Lyr Req: Lass of London City (White Copper Alley)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lass of London City (White Copper Alley)
From: GUEST,The walrus
Date: 31 Mar 11 - 07:58 AM

(a little late but...
I do know of a verse which fits between 3 & 4 of the above.

"I said "Then my dear you have no need to fear,
"We'll go to some inn where we'll not be known"
At length she relented and then she consented
"But first, gentle Sir, some money lay down,"...

Any use?

Tom

Subject: Lyr Add: THE LASS OF LONDON CITY (from Bodleian)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 24 Jul 08 - 10:16 PM

Here are the lyrics from the Bodleian Library, Harding B 11(2040). I have modernized the punctuation.

THE LASS OF LONDON CITY.
"Pitts, Printer, wholesale Toy and Marble warehouse, 6, Gt. St. Andrew Street, Seven Dials" [London]
[between 1819 and 1844]

As I was a-walking one fine summer's morning,
One fine summer's morning, oh, I heard many say,
That a lass neat and pretty, one of London City,
Her cheeks were like roses, her clothing was gay.

Oh, I stepped up to her, and thinking to view her,
Saying, "Where are you going, my fair pretty maid?"
Many kisses I vended, and love I pretended,
But all was in vain, for she was a maid.

"I must not, I dare not, I will not, I shall not,
Submit to your passions, for I am afraid.
Should my friends then discover I have a new lover,
Oh, then they would call me a wanton young jade."

Hearing these words made me more anxious than ever
To think I could purchase such a fair pretty maid.
Five guineas she demanded. The money was granted.
Supper being over, I put madam to bed.

Now I being tired and weary of drinking,
Now I being tired and weary of game,
Then I fell a-nodding and she fell a-robbing.
She quitted my bedroom before it was day.

I turned round to kiss her, and suddenly I missed her.
I looked for my kickser that lay under my head;
But she robbed and she plundered. I roared out like thunder,
But all vain, in vain, for madam had fled.

Oh, 'tis not my gold watch nor my money I value.
It's not my gold watch nor my money I crave;
But I'm afraid some young doctor will be my conductor.
I wish I never had seen this fair maid.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lass of London City (White Copper Alley)
From: pavane
Date: 22 Jul 08 - 07:42 AM

There are also a few copies of songs with almost the same words in the Bodleian collection, though none of them actually mention White Copper Alley.

Lass of London City

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lass of London City (White Copper Alley)
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 22 Jul 08 - 06:46 AM

A few mishearings in that transcription, but not many. Nic got it from Frank Purslow, The Wanton Seed, 1968. Gardiner MS collection H599, from Alfred Porter, Basingstoke, October 1906. Text augmented from a Pitts broadside, and with an additional verse (4, here) written by Purslow to fill 'a gap in the narrative'.

Only one other example found in tradition, and that a fragment, from Marina Russell of Upwey in Dorset (Hammond MSS).

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lass of London City (White Copper Alley)
From: pavane
Date: 22 Jul 08 - 06:15 AM

White Copper Alley: it's already here. This is Nic Jones's version, there are slight differences in other versions found.

Subject: Lyr Add: LASS OF LONDON CITY (from Nic Jones)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 23 Mar 05 - 11:48 PM

I see no reason why we shouldn't have it here.
Lyrics copied from http://www.goldilox.co.uk/engfolk/lyrics/1245-L.htm

LASS OF LONDON CITY
from Nic Jones

Well, as I was a-walking down Whitecopper Alley,
As I was a-walking out one fine day,
A lass neat and pretty from fair London City,
Her cheeks were like roses. Her colour was gay.

And I stepped up to her, a-thinking to gain her,
Saying, "Where are you going, you pretty fair maid?"
And kisses I vented and love I pretended,
For all was in vain 'cos she was a maid.

"Oh, I can not, I will not, I shall not, I dare not
Submit to your passions for I am afraid.
Friends will discover I have a new lover
And they will call me a wanton young jade."

But I said, "Me dear, there's no need to fear.
We'll go to some inn where we shall not be known."
And then she relented. At last, she consented.
"But first, kind sir, some money pay down."

And hearing these words, it made me quite anxious
To think I should purchase a pretty fair maid.
And when she demanded five guineas, 'twas granted,
And when we'd had supper, we went to bed.

And I being tired and weary of drinking,
And I being tired and weary of play,
I fell a-nodding and she fell a-robbing
And left the old bedroom before it was day.

And I turned to kiss her, and then I missed her.
I looked for me wallet right under me head,
But the lady had plundered. I roared out like thunder.
All was in vain, for the lady had fled.

And it's not the gold watch and me silver I value.
It's not the gold watch and the silver I crave.
I think some young doctor will be me conductor.
I wish I'd not met with that pretty fair maid.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lass of London City (White Copper Alley)
From: Chris Green
Date: 22 Mar 05 - 01:06 PM

*red-faced* Erm.. yes. How did I miss that? Thanks mate!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lass of London City (White Copper Alley)
From: GUEST
Date: 22 Mar 05 - 01:02 PM

this 'un?

Subject: Lyr Req: Lass of London City (White Copper Alley)
From: Chris Green
Date: 22 Mar 05 - 12:59 PM

Does anyone have the lyrics for this song, which is the first track on Nic Jones' second album? Doesn't seem to be in the DT, and I can't find any threads with it in!

Merci buckets (in advance!)

Chris