Lyr Req: The Ballad of Trades (Ewan MacColl)

Subject: Lyr Req: The Ballad Of The Trades
From: GUEST,freebornman
Date: 20 May 09 - 04:38 PM

Hello!

I'm looking for the lyrics of the song called "The Ballad Of The Trades" as sung by Ewan MacColl on his album called "The Wanton Muse". There's one version here: http://www.csufresno.edu/folklore/drinkingsongs/mp3s/1960s/1961ca-the-wanton-muse--ewan-maccoll-and-peggy-seeger-(LP)/01-the-ballad-of-all-trades.htm
But that one is very different from what MacColl is singing.
Can anyone help me please?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Ballad Of The Trades
From: GUEST,Dave MacKenzie
Date: 20 May 09 - 07:18 PM

I've got the Wanton Muse booklet in front of me and that version you found doesn't even fit the tune.

My copy is the original Argo LP, so whether reissues missed the booklet (which had all the words) I don't know, but if nobody else has the words online, I'll try and type them up in the next couple of days.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Ballad Of The Trades
From: MartinRyan
Date: 20 May 09 - 07:39 PM

Are you thinking of the "Jack of all trades" song, of which one (Dublin) version is HERE

Regards

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Ballad Of The Trades
From: Leadfingers
Date: 20 May 09 - 08:02 PM

There is a London version too ! I have it on an old Vinyl from The Critics Group !

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Ballad Of The Trades
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 20 May 09 - 09:20 PM

Thinking along Martin Ryan's guess, "The Jolly Rake of All Trades"- a couple of versions at the Bodleian-

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Ballad Of The Trades
From: GUEST,freebornman
Date: 21 May 09 - 01:38 AM

No, no, Ryan, "Jack Of All Trades" is a completely different song, I don't think there's any relation between the two. (It's possible to listen to the part of the song if you follow the link I've posted - it's really different.)
* * *
Dave, right, it does not fit the tune at all :-)
If you could some day type the words from a booklet - it'd be great, thank you!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Ballad Of The Trades
From: Peace
Date: 21 May 09 - 02:13 AM

Ewan MacColl & Peggy Seeger: The Amorous & Wanton Muse.


Google the above. You can hear them singing it there. It's down the page a bit.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Ballad Of The Trades
From: GUEST,freebornman
Date: 21 May 09 - 03:10 AM

Yes, Peace, right, you probably mean this: http://www.csufresno.edu/folklore/drinkingsongs/html/sounds/ewan-maccoll-and-peggy-seeger.htm - that's the same site I've found. They have lyrics there, but another, very different version of this song. It's possible also to hear a part of the song there, but not the whole song.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Ballad Of The Trades
From: Fred McCormick
Date: 21 May 09 - 04:13 AM

There you go. Hot off the booklet and complete with MacColl's booklet note.
^^
BALLAD OF THE TRADES (English)

This comprehensive catalogue of the tools of the trades might be said to sum up the contents of this album. Each of the songs has been conceived in the terminology of the trade of its maker, each process of work honed down to fine shades of description, each symbol exactly mirroring or extending the tool(s) used, or the medium in which the trade is carried on. Such a song could well be extended into modern life, what with the myriad of new professions, trades and skills daily being developed – as long as the eye remains receptive to impressions of shape, the hand to impressions of texture and the mind open to analogous sensation and creation, 'The Ballad of the Trades' could well have thousands of verses!
(Source: a collation of several broadside texts, with tune by the singer.)

1 Here's to all trades and all tradesmen,
And let you be wise men or fools,
But remember each day that your trade would decay
If the maids didn't look to your tools.
If the maids didn't look to your tools.

2 The Blacksmith, the smoky old Blacksmith
He's known as the best of good fellows:
But his iron would stay cold and his fire burn no coal
If a maid didn't blow up the bellows. (2)

3 The Miller, the musty old Miller,
The Miller is strong in the back,
But he won't lift a finger at measuring meal
Till a maiden holds open the sack. (2)

4 The Tailor, the frisky old Tailor,
He opens his pack in the yard
But he never will try any fittings unless
There's a maiden to hold out his yard. (2)

5 The Baker, the dusty old Baker
He's so full of liquor and sin:
And he never will fire his oven red-hot
But he's thrusting his maiden in. (2)

6 The Butcher, the bloody great butcher,
He sells the best beef on the bone,
But he never starts grinding his cleaver unless
There's a maiden a-turning his stone. (2)

7 The Brewer, the yeasty old Brewer,
The Brewer that brews beer and ale;
And he never will let his brew come to the boil
But he's taking his maid by the tail. (2)

8 The Weaver, the cunning old weaver,
He follows the clattering trade;
But he never starts shooting his shuttle without
He's a-shooting it first at his maid. (2)

9 The Spinner, the weary old Spinner,
Who walks up and down with his mule,
But he's too proud to bend just to keep up his end
And a maid must be doffin' his spool. (2)

10 The Ploughman, the jolly old Ploughman,
He follows the plough in the stilts,
But the clods wouldn't turn if a maid hadn't learned him
To drive the blade up to the hilts. (2)

11 The Collier, the mucky old Collier,
He works underground in the pit,
But there's never a tub would come up on the rope
If a maid didn't sharpen his pick. (2)

12 The Tinker, the travelling Tinker,
Who works with his solder and metal;
But he surely would fail when he's driving his nail
If his maid didn't hold up the kettle. (2)

13 Then drink to the journeyman craftsman,
And all who're apprenticed to trade,
But there's never a screw or a nut would be turned
If it weren't for the help of a maid. (2)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Ballad Of The Trades
From: GUEST,freebornman
Date: 21 May 09 - 04:32 AM

Thanks, Fred! Thanks a lot!

N.B. Yep, I felt like the tune is composed by MacColl - it sounds in his style :-)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Ballad Of The Trades
From: GUEST,Dave MacKenzie
Date: 21 May 09 - 12:32 PM

I typed it up and Fred got there before me! If you think the capitalization is inconsistant, that's how it was printed in the notes.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Ballad Of The Trades
From: GUEST,freebornman
Date: 21 May 09 - 05:28 PM

Thanks also to you, Dave, for your good intentions. :-)