Origins: ‘The Pricketty Bush’ and British origins

Subject: Origins: ‘The Pricketty Bush’ and British origins
From: derekpiotr
Date: 08 Aug 21 - 07:49 AM

Hi All,

Have spent some time in Yorkshire over from America, and am beginning to do some field-work. Recently published an article for Appalachian History detailing some of my findings so far: https://www.appalachianhistory.net/2021/08/the-pricketty-bush-and-british-origins.html

cheers,
Derek

Subject: RE: Origins: ‘The Pricketty Bush’ and British origins
From: Georgiansilver
Date: 08 Aug 21 - 10:17 AM

I used to sing a song in the UK in the 1970s called The Prickly Bush (pronounced prickleye) I assume we are talking te same song.... here sung by Steeleye Span.https://youtu.be/ntaUk3Fi5ps

Subject: RE: Origins: ‘The Pricketty Bush’ and British origins
From: Brian Peters
Date: 08 Aug 21 - 11:34 AM

Will Noble is great, isn't he. I interviewed him a few years ago, and heard some really interesting tales of the old 'sheep meets' and 'singing do's'.

What I'm puzzled by, though is your statement that Child 95 is 'one of the oldest English ballads in existence'. I thought that the earliest version we know about was from the 18th century, and would be interested to know whether you (or Steve Gardham) has managed to trace it further back.

If you're interested in the Appalachian history of Child 95, it's adaptation by African-American communities is a very interesting part of the story.

Subject: RE: Origins: ‘The Pricketty Bush’ and British origins
From: GUEST
Date: 08 Aug 21 - 11:45 AM

https://mainlynorfolk.info/lloyd/songs/thepricklybush.html

https://mainlynorfolk.info/lloyd/songs/thepricklybush.html

Subject: RE: Origins: ‘The Pricketty Bush’ and British origins
From: Brian Peters
Date: 08 Aug 21 - 12:54 PM

From Bert Lloyd's sleeve notes quoted at the above link:

'... after the Watts ghetto riots of 1965, a set appeared in which a young black looter appears in court to face a heavy fine or the “gallows twine.” The rescuer in this case is neither father, mother nor sweetheart but a social worker who arrives with the money just in time.'

This is a new one on me. Anyone else? Worth tracking down if true.

Subject: RE: Origins: ‘The Pricketty Bush’ and British origins
From: GUEST,#
Date: 08 Aug 21 - 01:15 PM

Sorry. Forgot my #.

You may wish to look at the following thread:

https://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=81179

Subject: RE: Origins: ‘The Pricketty Bush’ and British origins
From: derekpiotr
Date: 08 Aug 21 - 02:01 PM

reminding me of this lovely version: https://digitalcollections.uark.edu/digital/collection/OzarkFolkSong/id/754

Subject: RE: Origins: ‘The Pricketty Bush’ and British origins
From: Brian Peters
Date: 08 Aug 21 - 02:37 PM

This is getting interesting... Many thanks for that link, Derek, a wonderful recording with some lovely blue notes.

Thanks also to # - somehow I'd missed that thread, though I did know about the Child ballads in Dorothy Scarborough's book. There are examples of African-American versions of 'Hangman' in Alphonso Smith's work too.

Subject: RE: Origins: ‘The Pricketty Bush’ and British origins
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 11 Aug 21 - 12:07 PM

Field recording from British Library https://sounds.bl.uk/World-and-traditional-music/Terry-Yarnell-Collection/025M-C1005X0015XX-1200V0

Subject: RE: Origins: ‘The Pricketty Bush’ and British origins
From: RTim
Date: 11 Aug 21 - 12:23 PM

I sing the version collected in Hampshire by Bob Copper and published in his book - Southern Songs and Breezes (for more details see Reinhard's Mainly Norfolk link above:

THE PRICKLE HOLLY BUSH.
Oh Hangman stand for awhile
For I think I see my own dear Mother
Coming over yonder stile.
Oh Mother have you got any gold
Or silver to set me free,
For to keep my body from the cold clay ground
And my neck from high gallows tree.
Oh no I’ve got no gold
Nor silver to set thee free,
For I have come to see you hang
Hang from the high gallows tree.

Oh the Prickle Holly Bush
It pricked my heart full sore
And if ever I get out
Of the Prickle Holly Bush
I’ll never get in it any more.

Then - Father, Sister, Brother & Lover
Etc. But lover HAS gold, etc.

As sung here on my SoundCloud site...https://soundcloud.com/tim-radford/prickle-holly-bush

Tim Radford

Subject: RE: Origins: ‘The Pricketty Bush’ and British origins
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 15 Aug 21 - 10:42 AM

The Watersons - Prickle Holly Bushhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sl1KtfAcyOA