Origins: Father Adam, Rory and Alex McEwen

Subject: Origins: Father Adam, Rory and Alex McEwen
From: GUEST,kim hughes
Date: 08 Mar 21 - 06:33 PM

Hi,

I'm trying to find some background and source material for the lyrics of the song "Father Adam" sung by Rory and Alex McEwen on "Scottish Songs and Ballads," (1957, I think). I have the record and the liner notes, but unfortunately the latter just refer to " ...the obvious source..." by which I'm assuming they mean the Bible.

The tune appears in Jacob Van Eyck's compendium of recorder music, so it was probably extant at least around the beginning of the 1600's. I'm wondering if the words are that old, or came much later.

Thanks for any help,
Kim

Subject: RE: Origins: Father Adam, Rory and Alex McEwen
From: GUEST,#
Date: 08 Mar 21 - 08:15 PM

Do you have some lines of lyrics from the song??

Subject: RE: Origins: Father Adam, Rory and Alex McEwen
From: GUEST
Date: 08 Mar 21 - 10:37 PM

the beginning is

When Father Adam first did flee
from presence of the Lord’is face,
His coat was short, scarce covered his knee . . .

I’ve tried searching on multiple parts of the text, but without result. Well, without successful result.

Kim

Subject: RE: Origins: Father Adam, Rory and Alex McEwen
From: cnd
Date: 08 Mar 21 - 11:03 PM

Here's the lyrics from the Folkways album liner notes (link):

Beyond the obvious original source of this text there is little else that can be said of it with certainty. It is doubtful that the Biblical tale was merely set to music as an aid to memory, and it has been suggested that it is perhaps a political satire which at some date had allegorical significance. If so, the satirist and his intended victim remain anonymous.

When father Adam first did flee,
  From presence of the Lord his face,
His clothes were short, scarce covered his knee,
They cryit God pitie and hald him in chaiss.
Stay Adam, stay Adam saith the Lord;
Where are thou Adam, turn thee and stay.
"I was afraid to hear thy voice and
  naked thus to come in thy way."
"Who hast revealed to the,
  that naked thou shouldst be?
Or hast thou eaten of the tree!?
  Which I commanded thee
It touched should not be,
  therefore beginneth thy misery!"
Oh Adam, oh Adam, I pity thee.

Away went Satan maist discontent,
  Christ being promised for tae ring
For he could not have his intent,
  for power of that almighty king.
Our freedom, Lord, we have from Thee,
  that bowls of mercy poured out
Upon Thy whole posterity of thy free
  grace withouten doubt.
Therefore we all humbly entreat Thy Majesty
  that we may ever thankful be.
And for our sins contrite praying to thee most sweet
Dear Jesus, have pity on me.
Oh Adam, oh Adam, I pity thee.

I'll try seeing if I can see anything formal on the origins, but I can't think of why the assumption of the author of the liner notes (that no one would set the story to music) would be valid; people will write a song about anything -- or at least time seems that way sometimes.

Subject: RE: Origins: Father Adam, Rory and Alex McEwen
From: GUEST,#
Date: 08 Mar 21 - 11:33 PM

See footnote at bottom of p.338

https://books.google.ca/books?id=WolCAAAAcAAJ&pg=PA339&lpg=PA339&dq=%22When+Father+Adam+first+did+flee+from+presence+of+the+Lord

If there is a user-friendly online edition of the book, it may contain something useful.

Subject: RE: Origins: Father Adam, Rory and Alex McEwen
From: GUEST,#
Date: 08 Mar 21 - 11:42 PM

https://digital.nls.uk/special-collections-of-printed-music/archive/87698621

https://digital.nls.uk/special-collections-of-printed-music/archive/87698621

Subject: RE: Origins: Father Adam, Rory and Alex McEwen
From: GUEST,#
Date: 08 Mar 21 - 11:53 PM

https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/5b43f3449be642448e4f30b3826237e1

Leaving that here so I don't lose it.

Subject: RE: Origins: Father Adam, Rory and Alex McEwen
From: GUEST
Date: 09 Mar 21 - 10:57 AM

Thank you for the excellent links, I truly appreciate it! Can I ask what search engines people are using? I have no idea why google did not find these results when I searched on “when father Adam first did flee.”

Subject: RE: Origins: Father Adam, Rory and Alex McEwen
From: GUEST,#
Date: 09 Mar 21 - 11:00 AM

https://newspapers.library.wales/view/3147545/3147548

See p.3 at that link to a Welsh newspaper.

I use Google Chrome.

Subject: RE: Origins: Father Adam, Rory and Alex McEwen
From: GUEST,#
Date: 09 Mar 21 - 11:09 AM

"Father Adam." When Father Adam first did flee, From presence of the Lord his face, His cloaths was short, scarce cover'd his knee, The gread God cry'd, and held him in chace. Stay Adam, stay Adam, saith the Lord, Where art thou Adam? turn thee and stay; I was afraid to hear thy voice, And naked tbus" to come in thy way; Who hath reveal'd to thee that naked thou shoudst be. Or hast thou eaten of the tree, Which I commanded thee it touched should not be; Therefore beginneth thy misery; Q Adam! poor Adam! I pity thee."

That is from the link posted 09 Mar 21 - 11:00 AM