Lyr Req: Sweet Thyme

Subject: Lyr Req: Sweet Thyme
From: Barbara
Date: 03 Jul 99 - 09:45 PM

This one names the seasons -- in spring I lost my love, gained her back in the fall, and I can't understand the verse about winter. The chorus goes:

Thyme, sweet thyme,
The parsley and the thyme
The rosemary and the willow tree
Around my heart entwine.

Dave Webber sings it, and I have heard Dick Holdstock do it too. Can you tell me any history of this version? I presume it's from northern England.
Blessings,
Barbara

Subject: Lyr Add: SWEET THYME
From: Jeri
Date: 03 Jul 99 - 10:29 PM

You mean this one? I'd do a "LYR ADD," but I'm willing to bet it was written by Dave Webber and I'd rather not post it unless I can properly attibute it. Anyone know?

Sweet Thyme

In the springtime of the year
I loved and lost my dear
For love grows wild when the weather it is mild
As you will quickly hear

Chorus: Sweet thyme, sweet thyme
The parsley and the thyme
The rosemary and the willow tree
Around my heart entwine

Then in comes sweet July
When the nightingales do fly
And lovers play all in the hay
As the pale moon fills the sky

But when autumn's golden grain
Is gathered in again
And the turning year will bring my dear
And an end to all my pain

But in winter's cloak of gray
I'll find my love today
Oh, and I'll not wait till summer's at the gate
Away false love, awa
^^

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sweet Thyme
From: Barbara
Date: 03 Jul 99 - 11:57 PM

That's it Jeri, and I just looked at my tape jacket, where it attributes the song to Pete Mundy. I could have sworn it was parsley, tho, not holly. I'll go put it on again. And if that's really what the last verse says, I just gotta say, Huh? I don't get why he's both asking his love in and turning her away as false.
The jacket says: "Words and tune Pete Mundy. Charley sang this song with Ian Woods for several years before we started doing it. We all felt it a shame not to continue to sing such a fine chorus."
I'll go listen again.
And they're right, it is a gorgeous tune and chorus.
Blessings, Barbara

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sweet Thyme
From: Jeri
Date: 04 Jul 99 - 10:47 AM

I transcribed the song several years ago from a friend's Beggar's Velvet tape. I don't own the tape, so I can't verify whether I made any mistakes other than a bunch of typos. So I might be right and Beggar's Velvet actually sings "holly," or I might have transcribed incorrectly.
Change they lyrics I (Jeri) posted to "parsley".

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sweet Thyme
From: Barbara
Date: 04 Jul 99 - 11:23 AM

I have the Beggars Velvet Tape, Jeri. I love Dave Webber and Annie Fentiman's harmonies and that whole chorus of friends, but between the mass of voices and the north country accents, I have a devil of a time making out the words. (And figuring out which line is the melody).
Thanks for your transcription.
Blessings,
Barbara

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sweet Thyme
From: Wally Macnow
Date: 04 Jul 99 - 01:29 PM

Here are the other tracks on Lady of Autumn
.

Lady of Autumn ~ Oak and Ash and Thorn ~ Blackbird ~ Sweet Thyme ~ Dropping Time ~ May Song ~ Westlin' Winds ~ Watch and Chain ~ Blessed Quietness ~ Flanders ~ Our Jack ~ Rolling Home
"Blessed Quietness" came from Lucy Simpson's singing on Folk Legacy's "A Golden Ring of Gospel Music"

Subject: Tune Add: SWEET THYME
From: Barbara
Date: 04 Jul 99 - 03:50 PM

Here's the melody, or maybe some melody + some harmony; if anyone knows, I'd love to hear.
Blessings,
Barbara

MIDI file: sweetym.mid

Timebase: 240

TimeSig: 4/4 24 8
Tempo: 100 (600000 microsec/crotchet)
Start
0720 1 62 080 0096 0 62 064 0024 1 60 080 0096 0 60 064 0024 1 59 080 0192 0 59 064 0048 1 62 080 0192 0 62 064 0048 1 67 080 0288 0 67 064 0072 1 69 080 0096 0 69 064 0024 1 67 080 0384 0 67 064 0336 1 71 080 0096 0 71 064 0024 1 69 080 0096 0 69 064 0024 1 67 080 0192 0 67 064 0048 1 67 080 0192 0 67 064 0048 1 67 080 0288 0 67 064 0072 1 66 080 0096 0 66 064 0024 1 64 080 0576 0 64 064 0144 1 62 080 0096 0 62 064 0024 1 60 080 0096 0 60 064 0024 1 59 080 0192 0 59 064 0048 1 62 080 0192 0 62 064 0048 1 67 080 0192 0 67 064 0048 1 67 080 0096 0 67 064 0024 1 71 080 0096 0 71 064 0024 1 69 080 0000 1 69 080 0096 0 69 064 0000 0 69 064 0024 1 67 080 0000 1 67 080 0096 0 67 064 0000 0 67 064 0024 1 66 080 0000 1 66 080 0096 0 66 064 0000 0 66 064 0024 1 67 080 0096 0 67 064 0024 1 69 080 0288 0 69 064 0072 1 72 080 0096 0 72 064 0024 1 71 080 0096 0 71 064 0024 1 69 080 0096 0 69 064 0024 1 67 080 0192 0 67 064 0048 1 69 080 0192 0 69 064 0048 1 66 080 0192 0 66 064 0048 1 67 080 0576 0 67 064 0144 1 69 080 0192 0 69 064 0048 1 71 080 0576 0 71 064 0144 1 74 080 0192 0 74 064 0048 1 69 080 0576 0 69 064 0144 1 71 080 0096 0 71 064 0024 1 69 080 0096 0 69 064 0024 1 67 080 0288 0 67 064 0072 1 69 080 0096 0 69 064 0024 1 67 080 0192 0 67 064 0048 1 64 080 0192 0 64 064 0048 1 62 080 0192 0 62 064 0048 1 64 080 0192 0 64 064 0048 1 66 080 0864 0 66 064 0336 1 62 080 0096 0 62 064 0024 1 60 080 0096 0 60 064 0024 1 59 080 0192 0 59 064 0048 1 62 080 0192 0 62 064 0048 1 67 080 0192 0 67 064 0048 1 67 080 0096 0 67 064 0024 1 71 080 0096 0 71 064 0024 1 69 080 0096 0 69 064 0024 1 67 080 0096 0 67 064 0024 1 66 080 0096 0 66 064 0024 1 67 080 0096 0 67 064 0024 1 69 080 0288 0 69 064 0072 1 72 080 0096 0 72 064 0024 1 71 080 0096 0 71 064 0024 1 69 080 0096 0 69 064 0024 1 67 080 0192 0 67 064 0048 1 62 080 0192 0 62 064 0048 1 66 080 0192 0 66 064 0048 1 67 080 0576 0 67 064
End

This program is worth the effort of learning it.

To download the March 10 MIDItext 98 software and get instructions on how to use it click here

ABC format:

X:1
T:
M:4/4
Q:1/4=100
K:C
D7C|B,2D2G3A|G6BA|G2G2G3^F|E6DC|B,2D2G2GB|
AAGG^F^FGA3c|BAG2A2^F2|G6A2|B6d2|A6BA|G3AG2E2|
D2E2^F4|-^F6DC|B,2D2G2GB|AG^FGA3c|BAG2D2^F2|
G19/4||

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sweet Thyme
From:
Date: 04 Jul 99 - 05:38 PM

Barbara I think this should be John rather than Pete Mundy. John sang with "The Broadside" along with John Connolly and his writing partner Bill Meek they of course wrote Fiddler's Green and Punch and Judy Man among many others. John wrote the chorus as Parsley.

Subject: Author of 'SWEET THYME'
From: Hrothgar
Date: 07 Dec 01 - 09:02 AM

Does anybody know who wrote this?

The chorus goes:

Sweet thyme, sweet thyme, the parsley and the thyme,

The rosemary and the willow tree about my heart entwine.

I have heard various theories, but non of them have een offered with any confidence. For a start, it's a traditional theme, but it seems to me to be a modern structure.

Subject: RE: Author of 'SWEET THYME'
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 07 Dec 01 - 09:19 AM

See this earlier discussion, which can be found by typing sweet thyme into the very useful "Digitrad and Forum Search" box on the main Forum page:  Sweet Thyme

Subject: Lyric request: Sweet Thyme
From: Alio
Date: 18 Feb 02 - 10:49 AM

I've just been listening to Beggars Velvet in the car, and I'd like to learn 'Sweet Thyme' but can't find it - I'm sure I'm not looking in the right place! Can someone help please? It's the one with the chorus that's something like: Sweet thyme, sweet thyme, The parsley and the vine / wine, The rosemary and the willow tree etc.. Alio

Subject: RE: Lyric request: Sweet Thyme
From: Sorcha
Date: 18 Feb 02 - 11:07 AM

It's posted in the forum, here. Scroll down a bit and there is a midi/abc file also.

Subject: RE: Lyric request: Sweet Thyme
From: Jeri
Date: 18 Feb 02 - 11:23 AM

All I can say is I hope Joe corrected the lyrics and changed "holly" to "parsley" when he harvested the song...

Subject: RE: Lyric request: Sweet Thyme
From: Alio
Date: 20 Feb 02 - 04:30 AM

Thanks very much _ I fancied singing it this weekend, so i'll have to get on with it now!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sweet Thyme
From: Dave Bryant
Date: 20 Feb 02 - 04:47 PM

I think you'll find that the Yetties sang it even earlier.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sweet Thyme
From: rich-joy
Date: 23 Feb 02 - 07:43 AM

My information (via Th'Antiques Roadshow), is that "Sweet Thyme" was written by both Pete Mundey (now deceased) AND John Connolly (who "wrote the chorus and changed a few lines"). Th'Antiques do a luverley 3-part version of this song! (and many others)
Pete Mundey also wrote "Take Your Time" which The Yetties recorded too. I gather Pete and John and Bill were all members of The Broadside, from Grimsby - the group being a great favourite of said Yetties ...
Cheers!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sweet Thyme
From: Snuffy
Date: 22 Feb 06 - 06:21 AM

The Yetties website says it was written by John Connolly and Bill Meek, not Pete Mundy.

So are the Yetties right, or Th'Antiques Roadshow?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sweet Thyme
From: Peace
Date: 22 Feb 06 - 08:40 PM

"Another song with an Irish flavour is 'Landless Paddy'; inspired by some music he heard in West Cork, it is about a young man with his family about to set sail on the long voyage to "Amerikay". 'Sweet Thyme' is a well-known song and is a love song, co-written with Pete Mundy."

From here.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sweet Thyme
From: Peace
Date: 22 Feb 06 - 08:43 PM

PS The abve notes that the song was co-written by John Conolly [note spelling] and Pete Mundy.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sweet Thyme
From: Peace
Date: 22 Feb 06 - 08:47 PM

NB

Sweet Thyme ­ (Mundey/Conolly) ­ 2.57

Note spelling of then name MUNDEY. That is from here.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sweet Thyme
From: gnomad
Date: 23 Feb 06 - 09:45 AM

"Pete Mundey, an old friend and fellow-Broadside member, started writing this "lovesong of the seasons", got stuck in the middle, and called me in as a consultant. I can't remember now which bits I wrote, but basically it's Pete's song - he also wrote "Take Your Time" which, like this one, most people think is traditional."

John Conolly's sleeve notes on Ranter's Wharf CD [JACD02]

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sweet Thyme
From: Peace
Date: 23 Feb 06 - 12:41 PM

GREAT POST, GNOMAD. Solves the 'mystery'.

Subject: Lyr Add: SWEET THYME (Pete Mundey)
From: gnomad
Date: 23 Feb 06 - 01:58 PM

Thanks, Peace.

Just listened to the song again, slight variations on Jeri's transcription, and it resolves the slight oddness in the last verse which was previously mentioned.

SWEET THYME
(Pete Mundey)

In the springtime of the year,
I loved and lost my dear,
For love grows wild when the weather it is mild,
As you shall quickly hear.

CHORUS
Sweet thyme, sweet thyme,
The parsley and the thyme,
The rosemary and the willow tree,
Around my heart entwine.

Now in comes sweet July,
When the nightingales do fly,
And sweethearts play all in the hay,
And the pale moon fills the sky.

And the harvest's golden grain,
Is gathered in again,
And the turning year will bring my dear
An end to all my pain.

In winter's cloak of gray,
I'll find a brighter day,
And I'll not wait when summer's at the gate,
Farewell false love, away.

Subject: RE: Author of 'SWEET THYME'
From: GUEST,Steve Carter
Date: 21 May 12 - 03:47 PM

It is a modern song written by Pete Mundey and John Connolly. More information is provided in the sleeve notes to Ranters Wharf, (by John Conolly).

Can anyone provide suitable guitar chords?

Subject: RE: Author of 'SWEET THYME'
From: GUEST,999
Date: 21 May 12 - 04:01 PM

Sweet Thyme - Connolly, John/Mundy, Pete

The attribution in the DT attributes it solely to Mundy, fyi.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sweet Thyme
From: Joe Offer
Date: 22 May 12 - 08:16 AM

I see that the lyrics in the Digital Tradition come from the message Jeri posted above in July 1999 - and include "holly," which Jeri later said is wrong. Gnomad posted lyrics above in 2006. Are they correct, or does anyone have further corrections to add?

-Joe-

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sweet Thyme
From: Leadfingers
Date: 22 May 12 - 08:36 AM

I have never heard any one sing 'holly' instead of parsley . and John Connoly always said it was Pete's song even though he did help with some of the lyrics .

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sweet Thyme
From: GUEST,Graham Baldwin
Date: 19 Aug 20 - 01:21 PM

Here’s how I play it:

C > Am   Dm   G    C    G    F C

       C          G      C       C    >   Am      G
In the springtime of the year, I loved and lost my dear,
    C    >    Am            Dm            G       C         G       F C
For love grows wild when the weather it is mild, as you shall quickly hear.

      C            G          Am      F       G
Sweet thyme, sweet thyme, the parsley and the thyme,
    C   > Am         Dm    G    C       G       F C
The rosemary and the willow tree around my heart entwine.

C > Am   Dm   G    C    G    F C

    C       G    C             C   > Am       G
Now in comes sweet July when the nightingales do fly,
    C    >      Am       Dm    G          C         G         F C
And sweethearts play all in the hay and the pale moon fills the sky.

      C            G          Am      F       G
Sweet thyme, sweet thyme, the parsley and the thyme,
    C   > Am         Dm    G    C       G       F C
The rosemary and the willow tree around my heart entwine.

C > Am   Dm   G    C    G    F C

       C         G      C       C >    Am G
And the harvest's golden grain is gathered in again,
       C >    Am       Dm       G       C      G      F C
And the turning year will bring, my dear, an end to all my pain.

      C            G          Am      F       G
Sweet thyme, sweet thyme, the parsley and the thyme,
    C   > Am         Dm    G    C       G       F C
The rosemary and the willow tree around my heart entwine.

C > Am   Dm   G    C    G    F C

   C       G       C          C    > Am       G
In winter's cloak of gray, I'll find a brighter day,
    C    >   Am       Dm             G         C          G      F C
And I'll not wait when summer's at the gate, farewell false love, away.

      C            G          Am      F       G
Sweet thyme, sweet thyme, the parsley and the thyme,
    C   > Am         Dm    G    C       G       F C
The rosemary and the willow tree around my heart entwine.

      C            G          Am      F       G
Sweet thyme, sweet thyme, the parsley and the thyme,
    C   > Am         Dm    G    C       G       F C
The rosemary and the willow tree around my heart entwine.

C > Am   Dm   G    C    G    F C

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sweet Thyme
From: GUEST,Graham Baldwin
Date: 19 Aug 20 - 01:23 PM

Sorry, the chords spacing are not quite right (due to the font).   But you’ll be able to work it out, I’m sure!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sweet Thyme
From: GUEST,Graham Baldwin
Date: 19 Aug 20 - 01:26 PM

Here’s a better attempt at the chord spacing:

         C               G       C         C    >      Am       G
In the springtime of the year, I loved and lost my dear,
      C      >       Am                Dm             G          C            G          F C
For love grows wild when the weather it is mild, as you shall quickly hear.

          C                   G                Am      F          G
Sweet thyme, sweet thyme, the parsley and the thyme,
       C    >   Am            Dm    G    C               G          F C
The rosemary and the willow tree around my heart entwine.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sweet Thyme
From: GUEST,Graham Baldwin
Date: 19 Aug 20 - 01:27 PM

Hmmm - still not right!