Origins: Young Simon John

Subject: ADD: Young Simon John
From: Joe Offer
Date: 09 Feb 11 - 01:47 AM

Jon Boden's "Folk Song a Day" for February 8 is Simon John. I didn't find it in Roud or in the Traditional Ballad Index, but I did find one version of the lyrics at www.folkleads.org.uk:

YOUNG SIMON JOHN
(Tommy Daniel?)

Now this is the story of young Simon John,
Who never got donned up, put Sunday clothes on,
’E could well afford it, but grass were ’is rooits,
So ’e just brushed off pig-muck anÕ blackened ’is boots;
But ’e were particÕler what neet-clothes ’e ’ad,
So cosy an’ warm in ’is own feather bed;
So there every neet there were t’ young Simon John
Wi’ ’is neetcap an’ ’is neetshirt an ’is long stockin’s on.
Mm-mm
2
Now young Simon John ’ad a voice like a bell,
He could ’ave sung in church choir, but they couldn’t stand t’ smell;
But one Christmas concert ’e were asked to sing,
An’ somebody said some clean clothes they would bring;
But Simon were proud an’ went off in a huff,
An’ told them that ’e’d really got clean clothes enough;
So to sing there on t’ platform stood young Simon John,
Wi’ ’is neetcap an’ ’is neetshirt an’ ’is long stockin’s on.
Mm-mm
3
Nah Simon got pally wi’ t’ milkmaid on t’ farm;
T’ old farmer smiled, thought theyed come to no ’arm;
They’d lay ovver t’ stile an’ just giggle an’ talk,
’E daren’t even ask ’er to go for a walk;
But she ’ad more ’ope, said she would meet at stile
An’ ’oped ’e’d put clean clothes on once in a while,
An’ when she got to t’ stile, there were young Simon John,
Wi’ ’is neetcap an’ ’is neetshirt an’ ’is long stockin’s on.
Mm-mm
4
There must ’ave been summat in t’ lad after all,
As she sooin got to love ’im, pig-muck an’ all;
But they didn’t let coortin’ interfere wi’ their work,
But durin’ t’ neet-time theyed manys the lark.
She slept in t’ back bedroom, ’im in tattie cub-’ole,
An’ she crept upstairs just to be with ’er love,
An’ jump into bed there wi’ young Simon John,
Wi’ ’is neetcap an’ ’is neetshirt an’ ’is long stockin’s on.
Mm-mm
5
Well, after so many adventures in bed,
So time came round when they ad to get wed;
T’ old farmer promised ’im a suit of good yarn
If ’e’d go get measured in t’ nearest town;
But Simon were gormless, got mixed up wi’ t’ date,
An’ when suit arrived, well, it were too late,
So ’e went to t’ altar, did young Simon John,
Wi’ ’is neetcap an’ ’is neetshirt an’ ’is long stockin’s on.
Mm-mm
6
Now village at t’ weddin’ they were all in good cheer;
There were plenty to eat an’ there were plenty o’ beer;
They got a farm cottage wi’ no rent to pay,
An’ she started knittin’ three ounces a day.
When t’ ’appy event were all ower an’ done
They let Simon in there to look at ’is son;
There at side of ’is mother laid t’ new Simon John,
Wi’ ’is neetcap an’ ’is neetshirt an’ ’is long stockin’s on.
Mm-mm

---

In this message Ray Padgett says "Young Simon John" was written by Tommy Daniel from West Riding of Yorkshire, who also wrote "Poverty Knock."

This link will lead you to an online recording of the song by Bill Price.

Subject: RE: Origins: Young Simon John
From: r.padgett
Date: 09 Feb 11 - 03:21 AM

Should be on the Yorkshire Garland site? Certainly sung by Mick Haywood and Ruth Price sings this from her dad's singing

ON Bill Price's " Fine Old Yorkshire Gentleman" vinyl

www.yorkshirefolksong.net

Ray

Subject: RE: Origins: Young Simon John
From: GUEST,Gus
Date: 09 Feb 11 - 04:21 AM

Here's Bill Price's version.

Subject: RE: Origins: Young Simon John
From: peregrina
Date: 09 Feb 11 - 04:45 AM

The Yorkshire Garland site is temporarily not working, but as Ray says, it is the starting point: words, notes, score, and the rest of Tommy Daniel's songs too!



Yorkshire garland search

Subject: RE: Origins: Young Simon John
From: peregrina
Date: 09 Feb 11 - 11:38 AM

Young Simon John at the Yorkshire Garland

words, score, ABC, sound file sung by Mick Haywood, provenance notes,
and more of Tommy Daniel's songs there too