Lyr Req: The Dreary Dream (John Jacob Niles)

Subject: Lyr Req: Dreary dream
From: GUEST,Melinda
Date: 27 May 15 - 12:57 PM

I am looking for lyrics to a song fragment that I heard many many years ago.

The person singing it said they only knew a few verses, and they called it "Dreary Dream." It was referred to as a song fragment, they thought there was more to it, but they had never learned it. I think I heard it at a Girl Scout camp or event, or something along those lines. I was a kid in Arkansas, and that was long before I got into the ideas of tracking sources for balladry, so that is all the background info that I have. The verses have always stayed with me, and I have always wanted to learn more.
Here are the verses that I remember.

Dreary Dream

I have dreamed a dreary dream.
It's I have dreamed of sorrow.
I dreamed my love lay beneath a tree,
All in a bed of yarrow.
I dreamed my love lay beneath a tree,
All in a bed of yarrow.


And Who will read my dreary dream?
It's who will read my sorrow?
I dreamed of my love, beneath a tree,
All in a bed of yarrow.
I dreamed of my love, beneath a tree,
All in a bed of yarrow.

It's I will read your dreary dream.
It's I will read your sorrow.
Your love lies, slain, beneath a tree
All in a bed of yarrow.
Your love lies, slain, beneath a tree
All in a bed of yarrow.


That's all I know, but it has stayed with me for decades, tune and all. Any suggestions?

Thanks,
Melinda LaFevers
Producer "The Traditional and Folk Music Hour"

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Dreary dream
From: GUEST,#
Date: 27 May 15 - 02:58 PM

5. The Braes Of Yarrow

The Braes of Yarrow

I dreamed a dreary dream last night
That filled my heart with sorrow:
I dreamt I pulled the heather green
Upon the braes of Yarrow.

I dreamed a dreary dream last night,
That filled my heart with sorrow:
I dreamt my love came headless home,
Upon the braes of Yarrow.

O gentle wind that bloweth south,
to where my love repaireth;
Convey a kiss from her dear mouth,
And tell me how she fareth.

© Judith Weir

That was located at

http://www.musicsalesclassical.com/composer/work/2754

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Dreary dream
From: GUEST,Melinda
Date: 27 May 15 - 10:38 PM

Interesting. Similar lyrics. However, the tune to that, at least what part I could hear, is quite a bit different from the tune that I know.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Dreary dream
From: GUEST,#
Date: 28 May 15 - 07:13 AM

Google

It's I will read your dreary dream. It's I will read your sorrow.

as is, no quotation marks.

_______________________________

Check also The Braes O Yarrow

________________________________

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EkSLlEjINjU

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Dreary dream
From: GUEST
Date: 23 Jul 15 - 04:16 PM

John Jacob Niles - one of his songs. a haunting melody.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Dreary dream
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 23 Jul 15 - 04:54 PM

Either the same ballad, or at least related,is
The Dowie Dens of Yarrow, MUCH longer
and more detailed than given in anything
above.

The "Yarrow" involved is a stream rather than a plant.

Dave Oesterreich

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Dreary dream
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 24 Jul 15 - 09:20 AM

Hello, Melinda. There is a good chance that the person you heard at camp was wrong. That is probably not a fragment of a long song. It is a modern reworking of some themes from the old ballad "The Braes of Yarrow" (also known as "The Dowie Dens of Yarrow.")

This is a common trend, supposedly - for old narrative (story-telling) works to become a source for lyrical (personal and emotional) works. Right now the only example I can think of is the "The Wizard of Oz" generating "Wicked."

The person who your song probably lived among people who were familiar with the old ballad. You can read about that ballad on Wikipedia.

I hope somebody sees this thread and provides information so you can put the song on your show. If not, get with a musician and write the melody down before it's lost forever.

Congratulations on treasuring the song so long.

Subject: Lyr Add: THE DREARY DREAM (John Jacob Niles)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 26 Jul 15 - 09:52 AM

From The Ballad Book of John Jacob Niles by John Jacob Niles (Houghton Mifflin Co., 1960), page 293:


THE DREARY DREAM (Niles No. 54 B)

1. For I have dreamed a dreary dream.
Oh, who is free of sorrow?
Oh, my love was dead on a leafy bed
Beside the river Yarrow.
Oh, my love was dead on a leafy bed
Beside the river Yarrow.

2. And many men did come and go,
And all were armed with knife.
They've slain, they've slain my own dear swain.
They've twined him of his life.
They've slain, they've slain my own dear swain.
They've twined him of his life.

3. It's I will read your dreary dream.
It's I will tell your sorrow.
It's I will tell you that your love
Is dead beside the Yarrow.
It's I will tell you that your love
Is dead beside the Yarrow.