Tune Req: Song upon the birth of Prince Charles

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Song upon the birth of Prince Charles
From: ChS
Date: 21 Nov 05 - 07:12 AM

When re-reading my precedent note I noticed that the link I gave concerning the present Prince Charles is erroneous:
The correct link is
http://chrsouchon.free.fr/rogues.htm

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Song upon the birth of Prince Charles
From: ChS
Date: 21 Nov 05 - 05:49 AM

Jack, Malcolm, Peace,

I'm really sorry for my improper behaviour and must admit that I forgot, once again, to mention my site where this song is copied.

As usual, I'm receiving the wanted answer from Malcolm, interwoven with severe but well-deserved reproaches, which is apparently the price to pay for most accurate and exhaustive information:-)!

Malcolm answers Jack's question: The source for this Gaelic text appears to be Capercaillie's Glenfinnan website (I didn't answer at once, because I was searching my archives for this answer).
I didn't name the tune, assuming this name were identical with the title of the lyrics: "Oran Air Breith a Prionnsa Tearlach". I understand, from other Gaelic tunes, that "Oran air..." means "song on...". That's why I knew there must be a tune to this text.

Asking Capercaillie for the origin of the tune, as advised by Malcolm, will be indeed the best thing to do.

I am glad to have prompted Mrrrzy to contribute this song on the birth of the Prince of Wales and to point out "Ashton's Modern Street Ballads".

May I draw the attention of the guest with morderous wishes to this page of my site? (please, excuse my megalomania):
http://chrsouchon.free.fr/home2e.htm
The 2nd paragraph of the foot note may interest him :-).

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Song upon the birth of Prince Charles
From: GUEST
Date: 21 Nov 05 - 01:02 AM

Malcolm,
Because of "Thread Creep" about the latter you appear to be.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Song upon the birth of Prince Charles
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 21 Nov 05 - 12:35 AM

Why? The thread title is clear enough. Perhaps you need new reading glasses.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Song upon the birth of Prince Charles
From: GUEST
Date: 21 Nov 05 - 12:23 AM

I was hoping that I might find here a song about the DEATH of the current prince and his concubine, maybe in some kind of a high speed car crash.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Song upon the birth of Prince Charles
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 20 Nov 05 - 10:08 PM

Oh, Ashton's Modern Street Ballads. I didn't know someone had transcribed that for the web. Another interesting resource (if you don't try it with some older browsers, which may not understand the stylesheet links written that way). Thank you for pointing it out. I wouldn't describe it as "an anthology of children's poetry", mind...

The broadside isn't related in any way to the song the original questioner was asking about, of course. There's a copy at  Bodleian Library Broadside Ballads, where it's explained that the new prince was the future Edward VII, born in 1841:

A new song on the birth of the prince of Wales  Bodleian, Firth c.16(160)

So far as the original enquiry is concerned, "ChS" needs to answer Jack's questions. He hasn't bothered to tell us what he already knows, which is why "Peace" wound up pointing him to his own website (or rather, for some reason, to Google's temporary cache of it. The actual page is at http://chrsouchon.free.fr/breithap.htm). The same thing happened last time"ChS" asked us stuff; getting substantive information out of him is like drawing teeth.

As it happens, both Gaelic and English are virtually identical to the texts at the band Capercaillie's website ( http://www.capercaillie.co.uk/discography/lyrics/glenfinnan/ ); the English spelling has been Americanised at some point, though, so presumably it was taken from a copy elsewhere. Evidently they know a tune, even if "ChS" doesn't. Perhaps he should contact them to ask where they got it.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Song upon the birth of Prince Charles
From: Mrrzy
Date: 20 Nov 05 - 09:01 PM

Got this from this great source which has a lot of other good stuff.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Song upon the birth of Prince Charles
From: Mrrzy
Date: 20 Nov 05 - 08:58 PM

A NEW SONG ON THE BIRTH OF THE PRINCE OF WALES

There's a pretty fuss and bother both in country and in town,
Since we have got a present, and an heir unto the Crown,
A little Prince of Wales so charming and so sly,
And the ladies shout with wonder, What a pretty little boy!

He must have a little musket, a trumpet and a kite,
A little penny rattle, and silver sword so bright,
A little cap and feather with scarlet coat so smart,
And a pretty little hobby horse to ride about the park.

Prince Albert he will often take the young Prince on his lap,
And fondle him so lovingly while he stirs about the pap,
He will pin on his flannel before he takes his nap,
Then dress him out so stylish with his little clouts and cap.

He must have a dandy suit to strut about the town,
John Bull must rake together six or seven thousand pound,
You'd laugh to see his daddy, at night he homewards runs,
With some peppermint or lollipops, sweet cakes and sugar plums.

He will want a little fiddle, and a little German flute,
A little pair of stockings and a pretty pair of boots,
With a handsome pair of spurs, and a golden headed cane,
And a stick of barley sugar, as long as Drury Lane.

An old maid ran through the palace, which did the nobs surprize,
Bawling out, he's got his daddy's mouth, his mammy's nose and eyes,
He will be as like his daddy as a frigate to a ship,
If he'd only got mustachios upon his upper lip.

Now to get these little niceties the taxes must be rose,
For the little Prince of Wales wants so many suits of clothes,
So they must tax the frying pan, the windows and the doors,
The bedsteads and the tables, kitchen pokers, and the floors.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Song upon the birth of Prince Charles
From: Mrrzy
Date: 20 Nov 05 - 08:50 PM

Ooh, I will have to look this up, but I know a great poem on the birth of the prince of wales, something about how he'll need so many toys, and suits of clothes that the taxes must be rose, and they'll have to tax the dishes and the (something) and the floor. It's in an anthology of children's poetry, I will look for it, wonder if it's similar or could at least go to the same tune?

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Song upon the birth of Prince Charles
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 20 Nov 05 - 07:19 PM

that's the bonny prince not the one who chats to his lupins?

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Song upon the birth of Prince Charles
From: Peace
Date: 19 Nov 05 - 07:17 PM

http://66.102.7.104/search?q=cache:lng1rU8205MJ:chrsouchon.free.fr/breithap.htm+Oran+Air+Breith+a+Prionnsa+Tearlach+by+John+McLa

Please note that the site says "Melody Unknown". That said, maybe it's been put to one.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Song upon the birth of Prince Charles
From: GUEST,Jack Campin
Date: 19 Nov 05 - 06:55 PM

What's your source for the text?

Why doesn't it name the tune?

Is the ultimate source identified?

Subject: Tune Req: Song upon te birth of Prince Charles
From: ChS
Date: 19 Nov 05 - 06:16 AM

Looking for the tune to the Gaelic song:
Oran Air Breith a Prionnsa Tearlach by John McLachlan

The first verse reads thus:
'N naigheachd a fhuair sinn an drasd'
A thainig oirnn nuadh do'n tir
Chuir m'airtneal air chairtealan uam
Dh'fhag aigeantach, uallach mi
Cha bhi sinn tuilleadh na's mo
Aig Deorsa fada fo chis
Thig sonas ri linn a' Phrionns'oig
'S gheibh fir tha air fogradh sith.

meaning:
The tidings we have now received
Which are freshly come to the land
Have chased all my sorrow away
And left me both joyful and proud
No more are we going to be
Under subjection to George
Joy will come in the young Prince's time
Peace will be to the exiles restored