Origins: Gossip Joan

Subject: Lyr Req: Gossip Joan
From: GUEST,Martin Banks
Date: 24 Jul 24 - 07:26 AM

I am seeking the lyrics to a version of Gossip Joan that includes the following line:

`Yon duck quack quack has swallowed a snail now isn't that a wonder"

I have found a version of the song, but the one I am after is a little more `down to earth' in nature.

Thanks in advance

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Gossip Joan
From: Reinhard
Date: 24 Jul 24 - 08:30 AM

Gossip John at The Yorkshire Garland Group.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Gossip Joan
From: Reinhard
Date: 24 Jul 24 - 01:41 PM

There is now a page for Gossip Joan on Mainly Norfolk with lyrics by the Holme Valley Beagles (Will Noble's are nearly the same), Regal Slip and Barry Dransfield.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Gossip Joan
From: r.padgett
Date: 25 Jul 24 - 07:18 AM

yon duck has swallowed a snail, quack, quack now isn't that a wonder? X2
and it's all come out'n it tail, it's tail it's tail it's tai e ~ a ~ ail ~ ail
and split its arse a sunder Gossip John (Joan) x2

Hand actions tail wiggle little finger

arse ~ wide clap of hands

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Gossip Joan
From: GUEST,Nick Dow
Date: 25 Jul 24 - 04:50 PM

You will find an interesting variant in 'Pills to Purge Melancholy'. I would not try to decipher the tune though, it makes very little sense.
Pills is available in PDF on line.

Subject: Origins: Gossip Joan
From: Joe Offer
Date: 29 Jul 24 - 05:28 PM

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

Gossip Joan (Neighbor Jones)

DESCRIPTION: "Good morrow, Gossip Joan, Where have you been a-walking? I have for you, for you for you, for you for you... a budget full of wonders." The wonders are listed: A cow with a calf that cannot eat hay, a duck which died from eating a snail
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1720 (Pills to Purge Melancholy)
KEYWORDS: talltale animal
FOUND IN: Britain(England) US(SE)
REFERENCES (9 citations):
Chappell-PopularMusicOfTheOldenTime, pp. 672-673, "Good Morrow, Gossip Joan" (1 text, 1 tune)
Chappell/Wooldridge-OldEnglishPopularMusic II, p. 98, "Good Morrow, Gossip Joan" (1 text, 1 tune)
Harding-FolkSongsOfLancashire, p. 34, "Gossip Joan" (1 text, 1 tune)
Reeves/Sharp-TheIdiomOfThePeople 37, "Gossip Joan" (2 texts)
Reeves-TheEverlastingCircle 54, "Gossip Joan" (1 text)
Williams-FolkSongsOfTheUpperThames, pp. 41-42, "Gossip Joan" (1 text) (also Williams-Wiltshire-WSRO Ox 262)
Brown/Belden/Hudson-FrankCBrownCollectionNCFolklore3 144, "Neighbour Jones" (1 text)
Scott-EnglishSongBook, pp. 38-39, "Good Morrow, Gossip Joan" (1 short text, 1 tune; the text may not be original)
ADDITIONAL: Wit and Mirth, or, Pills to Purge Melancholy (London, 1720 ("Digitized by Google")), Vol VI, pp. 315-316, "The Woman's Complaint to Her Neighbor" (1 text, 1 tune)
Roud #1039
CROSS-REFERENCES:
cf. "Martin Said To His Man" (theme)
NOTES [72 words]: Williams-Wiltshire-WSRO has one verse not in Williams-FolkSongsOfTheUpperThames ("My duck has swallowed a snail ...."). - BS
The Civil War general D. R. Jones (David Rumph Jones, 1825-1863), who eventually came to command a division in the Army of Northern Virginia, was known by the nickname "Neighbor Jones." Since none of the sources I checked explained how he came by the nickname, I do not know if it is related to this song. - RBW
Last updated in version 6.7
File: Br3144

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The Woman's Complaint to her Neighbour.

GOOD morrow Gossip Joan,

Where have you been a Walking?

I have for you at Home,

A Budget full of Talking,

Gossip Joan.

My Sparrow's flown away,

And will no more come to me;

I've broke a Glass to Day,

The Price will quite undo me,

Gossip Joan.

316

I've lost a Harry Groat,

Was left me by my Granny;

I cannot find it out,

I've search'd in every Cranny,

Gossip Joan.

My Goose has laid away,

I know not what's the Reason;

My Hen has hatch'd to Day,

A Week before the Season,

Gossip Joan.

I've lost my Wedding-Ring,

That was made of Silver gilt;

I had Drink would please a King,

And the whorish Cat has spill'd it,

Gossip Joan.

My Duck has eat a Snail,

And is not that a Wonder;

The HORNS bud out at Tail,

And have split her Rump asunder,

Gossip Joan.

My Pocket is cut off,

That was full of Sugar-candy;

I cannot stop my Cough,

Without a Gill of Brandy,

Gossip Joan.

O I am sick at Heart,

Therefore pray give me some Ginger;

I cannot Sneeze or Fart,

Therefore pray put in Finger,

Gossip Joan.

O pitty, pitty me,

Or I shall go Distracted;

I have cry'd 'till I can't see,

To think how things are acted,

Gossip Joan.

Let's to the Ale-house go,

And wash down all my Sorrow;

My Griefs you there shall know,

And we'll meet again to morrow,

Gossip Joan.

317

from Wit and Mirth: or Pills to Purge Melancholy, Edited by Thomas D'Urfey
https://www.gutenberg.org/files/33404/33404-h/33404-h.htm#page315

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Gossip Joan
From: r.padgett
Date: 30 Jul 24 - 03:17 AM

Not too many examples of this song have been found

It is an example of a group action as in Holme Valley Tradition used to do Ernest Yates, Barry Bridgwater, Will Noble and John Cocking with a leader singing the verses and the choruses sung with facial and hand expressions to make an entertaining if crude/rude performance ~ there is only one version I have seen and heard printed in one of the early EFDSS books

Ray

Subject: RE: Origins: Gossip Joan
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 30 Jul 24 - 02:08 PM

Hi Ray
There's another version in Hudleston Collection in the book. Did you see my emails about including some of our YG songs in our next book in the Marrowbones Series?

Subject: RE: Origins: Gossip Joan
From: r.padgett
Date: 31 Jul 24 - 07:24 AM

I will have a look, Steve

All for updates of the traditional songs. not seen any emails

Ray

Subject: RE: Origins: Gossip Joan
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 31 Jul 24 - 04:06 PM

I'll pm you.

Subject: RE: Origins: Gossip Joan
From: r.padgett
Date: 01 Aug 24 - 08:25 AM

Gossip John does appear (3 verses) in Hudleston collection ~ one "d"

Ray