Lyr Req: The Bold Belfast Shoemaker

Subject: Rambling Royal?
From: Martin _Ryan
Date: 30 May 99 - 02:27 PM

The "Bold Belfast Shoemaker" (in the DT) is related to a song which starts "I am a rambling Royal .." (as in Royal Marine, as far as I know). Anyone have a set of words please?

Regards

Subject: RE: Rambling Royal?
From: Cliff A
Date: 30 May 99 - 04:48 PM

Try a book called "The Cruel Wars". Also, Roy Palmer has written several books with words & music to many British military songs. No luck? Send me a message & i'll search my archive.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Bold Belfast Shoemaker
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 13 Jan 11 - 10:30 AM

There are 2 copies in the DT. I haven't compared them.

BOLD BELFAST SHOEMAKER

THE BOLD BELFAST SHOEMAKER

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Bold Belfast Shoemaker
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 13 Jan 11 - 05:32 PM

The following titles all come under Roud 982. I haven't had time yet to do an in-depth study but they are all certainly related.
James Ervin/Irvine/ Bold (James) Irving Laws J15
The (Bold) Belfast Shoemaker, various broadsides
The Deserter in Greig-Duncan
Rambling Shoemaker...Nova Scotia
The Rambling Royal...again broadsides and various collections.

There are however significant differences between some of these. I'll have a closer look at them all when I get time.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Bold Belfast Shoemaker
From: MartinRyan
Date: 13 Jan 11 - 05:41 PM

Thanks Steve (and Jim). I did in fact locate a version of the "Rambling Royal" version at the time - but would be interested to see the comparisons.

Regards

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Bold Belfast Shoemaker
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 13 Jan 11 - 06:23 PM

Several versions of Bold Belfast Shoemaker on Bodleian website.
Such, London printing, 1860s 5 stanzas at Harding B11(3407)
Jennings of London, c1820, 9 double stanzas at 2806 c 18 (24)
Harkness of Preston, 1860s 9 again, at 2806 c 15(252)
Glasgow Poet's Box has Bold James Irvine, 1857, 8 double stanzas, at Firth c 14(130)

The Rambling Royal was also printed on a broadside at Liverpool but they haven't got this at the Bodl.

There are several older printings in garlands from c1800 in Scotland by the likes of Robertson of Glasgow. Randall of Stirling printed c1800 a 16 verse version.