Origin: Long Time Ago/Hoosen Johnny/Sam Houston

Subject: Lyr/Tune Add: A LONG TIME AGO (chantey)
From: GUEST,T in Oklahoma (Okiemockbird)
Date: 21 Feb 00 - 06:22 PM

vissjoy's is probably the one you want, but this seems to be a good place to put this sea chantey (which doesn't seem to be in the DT.)

A Long Time Ago
(Long drag shanty)
From:Stanton H. King, King's Book of Chanties, Oliver Ditson, Boston, 1918, p. 1.

A dollar a day is a stevedore's pay
To me way ha ha yah!
a dollar a day, I heard them say,
And a long time ago.

I bought in Hong Kong a pretty silk dress,
To me way ha ha yah!
I'm taking it home to my sweetheard Bess,
And a long time ago.

My Bess is fair and sweet to view,
To me way ha ha yah!
her hair is brown and her eyes are blue,
And a long time ago.

I thought I heard our second mate say,
To me way ha ha yah!
one more pull, and then belay,
And a long time ago.

X:1
T:A Long Time Ago
C:Long drag shanty--from:Stanton H. King, King's Book of Chanties, Oliver Ditson, Boston, 1918, p. 1.
M:6/8
K:G
L:1/8
"Solo"D | G3 A G F | G> A G F "Chorus" E D | G3 A3 | B3 D3 |
"Solo"B | c3 d B G | A G A B "Chorus" c c | B3 A2 A | G6 ||

T.

Subject: Lyr Add: LONG TIME AGO
From:
Date: 01 May 99 - 09:28 PM

On the lake where drooped the willow, Long time ago,
Where the rock threw back the billow, Brighter than snow.
Dwelt a maid beloved and cherished, By high and low,
But with autumn leaf she perished, Long time ago.

Rock and tree and flowing water Long time ago,
Bird and bee and blossom taught her Love's spell to know.
While to my fond words she listened Murmuring low,
Tenderly her blue eyes glistened, Long time ago.

From a sheet music published by Boosey and Hawkes (1950)
It says "arranged by Aaron Copland".

Subject: RE: 'Long Time Ago'
From: Joe Offer
Date: 01 May 99 - 03:34 AM

You have me stumped, Nik. The one folk song I know of that Copland used was the Shaker hymn Simple Gifts. I heard recently that Copland used the fiddle tune Bonaparte's Retreat in a symphonic piece, and I'm frustrated because I don't know which Copland piece has that song. Can anybody enlighten us on these two pieces?

Another folk song used in a symphonic piece was the spiritual Goin' Home used by Dvorak in the "New World" Symphony. Ralph Vaughan Williams used folk songs in many of his compositions, most notably his "Greensleeves" suite. I think he also did a "Folk Song Suite," but I can't think of any of the songs in that piece.
-Joe Offer-

P.S. Note the spelling of Copland's name. I didn't know the spelling until I looked it up just now.

Subject: 'Long Time Ago'
From:
Date: 01 May 99 - 02:11 AM

Gretings from Port Townsend Washington.

Aaron Copeland took a traditional American folk song, telling a typical sad story, and arranged it for choruses.

The title is "Long Time Ago," and the tune is very beautiful - has sort of a Stephen Foster sound to it. Not in Mud Data Base.

I'm trying to track down the genesis of the tune and/or the story - did it come out of the Appalacian tradition; does it tell the specific story of one identifiable person? Or anything else we can find out... Thanks, Nik Lauer