Lyr Req: Castle by the Sea (Lena Bourne Fish)

Subject: Lyr Req: Lyrics: Castle by the sea Lena B Fish
From: GUEST,Lynn Koch
Date: 22 Sep 07 - 06:20 PM

Hello all. It's been awhile.

I'm working on a project through Traditional Arts of Upstate New York (TAUNY) to make traditional songs and tunes of the Adirondacks available in notation through the TAUNY website. I'm transcribing songs from field recordings, and I'm having trouble with Lena Bourne Fish's song "Castle by the Sea," in particular the third line of the first verse. Can anybody help with this? Thanks.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lyrics: Castle by the sea Lena B Fish
From: Peace
Date: 22 Sep 07 - 06:41 PM

Is there somewhere it can be heard? Mp3, video, etc?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lyrics: Castle by the sea Lena B Fish
From: Peace
Date: 22 Sep 07 - 06:48 PM

In the event that's not possible, could you please post some lyrics?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lyrics: Castle by the sea Lena B Fish
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 22 Sep 07 - 06:48 PM

Of course you already know the transcriptions made by Marguerite Olney and Anne & Frank Warner (both from recordings made in 1940), which both give that line as

And we will dwell in a sylvan bower

Whose recording are you working from? Which parts of the line differ?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lyrics: Castle by the sea Lena B Fish
From: GUEST,Lynn Koch
Date: 22 Sep 07 - 07:11 PM

Malcolm - Thanks. I guess my brain stalled when I was scanning the table of contents and didn't see the title in Warner. Yes, it's there, plain as can be. Thanks for the help.

Lynn

Subject: ADD: Castle by the Sea (Lena Bourne Fish)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 22 Sep 07 - 11:07 PM

The Castle by the Sea
^^
Arise, O arise, my lady fair,
For you my bride shall be,
And we will dwell in a sylvan bower
In my castle by the sea.

And bring along your marriage fee,
Which you can claim today,
And also take your swiftest steeds,
The milk white and the grey.

The lady mounted her white steed,
He rode the turban grey.
They took the path by the wild sea shore,
Or so I've heard them say.

As she saw the walls of the castle high
That looked so black and cold,
She wished she'd remained in Boston town
With her ten thousand pounds in gold.

He halted by the wild sea shore,
"My bride you shall never be!
For six fair maidens I have drowned here,
The seventh you shall be."

"Take off, take off, your scarlet robes,
And lay them down by me.
They are too rich and too costly
To rot in the briny sea."

"Then turn your face to the water's side,
And your back to yonder tree.
For it is a disgrace for any man
An unclothed woman to see."

He turned his face to the water's side,
And his back to the lofty tree.
The lady took him in her arms,
And flung him into the sea.

"Lie there, lie there, you false young man,
And drown in place of me.
If six fair maidens you drowned here,
Go keep them company."

She then did mount her milk white steed,
And led the turban grey,
And rode until she came to Boston town
Two hours before it was day.

Singer: Lena Bourne Fish, 1940
source: Traditional American Folk Songs from the Frank and Anne Warner Collection, Anne Warner, 1984
Child #4

tune available on request

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Castle by the Sea (Lena Bourne Fish)
From: Peace
Date: 22 Sep 07 - 11:26 PM

Malcolm and Joe: bravo!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Castle by the Sea (Lena Bourne Fish)
From: Susan of DT
Date: 23 Sep 07 - 07:04 AM

There is a folktrax CD of Lena Bourne Fish, collected by the Warners, produced by Peter Kennedy, available from CAMSCO, which contains fragments of 81 songs. The Warners usually recorded only a verse or two and wrote down the words for the rest. So it is not great listening, but if you have the Warner book (out of print) and the CD, you can hear the tune and read the words.

By the way, there are STILL several places on Mudcat that are still showing Dick's old address or email. The website is now CAMSCO Music , the e-mail is [e-mail] and the address is Dick Greenhaus; CAMSCO Music; 145 Hickory Corner Road; East Windsor, NJ 08520 (USA)