Origins: Fathom the Bowl

Subject: ADD Version: Fathom the Bowl (Watersons)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 09 Mar 15 - 02:25 PM

Here is Gary Gillard's transcription of the song, from Reinhard's Mainly Norfolk Website:

The Watersons sing Fathom the Bowl

Come all you bold heroes, give an ear to me song;
I will sing in the praise of good brandy and rum:
There's a clear crystal fountain near England shall roll.
Give me the punch ladle, I'll fathom the bowl.

Chorus (after each verse):

I'll fathom the bowl, I'll fathom the bowl,
Give me the punch ladle, I'll fathom the bowl.

From France we do get brandy, from Jamaica comes rum;
Sweet oranges and apples from Portugal come.
But stout and strong cider are England's control.
Give me the punch ladle, I'll fathom the bowl.

My wife she do disturb me when I'm laid at my ease,
For she does as she likes and she says as she please.
My wife she's a devil, she's black as the coal.*
Give me the punch ladle, I'll fathom the bowl.

My father he do lie in the depths of the sea
With no stone at his head by, what matters for he?
There's a clear crystal fountain near England shall roll.
Give me the punch ladle, I'll fathom the bowl.

Transcribed by Garry Gillard.

*Not to get himself in trouble when his wife is singing by his side, Dick Holdstock sings, "My wife, she's an angel, like heaven above." (or, like heaven to hold)

Subject: ADD Version: Fathom the Bowl
From: Joe Offer
Date: 09 Mar 15 - 02:29 PM

This is what was proposed for the upcoming Rise Again songbook. Apparently, it comes from here:

http://www.elyrics.net/read/j/john-c.-reilly-lyrics/fathom-the-bowl-lyrics.html

The John C. Reilly recording is on Johnny Depp's Rogues' Gallery collection of sea songs. I don't have Revels Garland of Song so I can't look it up there.

Fathom the Bowl

Come all ye bold heroes give an ear to me song
We'll sing in the praise of good brandy & rum
It's a clear crystal fountain near Ireland doth roll
Give me the punch ladle, I'll fathom the bowl
I'll fathom the bowl (2x) / Give me…   (in 3/4)
G - - - / D - C G / - - C D / G C D G // G D G D / G C D G
From France we do get brandy, from Jamaica comes rum
Sweet oranges & apples from Portugal come
But stout & strong cider are Ireland's control / Give…

Me wife she do disturb me when I'm laying at my ease
She does as she likes, she says as she please
Me wife, she's the devil, she's black as the coal…

Me father he do lie in the depths of the sea
With no stone at his head, but what matters for he
It's a clear crystal fountain near Ireland doth roll…

So come all ye bold heroes give an ear to me song
We'll sing in the praise of good brandy & rum
It's a clear crystal fountain near Ireland doth roll…
trad. (English)
In Revels Garland of S.

Subject: RE: Origins: Fathom the Bowl
From: Joe Offer
Date: 09 Mar 15 - 02:35 PM

So, my goal is to submit something to the songbook that's reasonably authentic and that makes sense. Jim Dixon's transcription from the broadsides (above) looks good to me, and it seems to work better than the Watersons rendition. I have trouble with the "wife" verse from the broadsides, so I used a verse from David Jones/Revels in that spot. Here's what I came up with. What think ye?

Fathom the Bowl

Come all ye bold heroes give an ear to my song
I'll sing in the praise of good brandy & rum
Let's lift up our glasses, good cheer is our goal
Give me the punch ladle, I'll fathom the bowl
I'll fathom the bowl (2x) / Give me… (in 3/4)
G - - - / D - C G / - - C D / G C D G // G D G D / G C D G

From France we do get brandy, from Jamaica comes rum
Sweet oranges & lemons from Portugal come
But stout, beer, & cider are England's control / Give…

My wife she do disturb me, as I lie at my ease
She does as she likes, she says as she please
My wife, she's a devil, she's black as the coal…

My father he do lie in the depths of the sea
With no stone at his head, but what matters for he?
There's a clear crystal fountain near him it doth roll… [near England do roll???]

trad. (English)
"Punch" (Hindi "paantsch") was originally made with five ingredients: alcohol, sugar, lemon, water, and tea or spices.
In Revels Garland of S. Rec. by the Watersons.

C+jk


I don't like having chords printed with songs that are meant to be sung a cappella, but editor Peter Blood says they help people figure out what the song is supposed to sound like. OK, as long as they put down the guitar before they start singing...

Subject: RE: Origins: Fathom the Bowl
From: Jeri
Date: 09 Mar 15 - 03:26 PM

Joe, I think most people sing the Watersons' version.

Jim Dixon's transcription looks like it uses an unfamiliar (to me) tune. The third line of the third stanza definitely doesn't scan.

Subject: RE: Origins: Fathom the Bowl
From: Joe Offer
Date: 09 Mar 15 - 03:58 PM

Yeah, I couldn't figure out how to make that third verse from the broadsides work, either.

-Joe-

Subject: RE: Origins: Fathom the Bowl
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 09 Mar 15 - 05:57 PM

I've sung the Watersons version since the 60s. I think they got this version from Barrett's English Folksongs.

Subject: RE: Origins: Fathom the Bowl
From: GUEST,Bill S in Adelaide
Date: 09 Mar 15 - 06:19 PM

Got this from somewhere

My father he do lie in the depths of the sea
No stone at his head but what matter to he
Though the sharks have his body, the Lord has his soul
Give....

Other versions sound like they forgot a line

Subject: RE: Origins: Fathom the Bowl
From: GUEST,diplocase
Date: 13 Nov 19 - 02:30 AM

we used to sing "burns like the coal" at the Renaissance Faire, following the singing of Oak, Ash, and Thorn.

Subject: RE: Origins: Fathom the Bowl
From: r.padgett
Date: 13 Nov 19 - 03:04 AM

The song now appears in the New Penguin Book of English Folk Song (EFDSS) 2012

sung by Robert Hard 1888 collected by Sabine Baring - Gould in Devon

Ray

some lyric changes but usual oral tradition will no doubt have been responsible

Subject: RE: Origins: Fathom the Bowl
From: GUEST,Brian Peters
Date: 13 Nov 19 - 08:12 AM

"The song now appears in the New Penguin Book of English Folk Song (EFDSS) 2012... sung by Robert Hard 1888 collected by Sabine Baring - Gould in Devon"

Indeed, Ray, and it's a great version. Jackie Oates used to lead it with our 'Liberty to Choose' band. I like the last verse with its encouragement towards harmony - definitely a good idea right now. It's worth reading Martin Graebe's book about Baring-Gould, which has some interesting stuff on Robert Hard amongst other things.

Liberty to Choose: Fathom the Bowl

Subject: Add: Batter Your Sole (Fathom the Bowl parody)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 06 Feb 23 - 07:02 PM

BATTER YOUR SOLE
(Brian Hooper)

Come all you brave heroes with a hunger that grips
And I'll sing in the praises of fried fish and chips.
There's an English tradition we have to uphold,
Give me the fat ladle, I'll batter your sole.

From France we do get onions, from Jamaica comes cane,
Chop suey from China, paella from Spain;
From Scotland comes haggis, and rich Dundee cake,
Give me the fat ladle, I'll batter your hake.

From Kentucky comes chicken, from Brussels come sprouts,
We get pizza from Portugal, or thereabouts;
When you've eaten that lot, how ill you will feel,
So pass me the aspic, I'll jelly your eel.

My wife, she do disturb me as I'm having my tea,
'Cause she won't put the salt on the table for me;
She says it will make me a grumpy old sod,
Give me the fat ladle, I'll batter your cod.
A rather silly parody on “Fathom The Bowl”. Jeff Henry and I do a version with alternate verses of each song.



http://www.brianhooper.uwclub.net/Batter%20your%20sole.html

Subject: RE: Origins: Fathom the Bowl
From: GUEST,Dick Miles
Date: 09 Feb 23 - 02:56 PM

I think the lyrics are rubbish, good tune
There have been enough casualties on the uk folk scene from too much drink.
And then this twaddle

My wife she do disturb me, as I lie at my ease
She does as she likes, she says as she please
My wife, she's a devil, she's black as the coal…

I love traditional songs, but that one has never inspired me
I would rather sing William Brown for a chorus song.

Subject: RE: Origins: Fathom the Bowl
From: Joe Offer
Date: 09 Feb 23 - 05:48 PM

And here's Brian Hooper's variant of the parody:

BATTER YOUR SOLE
Brian Hooper [& Paul Clarke, vs.3]
tune: Fathom The Bowl

Come all you bold heroes with a hunger that grips,
hear me singing the praises of fried fish and chips.
It’s an ancient tradition we Brits do uphold:
pass me the fat ladle, I’ll batter your sole…

From France we do get onions,
from Jamaica comes cane,
chop suey from China, paella from Spain.
From Scotland there’s haggis and rich Dundee cake.
Pass me the fat ladle, I’ll batter your hake…

We get butter from New Zealand,
from the Argentine, meat.
Our olives are from Italy, or the shop down the street.
Potcheen from Ireland gets you right off your face.
Pass me the fat ladle, I’ll batter your plaice…

There’s chicken from Kentucky
and from Brussels, there’s sprouts,
pizza from Portugal… or thereabouts.
When y ou’ ve eaten that lot, how ill you will feel,
so pass me the aspic, I’ll jelly your eel…

My wife, she do disturb me, as I’m having me tea
’cos she will not put salt on the table for me.
She says it will make me a grumpy old sod.
Pass me the fat ladle, I’ll batter your cod…


Thanks, Paul!!

Subject: ADD: Batter Your Sole (Brian Hooper)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 09 Feb 23 - 05:50 PM

Paul also sent me an early version of the parody that Brian Hooper sent him, with a different treatment of the aspic.

Batter your sole (Hooper/trad)
sometime in the Cats Whiskers period, 1988-92

Come all you brave heroes with a hunger that grips
And I'll sing in the praises of fried fish and chips.
There's an English tradition we have to uphold,
Give me the fat ladle, I'll batter your sole.

From France we do get onions, from Jamaica comes cane,
Chop suey from China, paella from Spain;
From Scotland comes haggis, and rich Dundee cake,
Give me the fat ladle, I'll batter your hake.

From Kentucky comes chicken, from Brussels come sprouts,
We get pizza from Portugal, or thereabouts;
When you've eaten all of that, how ill you will feel,
Give me enough aspic, I'll jelly your eel.

My wife, she do disturb me as I'm having my tea,
'Cause she won't put the salt on the table for me;
She says it will make me a grumpy old sod,
Give me the fat ladle, I'll batter your cod.

Subject: RE: Origins: Fathom the Bowl
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 10 Feb 23 - 03:27 PM

I've always known the clear crystal fountain to roll in the first verse but in the dead dad one it is

My Father he does lie on the bed of the sea
No stone for his head but what matter to he
He's a true English mariner so God rest his soul
Give me the punch ladle etc...

Makes sense to me anyway.

Subject: RE: Origins: Fathom the Bowl
From: danleighton
Date: 26 Nov 24 - 11:33 AM

Nice to come back to a thread I started almost exactly a quarter of a century ago. And only a couple of months after being married I note... (Yes, we still are!)

We still sing this, exactly as we sung it then. With absolutely no changes whatsoever