Lyr Req: Lovely Nancy

Subject: Lovely Nancy
From: Susan of DT
Date: 06 Sep 99 - 09:31 PM

I think it is a Copper Family song, but I did not find it in their book. To the tune of "All Around My Hat I Will Wear the Green Willow". A few fragments are:
Lovely Nancy...Pleased my fancy...Why must you spend your time here in...Why must you soend your time here in vain....
It is NOT the Lovely Nancy in the DT.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lovely Nancy
From: Pelrad
Date: 07 Sep 99 - 12:02 AM

Hmm. Louis Killen has one on his 1966 album that goes like this (don't know if it's the same tune, because I don't recognize the one you mention):

'Twas on one April morning just as the sun was rising
'Twas on one April morning, I heard the small birds sing
They were singing Lovely Nancy, for love it is a fancy,
And how sweet were the notes that I heard the small birds sing.

For young men are false and are full of all deceiving
Young men are false and seldom do prove true
For they're roving and they're ranging, and their hearts are always changing,
They are hunting to find out some pretty girl that's new.

And Oh, if I had but my own heart in keeping,
Oh, if I had but my own heart back again
Close to my bosom I would lock it up forever
And it would never, never stray so far from me again.

Young men, why do you spend all your long, long time in courting?
Young men, why do you spend all your long, long time in vain?
For I don't intend to marry; I would far rather tarry
So young men, don't you spend all your long, long time in vain.

(repeat first verse)
^^

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lovely Nancy
From: GeorgeH
Date: 07 Sep 99 - 05:46 AM

Pelrad: yup, that is the one SoDT was asking for; IIRC Tony Rose also does a fine version of it, and certainly the tune is close enough to "All around . . " that it's almost certainly what Steeleye plundered for that compilation exercise.

And yes, I, too, thought it was a Copper Song . .

And the last verse scans better if you leave out the "do you" from the first two lines . .

G.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lovely Nancy
From:
Date: 07 Sep 99 - 12:02 PM

Hi, The song is called "'Twas On One April Morning" and it can also be found with music and guitar chords in "Pint Pot & Plough. Thirty-One English Traditional Folksongs" edited by Mike Ballantyne and available from the above e-mail address, in British Columbia Canada, for $18.25 plus p&p.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lovely Nancy
From: Susan of DT
Date: 07 Sep 99 - 08:29 PM

YES! Thank you. That's it and I could have heard it from either Louie Killen or Tony Rose. I have the Tony Rose album it is on. It does not seem to be on any of Louie's that I have, but I have heard him live many times. Dick has been entering all of the Bronson tunes (a long project) and while entering the 100 and some Lord Randalls, played an "All around my hat" tune and those fragments have been running around my head trying to coalese for three days.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lovely Nancy
From: balladeer
Date: 07 Sep 99 - 08:37 PM

Speaking of Lovely Nancy, where is Lou Killen living these days? As in what state? Balladeer

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lovely Nancy
From: Pelrad
Date: 07 Sep 99 - 11:06 PM

Susan, "One April Morning" appears to be on Louis' "Rose In June" album. Funny, because I am fairly certain that the recording I have of it was on "Sailors, Ships and Shanties," the original 1966('68?) album, but it's not in the jacket notes for the recently re-released album.

Here's a link to Louis' page with the jacket notes.

http://members.aol.com/folktrad/louiskillen/product.html#ssc

George, I'm wondering if it's a different tune, because the "do you" fits quite nicely into the version I learned from Louis.

Balladeer, I know that five years ago Louis was living in Washington state. I'm not sure if he moved to California in the past few years, or if he is still in Washington.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lovely Nancy
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 08 Sep 99 - 12:14 AM

The last time I heard (last June) Louis Killen was parked securely on th coastline of Minnesota. Don't ask.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lovely Nancy
From: GeorgeH
Date: 08 Sep 99 - 09:25 AM

Pelrad: Well, from the "All . . hat" ref I'd guess it's much the same tune but with rather different phrasing . . I just can't vocalise that line with all those words in it. Not that it matters.

G.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lovely Nancy
From: Garry
Date: 08 Sep 99 - 12:37 PM

There is a 'Lovely Nancy' in the Copper Songbook.

Go: http://hum2mac1.murdoch.edu.au/copper/nancy.html

Garry

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lovely Nancy
From: GeorgeH
Date: 09 Sep 99 - 09:43 AM

Garry: Indeed there is, but it's a different song entirely. It has been suggested that if you want to be a folk hero of female gender you should start by getting yourself named Nancy . .

G.