Lyr Req: The Snows They Melt the Soonest

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Snows They Melt the Soonest
From: autoharpbob
Date: 17 Feb 10 - 07:34 AM

{{{{Whoops!}}}}

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Snows They Melt the Soonest
From: Suegorgeous
Date: 16 Feb 10 - 01:18 PM

ummm, Bob... Pamela posted that 10 years before Sting recorded the song....

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Snows They Melt the Soonest
From: autoharpbob
Date: 16 Feb 10 - 10:36 AM

Could it be that you couldn't understand the words because it was Sting you heard singing it?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Snows They Melt the Soonest
From: Suegorgeous
Date: 15 Feb 10 - 06:12 PM

The other thread linked to by Malcolm is really interesting.

What's also interesting is that both these thread titles, and the lyrics posted therein, refer to "The Snows They Melt..", whereas in what seems to be the original text of the song (linked to in the other thread), it's "The Snow It Melts...".

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Snows They Melt the Soonest
From: open mike
Date: 15 Feb 10 - 05:13 PM

it deosn't have snow in it either..
which might be a good thing for
some folk on the eastern seaboard

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Snows They Melt the Soonest
From: michaelr
Date: 15 Feb 10 - 05:07 PM

In the Digitrad: Brackagh Hill, recorded by Patrick Street on Irish Times(Green Linnet, 1990). Sung by Andy Irivine and credited "Words Trad., Music A. Irvine".

What it's doing in this thread, I dunno.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Snows They Melt the Soonest
From: Suegorgeous
Date: 15 Feb 10 - 05:05 PM

Why, indeed... doesn't even have the word "fain" in it....

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Snows They Melt the Soonest
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 15 Feb 10 - 04:47 PM

What is the name of the song that GUEST posted just above, and where does it come from, and why is it in this thread?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Snows They Melt the Soonest
From: GUEST
Date: 25 Jan 07 - 08:09 PM

One night as I lay slumbering in my silent bed alone
Some reckless thoughts came to my mind which caused me for to roam
To leave my native country and the wee girl I do adore
So I thought it fit to take a trip, strange lands for to explore

Now the night before I went away I was walking over Brackagh Hill
When I met my darling on the road and her eyes with tears did fill
"Stay you at home dear John" she said "and do not go away
For I'll have none for comfort me when you are on the sea"

Well I took her by the lily white hand and I held her hard and fast
Saying "adieu to you my darling for my ship it lies in Belfast
But if you prove loyal sour I'll prove true for you know that I'm well inclined"
So we kissed goodbye and parted and I left my girl behind

And when we landed in Greenock sure the people all gathered around
And they said I was a raknish lad come to put their harvest down
They told me to return again and never more be seen
So without delay I sailed away for Ireland's lovely green

Sure when Mary heard that John was home her heart did beat with joy
Saying "come into my arms" she cried "you're my darling lovely boy"
Saying "come into my arms" she cried "of you I have thought great and long
And let them all say as they will, our wedding will now go on

And let them all say as they as they will
And let them all say as they as they will
And let them all say as they as they will
Brockagh Braes¸è´Ê

Subject: RE: The Snows - lyric req
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 21 Feb 00 - 02:08 PM

For a discussion of this song and its origins, do a forum-search for "Snows", or  click here. 

Malcolm

Subject: RE: The Snows - lyric req
From: Jeri
Date: 21 Feb 00 - 09:19 AM

Refresh, 'cause I did it last night in HearMe and someone wanted the words.

Subject: RE: The Snows - lyric req
From: GeorgeH
Date: 22 Dec 99 - 07:31 AM

Isn't it by Anne Briggs, often attributed to that prolific writer "Trad"?? Certainly Gaughan has it listed as "Trad" but I'm fairly sure there's been a discussion about this on Usenet in the past.

G

Subject: RE: The Snows - lyric req
From: Amos
Date: 21 Dec 99 - 10:21 PM

Fain (I always thought) means "desires" as in Lord Randall's complaint "I fain would lie doon". But lo! I find we ar eboth right with room even for a third sense to the word (compelled). Quoth Webster:

Etymology: Middle English fagen, fayn, from Old English fægen; akin to Old Norse fegiun happy, Old English fæger fair Date: before 12th century 1 archaic : HAPPY, PLEASED 2 archaic : INCLINED, DESIROUS 3 a : WILLING b : being obliged or constrained : COMPELLED

Amos

Subject: RE: The Snows - lyric req
From: alison
Date: 21 Dec 99 - 09:32 PM

Horslips did a nice version of this on the LP "The Tain"

slaine

alison

Subject: RE: The Snows - lyric req
From: Pamela
Date: 21 Dec 99 - 08:53 PM

Thanks for the lyrics, folks. Since I'm singing this in a concert tomorrow night, it's nice to have them. :-) Pamela

Subject: RE: The Snows - lyric req
From: Jeri
Date: 17 Dec 99 - 01:45 PM

Er...I just copied and pasted from Dick's web page. Great song! I can imagine someone in not-so-distant history knowing who the author is. Kathy, does Archie say where he got the song? (I believe Dick got it from Archie.)

Subject: RE: The Snows - lyric req
From: KathWestra
Date: 17 Dec 99 - 01:38 PM

Hey Jeri, we must have been typing in unison!

Subject: Lyr Add: SNOWS THEY MELT THE SOONEST (A Fisher)^^
From: KathWestra
Date: 17 Dec 99 - 01:35 PM

Here 'tis, one of my very favorites. I learned it from an Archie Fisher recording. Vocabulary lesson: "fain" is an archaic word for "pleased." Kathy


Oh, the snows they melt the soonest when the winds begin to sing,
And the corn it ripens fastest when the frosts are settling in,
And when my truelove tells me that my face he'll soon forget,
Before we part, I'll wager true, he's fain to follow it yet.

Oh, the snows they melt the soonest when the winds begin to sing,
And the swallow flies without a thought, as long as it is spring,
But when spring goes, and winter blows, my love and you'll be fain,
For all your pride, to follow me across the stormy main.

Oh, the snows they melt the soonest when the winds begin to sing,
And the bee that flew when summer shone, in winter cannot sting,
And I've seen a lover's anger melt between the night and morn,
So it's surely not a harder thing to melt my truelove's scorn.

So don't you bid me farewell here, no farewells I'll receive,
For you shall lie with me, my love, then you'll kiss and take your leave,
But I'll wait here till the moorcock crows, and the martin takes the wing,
For the snows they melt the soonest when the winds begin to sing.
^^

Subject: Lyr Add: SNOWS THEY MELT THE SOONEST (D Gaughan)^^
From: Jeri
Date: 17 Dec 99 - 01:31 PM

I have this traditional song on recordings by Dick Gaughan and Eliza Carthy, and the versions are slightly different. This is the one Gaughan sings, and I got it from Dick Gaughan's Web Page

The Snows They Melt The Soonest

The snows they melt the soonest when the winds begin to sing
And the corn it ripens fastest when the frost is settling in
And when a woman tells me that my face she'll soon forget
Before we part I'll wage a croun she's fain to follow it yet

The snows they melt the soonest when the winds begin to sing
And the bee that flew when summer shone in winter cannot sting
And I've seen a woman's anger melt betwixt the night and morn
So it's surely not a harder thing to melt a woman's scorn

The snows they melt the soonest when the winds begin to sing
And the swallow flies without a thought as long as it is spring
But when spring goes and winter blows, my love, then you'll be fain
For all your pride to follow me across the raging main

So don't you bid me farewell here, no farewell I'll receive
For you will lie with me, my love, then kiss and take your leave
And I'll wait here till the moorcock calls and the marten takes the wing
For the snows they melt the soonest when the winds begin to sing ^^

Subject: The Snows - lyric req
From:
Date: 17 Dec 99 - 01:21 PM

I have a CD with the song 'The Snows' on it, but can't understand all the words. The first verse starts The snows, they melt the soonest, when the wind begins to sing...

Can anyone supply the other lyrics? Thanks Pamela

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