Lyr Req/Add: If I Had a Ribbon Bow

Subject: RE: Req/ADD: If I Had a Ribbon Bow
From: peregrina
Date: 16 Jun 09 - 03:31 AM

I have found 'lawin' in a Burns poem to mean doing business (lost the exact reference), so lawin and louin are different words; contrary to my post above, I think that is the meaning here.

Subject: RE: Req/ADD: If I Had a Ribbon Bow
From: Smedley
Date: 16 Jun 09 - 04:11 AM

There is another, excellent version that I don't think anyone has mentioned yet - by Doris Henderson & John Renbourn. Before he formed Pentangle, John R made an album (or was it two?) with an American singer, Doris H, who was resident in London in the mid 1960s. It (just) predates) the first Fairport recordings, so I don't know if they'd heard it - Rembourn was an influential figure in that milieu.

Subject: RE: Req/ADD: If I Had a Ribbon Bow
From: Judy Dyble
Date: 16 Jun 09 - 07:07 AM

Hi Smedley
The answer is that we (Fairport)first heard the version of the song as recorded by Maxine Sullivan. I certainly wasn't aware that Doris and John had recorded a version of it at all, in fact I doubt any of us heard it, so it probably would not have had any influence on us.

Judy

Subject: RE: Req/ADD: If I Had a Ribbon Bow
From: peregrina
Date: 16 Jun 09 - 07:45 AM

Judy,
I am curious, when you sing it, do you have to resolve (in your mind at least) the lexical uncertainties, or does the feeling of the whole song mean that singer and audience don't need complete clarity of meaning for some of those dialect phrases?

By the way, this question doesn't imply any kind of criticism or judgement, just sincere curiosity --which is informed by a great appreciation for the way even singing in an entirely foreign language can be powerful and moving.

thanks.

Subject: RE: Req/ADD: If I Had a Ribbon Bow
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 16 Jun 09 - 09:00 AM

If an archaic word interferes with understanding and enjoyment, then the first thing I do is change it. If I can't, I explain it. Briefly.

For example, in 'Banks and Braes of Bonnie Doone,' I change 'ilka' to 'every.' I figure that if Bobbie Burns came to my house, I wouldn't force him to talk like me. Therefore, I should not be forced to talk like Bobbie Burns. It's fair.

Subject: RE: Req/ADD: If I Had a Ribbon Bow
From: Judy Dyble
Date: 16 Jun 09 - 10:34 AM

Umm well remember that the version of Ribbon Bow was taken from a jazzy version of the song, not the traditional version so your question doesn't really apply to my version. And also remember that Fairport didn't get into the whole traditional thing till way after my departure, in fact two albums later, when Sandy was the only lead singer and her love of traditional music began to be part of Fairport's move in that direction.

Judy

Subject: RE: Req/ADD: If I Had a Ribbon Bow
From: GUEST,Bob Coltman
Date: 16 Jun 09 - 03:01 PM

Peregrina above is right. The somewhat archaic "lawing" means transacting business, in which legal contracts usually figure.

In Niles' song "all the lawin'" went to Frankfort because that's where business, commerce, etc. were done. It also suggests to a country person the kind of people they noticed doing urban business and commerce: sharpsters, "fine gentlemen" and tradesmen. Men togged out and trading, and cheating where they could. Faulkner's townsmen would be a good example.

On the other hand, in the song "Jim Gunter and the Steer" as sung by Obray Ramsey is the phrase

"They lawed Jim Gunter and they brought him to trial ..."

(The crime in question was shooting a steer that Gunter falsely claimed he thought was a deer.)

In this case the lawin'clearly involves either a subpoena or an arrest warrant. And most certainly a suit—they "took him to court."

So "lawin'" can also cover court business, involving law enforcement officials. In the oldtime southern towns the courthouse was the focus of all interest, men hanging around jawing, chawing, and waiting for the latest verdict. It was the biggest thing going on, on Court Day.

In sum, lawin' refers generally to the main business of towns and cities: buying, selling, and disputing the results at law, as well as occasional shady doings.

That could look pretty sophisticated and incomprehensible from the viewpoint of a country person who either hadn't been there, or saw it only from the outside, and was in awe of all those "important folks" and their doings. I think that's the sense meant in "Ribbon Bow."

Bob

Subject: RE: Req/ADD: If I Had a Ribbon Bow
From: peregrina
Date: 16 Jun 09 - 03:08 PM

Bob, thanks so much for that--I had been wondering for a long time. And your Southern example is so much more persuasive than Burns (though I think Scots' emigration to the Appalachians does make the latter relevant).

Subject: RE: Req/ADD: If I Had a Ribbon Bow
From: GUEST,Jason
Date: 17 Jul 09 - 03:44 PM

My children love the Fairport version. Anyone know how to play it on guitar? Yes, I know RT does... Anyone got the chords?

Subject: RE: Req/ADD: If I Had a Ribbon Bow
From: GUEST,miguel
Date: 01 Jun 10 - 06:54 PM

does any one know the chords to this song the version i have heard is the karen dalton one

Subject: Chords Add: IF I HAD A RIBBON BOW (from Fariport..
From: GUEST,Dirk-Jan
Date: 15 Oct 10 - 07:02 AM

Finally someone posts the chords... It's been a little exercition. One of the first songs I've tried to decipher the chords from, after having used lots of transcriptions from the internet.

Especially welcome are suggestions: dirkjan80[at]gmail[dot]com
Or you could post them in the thread.
It messes with the chord positions in the preview, but I've managed the best I can.
Good luck and please let me know.

Fairport Convention – If I had a Ribbon Bow

Intro:   A   D#   G#   D | D#   A   C#   B-Am

Am         D                     Am    D
If I had a ribbon bow to tie my hair
Am                   D            Am                D
And a gown of calico for me to wear
    Bm             E                   Bm                      E
I'd surely get a sweetheart a prince or a king
    Am                           Bm                              E
A palace home where I could have anything

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

          A    D    E
All the live long day
          E          A
to the Lord above me
       A D E
All I do is pray
       E                (F)
For someone to love me

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

A   G   F   A# | A   G   F   A#

Am                   D                Am               D                        
There's a story long ago, a story seldom told
Bm                      E                              Bm             E
What she wanted from this world was not a gentle gold
       C                                                    E
Her wishes were quite plain as you will see
       F                                                    E
How often she would simply make this plea

          A    D    E                E         A
All the live long day, to the Lord above me
       A D E            E                F
All I do is pray, for someone to love me

A#       D#                   A#          D#                (=> Modulation)
If I had ribbon bow all nice and clean
A#               D#                  A#               D#
I could be a princess or a fairy queen
            C                               F                   C                     F
Prince Charming then would court me, his love he would swear
A#          C                  A#         C         A#             C                   A#         C
If I had a ribbon bow,                      a pretty little ribbon bow
            A#                              C                   A#                  C
Prince Charming then would court me, his love he would swear
A#(m)
If I had a ribbon bow to tie my hair

End:   A#   D#   F   A#

Subject: Lyr Add: IF I HAD A RIBBON BOW (from Ane Brun)
From: GUEST
Date: 10 Jun 13 - 10:35 AM

From hearing Ane Brun cover, that's what she sings:


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

If I had a ribbon bow to bind my hair,
If I had a fancy sash, my love would think me fair.
If I was like city girls, and fair with smart
Not a lad in all these parts would know my heart.

And then I'd live in Frankfurt, where all the lovin' goes,
I'd lark about them settlements a-wearin' foreign clothes.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TR77wTfICeY

Greetings,
Javi Dark

Subject: Lyr Add: IF I HAD A RIBBON BOW (from M Sullivan)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 14 Jun 13 - 01:27 PM

I have listened carefully to the song performed by Maxine Sullivan, whose recording was the source for Fairport Convention, and I have found several words that are different from Fairport's—or at least, different from the way some people have heard (or misheard) Fairport's version, which is obscure at some points. Sullivan's version is quite clear.

I'm about 80% sure that Sullivan sings "All I'd do is pray" rather than "All I do is pray"—and that makes more sense to me, since it is consistent with the previous verse; she is describing what she would do if she had a ribbon bow.


IF I HAD A RIBBON BOW
As sung by Maxine Sullivan

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

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.

All the livelong day, to the Lord above me,
All I'd 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 my hair.

Here'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,
For often she would simply make this plea:

All the livelong day, to the Lord above me,
All I'd 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,
A pretty little ribbon bow.
Prince Charming then would court me; his love he would swear,
If I had a ribbon bow to tie my hair.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req/Add: If I Had a Ribbon Bow
From: GUEST
Date: 11 Dec 16 - 11:09 PM

Could someone put the chords up for Odetta or Karen Dalton's version? Please

Subject: RE: Lyr Req/Add: If I Had a Ribbon Bow
From: GUEST,Henry Johnston
Date: 16 Feb 20 - 12:53 AM

This song has been released by Hal Leonard in digital form in many places now. If you look up Ribbon Bow by John Jacob Niles, you're sure to find it.