Origin: When Spring Comes In (from Copper Family)

Subject: Origin of When Spring Comes In
From: Andy Tarr
Date: 12 Jan 00 - 10:31 AM

Does anyone know anything about where the Copper Family song "When Spring Comes In" comes from? It's in their songbook, but they don't say much about it. Thanks for any help!

When spring comes in, the birds do sing,
The lambs do skip and the bells do ring,
While we enjoy their glorious charm,
So cheerful and so gay.

The primrose blooms and the cowslip, too.
The violets in their sweet retire,
The roses shining through the briar,
And the daffa-down-dillys which we admire
Will die and fade away.

etc.

Subject: RE: Help: Origin of When Spring Comes In
From: Bruce O.
Date: 14 Jan 00 - 12:37 PM

While searching for something else, I just ran into this in Alfred Williams, 'Folk Songs of the Upper Thames', p. 222.

Subject: RE: Origin: When Spring Comes In (from Copper Family)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 05 Apr 21 - 04:15 PM

Needs lyrics

Subject: RE: Origin: When Spring Comes In (from Copper Family)
From: GUEST,#
Date: 05 Apr 21 - 04:18 PM

https://mainlynorfolk.info/copperfamily/songs/whenspringcomesin.html

Lyrics readily available at Reinhard's site.

Subject: RE: Origin: When Spring Comes In (from Copper Family)
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 05 Apr 21 - 04:58 PM

It is in places referred to as 'Spring Glee' which tells of its origins, like some other songs in the Copper family repertoire (Dame Durden) as a glee. Glee clubs, still going, were very popular in the late 18th century and through the 19th. They were generally pretty pastoral pieces sung in parts from music. We've discussed this in other threads. The Copper family style of harmony is at least partly based on the idea of glee singing.