Lyr Req: song about a hermit, a hat and a girl...

Subject: Lyr Req: Song about a hermit, a hat and a girl...
From: thefunkysocksgirl
Date: 17 Oct 10 - 09:22 PM

A lovely chap used to sing this song at the Ha'penny Folk Club on the Gower (UK) and always had me in fits of laughter.

The story premise goes roughly along the lines of - hermit up mountain, hermit takes a bath in a stream, girl comes up mountain, girl sees naked hermit, hermit sees girl, hermit covers modesty with hat, hermit for some reason has to let go of hat, which mysteriously remains in place...

I have no idea where this song came from or what the lyrics are, was usually falling off my chair too much to write them down.

Any ideas...?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: song about a hermit, a hat and a girl...
From: maeve
Date: 17 Oct 10 - 10:08 PM

Lyrics for "The Hermit" are here in our wonderful Digital Tradition: @displaysong.cfm?SongID=6443

And here with the tune in dots: http://www.csufresno.edu/folklore/drinkingsongs/html/categorized-by-song/with-music/h/hermit.htm

Hear the tune by way of an mp3 file here.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: song about a hermit, a hat and a girl...
From: Midchuck
Date: 17 Oct 10 - 10:08 PM

This was on one of Oscar Brand's Bawdy Songs and Backroom Ballads recordings in the late '50s - early '60s.

"And now I have come to the crux of my tale,
The hermit turned red, and then he turned pale
......
'Tho he let to the hat, yet the had didn't fall...
A Blessed Miracle!"

The same anecdote appears as one or two of the verses in "Field of the Willows," on Kendall's "I Remember Loving You" CD. Dave Goulder is given as the writer.

Peter

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: song about a hermit, a hat and a girl...
From: thefunkysocksgirl
Date: 18 Oct 10 - 12:22 AM

Thanks!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: song about a hermit, a hat and a girl...
From: framus
Date: 18 Oct 10 - 05:12 PM

I have heard the hermit song in north down, but it is several years ago now. I assume it's Irish as it began;-
In Glendalough lived an oul' saint,
Renowned for his fitness and piety,

The story continues as indicated by funkysocksgirl,and ends
He let go the hat,and the hat didn't fall,
BLOODY MIRACLE!

I'll let you know if anything more occurs to me, meanwhile, keep your hat on.
Cheers,

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: song about a hermit, a hat and a girl...
From: Lighter
Date: 18 Oct 10 - 06:36 PM

In my limited experience the "Hermit Song" is entirely distinct from the Irish song about the young saint of Glendalough.

But maybe somebody found a way to combine them.

If I recall correctly, Brand noted that he had set his own tune to what was originally a rhymed recitation. It was in (underground) print as early as 1927 in the U.S.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: song about a hermit, a hat and a girl...
From: Bernard
Date: 18 Oct 10 - 06:43 PM

I learned it back in the late 60s as a 'Talking Blues'...

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: song about a hermit, a hat and a girl...
From: Terry McDonald
Date: 19 Oct 10 - 02:43 AM

Warwick Slade sings this one, although he claims it to be from the New Forest. I'll ask him about it.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: song about a hermit, a hat and a girl...
From: GUEST,^&*
Date: 19 Oct 10 - 03:27 AM

Lighter

Yeah - I reckon the hat was a late addition to the monk's wardrobe. Mind you - he was more "ould saint" than young!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: song about a hermit, a hat and a girl...
From: bill\sables
Date: 19 Oct 10 - 05:13 AM

I recorded it way back in the middle 60s on my first LP.
"Bill Sables" (Westwood Recordings WRS 027)I think I learned it from Barry Skinner
Bill

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: song about a hermit, a hat and a girl...
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 19 Oct 10 - 06:56 AM

I used to sing it too, and I learned it from Noel Murphy

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: song about a hermit, a hat and a girl...
From: Leadfingers
Date: 19 Oct 10 - 08:00 AM

I 'collectd' (Stole) it in Singapore in 1969 - seems to be MY version was mostly Dave Goulder ,with a bit of Folk Process !

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: song about a hermit, a hat and a girl...
From: framus
Date: 19 Oct 10 - 10:50 AM

If anybody knows the "Glendalough" version, I'd be glad to be reminded' I first heard it in Grace Neill's in Donaghadee in the early 70s.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: song about a hermit, a hat and a girl...
From: GUEST,Warwick Slade
Date: 19 Oct 10 - 03:37 PM

I have been singing this song since the early 60s. I heard it sung by Steve Benbow who learnt it from a Canadian during the war. There is a youtube film of my singing this on board a cruise ship several years ago

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: song about a hermit, a hat and a girl...
From: Mrrzy
Date: 19 Oct 10 - 04:22 PM

Oscar Brand taught me that one, what a great song, I was just listening to it earlier and then saw this thread...