The Ups and Downs of life song trad

Subject: uphills and downhills of life song tradi
From: The Sandman
Date: 19 Sep 24 - 03:44 AM

I recall a song from way back by this name was it in the marrowbones collection?

Subject: RE: uphills and downhills of life song tradi
From: Acorn4
Date: 19 Sep 24 - 04:10 AM

I happen to have Marrowbones to hand. "The Ups and Downs" Gardiner H1129- Mr E.Frankham, Petersfield Hants August 1908

Marrowbones p 97

Subject: RE: uphills and downhills of life song tradi
From: The Sandman
Date: 19 Sep 24 - 04:48 AM

thanks can you post it here by any chance

Subject: RE: uphills and downhills of life song tradi
From: Reinhard
Date: 19 Sep 24 - 05:03 AM

See the thread Lyr Add: The Ups and Downs

Subject: RE: uphills and downhills of life song tradi
From: GUEST
Date: 19 Sep 24 - 05:21 AM

Is this what you are looking for Dick?

I remember it being published as asong in one of the song collection books published in the 1970s, but can't recall which one.

Poem In The Downhill Of Life - William Collins

In the downhill of life, when I find I'm declining,
May my lot no less fortunate be
Than a snug elbow-chair can afford for reclining,
And a cot that o'erlooks the wide sea;
With an ambling pad-pony to pace o'er the lawn,
While I carol away idle sorrow,
And blithe as the lark that each day hails the dawn
Look forward with hope for tomorrow.

With a porch at my door, both for shelter and shade too,
As the sunshine or rain may prevail;
And a small spot of ground for the use of the spade too,
With a barn for the use of the flail;
A cow for my dairy, a dog for my game,
And a purse when a friend wants to borrow;
I'll envy no Nabob his riches or fame,
Nor what honours may wait him tomorrow.

From the bleak northern blast may my cot be completely
Secured by a neighbouring hill;
And at night may repose steal upon me more sweetly
By the sound of a murmuring rill;
And while peace and plenty I find at my board,
With a heart free from sickness and sorrow,
With my friends may I share what today may afford,
And let them spread the table tomorrow.

And when I at last must throw off this frail cov'ring
Which I've worn for threescore years and ten,
On the brink of the grave I'll not seek to keep hov'ring,
Nor my thread wish to spin o'er again;
But my face in the glass I'll serenely survey,
And with smiles count each wrinkle and furrow;
As this old worn-out stuff, which is threadbare today,
May become everlasting tomorrow.

Subject: RE: uphills and downhills of life song tradi
From: GUEST,Tom Patterson
Date: 19 Sep 24 - 06:05 AM

U.K.folk musician, Mick Bisiker, recorded "Downhill Of Life" on his Fellside CD "Home Again" in 1991. I know this because I received part writing credit for the tune which Mick adapted from one of my early songs. I am fairly sure the lyrics are as given above.

Subject: RE: uphills and downhills of life song tradi
From: Reinhard
Date: 19 Sep 24 - 07:35 AM

The Ups and Downs / The Aylesbury Girl (Roud 364) is in Frank Purslow’s Marrow Bones.

The Downhills of Life (Roud 1308) is in Purslow’s The Foggy Dew. Looks like this is the song Dick was asking for, and which resulted in the anon guest's lyrics posting; and my link to The Ups and Downs was missing the topic.

Subject: RE: The Ups and Downs of life song trad
From: GUEST,Nick Dow
Date: 19 Sep 24 - 12:28 PM

Bill Whaley and Dave Fletcher recorded it. Sad to say the singer who sang it to Gardiner was in the workhouse. They have added a refrain to the song. Perhaps you can add something to their performance to make the song your own.

Subject: RE: The Ups and Downs of life song trad
From: The Sandman
Date: 19 Sep 24 - 01:14 PM

Thanks everybody, i will look in to it again in a few days time