Origins: Drowsy Sleeper

Subject: RE: Origins: Drowsy Sleeper
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 19 Jun 16 - 12:16 PM

There is also an English folk song (Roud 1362) of which oral versions have the title 'Over the hills and the mountains/Over hills and high mountains'. It can be traced back to 17thc broadsides. There's a more recent broadside at the Bodl. Harding B22 (381). It also features as 'Over Hills and High Mountains' in Chappell. The 17thc version is called 'The Wandering Maiden'.

Subject: RE: Origins: Drowsy Sleeper
From: Richie
Date: 19 Jun 16 - 08:50 PM

Hi,

The composed ballad (Silver Dagger), a rendition of which was sung by Sal Jenkins was known in some remote locations in the Appalachians which leads me to conclude it was in circulation by the 1820s. So we're still looking for that original print version.

TY everyone for your help. If anyone has other versions let me know. Stanzas of Drowsy Sleeper were incorporated into other similar ballads for example, Kelly Harrell's "O! Molly Dear Go Ask Your Mother" 1926.

Richie

Subject: RE: Origins: Drowsy Sleeper
From: Richie
Date: 20 Jun 16 - 08:28 AM

Hi,

Here's another variant resembling somewhat Christie's version, from Northumbrian Minstrelsy: A Collection of the Ballads, Melodies, and Small-Pipe Tunes of Northumbria; edited by John Collingwood Bruce, John Stokoe; 1882.

I Drew My Ship into the Harbour

   I drew my ship into the harbour,
    I drew her up where my true love lay,
I drew her close by up to the window,
   To listen what my dear girl did say.

"Who's there that raps so loud at my window
   That raps so loud and fain would be in?"
"It is your true love that loves you dearly,
   So rise, dear girl, and let him in."

Then slowly, slowly, got she up,
   And slowly, slowly, came she down;
But before she got the door unlocked
   Her true love had both come and gone.

"Come back, come back, my only true love,
   Come back, my ain one, and ease my pain;
Your voice I knew not, your face I saw not,
   Oh John my heart will break in twain."

The ripest apple is soonest rotten,
The hottest love is soonest cold;
Seldom seen, is soon forgotten,
True love is timid, so be not bold.

He's brisk and braw, lads, he's far awa' lads;
He's far beyond yon raging main,
Where fishers dancing and dark eyes glancing,
Have made him quite forget his ain.

Richie

Subject: RE: Origins: Drowsy Sleeper
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 20 Jun 16 - 08:38 AM

This version of 402 was much reprinted in anthologies like Oxford Song Book and New National Folk Song Book. The penultimate verse is of course a commonplace and the last verse is unique to this version.
You have a typo. 'aim' in sts 2 & 6 should be 'ain' = 'own'.

Subject: RE: Origins: Drowsy Sleeper
From: Richie
Date: 20 Jun 16 - 09:16 AM

TY Steve,

Will fix typo- there's another one too :) Waiting to get Grieg Duncan, if possible so I can compare versions. I assume its a number of pages- sorry.

The "over the hills lofty Mountain" verse is also found in the related "Rise Up Quickly and Let Me In" songs also known as "The Ghostly Lover" which has similar stanzas in "Drowsy Sleeper" and can be compared to Child's "Grey Cock."

I might post the Ontario version "I'll Go see my Love" so the relationship with Drowsy Sleeper is clear.

Richie

Subject: RE: Origins: Drowsy Sleeper
From: Richie
Date: 20 Jun 16 - 09:37 AM

Hi,

Another related "night visit" song (only related by the knocking at the window). See also related "Grey Cock."

I'll Go See My Love- ‎Sung by LaRena LeBarr Clark, Ontario-- dating back to the 1930s.

1. "This night of May I can stay no longer;
The burning tempest I have to cross,
And though the night be as dark as dungeon,
This very night I'll go see my love.

2. "And though the night be as dark as dungeon,
And no daylight should appear,
I will be guided without one stumble
Into the ar-rums of you, my dear."

3. And when he got to his true love's window
He gentlie knelt down on a stone,
And through the pane, oh, he whispered lowly:
"My darling girl, are you alone?"

4. She then arose from her soft down pillow,
And snowy milk-white was her breast
And through the pane, oh, she whispered lowly,
Saying, "Who's this keeps me from my night's rest?"

5. "'Tis your true lover, so now uncover,
And rise up quicklie and let me in,
I'm weary, weary, from my long journey,
Besides I'm wet, love, unto the skin."

6. She then arose with the greatest pleasure
To let her own dear true lover in.
They kissed, shook hands, and embraced each other
Till that long night wore to an end.

7. The night being spent and daylight appearing,
And the wee cocks they began to crow;
They kissed, shook hands, and in sorrow parted;
He took his leave and away did go.

Richie

Subject: RE: Origins: Drowsy Sleeper
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 20 Jun 16 - 12:45 PM

Yes,
Scotland was something of a melting pot for these night visit songs, but in my opinion, reached its zenith in Ireland with the likes of Cecilia Costello. Her 'Grey Cock' concoction is truly magnificent.

Subject: RE: Origins: Drowsy Sleeper
From: Richie
Date: 20 Jun 16 - 10:49 PM

Hi,

I will be giving some of the texts from the The Greig-Duncan folk song collection - Volume 4 Edited by Patrick N. Shuldham-Shaw, ‎Emily B. Lyle - 1981. Collected in Northern Scotland in the early 1900s before c. 1914 by Gavin Greig (1856–1914), and the minister James Bruce Duncan (1848-1917). Here's version A:

A. I WILL SET MY SHIP IN ORDER- J.W. Spence - G

1. I will set my fine ship in order,
I will sail her into the sea,
I'll sail to some foreign nation
To see if my love will fancy me.

2. I sail-ed east and I sail-ed west,
And I sailed far, far seekin' land,
Until I came to my true love's window,
And knock-ed loudly and would be in.

3. Who is that at my bow[er] window,
That knocks so loudly and would be in?
It's I, it's I, your ain true lover,
I hope ye'll rise up and let me in.

4. Few true lovers I have without,
And it is as few I have within,
Except it be my true Love, Johnnie,
And I'm sure ye are nae him.

5. Go ye love and ask your father,
If he be willing that ye my bride be,
And if he denies thee come back and tell me,
For it is the last night I'll visit thee.

6. My father's in his chamber writing,
And setting down his merchandise;
And he has a letter in his pocket,
Which greatly speaks much to your dispraise.

7. To my dispraise, my bonnie lassie,
To my dispraise it cannot be,
For I never slighted thee nor yet denied you,
Till the last night you slighted me.

8 Go ye love and ask your mother,
If she be willing that ye my bride be,
And if she denies thee come back and tell me,
For it is the last night I'll visit thee.

9. My mother's in her closet sleeping,
The sounds of love she will not hear,
But quickly go, and court another,
And whispers softly in her ear.

10. Slowly, slowly this maid rose up,
And slowly put her clothing on,
But before she got her door unlocked
His ship was sailing and he was gone.

Richie

Subject: RE: Origins: Drowsy Sleeper
From: Richie
Date: 20 Jun 16 - 11:04 PM

Hi,

TY Steve Gardham for sending me copies of the texts.

From: The Greig-Duncan folk song collection - Volume 4; edited by Patrick N. Shuldham-Shaw, ‎Emily B. Lyle - 1981. Collected in North Scotland early 1900s by Gavin Greig (1856–1914), and the minister James Bruce Duncan 1848-1917).

B. I WILL SET MY SHIP IN ORDER- Mrs Sangster- G

1. I will put my good ship in order,
And I will sail out owre the main,
I've sailed into some foreign country
To see what tidings I can bring home.

2. I sailed east and I sailed west,
And I sailed far, far seeking land,
Until I came to my true love's window,
And rapped loudly and would be in.

3. Who's that, who's that raps at my window,
It raps so loudly and would be in?
It's I, I, your true love Johnnie,
And I'm sure well it's nae him."

4. Few few lovers have I [with]out,
And as few I have [with]in,
Unless it be my true love Johnnie,
And I'm well sure it's nae him.

5. Oh then go and ask your mother,
And see if she'll let you my bride be,
And if she deny you come back and tell me,
It may be the last time I'll visit thee.

6. "My mother's in her chamber sleeping,
You knock so loudly an' she winna hear,
She bids you love and court another,
And whisper slowly in her ear.

7. Oh then oh then go and ask your father,
See if he'll let you my bride be,
If he deny you come back and tell me,
It may be the last time I'll visit thee.

8. "My father's in his chamber writing,
And setting down at his merchandise;
In his hand he holds a letter,
That speaks much unto your dispraise.

9. To my dispraise, my bonnie lovey,
To my dispraise how can that be,
For I've neither wronged not yet denied thee,
And thrice this night you've denied me.

10 Up she rose, put her clothes,
It was to let her true lovie in ,
Before she got herself araiked [arrayed]
The ship was sailing out owre the main.

11. Come back, my bonnie lovey, come back my bonnie,
Come back, come back speak now wi' me.
How could I come and speak wi' you,
And our ship sailing out owre the seas?

12.The fish may fly, love, the seas go dry,
And the rocks may moulder and sweep the sun[1],
The husbandmen may forget their labour
So keep your love till I return[2].

1. original has "sund"
2. This stanza is from "True-Lovers Farewell" family of songs and can be traced back to the broadside "The Unkind Parents, or, The Languishing Lamentation of two Loyal Lovers" late 1600s.

Subject: RE: Origins: Drowsy Sleeper
From: Richie
Date: 21 Jun 16 - 11:05 AM

Hi,

There are no notes. This is what I've gathered:

A. I Will Set my Fine ship in Order; Collected by Gavin Grieg in April, 1906; Sung by J. W. Spence of Rosecroft, Fyvie. Spence learned his songs from his father W. Spence of Peterhead and his sister Miss H. Spence of New deer also sang some ballads.

B. I will put my good ship in order; Collected by Gavin Grieg, no date before 1914 (c.1910). Sung by Mrs. Sangster of Cortiecram, Mintlaw; died about 1919 at the age of 80. She also sang a version of Child 52.

Steve may have more info,

Richie

Subject: RE: Origins: Drowsy Sleeper
From: Richie
Date: 21 Jun 16 - 11:57 AM

Hi,

More from The Greig-Duncan Folk Song Collection - Volume 4; edited by Patrick N. Shuldham-Shaw, ‎Emily B. Lyle - 1981. Collected in North Scotland in early 1900s by Gavin Greig (1856–1914), and the minister James Bruce Duncan 1848-1917). It should be noted that this version is likely much older than my estimated date of 1909 (she died in 1910 at her son's home), since she learned most of her ballads at home from her parents and a family washerwoman, as well as local singers such as George Innes.

C. I WILL SET MY SHIP IN ORDER- Sung by Mrs. Margaret Gillespie of Glasgow, Scotland, c. 1909. Born in 1841 and died in 1910 in Tranvaal. Daughter of William Duncan, collected by James B. Duncan, her brother.

1. I will set my ship in order,
An' I will put her to the sea,
An' I'll sail over to yonder border
To see gin my love will fancy me.

2. We sail-ed east an' we sail-ed west,
We sail-ed up, so did we down,
Through France and Flanders we spent no leisure,
Until we sail-ed the whole world 'round.

3. We sail-ed east an' we sail-ed west,
We sail-ed up, so did we down,
Until we sail-ed to yonder harbour,
The harbour where my love was in.

4. I walk-ed east, I walk-ed west,
I walk-ed up, so did I down,
Until I came to my love's bower window,
When I knocked sae loudly and wid[1] be in.

5. O who is that at my bower window,
That knocks so loud and wid[1] be in?
Tis I, tis I, your true love Johnnie,
O rise, O rise an' let me in.

6. I have no lovers without, she said
And as few have I within,
Unless it be my true love Johnnie,
An' sure am I that ye're nae him.

7. Ye may go and ask yere mother,
If she be willing ye my bride be,
If she denies me come back an' tell me,
It'll be the last time I'll visit thee.

8. My mother's in her bedroom chamber,
Combing down her yellow hair;
But she says ye may go an' ask another
And whisper softly in her ear.

9. Ye may go and ask yere father,
If he be willing ye my bride be,
If he denies me come back an' tell me,
It'll be the last time I'll visit thee.

10. My father's in his office writing,
Settling up his merchandise;
In his right hand he holds a letter,
And it speaks greatly to your dispraise.

11. To my dispraise, that is not true love,
To my dishonour, that cannot be,
For I never slighted you nor yet disowned you,
Until this night you've slighted me.

12 If ye be Johnie, my true love Johnie,
I will rise an' let you in,
But e'er she got unto the window
He was bound for his ship again.

13. Up she rose put on her clothes,
It was to let her true love in,
But fore[2] she had the door unlocked
His ship was sailing on the main.

14. Come back, come back, my true love Johnie,
Come back, come back an' I'll let you in
The ship is sailing an' the wind is blowing,
An' how can I return again?

15. Come back, come back, my true love Johnie,
Come back, come back I'll be your bride
The ship is sailing an' the wind is blowing,
An' floating swiftly wi' the tide.

16. Tho all the hills were pens and paper
An' all the seas were perfect ink
Tho the hills of Goram were ink holder
To my love's praise I never would write.

17. The fish may fly, an' the seas gang dry,
And the rocks they may melt wi' the sund[2],
And husbandmen may give over labour
That shall a' be, fore[3] I return.

1. would
2. sand
3. before; has "or"

Subject: RE: Origins: Drowsy Sleeper
From: Richie
Date: 21 Jun 16 - 01:58 PM

Hi,

More from The Greig-Duncan Folk Song Collection - Volume 4; edited by Patrick N. Shuldham-Shaw, ‎Emily B. Lyle - 1981. Collected in North Scotland in early 1900s by Gavin Greig (1856–1914), and the minister James Bruce Duncan 1848-1917). See in text lines that correspond to Ramsay from TTM:

'Tis time you were wean'd from your mother,
You're fitter for a lover's arms.

Also Drowsy Sleeper opening lines in stanza 3.


D. I WILL SET MY GOOD SHIP IN ORDER- Sung by Mr. Alexander M. Lee and Mrs. Lee of Stichen in June, 1908. Mr Lee was a chemist in Strichen at that time and a member of the Buchan Club.

1. I will set my good ship in order,
And I will set her to the sea,
And I'll sail over to yonder ocean
To see gin my love will fancy me.

2. We sail-ed east sae did we west,
We sail-ed up, sae did we down,
From the port of Venice to the coast of Genoa,
All the ocean we sail-ed 'round.

3. Now unto my love's bower window,
And see what she's got to say,
Awake, awake you downy[1] sleeper,
Awake, awake it's almost day.

4. Ye'll gang to your father's bower,
And see if he'll let you my bride be,
If he deny you, come back and tell me,
It'll be the last time I'll visit thee.

5. My father's in his office writing,
Trading out his merchandise;
In his hand he holds a letter,
That speaketh much to your dispraise.

6. To my dispraise, love, how can that be?
Or how can it speak ill of thee?
I never proved you an inconstant lover,
Until this time you've denied me.

7. Gang tell your mother love,
And see gin she'll let you my bride be,
If she denies, then come back and tell me,
It'll be the last time I'll visit thee.

8. My mother is in her chamber sleeping
And the terms of marriage wouldn't reach her ear,
It's so my love go chise[2] another
She softly whispered in my ear.

9. Oh how can I go chise another
And you so full o' beauty's charms?
You're fit enough to leave your mother[3]
You're fit enough for your true love's arms.

10 Up she rose, put on her clothes,
For let her true love in,
But before she got the door unlock-ed
Her true love, he was past and gone.

11. Come back, come back, my true lovie,
Come back, come back and speak with me,
The drums may beat and the cannon roar,
But I hinna time to speak wi' thee.

12 The fish may fly, and the seas gang dry,
And the rocks melt in the sun,
And workin' man may give over labour
But ne'er to you, love, will I return.

1. drowsy
2. choose
3. Compare to lines from Ramsay above.

Subject: RE: Origins: Drowsy Sleeper
From: Richie
Date: 21 Jun 16 - 06:16 PM

Hi,

This is another hybrid version from the US. It mixes East Virginia Blues/In Old Virginny (Sharp II, No. 167) with Drowsy Sleeper. B.F Shelton's 1927 recording does also but his only has one stanza of Drowsy Sleeper.

O! MOLLY DEAR GO ASK YOUR MOTHER- As sung by Kelly Harrell of Draper's Valley, Wythe County, Virginia; recorded 1926.

Wake up, wake up, you drowsy sleeper
Wake up, wake up, for it's almost day
How can you stand to sleep and slumber
When your true lover's going away

Once I lived in old Virginia
To North Carolina I did go
There I spied a nice young lady
Oh her name I did not know

Her hair was black and her eyes was sparkling
And on her cheeks were diamonds red
And on her breast she wore a lily
Oh/o'er the tears that I did shed

When I'm asleep I'm dreaming about her
When I'm awake I see no rest
Every moment seems like an hour
Oh the pains that cross my breast

Oh Molly dear, go ask your mother
If you my bride can ever be
If she says no, come back and tell me
And I no more will trouble thee

Oh no, I'll not go ask my mother
For she lies on her bed at rest
And in one hand she holds a dagger
To kill the man that I love best.

Richie

Subject: RE: Origins: Drowsy Sleeper
From: Richie
Date: 22 Jun 16 - 09:54 PM

Hi,

I'll post one more version of the Scotch "I'll Put My Ship" soon.

The Carter Family's Virginia version "Who's That Knockin' On My Window" was recorded June 8, 1938. Look at this verse,

I've come to whisper in your ear, love
Do you think it any harm?
I've come to wean you of your mother
Pray trust yourself in your darling's arms!

and compare to lines from: Ramsay's Tea-Table Miscellany, c. 1725

Go tell your passion to some other,
Or whisper softly in my ear.

'Tis time you were wean'd from your mother,
You're fitter for a lover's arms.

Another version not found on the web is Victor recording 23795 made in Memphis, TN on 6-4-1930 by The Oaks Family. They were led by Charlie Oaks who was a blind street singer from Richmond, Kentucky. He recorded solo for Vocalion as early as 1924.

Wake up, You Drowsy Sleeper- Oaks Family lead by Charlie Oaks (vocals and guitar), recorded June 4, 1930.

[Harmonica solo]

Wake up, wake up, you drowsy sleeper
Wake up, wake up, for it's almost day;
Stick your head out of the window
And see your true love march away.

Who is there that's come so early
Who is there that's come so soon?
Katie dear, it's your true lover
That's come so early and so soon.

[Harp break]

Katie, dear, go ask your parents,
If you may be the bride of mine,
And say "No," return and tell me,
And no longer will I pine."

Willie dear, it's no use asking,
They're in their room a-taking a rest
And in their hands they both hold daggers,
To kill the one that I love best.

I'll then take out my silver dagger,
And pierce it in my tender breast
Saying goodbye Katie goodbye darling
I'll die for the one that I love the best

I'll then take out this bloody dagger,
And pierce it in my lily-white breast,
Saying goodbye Katie[1] goodbye darling,
I'll die for the one that I love the best.

[guitar solo]

Oh may this day be long remembered,
Oh may this day be ne'er forgot,
To all your cruel-hearted parents,
Who try and keep two lovers apart.

1. It should be "Willie" and Katie is singing.

Subject: RE: Origins: Drowsy Sleeper
From: Richie
Date: 23 Jun 16 - 11:03 PM

Hi,

More from The Greig-Duncan Folk Song Collection - Volume 4; edited by Patrick N. Shuldham-Shaw, ‎Emily B. Lyle - 1981. Collected in North Scotland in early 1900s by Gavin Greig (1856–1914), and the minister James Bruce Duncan 1848-1917).

G- I Will Put My Ship- Sung by Mrs. Watt of Whinhill, New Deer, collected by Gavin Greig, c. 1910.

1. It's I will put my ship in order,
And I will sail out owre the main,
I'll sail into some foreign country
To see what tidings I can bring hame.

2. I've sail-ed east and I've sail-ed west,
We sail-ed far, far seeking land,
Till i came to me true love's window
And rapped loudly and would be in.

3. "Who's that, who's that raps at my window
That raps so loudly and would be in,"
"It's I, it's I your true love Johnnie,
O rise, o rise and lat me in."

4 Few, few lovers have I out,
And as few have I in,
Unless it be my true love Johnnie,
And I'm weel sure love, that ye're nae him.

5. Oh then, oh then, go and ask your mother,
To see if she'll let ye my bride be,
If she deny ye'll come back and tell me,
It may be the last time I may visit thee.

6. My mother's in her chamber sleeping,
The knocks so loudly winna hear;
She bids you go love and court another
And whisper [her] slowly into her ear.

7. Oh then, oh then, go and ask your father,
To see if he'll let ye my bride be,
If he deny ye'll come back and tell me,
It may be the last time I may visit thee.

8. My father's in her chamber writing,
And setting down at this merchandise;
And in his hand he holds a letter,
It speaks much to your dispraise.

9. To my dispraise, my bonnie lovey,
To my dispraise, how can it be?
For I've never wronged or yet denied you,
And thice this night you've denied me.

10. Then up she rode, put on her clothes,
It was to let her true lovey in,
Before she got herself arrayed,
The ship was sailing oot owre the main.

11. Come back, come back, my bonnie lovey,
Come back, come back speak wi' me now
How could I come back, speak wi' ye,
And our ship sailing oot owre the main?

12. The fish may fly, love, the seas go dry, love
The rocks may moulder and weep the sand,
And husbandmen may forget their labour
So keep your love, until I return.

Richie

Subject: RE: Origins: Drowsy Sleeper
From: Richie
Date: 26 Jun 16 - 02:48 PM

Hi,

The original composed ballad, "The Silver Dagger" has not been found. However it was collected in 1838 and a collected version from southern Indiana was published in 1849 and 1850 in New York and Vermont. The ballad has rarely been found in tradition in the Northeast or Canada. The print version would be circa 1810 and maybe as late as 1820. It begins:

The Silver Dagger

Young men and maidens pray lend attention,
To these few lines I am about to write:
It is as true as ever was mentioned
Concerning a fair beauty bright. [1849 text]

The author uses one traditional stanza (7) and uses it again for half of 11:

7 Then out she pulled her Silver Dagger.
And pierced it through her snow white breast;
At first she reeled, and then she staggered,
Saying, oh! my dear, I'm going to rest.

Compare this to Wehman's and two other traditional NY versions:

The 7th stanza, is found similarly in the only print version from 1890[7]:

So Katy drew that bloody dagger
And pierced it through her lily-white breast;
Saying, adieu to father, adieu to mother,
Adieu sweet Willie, with thee I rest. [Wehman's 1890]

And then she plunged that bloody dagger
Unto her lily-white breast,
"Sing farewell, Father, Mother;
Now we are both at rest. [Eleanor Franz of Dolgeville, NY before 1939]

Then Mary seized that blood-stained dagger
And pierced it through her lily-white breast.
Bid farewell to father and mother,
"Farewell, farewell, we're now at rest." [George Edwards, NY pre1940s Cazden]

All retain the rhyme of "breast/rest" in lines 2 and 4 but the 1849 version adds dagger/stagger in lines 1 and 3, a typical broadside writer's invention.

Here's my point: Traditional versions in North America that have "silver dagger" in the text or the traditional stanza 7 are simply versions of Drowsy Sleeper- they are not versions of the composed "Silver Dagger." This has been confused by the Traditional Ballad Index and most collectors who often say, "the end is mixed with 'Silver Dagger.'"

Richie

Subject: RE: Origins: Drowsy Sleeper
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 26 Jun 16 - 03:01 PM

Great research, Richie. You might find the original in one of the many American songsters of the period.

Subject: RE: Origins: Drowsy Sleeper
From: Richie
Date: 27 Jun 16 - 12:45 PM

Hi,

The "Over High hills and Lofty Mountains" connection is evident in a series of related songs from Ireland often titled "Sweet Bann Water."

Len Graham's version begins:

Away[Awake], away, I can stay no longer.
The sweet Bann water I mean to cross.
Over high high hills and lovely[lofty] mountains.
To spend the night with my own wee lass.

It's similar to I'll Go See My Love as sung by LaRena LeBarr Clark, Ontario which I posted that is related to "The Grey Cock." Sarah Underhill has recorded Joe Holmes/Len Graham version which is similar to the version by Valentine Crawford collected in the Commercial Hotel, Bushmills in September 1937:

Sweet Bann Water

I must away, I'll no longer tarry,
The sweet Bann water I mean to cross,
And over the mountains I'll roam with pleasure,
And spend one night with my own wee lass.

If the night was dark as a dungeon
And not a star ever to appear,
I would be guided without a stumble
To that sweet arbour where lies my dear.

When I came to my true love's window,
I kneel-ed low on a marble stone,
And through a pane I did whisper slowly,
Saying, 'Darling, darling, are you at home?'

She raised her head from her downy pillow,
And covered was her snow-white breast,
Saying, 'Who is that, that is at my window
Disturbing me quite of my night's rest?

' 'It is I, it is I, your poor wounded lover,
So rise up, darling, and let me in,
For I am tired of my long journey,
Besides I'm wet, love, into the skin.'

When this long night was almost ended
And drawing nigh to the break of day,
She says, 'My darling, the cocks are crowing,
It's now full time you were going away.'

'Well , you may go , love , and ask your father
If he be willing you my bride may be,
And what he says, love, come back and tell me,
For this is the last night I'll trouble thee.'

'I need not go, love, to ask my father
For he is lying in his bed of ease
And in his hand he does hold a letter
Which leadeth much on to your dispraise.'

'Well, you may go, love, and ask your mother
If she be willing you my bride will be
And what she says, love, come back and tell me,
For this is the last night I'll trouble thee.'

'I need not go, love, to ask my mother,
For to love's silence she won't give ear,
But away, away, and court some other
That will consent without a fear.'

For after night, love, there comes a morning,
And after morning comes a new day,
And after one false love comes another,
It's hard to hold them that must sway.

Richie

Subject: RE: Origins: Drowsy Sleeper
From: Richie
Date: 28 Jun 16 - 11:47 AM

Hi,

I'm putting the North American versions on my site (over 200): http://www.bluegrassmessengers.com/us--canada-versions-2-the-drowsy-sleeper.aspx

From: The Traditional Music of Beech Mountain; Folk Legacy CD22; also New American Songster; and Folksongs II, Burton and Manning, 1969. Burton and Manning's text was sung in 1966 by Hattie Presnell as taken from Lee Monroe. Hattie's text is different in several places.

Lee Monroe Presnell, the youngest of ten children, was born in May 15, 1876 on the "Wataugy" river. His father was Eli Murphy Presnell and his mother was Council Harmon's daughter Louisa Jane Harmon.

"Awake, Awake, My Old True Lover"- sung by Lee Monroe Presnell of Beech Mountain, NC. Probably learned circa 1886 from his mother.

1 Awake, awake, my old true lover;
Awake, arise, it's almost day.
How can you bear those thoughts of[1] sleeping,
And your true love going away?

2 "Oh, who is that a-knocking at my window?
I pray you'll tell to me."
"It's me, it's me, your old true lover;
Awake, arise, come pity me."

3 "Go love, go and ask your father
If this night you could be my bride.
If he says no, so return and tell me;
[It will] be my last time ever bother thee."

4 "I can't go and ask my father,
For he's on his bed of rest,
And by his side there lies a weapon
To kill the one that I love best."

5. Go love, go and ask your mama
If this night you could be my bride.
If she says no, so return and tell me;
[It'll] Be my last time ever bother thee.

6 "I can't go and ask my mama
And tell her of your love so dear.
You may go and court some other
And whisper soft-lie in her ear.

7 "I will go to some wide river,
Spend my days, my months and years;
Eat anything but the green growing willows,
Also drink from my flowing tears.

8 "Come back, come back, my old true lover
And stay a little while with me.
I will forsake my dear old mother
And go along by the side of thee."

1. sings what sounds like "soft, soft" probably forgotten

Richie

Subject: RE: Origins: Drowsy Sleeper
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 28 Jun 16 - 01:53 PM

Sweet Bann Water

Is this a modern hybrid or does it have some precedence in other versions?

It looks like 6 stanzas of The Grey Cock, 4 stanzas of Awake, Awake and finishing with a commonplace, but that's off the top of my head.

Subject: RE: Origins: Drowsy Sleeper
From: Richie
Date: 28 Jun 16 - 02:14 PM

Hi,

This was published by Gale Huntington in Sam Henry's Songs of the People as collected by Sam Henry in 1937. A number of covers have been made. It's similar to other versions of "Sweet Bann Water" such as Len Graham's version (source: Joe Holmes?). There are several texts online with no attribution. They are missing the additional Drowsy Sleeper stanzas and are versions related to The Grey Cock (The Ghostly Lover/The Lover's Ghost):

Sweet Bann Water

    I must away, I'll no longer tarry,
    The Sweet Bann Water I mean to cross,
    And over the mountains I'll go with pleasure,
    To spend a night with my own sweet lass.

    Though the night be as dark as a dungeon,
    Not a star to be seen above,
    I will be guided without a stumble
    Into the arms of my own true love.

    When he came to his true love's window,
    He knelt gently upon a stone,
    And through the window he whispered slowly,
    My darling dear, do you lie alone?

    She raised her head from her downy pillow,
    And slowly raised her milk-white breast,
    Saying, Who is this at my bedroom window,
    Disturbing me at my night's rest ?

    Arise, arise, it's your true lover,
    Arise, my love, and let me in,
    For I am weary of my long journey
    And I am wet, love, unto the skin.

    It's up she got, with greatest pleasure,
    For to let her true love in.
    They both embraced and they kissed each other,
    And till morning they lay as one.

    The cocks were crowing, the birds were whistling,
    The night drew on to the break of day.
    Remember, lass, I'm a ploughboy laddie,
    And the farmer I must obey.

    Now, my love, I must go and leave you,
    To climb the hills, they lie high above,
    But I will climb with greatest pleasure
    Since I've been lying with my love. [source???]


Since the Sam Henry version has "high hills and lofty mountains" or a line resembling that I was wondering about broadside "The Wandering Maiden" that you mentioned. Is it in the Bodleian?

Also if anyone has lyrics to Sarah Ogan Gunning's Silver Dagger or knows where a recording is online- I'd appreciate it.

Richie

Subject: RE: Origins: Drowsy Sleeper
From: Richie
Date: 28 Jun 16 - 02:36 PM

Hi,

Steve- I'm missing one page of Greig/Duncan; 163 and with that page I can finish two versions of "I Will Set My Ship". TY Here is the broadside:

"The Wandering Maiden; or, True Love at length united," &c.: "to an excellent new tune." "Printed by J. Deacon, at the Angel in Guiltspur Street, without Newgate." It commences thus :—

"Over hills and high mountains long time have I gone;
Ah ! and down by the fountains, by myself all alone;
Through bushes and briars, being void of all care,
Through perils and dangers for the loss of my dear."

This seems like "Bramble Briar" but I can't find the rest of the text.

Richie

Subject: RE: Origins: Drowsy Sleeper
From: Richie
Date: 28 Jun 16 - 02:57 PM

Hi,

Steve, I found Wandering Maiden in Bagford Ballads so I don't need the rest of it. There's really nothing relating to either of these,

TY anyway

Richie

Subject: RE: Origins: Drowsy Sleeper
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 28 Jun 16 - 05:02 PM

p163 despatched.

Subject: RE: Origins: Drowsy Sleeper
From: Richie
Date: 28 Jun 16 - 11:22 PM

TY steve

Here's an Irish text from John Butcher, 1969 (collected by Hugh Shields) which also has elements of "The Lover's Ghost":

The Cock Is Crowing

1. Oh the cock is crowing, daylight's appearing,
It's drawing nigh to the break of day,
-Arise my charmer, out of your slumber,
And listen to what your true-love says.

2. He walk-ed to his true love's window,
He kneel-ed low down upon a stone,
And through a pane he did whisper slowly,
-Arise my darling and let me in.

3. -O, who is that, that is at my window,
Or who is that, that knows me so well?
It's I, it's I, a poor wounded lover,
Who fain would talk, love, to you awhile.

4. Well go away love and ask your daddy,
If he'll allow you my bride to be,
If he says no, return and tell me,
For this is the last night I'll trouble you.

5. Well my dada is in his bed chamber,
He's fast asleep in his bed of ease,
But in his pocket there lies a letter,
Which read-es far, love, to your dispraise.

6. Oh, what dispraise can he give unto me?
A faithful husband to you I'll be,
And what all the neighbors has 'round their houses,
The same, my darling, you'll have with me.

7. Well go away love and ask your mammy,
If she'll allow you my bride to be,
If she says no, return and tell me,
For this is the last night I'll trouble you.

8. Well my mama is an old-age person,
She scarce could hear me, one word I say,
But she says, love, you go court some other,
For I'm not fitting, love, your bride to be.

9. Well I may go but I'll court no other,
My heart's still link-ed to all on your charms,
I would have you wed, love and leave your mammy,
For you're just fit to lie in your true-love's arms.

10. Now Kellybawn it is mine in chorus (sic),
And the green fields they are mine in white,
And if my pen was made of the temper steel,
Sure my true-loves praises I could never write.

11. But I'll go off to the wild mountains,
Where I'll see nothing but the wild deers,
Nor I'll eat nothing but the wild herbs,
Nor I'll drink nothing but my true-love's (spoken) tears.

Richie

Subject: RE: Origins: Drowsy Sleeper
From: Richie
Date: 28 Jun 16 - 11:46 PM

Hi,

Didn't know Butcher text and tune was online. You can listen here: http://www.itma.ie/digitallibrary/sound/cocks_is_crowing_john_butcher_senior

Richie

Subject: RE: Origins: Drowsy Sleeper
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 29 Jun 16 - 04:12 AM

These hybrid versions would make a very interesting close study.

I'm just about to revisit 'Wild and Wicked Youth' which has also been hybridised but much earlier. The chorus and some verses of a 17th century highwayman ballad 'The Flash Lad' have been mixed up with the normal 18th century 'Wild and Wicked Youth' making things difficult.

Subject: RE: Origins: Drowsy Sleeper
From: Richie
Date: 29 Jun 16 - 12:01 PM

Hi,

It's interesting to note that Scarborough says in "A Song Catcher" that "This is an Irish ballad." She wrote this about 1931 but she gets her information from other collectors/commentators and would not have written that unless she was informed. She gives no source for this statement.

My last two posted texts are hybrid Irish versions of the Drowsy Sleeper, both lacking the normal "Awake, awake you drowsy sleeper" opening stanza(s). They do have stanzas of "grey cock" which I believe is traced back to a broadside "Willy- O".

Steve--do you have that broadside or know where it is online?

Ty

Richie

Subject: RE: Origins: Drowsy Sleeper
From: Richie
Date: 29 Jun 16 - 02:33 PM

Hi,

I found Willy-O at Bodleian- Firth c12(293) and 2806 c15(136), Dublin, 1867. There are only two relevant stanzas:

As Mary lay sleeping, her true love came creeping
To her bed-chamber door so slow,
Saying rise up, lovely Mary,
For I am your own true Willy O.

Mary rose up and put on her clothes,
To her chamber door did go,
It's there she found her own true love
And his face as white as snow.


Two lines of the second stanza are found similarly in "I will Set my Ship:

Mary rose up and put on her clothes,
To her chamber door did go, [Willy-O]

There's not much of a connection between Willy-O and the two Irish variants of "Drowsy Sleeper" which are Henry's "Sweet Bann Water" and Shields' "The Cock Is Crowing."

Richie

Subject: Lyr Add: GREY COCK
From: Richie
Date: 29 Jun 16 - 02:52 PM

Hi,

This version is very close to the online text titled "Sweet Bann Water" except that line is different; it has "burning Thames." It's a version of Grey Cock as sung by Mrs Cecilia Costello, Birmingham (M.S. & P.S.-S. 1951)

'I must be going, no longer staying,
The burning Thames I have to cross.
Oh, I must be guided without a stumble
Into the arms of my dear lass.'

When he came to his true love's window,
He knelt down gently on a stone,
And it's through a pane he whispered slowly.
'My dear girl, are you alone?'

She rose her head from her down-soft pillow,
And snowy were her milk-white breasts,
Saying: 'Who's there, who's there at my bedroom window,
Disturbing me from my long night's rest?'

'Oh, I'm your love and don't discover,*
I pray you rise, love, and let me in,
For I am fatigued from my long night's journey.
Besides, I am wet into the skin.'

Now this young girl rose and put on her clothing.
She quickly let her own true love in.
Oh, they kissed, shook hands, and embraced together,
Till that long night was near an end.

'O Willie dear, O dearest Willie,
Where is that colour you'd some time ago?'
'O Mary dear, the clay has changed me.
I'm but the ghost of your Willie O.'

'Then O cock, O cock, O handsome cockerel,
I pray you not crow until it is day.
For your wings I'll make of the very first beaten gold,
And your comb I'll make of the silver grey.'

But the cock it crew, and it crew so fully.
It crew three hours before it was day.
And before it was day, my love had to go away.
Not by the light of the moon or the light of day.

Then it's 'Willie dear, O dearest Willie,
Whenever shall I see you again?'
'When the fish they fly, love, and the sea runs dry, love,
And the rocks they melt in the heat of the sun.'

The last stanza and the last two lines are found in "I Will Set my ship" see versions posted above. The first several stanzas are found in Henry's "Sweet Bann Water" of 1937.

Richie

Subject: RE: Origins: Drowsy Sleeper
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 29 Jun 16 - 03:13 PM

Richie,
Costello's song is made up of 3 separate songs, 2 Scottish and one Irish. Willy-o Roud 22567 as you have found is the Irish one, the old Scots song of 'the Grey Cock' Roud 179 found in Herd and elsewhere and the largely Scots song Roud 22568 with various titles which goes under my Master Title 'Night Visiting Song'. Whoever put the 3 songs together was a genius but we are unlikely ever to find out.

Subject: RE: Origins: Drowsy Sleeper
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 29 Jun 16 - 03:16 PM

I should add there will be other threads on all 3 songs.

Subject: RE: Origins: Drowsy Sleeper
From: Richie
Date: 29 Jun 16 - 05:05 PM

Hi,

TY Steve. What originally piqued my interest in Drowsy Sleepers back 12 years ago or so is its association with East Carolina Blues or as Sharp titled it "Old Virginny" which begins:

I was born in old Virginny,
North Carolina I did go. . .

This was a song I'd played many times with my bluegrass group and I noticed other people singing "Drowsy Sleeper" lyrics mixed in. Here's an example of Drowsy Sleeper with the East Carolina Blues lyrics mixed in:

Lila Shiflett, of Pirkey, Virginia, contributed a version.

(C) Drowsy Sleepers [original spelling kept]

Wake up, wake up, you drowsy sleepers,
Wake up, wake up, for it's almost day.
How can you stand for to sleep and slumber
When your own true love is going away?

Once I lived in old Virginia,
To North Carolina I did go,
And there I spyed a nice young lady,
And oh her name I did not know.

Her hair was black, her eyes were sparkling,
And on her cheeks were diamonds red,
And on her breast she wore a lily,
And ah the tears that I did shed.

When I am sleep I am dreaming about her,
When I am awake I see no rest.
Every moment seems like an hour,
And ah the pains that crosst my breast.

Oh, Mollie dear, go ask your mother
If you my bride can ever be,
And if she says no, come back and tell me,
And I no more will trouble thee.

Ah, no, I will not go ask my mother,
For she lies on her bed at rest,
And in one hand she holds a dagger
To kill the man that I love best.

From: Scarborough; "A Song Catcher in the Southern Mountains" 1938, published posthumously. Her notes follow:

This is an Irish ballad, which fact explains its omission from Child's collection, or from the Virginia volume which limits itself to Child items. It is given by Cecil Sharp in his English Folk Songs from the Southern Appalachians, listed as a ballad, and he notes its previous appearances in Britain (Gavin Grieg's Folk-Song of the North-East, I, arts. 54, 123; Christie's Traditional Ballad Airs, I, 225, etc.). Professor Kittredge has a note on it in the Journal of American Folk-Lore,XX,260, as a variant of a song which Allan Cunningham knew in a Nithsdale version and quotes in part in a note to "O, my luve's like a red, red rose," in his edition of Burns, 1834, IV, 285.
Sharp gives it under the title of "Arise, Arise," I, 72. Baskerville discusses it as one of a group of songs in "The Night Visit," Publications of the Modern Language Association, XXXI, 566 et seq.

This ballad is pieced out in some instances with parts of a song current in America, called "The Silver Dagger," or "The Bloody Dagger," but they are not the same.

In the Charles Read Baskervill article mentioned by Scarborough is the Ramsay text (TTM circa 1725) which Steve quoted-- which I already had on my web-site but overlooked.

The question is: Why does Scarborough call this an Irish ballad?

Richie

Subject: RE: Origins: Drowsy Sleeper
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 29 Jun 16 - 05:33 PM

Richie,
That was a long time ago. She was probably picking out a verse she had seen something similar to it in what she supposed was an Irish song.
I wouldn't place too much weight on this.

She may have based it just on the name 'Molly'! You can drive yourself barmy trying to follow up comments like this. Highly unlikely is my response.

Subject: RE: Origins: Drowsy Sleeper
From: Richie
Date: 29 Jun 16 - 06:40 PM

Hi,

This version from Randolph's Ozark Folksongs, vol. I, British Ballads and Songs, manages to quote Joan Baez and also Alan Ramsey!! See footnotes below.

C. "Love Will Find a Way." Communicated by Professor F. M. Goodhue, Mena, Ark., Oct. 10, 1930. Professor Goodhue obtained it from one of his neighbors, who called it "Love Will Find a Way," and insisted that the song was written by a Mrs. Sarah A. Foster, in April, 1869.

Awake, awake, you drowsy sleepers,
Awake, awake, for it's almost day,
Day is breakin' here an' yonder,
Day is breakin' everywhere.

Love can creep an' love can wonder,
Love can go where it does not show,
Love has been the ruin of many,
A many a pore man's overthrow.

My father's a-layin' in his bed chamber,
A-takin' of his natural rest,
An' in his hand he holds a weapon
To stay the one that I love best.

Don't sing no songs to wake my mother[1],
No songs of love would she wish to hear,
Go sing your songs to some other lady,
Some other lady more beauty than I.

Oh madam, oh madam, I court no other,
For thinkin' on your lovely charms,
It is time you was weanin' from your mother[2],
Embracin' of your true love's arm.

Footnotes:

1. See Joan Baez, 1960;

   Don't sing love songs, you'll wake my mother
   She's sleeping here right by my side,

2. See also Allan Ramsay's Tea-table Miscellany; 1725:

    'Tis time you were wean'd from your mother,
    You're fitter for a lover's arms.

Subject: RE: Origins: Drowsy Sleeper
From: Richie
Date: 29 Jun 16 - 06:52 PM

Hi Steve,

Scarborough was not a researcher, she relied on other people's opinions and some collector told her this- that it was Irish. Very curious! The supposition is that it has to be Irish since Child's ballads were English and Scottish and it wasn't included :) Barmy indeed!

I did find this in Fraser's Magazine, Volume 3, edited by James Anthony Froude, John Tulloch; 1831

"The Drowsy Sleeper, which still exists upon a halfpenny broadside, where it is recommended as "a new song," — the Farmer's Daughter, and the Roving Beggar Man, with many more, may readily be enumerated as specimens of the old English minstrelsy popular in Ireland, and which certainly appear to merit preservation. But it is requisite that we should pass on rapidly to the commencement of the last century, to gain a position more generally interesting than those usually chosen by antiquaries."

They called the broadside a "new ballad" in 1831. Do you suppose this was printed in Ireland? Are there Irish broadsides?

Richie

Subject: RE: Origins: Drowsy Sleeper
From: Richie
Date: 29 Jun 16 - 09:11 PM

Hi,

Here's a challenge for you transcribers. See if you can fill in and/or correct the parts I couldn't get after a couple listens:

http://digital.berea.edu/cdm/ref/collection/p16020coll13/id/509/

Wake Up Ye Drowsy Sleeper- Sung by Clay Walters of Saylersville, Kentucky on October, 27, 1937. Recorded by Alan Lomax.

1. Wake up wake up ye drowsy sleeper
Wake up wake up, it's almost day,
How can you lay there in sleep and slumber,
When your true love is goin' away?

2. "Who's this, who's this, that is at my window?
Who's this calls out, [?]
Oh, just rise up, it's your own true lover,
Rise up forthwith and go with me.

3. "Go ask your father if he is willing
Tonight [if you] my bride you ever can be,
If he says, 'No,' come back and tell me,
It's the very last time I'll trouble thee."

3. "Oh no my dear, I dare not ask him,
He lies back yonder taking his rest.
And in his hand he holds a dagger,
To pierce it through your tender breast.

4. "Go ask your mother if she is willing,
Tonight my bride you ever can be,
If she says, 'No,' come back and tell me
It's the very last time I'll trouble thee."

5. Oh no my dear, I dare not ask her,
For tales of love she scorns to hear.
Go 'way back yonder and court some other,
Or whisper lowly in my[1] ear.

6. I'll not won't go 'way, nor court no other,
For what I say I mean no harm;
I've come to win[2] you from your mother,
And rest you in a true love's arms.

7. . . [?]
. . .[?]
I'm going to leave my own true lover
I'm going to leave her [a] thousand miles

8. "Come back, come back, you [wounded] lover,
Come back, come back to me,
And I'll forsake both father and mother,
I'll leave them all and go with thee."


1. sings "my" should be "her"
2. sings "win" could be "wean" See Ramsay, 1725

Richie

Subject: RE: Origins: Drowsy Sleeper
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 30 Jun 16 - 02:32 PM

I haven't seen any Irish broadsides of DS but even as early as the middle of the 18th century Irish printers were printing all manner of stuff and some of it from the English pleasure gardens. Of course a lot of what was going on in the English theatres was also going on in Dublin.

'new ballad'/ 'new song' on broadsides practically meaningless, a ploy to sell an old ballad with a few words changed. At best it can mean new to this area, or even new on the streets. Which is presumably why the commentator put it in inverted commas.

Subject: RE: Origins: Drowsy Sleeper
From: Richie
Date: 30 Jun 16 - 04:38 PM

TY Steve,

Here's a version of "Sweet Bann Water' by Len Graham. I assume the source is Joe Holmes (1906-1978). The link to the recording is here: https://audioboom.com/boos/3563229-the-sweet-bann-water I'm not sure if my transcription is exactly right. Corrections welcomed.

"The Sweet Bann Water." Sung by Len Graham- live.

Away, away I can stay no longer,
The Sweet Bann Water I mean to cross,
O'er high hills and the lofty mountains,
To spend the night with my own wee lass.

Though the night be as dark as [a] dungeon,
And none a star there did appear,
I will not be guided without a stumble
Into the ar-rums[1] of my dear.

Slowly I crept unto my love's window,
And slowly knelt down upon a stone,
And through the pane I gently whispered,
Saying, Mary darling, are you at home?

Then slowly, slowly the door she opened,
And slowly, slowly I slid in,
And the night we lay each other arms,
Till the lang night was near an end.

Oh, go away and ask your mother
If she is willing my bride you may be,
if she says, No, come back and tell me,
Tis the last night I will trouble you.

I will not go and rouse my mother
For she's in her chamber all at her ease
In her right hand she holds a letter
Which reads, my love, to your disgrace.

What makes them speak so ill of me, love?
A loyal lover to you I have been.
A loyal lover and a constant sweetheart,
True to you I have always been.

For I can climb the high, high tree,
And I can rob the wild bird's nest;
And I can pluck the sweetest flower,
But not the flower that I love best.

For after dawning, there comes a morning
And after morning there comes a day,
And after one love there comes another
We need not hold them that will [go] away.

And as I sit down all at my leisure
And my foolish follies I think on
In placing of my fond affection
All on a maid so hard to win.

1. arms

Subject: RE: Origins: Drowsy Sleeper
From: Richie
Date: 01 Jul 16 - 11:26 PM

Hi,

Compare Len Graham's stanza:

For after dawning, there comes a morning
And after morning there comes a day,
And after one love there comes another
We need not hold them that will [go] away.

to stanza 11 below. At the end she commits suicide by plunging into the sea.

From: The Greig-Duncan folk song collection - Volume 4; p. 162-163 edited by Patrick N. Shuldham-Shaw, ‎Emily B. Lyle - 1981. Collected in North Scotland early 1900s by Gavin Greig (1856–1914), and the minister James Bruce Duncan 1848-1917).

E. I WILL SET MY GOOD SHIP IN ORDER- Sung by Miss Kate Mitchell, collected by Gavin Grieg, c. 1910.

1. I will set my good ship in order,
And I'll sail far across the sea,
I'll sail far over to yon border
To see if my love minds on me.

2. I sail-ed east and I sail-ed west,
And I sail-ed far across the main,
I sail-ed on to my true love's window,
And knocked loudly and fain be in.

3. Fa's[1] that at my wee window,
That knocks sae loud and fain be in,
Tis I, it is yer ain dear Johnnie,
Arise, arise love and lat me in.

4. As few lads have I withoot ye,
And as few do I lat in,
But unless ye be my ain dear Johnnie
And I some doot that ye're nae him.

5 Arise, arise go ask your father,
If he will let you my bride be,
If he denies thee, come back and tell me,
For it's be the last time I'll visit thee.

6. My father's in his chamber writing,
Writing out some merchandise;
And he has a letter in hsi pocket,
And it bespeaks love, of your disgrace.

7. Of my disgrace, of my disgrace
Of my disgrace, it cannot be?
For I never denied thee, nor yet despised thee
Until this night ye've denied me.

8. Arise, arise go ask your mother,
If she will let you my bride be,
If she denies thee, come back and tell me,
For it's be the last time I'll visit thee.

9.My mother's in her beddie sleepin'
And words o' love she winna hear,
So I pray young man go and court some other
And whipser softly in her ear.

10. Fat[2] way could I gang and court anither,
Fin ye're the girl I love dear
Fin ye're the girl I adore,
And thocht love, that ye loved me.

11. But after night there comes a morning
and after morning there comes a day,
And after one Love there coems another
So fare-ye well I must away.

12. Before she got on her clothes,
therefore to let her love in
But before she got hte door unlocked
The ship was sailing unto the main.

13 Come back, come back my ain dear Johnnie,
Come back and speak ance mair tae me,
Fat way could I come back again love,
When my ship is sailing far o'er yon sea.

14. The fish may fly and the sea run dry,
And the very rocks melt wi' the sun.
Husbandmen may give o'er their labour
But that will be, love, when you return.

15. She stepped on a few steps further,
and she plunged her body into the sea,
Sayin' Ye may come back and court some other,
But ye winna come back and court wi' me.

1. Who's
2. what

Subject: RE: Origins: Drowsy Sleeper
From: Richard Mellish
Date: 02 Jul 16 - 07:41 AM

We seem to have here a phenomenon somewhat analogous to floating verses, but in this case floating chunks of story. Pick and mix your desired set of chunks and you've another song. Cecilia Costello's Grey Cock is an especially effective example but several of the others quoted here show the same phenomenon. Identifying particular combinations to assign Roud numbers must be a challenge, but Steve Roud is a clever chap.

Subject: RE: Origins: Drowsy Sleeper
From: Richie
Date: 03 Jul 16 - 06:37 PM

Hi,

I'm posting my version of "Drowsy Sleeper" which I call "Silver Dagger" that I learned in North Carolina in the 1980s when I backed up a traditional singer- it's got two extra beats in a measure but that's how she sang it. I found several other versions that also had the extra two beats :) I changed the words somewhat and added an obscure stanza that is also sung by Mary Lomax (Northern Georgia):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rx0WNYh_2Vc

There are also clips of my painting. All my youtube vids were one take -hit or miss :) and I'd do 5 or 6 in a session -one after another in 20 minutes.

I almost have 200 North American version on my site now:

http://www.bluegrassmessengers.com/us--canada-versions-2-the-drowsy-sleeper.aspx

Should be finishing that up soon.

Richie

Subject: RE: Origins: Drowsy Sleeper
From: Richie
Date: 04 Jul 16 - 12:15 PM

Steve,

I've added Roud numbers when possible. I'm not really sure what number should be on the versions that are mixed with other songs. For example, "Oh Molly Dear" by B. F. Shelton is listed as Roud 22620 but it only has one Drowsy Sleeper out of seven stanzas. Is one stanza enough? What about all the other mixed versions from the US? Here's a partial list:

I. [Versions that include stanzas of the Drowsy Sleeper text]
   a. "The Gold Ring" Andros Island, Bahamas; Parsons 1918
   b. "O Hatty Bell."- Sung by Mrs. Godfrey of Marion, NC on September 3, 1918 from Sharp MS
   c. "O! Molly Dear Go Ask Your Mother" Kelly Harrell" recorded June 9, 1926 in New York City.
   d. "Annie Girl" Hudson JAF, 1926
   e. "Kind Miss" no informant named from American Songbag by Carl Sandburg; 1927.
   f. "Oh Molly Dear" B.F. Shelton recorded on July 29, 1927 in Bristol, Tennessee. Issued as Victor 4017.
   g. "The False Lover" sung by Margaret Combs (KY) 1931 Henry
   h. "Hattie Belle" MS from Greer Collection before 1932; hybrid version of "A Sweetheart in the Army"
   i. "Little Satchel"
   j. "Vandy, Vandy"

These have mostly stanzas from other songs. Several of them are similar composites and could be grouped: "O Hatty Bell," "Annie Girl," "Hattie Belle," and "Vandy, Vandy." They all use the same three songs as a composite. They could be a separate number.

There are several more that have two stanzas from "East Virginia Blues" mixed with Drowsy Sleeper. These should probably be 22621.

Then I'm not sure about the 3 traditional Irish versions of "Sweet Bann Water" which are clearly Drowsy Sleeper but mixed with "Grey Cock." Roud number?

Richie

Subject: RE: Origins: Drowsy Sleeper
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 04 Jul 16 - 04:51 PM

Hi Richie,
Like your own site the Roud Index is a massive project. Unfortunately it doesn't really cater properly for hybrids. At first Steve started putting related songs all under one number. I helped a lot to change this and sorted out some real messes like all the Died for Love relatives and they now all have separate numbers. I have just requested that Steve give separate numbers to 'Wild and Wicked Youth' and 'The Flash lad' the reason being that though they have 3 and a half stanzas in common out of about 12 stanzas in each song that is much less than half the total. My own personal response to your question is go with the majority, i.e., if the song contains more than half of its stanzas of song A then classify it with that song. Another alternative is to give both (or multiple) Roud numbers where hybrids occur. 327/1168, or even explain that the song is a hybrid.

As I've explained before, where a new song has arisen from the hybridisation of 2 or more songs and can be demonstrated to have become established in oral tradition, or where a new song has arisen from the ashes of an old one, American scholars call this 'oecotype' or sometimes 'oikotype' and treat it as a separate song, e.gs., 'The Butcher Boy', 'Streets of Laredo'.

Subject: RE: Origins: Drowsy Sleeper
From: Richie
Date: 04 Jul 16 - 08:08 PM

TY Steve,

Maybe you can talk to Steve about this one too :) It's certainly very difficult to flesh this all out, when so many different variants exist.

What has become increasingly clear is The Drowsy Sleeper, the main title as represented by 1817 broadside, only has two stanzas of the traditional ballad-- the rest is from the broadside pen!!!

So it only has two stanzas in common with the ballad it represents. Other broadsides (Firth) have one or two more but the British broadsides and the UK versions based on them, do not adequately represent the traditional ballad. Whereas The Cunningham Version, the traditional North American versions, the Scottish versions, and even the few "Sweet Bann Water" Irish versions are more part of the traditional ballad that the British broadsides.

It's also clear by what's been written that few early collectors (almost none) understood the "Silver Dagger" composed ballad, Roud 711.

I'll start using Roud numbers when possible. Also I always check Roud for versions to make sure I've got them all. He only misses a few- very thorough,

Richie

Subject: RE: Origins: Drowsy Sleeper
From: Richie
Date: 05 Jul 16 - 02:43 PM

Hi,

This stanza from Arkansas is nearly identical to the one (posted above a couple posts) sung by Len Graham in "Sweet Bann Water":

'Tis I can climb the highest tree top,
'Tis I could rob the rich's nest,
'Tis I could wed the fairest lady,
But not the one that I love best.

From: Drowsy Sleeper- Sung by Oleavia Houser [Olivia Hauser] of Fayetteville, Arkansas on October 26, 1958. Max Hunter/ Ozark Folksong Collection.

Richie

Subject: RE: Origins: Drowsy Sleeper
From: Richie
Date: 05 Jul 16 - 10:07 PM

Hi,

Here's a stanza also from Arkansas, that I'm sure Steve will recognize from the Scotch versions:

I cannot go and ask my mother,
She's lying on her bed of rest,
And in her hand she holds a letter
That speaks so much of your disgrace.
[from John Pennington, of Fayetteville, Ark. on May 1, 1952]

This same stanza appears in most of the Scottish "I Will Put My Ship in Order" versions.

Richie

Subject: RE: Origins: Drowsy Sleeper
From: Richie
Date: 06 Jul 16 - 11:34 PM

Hi,

Finally finished putting North American versions I have on here: http://www.bluegrassmessengers.com/us--canada-versions-2-the-drowsy-sleeper.aspx

There are 191 North American versions of traditional versions- Roud No: 22621, version of the "composed ballad" which had two stanzas found in the traditional one Roud No: 711 plus nearly one dozen hybrid versions with at least one stanza of Drowsy Sleeper No: 33621.I'm missing quite a number of versions, all of Flanders and Creighton which were never published. There are probably 225 versions that can be recovered.

I'm including one last hybrid version titled "Drowsy Sleeper," this is made up of three ballads; 1) Drowsy Sleeper 2) Johnson Boys 3) inserted between Johnson Boys stanzas are two stanzas of "Spanish Lady." The "handsome man" line was changed to "rebel man."

Drowsy Sleeper- Sung to the tune of "Johnson Boys" by Hedy West, recorded in 1963, learned from Vergie West in Alabama.

[banjo intro]

Awake, awake, you drowsy sleeper
Awake, awake, it's almost day,
How can you sleep and slumber
With all them pretty girls running away.

Yonder stands a couple of ladies
With their faces white as snow
Go and court 'em for your duty
Make them answer, "yes or no."

[banjo fill]

Madam I have gold and silver
Madam I have house and land
Madam I've a world of treasure
They are all at your command.

I don't want gold and silver
I don't want your house and land
I don't your world of treasure
All I want's a rebel[1] man.

Rebel boys were made in honor
They know how court a maid,
Hug 'em, kiss 'em, call them "honey,"
Rush up pretty boys don't be afraid.

Yankee boys were raised in ashes
Don't know how to court a maid;
Turn there backs and hide their face
Sight of a pretty girl makes 'em afraid.

1. handsome (Spanish Lady)

Richie

Subject: RE: Origins: Drowsy Sleeper
From: Richie
Date: 09 Jul 16 - 04:47 PM

Hi,

I've completed the North American versions (and 1 from South America) plus the headnotes: http://www.bluegrassmessengers.com/us--canada-versions-2-the-drowsy-sleeper.aspx

It's best to read on my site but I'll post my conclusions below:

In North America The Drowsy Sleeper is a traditional ballad which sometimes has been mixed with other traditional songs. It is often titled "Drowsy Sleeper" regardless of whether the opening "awake, arise you drowsy sleeper" stanza is present. A circa 1810 US composed ballad, usually titled "The Silver Dagger," was written based on the traditional song and the original has not yet been found. The writer of the "composed ballad" used only one and one-half stanzas of the traditional ballad as well as the double-suicide plot. Stanzas of the traditional UK ballads have been found in versions from North America including "Drowsy Sleeper (broadsides and resulting traditional British versions)," the 4 stanza Ramsay song (1725), the Cunningham variant, the Scottish "I Will Put My Ship" versions and lastly the Irish traditional versions known under the "Sweet Ban Water" title. None of the versions from the UK have a "silver dagger" or a murder weapon. The Scottish and Irish traditional versions from the UK are related to the "The Lover's Ghost" (Child 248) and have similar stanzas but the US versions do not have those "Lover's Ghost" stanzas. Commercial US versions and other traditional versions from North America that have left off the Drowsy Sleeper- "Awake, Awake" opening stanza(s) have nothing in common with the British broadsides which are composed ballads keeping mainly the traditional opening "Awake" stanza.

Richie

Subject: RE: Origins: Drowsy Sleeper
From: Richie
Date: 09 Jul 16 - 11:02 PM

Hi,

I've rewritten the conclusion and corrected some mistakes. I'll start working on the finishing the UK versions soon- better to read online since it's long (See link above).

All the best,

Richie