Lyr Req: Female Morris Man

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Female Morris Man
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 17 Jul 15 - 06:53 PM

Brilliant: thanks to both posters, Snuffy and JB3b.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Female Morris Man
From: GUEST,JB3b
Date: 17 Jul 15 - 02:57 AM

This is the version I learned at the Midwest Morris Ale, back in the mid-80's:

When I was a young girl at the age of seventeen
I went to see the squire of the local Morris team
I went to see the squire and a Morris man to stand
For to hear the bells a-ringing and the music, so grand

The music so grand, the music so grand
To hear the bells a-ringing and the music so grand

Now, the squire of this team was a tall and handsome man
He said, "You'll dance the Morris well, just step this way, young man."
My fingers being nimble and my feet, both neat and small,
The very soon I learn-ed them, I did exceed them all

I did exceed them all...

They sent me on a Morris Tour all for to make the grade
And to dance out with the best of them, I never was afraid
And as we took our ease, all in the pub, it made me smile
To think I was a female and a Morris man, the while

A Morris man, the while...

They sent me down to London for to dance around the Tower
And I'm sure I might have died there, for we danced for 24 hours
When a young girl fell in love with me and learned I was a maid,
She went unto the squire and Morris Man became

A Morris Man became...

So, now there is a whole side of us and the men have come to know
That women dancing Morris needn't be a mortal blow
So, if you need a dancer who is strong and brave and true,
Why, there's women dancing Morris and they dance as well as you

They dance as well as you...

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Female Morris Man
From: Noreen
Date: 07 Jul 15 - 07:22 PM

Thanks, friend Snuffy!
This'll go down well at dance outs over the summer :)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Female Morris Man
From: Snuffy
Date: 07 Jul 15 - 12:49 PM

I have transcribed this as best I can from a recording I made in a noisy pub back in Cheltenham in 2005. There are a couple of places [marked by square brackets] where I am not sure if I got the exact words.

Please note this general declaration from Ron Shuttleworth : "If attributed, any of my songs may be performed, LIVE and without p.a. by anyone, anywhere."

When I was young girl, aged 18 years or so
In the evenings and at weekend around the pubs I'd go
In my jeans and sloppy sweater, with my pint all in my hand
You could not be certain if I were a maiden or a man
A maiden or a man, a maiden or a man
You could not be certain if I were a maiden or a man

I always watched the morris men; I never missed a show,
And that I was a female it seemed they did not know.
The squire he came up to me; he shook me by the hand
He said "Why don't you join us and become a morris man?"
Become a morris man, etc

They said I was a natural, and in a year or so
Of course I made the 'A' team, and I danced at every show
And when they made me Number One I often had to smile
To think I led the morris and a maiden all the while

We went [out at the?] weekend, and in some village hall
There were two hundred morris men, and me amongst them all
And as I lay in my sleeping bag, I never was afraid
I could sleep with all those morris men and still remain a maid

I would have been a morris man until this very day
If I had not been fancied by a handsome chap, but gay.
He tried to proposition me: I said I was a maid
And straightway to my comrades, my secret he betrayed.

I thought our squire would have a fit "Now here's a [dreadful?] thing
And if our secret should get out, we'll be drummed out of the Ring"
And at the end of it he sighed, "I'm really so afraid,
But I'll let you keep your baldrics – such a dancer that you made.

At first I joined a ladies side, but that was not for me
For with women dancing morris, I never could agree
But if the fellows can't turn out because they're short of men
I'll put on my bells and baldrics, and I'll morris once again
I'll morris once again I'll morris once again
I'll put on my bells and baldrics, and I'll morris once again

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Female Morris Man
From: Rumncoke
Date: 07 Jul 15 - 06:41 AM

I wrote one for a female cricketer - if that is of any interest.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Female Morris Man
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 07 Jul 15 - 04:20 AM

Please from me too! ( is there one fir female Mummers too? Just joined a group!)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Female Morris Man
From: Noreen
Date: 06 Jul 15 - 02:53 PM

Please!!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Female Morris Man
From: GUEST
Date: 06 Jul 15 - 02:37 AM

Any chance of posting them???

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Female Morris Man
From: GUEST,Sue the Borderer currently cookieless
Date: 28 Aug 14 - 10:49 AM

I've been 'cookieless' for a long while now, so don't get any PMs.
Glad to hear John has managed to get the words direct from Ron Shuttleworth anyway.

Sue

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Female Morris Man
From: maeve
Date: 26 Aug 14 - 01:30 PM

Certainly post them, if Ron Shuttleworth has no objection! I'll let Sue the Borderer know you have that which you seek.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Female Morris Man
From: GUEST,John Foxen
Date: 26 Aug 14 - 01:28 PM

Thanks very much for your help, Maeve.
In the meantime I have managed to contact Ron Shuttleworth, an exceptionally nice chap, who has sent me the lyrics.
If there is interest I will post them.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Female Morris Man
From: maeve
Date: 26 Aug 14 - 08:07 AM

Here's someone who may help, John Foxen- Sue the Borderer. I'll send her a PM. From another thread:
********
Subject: RE: Wanted morris practice room in oldham
From: Snuffy - PM
Date: 01 Oct 06 - 10:18 AM

"Ron Shuttleworth of Coventry Mummers wrote "The Female Morris Man" (and many other superb parodies).

Among those who sing it is our own Sue The Borderer. "

Subject: Lyr Req: Female Morris Man
From: GUEST,John Foxen
Date: 25 Aug 14 - 10:39 AM

Can anyone please provide the lyrics to The Female Morris Man, a parody of The Female Drummer, written I believe, by Ron Shuttleworth?