Lyr Req/Add: Long Ago When We Were Sweethearts

Subject: unknown title
From: GUEST,Heather
Date: 28 Dec 11 - 04:45 PM

looking for title and rest of lyrics to song- some lyrics are: Long ago when we were sweethearts coming through the rye, it was then i said I love you, Mary, and your answer was a sigh. You wore the blue bells of Scotland, they were the color of your eye, that was long ago when we were sweethearts, coming through the rye. We had a record of this song in the 40's. But it could have been old at that time, just do not remember the title.

Subject: RE: unknown song title
From: GUEST,999
Date: 28 Dec 11 - 05:09 PM

It rings of "The Roseville Fair"

Subject: RE: unknown song title
From: giles earle
Date: 28 Dec 11 - 05:28 PM

Would this be an old '78' recording by Sandy Macfarlane? Not that I know the song at all, but I've found several references to:

Decca catalogue ref. 14010
Singer Sandy MacFarlane
Side 1 Hame o'mine
Side 2 Long ago when we were sweethearts

No sign of lyrics though, I'm afraid, so I don't know if this is any help at all!

Subject: RE: unknown song title
From: giles earle
Date: 28 Dec 11 - 06:19 PM

Further to last: think that the Decca recording may be included in this set, listed on ebay in the USA: Sandy Macfarlane set . If you were thinking of bidding however, I really would suggest you contact the seller first (and not just take my word for it!) to check it's what you are after. If it's the collection I think it is, the songs should be:

-        The weddin' o' Sandy MacKay
-        When the heather bells are bloomin' (I'll come back, my lass, tae you)
-        Granny's Highland hame
-        MacNab's a jolly sailor
-        In the mornin'
-        Long ago when we were sweethearts
-        Hame o' mine.

The 'Long ago when we were sweethearts' song appears to have been written by W. Murdoch Mackenzie. I can't trace any published version of it, unfortunately.

Subject: RE: unknown song title
From: Mick Pearce (MCP)
Date: 28 Dec 11 - 06:34 PM

This man Ted McGraw has a copy according to his lists. It doesn't appear to be in his archived broadcasts, but it might be worth contacting him. (there's a contact link on that page)

Mick

Subject: RE: unknown song title
From: GUEST
Date: 02 Jan 12 - 05:17 PM

This was probably before 78's were made. It was on the OLD records, I think they were 33 1/3s or something like that. It was played on an old wind up Victrola. It probably came with the machine when it was new in 1939.

Subject: RE: unknown song title
From: GUEST,999
Date: 02 Jan 12 - 08:15 PM

"This was probably before 78's were made. It was on the OLD records, I think they were 33 1/3s or something like that. It was played on an old wind up Victrola. It probably came with the machine when it was new in 1939."

Thank you for the best laugh I've had so far this year.

Subject: RE: unknown song - Long ago when we were sweethearts
From: GUEST
Date: 10 Jan 12 - 04:23 PM

Excuse Me! I fail to see the humor. Please explain.

Subject: RE: unknown song - Long ago when we were sweethearts
From: Jeri
Date: 10 Jan 12 - 04:52 PM

999 probably thought you had things mixed up on purpose. I know he didn't intend any harm.
78s were around before 33 1/3d albums.
Both were played on electric turntables, but I think some 78s were, or could be, played on Victrolas. There are still loads of 33 1/3 recordings around, as well as 78s, although devices that will play them aren't easy to find. There are some modern artists who put out their new work on 33 1/3.

Sorry we haven't yet found the song. I've been looking, and it remains a mystery.

Subject: RE: unknown song - Long ago when we were sweethearts
From: Mick Pearce (MCP)
Date: 10 Jan 12 - 05:29 PM

Jeri

Since the threads come up again, I've emailed the owner of the site I referenced above to see if it is the same song and if he could provide the words or audio if it is.

I'll report back if I get a reply.

Mick

Subject: RE: unknown song - Long ago when we were sweethearts
From: GUEST
Date: 10 Jan 12 - 08:42 PM

I'll post an mp3 file of the MacFarlane recording to Mick Pearce. You can thank Giles Earle for connecting it to MacFarlane because I because I almost didn't find it! It's not in any of my Scottish music books.
Ted McGraw

Subject: RE: unknown song - Long ago when we were sweethearts
From: Jeri
Date: 10 Jan 12 - 09:08 PM

Ted, you're amazing! (As is Giles Earle and Mick Pearce)

Subject: RE: unknown song - Long ago when we were sweethearts
From: GUEST,Guess
Date: 10 Jan 12 - 09:37 PM

Sorry, I had not seen any 78's or 45's either until around the late 40's. I asumed they were new at that time. But I was just a child at that time and had not been exposed to many things pertaining to music. I had seen many of the larger 33 1/3 though. Thanks for trying to find it. I would love to hear it again.

Subject: Lyr Add: LONG AGO WHEN WE WERE SWEETHEARTS
From: Mick Pearce (MCP)
Date: 11 Jan 12 - 06:45 AM

Ted did exactly as he said he would; this morning (UK) there was an email from him with a copy of the recording. Here's his email:

"Hi Mick,

I checked your link and said I would post an mp3 to you, thanking Giles Earle for linking it to MacFarlane - I was just about ready to give up when I saw his reference. The record is an 'E' condition so after going thru the noise removal stuff, it came out quite good. Hope you enjoy it!

Ted McGraw
Rochester, NY"


You couldn't ask for anyone to be more helpful to a request from out of the blue.

I've put my transcription below. The recording came out more than quite good - it was crystal clear. Thanks very much to Ted for that.

Mick

---

LONG AGO WHEN WE WERE SWEETHEARTS

An old grey couple sat a-talking of the good old days gone by.
The old man then: "Remember Mary, when we were coming through the rye?
That was many years ago, dear, when you said you'd take my name
But you're still the same old dearie an' I love you just the same."

  And that was long ago when we were sweethearts, coming through the rye,
  When I whispered to you "Mary darling" and your answer was a sigh.
  You wore the bluebells of Scotland, that was the colour of your eye.
  That was long ago when we were sweethearts, coming through the rye.

I seem to see that dear old pathway winding through the fields of rye,
Where other the lads and lasses wandered, just like you and I,
Where the Clyde is softly flowing and all nature seems so sweet,
Where the heather bells are growing that's the place we used to meet.

  And that was long ago when we were sweethearts, coming through the rye,
  When I whispered to you "Mary darling" and your answer was a sigh.
  You wore the bluebells of Scotland, that was the colour of your eye.
  That was long ago when we were sweethearts, coming through the rye.

  <first two lines of chorus instrumental>
  You wore the bluebells of Scotland, that was the colour of your eye.
  That was long ago when we were sweethearts, coming through the rye.


Source: Sandy MacFarlane recording