Lyr Req/Add: If I Had a Ribbon Bow

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: If I Had a Ribbon Bow
From: GUEST,Judy Dyble
Date: 05 Oct 07 - 02:53 AM

"PS. I wouldn't be surprised if the Fairports made their version up. Inspired by a wisp of something someone overheard ..."

Ummm. No. We didn't make it up. I said we transcribed it from a Maxine Sullivan LP. I can't remember which one, it was in Joe Boyd's record collection and it was 40 years ago.

The song you're all looking for is obviously a very different one to the one I sang.

Tra la

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: If I Had a Ribbon Bow
From: balladeer
Date: 05 Oct 07 - 12:17 AM

Ooh, I just remembered another snippet (I haven't thought about this song since sometime in the seventies - now it's rushing back - thanks thread beginner.) The last two lines of the second verse are:

Then I would go to Frankfurt where all the loggin' goes
I'd hang around the settlements a-wearin' (fancy? foreign?) clothes

Please, someone try to find those missing lines. I'm gonna lose sleep over this ....

PS. to guest who wants to record this anew. 1930 is not too old to be protected by copyright.

Balladeer

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: If I Had a Ribbon Bow
From: balladeer
Date: 04 Oct 07 - 11:46 PM

In the version I sang in 1962, (which I learned from I don't remember who - we all just rolled around in one big melting pot in those days - it certainly could have been from John Jacob Niles -I'm hearing his voice singing it in my head right now, but maybe it's an aural hallucination ...) Any way, in my version the line is, "He would go to Frankfurt, A-LOGGIN' on the rise ..." and there are no red shoes in any version I ever heard anyone sing. The last verse goes:

If I were like city girls, all fair and smart
Not a lad in all these parts would know my heart
My red heels would go flashing where e'er my fancy should
My love would see and wish that he had taken me when he could

Balladeer

PS. I wouldn't be surprised if the Fairports made their version up. Inspired by a wisp of something someone overheard ...

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: If I Had a Ribbon Bow
From: Art Thieme
Date: 04 Oct 07 - 07:09 PM

The Mildred Bailey rendition of this song   was done with a big band led by CHARLIE MINGUS if my memory is correct. It's a great record; one of my favorites!

Art Thieme

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: If I Had a Ribbon Bow
From: GUEST
Date: 04 Oct 07 - 11:19 AM

Thanks for all the information, I really appreciate it. A band on our label heard Karen Dalton's version and decided to record the song and we are trying to figure out who the actual rights holders are. or is it public domain, chances are it is since the song dates back from the 30's!

K from Lil People records

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: If I Had a Ribbon Bow
From: Peace
Date: 04 Oct 07 - 10:52 AM

Maxine Sullivan also went by the name, Marietta Williams.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: If I Had a Ribbon Bow
From: Peace
Date: 04 Oct 07 - 10:42 AM

"Fairport Convention's first single, "If I Had a Ribbon Bow," was released in 1967; it had been recorded previously by Maxine Sullivan in 1936. "

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: If I Had a Ribbon Bow
From: GUEST,Guest, Judy Dyble
Date: 04 Oct 07 - 10:41 AM

The missing lyrics from Martin Jonas' post are:

If I had a ribbon bow to tie my hair
This old world could come and go I wouldn't care
I'd stay up in my castle and I'd always wear
A ribbon bow so fine to tie my hair.


There's a story of a girl, a story seldom told
What she wanted from this world was not of gems or gold
Her wishes were quite plain as you will see
How often she would simply make this plea.

(And in all cases just 'tie my hair')

At least that's how I transcribed it from Maxine Sullivan's version which was written by Prince/Singer. I don't think it's in the public domain yet. But I could be wrong....
Hope this helps

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: If I Had a Ribbon Bow
From: Peace
Date: 04 Oct 07 - 10:40 AM

It has been attributed to Fairport Convention near 1968, but as you can see the recordings of it by Hester and Odetta predate that. If indeed it's the same song, it was an arrangement that was copyrighted.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: If I Had a Ribbon Bow
From: GUEST,Peace
Date: 04 Oct 07 - 10:35 AM

If I Had a Ribbon Bow - Prince, Hughie/Singer, Lou

Hester, Carolyn. Caroline Hester, Tradition TLP 1043, LP (1961), trk# B.04

Odetta. Odetta Sings Ballads and Blues, Tradition TLP 1010/TCD 1, CD (1996/1956), trk# 2

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: If I Had a Ribbon Bow
From: GUEST
Date: 04 Oct 07 - 08:35 AM

I know this song is definitely by Huey Prince and Louis C Singer. Can anyone tell me whether it is in the public domain

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: If I Had a Ribbon Bow
From: GUEST
Date: 10 Sep 01 - 04:07 AM

I was looking for "Ribbon Bow" and came across this old thread. I heard Carolyn Hester's version back in 1961, and I could have sworn she sang:

If I had a ribbon bow to tie my hair
If I had a fancy sash, my own true love would think me fair
Then he'd go to Frankfort, a-lawin' on the rise;
He'd bring me back with his own hands a very pretty prize

If I had (a pair of shoes?) so fair and smart,
Ne'er a lad in all these parts would know my heart.
My red heels would go flashin' where e'er my fancy should (shewed?),
My love would see and wish that he had taken me when he could.

If I had a ribbon bow to tie my hair
If I had a fancy sash so fair.
If I had a ribbon bow .....

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: If I Had a Ribbon Bow
From: Martin Jonas
Date: 01 May 99 - 06:07 AM

"If I Had A Ribbon Bow" was the first single released by Fairport Convention in 1967 -- recorded a few months before their first album. As far as I know, it's originally a 30s pop song and it's credited to "Prince/Singer". The lyrics of this song are quite different from the ones listed above and I have no idea which one of the two songs was recorded by Odetta. ^^ Fairport's lyrics are:

If I had a ribbon bow to tie in my hair
And a gown of calico for me to wear
I'd surely get a sweetheart, a prince or a king
A palace home where I could have everything.

If I had a ribbon bow to tie in my hair
(... ?) I wouldn't care
I'd stay up in my castle (... ?)
A ribbon bow so fine to tie in my hair.

All the livlong day, to the lord above me
All I do is pray, for someone to love me.

If I had a ribbon bow, all nice and clean
I could be a princess or a fairy queen
Prince Charming then would court me, his love he would swear
If I had a ribbon bow to tie in my hair.

There's a story long ago, a story seldom told
What she wanted from this world (... ?)
Her wishes were quite plain as you will see
How often she would simply make this plea.

All the livlong day, to the lord above me
All I do is pray, for someone to love me.

If I had a ribbon bow, all nice and clean
I could be a princess or a fairy queen
Prince Charming then would court me, his love he would swear
If I had a ribbon bow to tie in my hair.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: If I Had a Ribbon Bow
From: JB3
Date: 26 Apr 99 - 03:37 AM

^^
RIBBON BOW

If I had a ribbon bow to tie my hair
If I had a fancy sash, my own true love would think me fair
And he'd go down to Asheville, a-loggin' on the rise
And bring me back with his two hands a very pretty prize

If I had a pair of shoes so bright and smart
Not a boy in all these parts would know my heart
My red heels would go flashin' where e'er my fancy would
My love would see and wish that he had taken me, when he could

If I had a ribbon bow to tie my hair
If I had a fancy sash so fair.

My parents had a '78 of Susan Reid that they bought back in the early 50's with this song on it. Hope it's close to the version you're looking for. Never heard that JJ Niles had anything to do with it.

June

Subject: Ribbon Bow
From: A Friend
Date: 24 Apr 99 - 01:07 PM

Looking for words/background of "If I Had a Ribbon Bow," recorded by Odetta in the 60s and by Karen Dalton a bit later (it's on a Koch CD reissue). Someone told me the song is by John Jacob Niles. Verdad?