
B:Frank Purslow, The Wanton Seed. London: EFDS Publications, 1968, p 103.
S:Frank Phillips, Stoney Cross, Hants, April 1909.
Z:Dr George B Gardiner
N:Gardiner H.1341, Roud 1650
L:1/8
Q:1/4=100
M:3/4
K:D
DE|F2 F2 B2|B2 A2 F2|E2 D2 D2|D4
w:Se-ven months I've been mar-ried and all to my grief,
DE|A2 A2 (dc)|B2 B2 E2|E2 F2 G2|A4
w:Se-ven months I've been_ mar-ried but found no re-lief,
FG|A2 A2 B2|A2 F2 E2|D2 B2 A2|B2>>
w:Se-ven months I've been mar-ried but still I'm a maid,
B/ (Bc)|d2 d2 A2|B2 A2 F2|E2 D2 D2|D4|]
w:For I'm_ ru-ined, I'm ru-ined for e-ver, she said.
"Variation, 2nd bar"
F2 (FE) D2|

Subject: RE: Lyr &Tune:Seven Months I've Been Married
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 18 Mar 04 - 08:36 AM

Thanks guys - now I can wait for the tune... the lady will be pleased.

Robin

Subject: RE: Lyr &Tune:Seven Months I've Been Married
From: Stewie
Date: 18 Mar 04 - 02:45 AM

Sorry, I should have given Purslow's note. Tune and text as indicated in previous post:

A typical early 19th century song of the May and December type: a young, blooming 'May' married to an ageing 'December' - 'and May and December will never agree'. The tune is rather similar to one of the tunes associated with 'Polly Oliver' with overtones of 'Villikins an' 'is Dinah' and Irish 'Come-all-ye's': a fairly typical mongrel of its period, in fact'. [Purslow 'Wanton Seed' p 143].

--Stewie.

Subject: ADD: Seven Months I've Been Married
From: Stewie
Date: 18 Mar 04 - 02:23 AM

Malcolm, I'm not all that busy at the moment so I'll save you the trouble, now that you have identified where it could be found.


SEVEN MONTHS I'VE BEEN MARRIED

Seven months I've been married and all to my grief
Seven months I've been married but found no relief
Seven months I've been married but still I'm a maid
For I'm ruined, I'm ruined forever, she said

Oh! he comes to bed to me, oh! every night
He calls me his jewel and his sweet heart's delight
But the love that hangs on him is like the leaves on the trees
But I'm ruined, I'm ruined forever, cried she

Oh! he brings me fine ribbons all decored with gold
And many a fine story to me he has told
But I would give them all for the sake of a man
But I'm ruined, I'm ruined, do all that I can

My father he gave me eight acres of ground
My mother she gave me eight hundred pounds
But I will give them all for the sake of a man
I'm ruined, I'm ruined, do all that I can

So it's come all you young maidens take warning by me
Never marry and old man in any degree
You marry a young man that will make you his wife
And then you'll live happy all the days of your life

Source: 'The Wanton Seed' Ed Frank Purslow, EFDS Publications Ltd 1968, p 103. Attribution: 'Tune/Text: Gardiner: H.1341. Frank Phillips, Stoney Cross, Hants, April 1909'.

--Stewie.

Subject: RE: Lyr &Tune:Seven Months I've Been Married
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 18 Mar 04 - 01:15 AM

Looks like it could be what I have heard.

Has anybody got it in a (transcribed) form suitable for inclusion in the DT please?

Robin

Subject: RE: Lyr &Tune:Seven Months I've Been Married
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 18 Mar 04 - 12:57 AM

One example listed in Roud: Hampshire, 1909. I'll attend to it tomorrow unless someone else would care to (Purslow, Wanton Seed, 1968, 103). Broadside editions as The unhappy bride.

Subject: Lyr &Tune:Seven Months I've Been Married
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 18 Mar 04 - 12:44 AM

I have been asked if I know the song

"Seven Months I've Been Married"

but my PC died recently and I can't yet get at all my saved stuff.

It sounds vaguely familar to me - not unlike "no courage in him"...

I've been told the song is like a blend of "Maids When you are Young Never Wed an Old Man" and "Hedger and Ditcher". Its sort of pathetic rather than funny, which makes it even funnier.

This is really a serious request... searched the DT & Forum on the full title & 'seven months" (second one not really helpful!)...

Robin