Lyr Req: Jone's Ale + Ramblings of Spring

Subject: Jones' Ale and Ramblings of Spring
From: RedFez (inactive)
Date: 27 Apr 99 - 04:24 PM

The DigiTrad database lists several versions of When Jones' Ale Was New, but I am looking for yet another that I heard growing up. In this version, there are five tradesmen, a soldier, a roving man, a tinker, a ragman, and..one more, I can't remember. The chorus has a line about "The landlord's daughter she came in, and we kissed her rosy cheeks again, and we all sat down and then we sing, 'When Jones' ale was new'..." If anyone has the lyrics to this verion, I would appreciate getting a copy of them at [e-mail].

Likewise, the Digital Tradition does not have the song Ramblings of Spring...if anyone has a copy of the lyrics to this song, I would also very much appreciate having them sent to the above e-mail address. Also, I would recommend submitting it to the database.

Subject: RE: Jone's Ale and Ramblings of Spring
From: Mr Happy
Date: 29 Jan 10 - 07:02 AM

In Jones Ale 2 here,@displaysong.cfm?SongID=3305 there's a reference to 'Tankers asses'

Anyone know what this means?

Subject: RE: Jone's Ale and Ramblings of Spring
From: Fred McCormick
Date: 29 Jan 10 - 07:55 AM

Red Fez, This sounds very like a version which appeared on Rounder 18964-1519-2. American Sea Songs and Shanties. When Jones's Ale Was New, collected in 1941 in Washington, D.C. by John Lomax and sung by John M (Sailor Dad) Hunt. I'll dig the words out after lunch and post them.

Mr Happy. A tankers ass is pretty obviously an ass belonging to a tinker, complete with typographical error.

Subject: RE: Jone's Ale and Ramblings of Spring
From: Mr Happy
Date: 29 Jan 10 - 08:00 AM

Fred,

Thanks, perh. also a typo for 'Tinker's cuss'??

Subject: Lyr Add: WHEN JONES'S ALE WAS NEW (from John Lomax
From: Fred McCormick
Date: 29 Jan 10 - 09:39 AM

Here's the words I said I'd dig out earlier, complete with booklet headnote. I'll send a separate copy to Red Fez.

When Jones's Ale Was New. AFS 4436 Bi. Sung by John M. (Sailor Dad) Hunt of Marion, Virginia. Recorded at Washington, D. C., 1941, by John A. Lomax.

THIS FORECASTLE SONG was sung by sailors for entertainment only, either at sea or, more happily, when ashore with a mug of beer and a good crew around a tavern table. Originally a traditional shore song, it had no stanza relating to the sailor, but this oversight was immediately taken care of as soon as it moved to sea. Doerflinger cites a specific instance of its transfer from shore to sea as occurring in 1892, although his reference also indicates that it may have been earlier. "To splice the main brace" is, on ship, to pass out the ration of grog, or, on shore and more generally, simply to drink. In 1941, this song was sung by "Sailor Dad" for President Roosevelt at an entertainment at the White House.

There was six jovial tradesmen,
they all sat down to drinking,
For they were jolly good fellows,
And enjoyed their drinking, too.
They sat themselves down to be merry,
for everyone was gay and jolly,
"You're welcome as the hills," says Molly,
When Jones's ale was new, my boys,
when Jones's ale was new;
When the landlord's daughter she came in,
and we kissed those rosy cheeks again,
We all sat down and then we'd sing,
When Jones's ale was new, my boys,
when Jones's ale was new.

Now the first to come in was a soldier,
with his knapsack over his shoulder,
For none could be more bolder, and
his long broadsword he drew;
He swore every man should spend a pound,
and they should treat all hands around,
And he jolly well drank their healths all 'round,
When Jones's ale was new ...

Now the next to come in was a sailor,
with his marlinspike and his sheaver,
For none could be more clever among this jovial crew;
He called the landlord into the place,
and said it was time to splice the main brace,
And if he didn't he'd wreck the place,
When Jones's ale was new ...

Now the next to come in was a tinker,
and he was a jolly beer-drinker,
And he was a jolly a beer-drinker
among this jovial crew;
He mended pots, he mended kettles,
his tinker's tools were made of good metals,
Good lord, how his hammer and nails would rattle,
When Jones's ale was new ...

The next to come in was a roaming man,
who ground the farmer's wheat at the old mill dam,
Who could drink more beer than Joe McCann,
who was one of the jovial crew;
He would whistle and sing the whole day long,
and always singing a merry old song,
And at night he'd join this jovial throng,
When Jones's ale was new ...

Now the last to come in was a ragman,
with his ragbag over his shoulder,
And none could be more bolder
among this jovial crew;
They called for pots, they called for glasses,
they all got drunk like old jackasses,
And they burnt the old ragman's bag to ashes,
When Jones's ale was new, my boys,
when Jones's ale was new;
Then the landlord's daughter she came in,
and we kissed those rosy cheeks again,
We all sat down and then we'd sing
When Jones's ale was new, my boys,
when Jones's ale was new.

Subject: RE: Jone's Ale and Ramblings of Spring
From: Michael Harrison
Date: 29 Jan 10 - 11:19 AM

I believe that "Rambles Of Spring" is a Tommy Makem song and you'll find the lyrics on his website, which may have been taken over by the Makem/Spain Brothers and their website - easy to find, though. Great song, by the way. Cheers,..........................harrison

Subject: RE: Jone's Ale and Ramblings of Spring
From: kendall
Date: 29 Jan 10 - 11:46 AM

If you don't find it let me know and I'll post the lyrics. I used to start some of my performances with that one.

Subject: RE: Jone's Ale and Ramblings of Spring
From: GUEST,TJ in San Diego
Date: 29 Jan 10 - 03:43 PM

Oscar Brand did a version of "When Johnson's Ale Was New" on an LP album called "Rollicking Sea Shanties." I still have it somewhere.