Lyr Req: Hope the Hermit (John Oxenford)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Hope the Hermit (John Oxenford)
From: GUEST
Date: 27 Dec 25 - 01:52 AM

Yes it was called Hope the Hermit we sang it 60 years ago.,,,,

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Hope the Hermit (John Oxenford)
From: GUEST,#
Date: 27 Apr 15 - 12:14 PM

http://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/1694811

According to that site, it is unclear whether it should be attributed to John or Edward Oxenford.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Hope the Hermit (John Oxenford)
From: GUEST
Date: 27 Apr 15 - 11:59 AM

Oncce in a blyth green wood lived a hermit wise and good, whom the folks from near and far, for his counsel sought knowing well that he sought ...
The very longest lane has a turning it is plain, e'en the blackest clouds will fly, and what can't be cured must with patience be endured, as cheaply as we laugh or cry....
Still he sits I wean mid branches ever green and cheerily goes on to say, "though to care we are born yet the dullest morn often heeralds in the fairest day" repeat.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Hermit
From: danensis
Date: 12 Nov 05 - 12:55 PM

Strange really, that on a rainy dinner time in a junior school on a council estate the appropriately named Miss Tune (really!) the piano teacher would sit and play songs from the News Chronicle song book for us to sing "The Lincolnshire Poacher" "Men of Harlech" "Ash Grove" "Hearts of Oak" "Elsie Marley" and never realised we were taking part in a great tradition.

Thanks for mentioning "Singing Together". Do you remember "Time and Tune" and "Rhythm and Melody". I have many of the booklets going back to 1951 somewhere. Poor old Pip Appleby eh.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Hermit
From: Gurney
Date: 11 Nov 05 - 11:40 PM

I used to sing the Abbey and Don one, long ago!

Ah, memories.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Hermit
From: Joe Offer
Date: 11 Nov 05 - 08:44 PM

I hate people who gloat about having The National Songbook [grin].
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Hermit
From: masato sakurai
Date: 11 Nov 05 - 08:27 PM

"The Lady Frances Nevills Delight" is in Playford's The Dancing Master (II, 40, 1665; and II, 46, 1657; music only).

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Hermit
From: masato sakurai
Date: 11 Nov 05 - 08:17 PM

"Hope, the Hermit" is also in The National Song Book (1906; New edition, 1938).

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Hermit
From: danensis
Date: 11 Nov 05 - 01:43 PM

Thanks very much for posting Hope the Hermit - thought it was well before 1966 when we were singing it!

John

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Hermit
From: DonMeixner
Date: 10 Nov 05 - 07:20 PM

THE HERMIT

A hermit once lived in a beautiful dell,
And it is no legend, this story I tell,
So my father declared, who knew him quite well,
The hermit.

John Roberts told me this was his mother's favorite song.

Don

---

(click)

Subject: Lyr/Tune Add: HOPE THE HERMIT (John Oxenford)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 10 Nov 05 - 02:18 PM

Here's the text, posted by dmcg at folkinfo.org. It's from Singing Together, Autumn 1966

Hope, the Hermit

Once in a blithe greenwood
Lived a hermit wise and good
Whom the folks from far and near
For his counsel sought,
Knowing well that what he taught
The dreariest of hearts would cheer.
Though his hair was white
His eye was clear and bright,
And he thus was ever wont to say:
Though to care we are born,
Yet the dullest morn
Often heralds in the fairest day!"

"The very longest lane,
Has a turning, it is plain,
E'en the blackest of clouds will fly:
And what can't be cured
Must with patience be endured:
As cheaply can we laugh as cry."
And people gazed,
At words so deep amazed,
While the Sage went on to say:
"Though to care (etc)

Pray, is the hermit dead?
From the forest has he fled?
No, he lives to counsel all
Who an ear will lend
To their wisest, truest friend,
And Hope the Hermit's name they call.
Still he sits, I ween,
'Mid branches ever green,
And cheerly you may hear him say:
"Though to care (etc)

---

A post from Malcolm Douglas gave the following information:
Words by John Oxenford (1812-1877), set to the old dance tune Lady Francis Nevill's Delight (Playford, Dancing Master, 1657 and 1665). "It is one of the very few of Oxenford's set of verses," wrote Sabine Baring-Gould (English Minstrelsie, II, v), "that rises above mediocrity."


The tune was posted by Masato Sakurai

Tune from J. Oxenford & G.A. MacFarren, Old English Ditties, Selected from W. Chappell's Popular Music of the Olden Time, vol. 1 (London: Chappell & Co., [1884?], pp. 48-49; Tune: "Lady Frances Nevill's Delight", Words by J. Oxenford; with piano accompaniment):

X:1
T:Hope, The Hermit
M:C
L:1/8
Q:1/4=132
S:J. Oxenford & G.A. MacFarren, Old English Ditties, vol.1
K:Bb
F G A|B2 B2 B2 A B|c B A G F2 G A|B2 D2 E2 F2|B,6 B c|
d2 d2 d2 c d|e d c B c2 F2|G A B c d2 c2|B6 A B|c2 c2 c2 d2|
c B A B c2 A B|cd cB A2G2|F6 G A|B2 A B D2 E F|G2 G2 C2 D E|
F G F E D2 C2|B,6 G A|B2 A B D2 E F|G2 G2 C2 D E|F G F E D2 C2|B,6||

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Hermit
From: Sorcha
Date: 10 Nov 05 - 09:21 AM

It's been posted at Folk Info, which is down right now, so here is the Google Cache of the page.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Hermit
From: Abby Sale
Date: 10 Nov 05 - 09:10 AM

Well, there's The Hermit

But I'm pretty sure that's not the one you wanted.

Subject: Lyr Req: The Hermit
From: danensis
Date: 10 Nov 05 - 08:26 AM

When I was at school, forty odd years ago, we used to sing a song about a hermit. These are as much as I can remember of the words:

Once in a wild green wood lived a hermit wise and good whom the folks from far and near, for his counsel sought knowing well what he taught the [...] of hearts would cheer....

For to care we are born yet the dullest morn often heralds in the brightest day.....

Anyone know any more?