Lyr Req: Songs of the English Civil War

Subject: Songs of the English Civil War
From: Snuffy
Date: 07 Feb 00 - 07:36 PM

Can anyone point me to sites with songs from the time of the English Civil War (1640's)?

We've been asked to sing at a Feast for the Sealed Knot, who re-create Civil War Battles, and a few contemporary lyrics would be much appreciated.

Wassail!

V

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs of the English Civil War
From: Mbo
Date: 07 Feb 00 - 07:53 PM

For a contemporary tune, try The Electric Light Orchestra's "Battle Of Marston Moor, June 16th 1644."

--Mbo

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs of the English Civil War
From: GUEST,Bruce O.
Date: 07 Feb 00 - 09:44 PM

The are lots of them that are basically political propaganda (e.g., in 'Rats Rhim'd to Death', 1660, 'Rump', 1662,) but few about actual battles. Others use the war a setting for a ballad, (e.g., soldier's leave taking of his love) and a few of these latter are in Scarce Songs 1 on my website. What is it you really want?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs of the English Civil War
From: Snuffy
Date: 08 Feb 00 - 05:17 AM

Bruce

Not necessarily songs about battles, but songs that were current at the time and may have been sung by soldiers and camp followers on either side of the conflict.

Wassail,

V

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs of the English Civil War
From: Dave (the ancient mariner)
Date: 08 Feb 00 - 04:12 PM

Over The hills and far away... modified might work but a good source of Civil war period songs would be The Oxford Dictionary of Songs, any popular song from that era... I only know of one song about "Lathom House" which was defended by a woman. (The Countess of Derby)... the only part of the song I remember is the Chorus line:Hey Ho Lathom House.. Roundhead forces tried to lay seige to the house, and sent a large cannon to breach the walls; but the Countess captured it and used it against them until relieved by Prince Ruperts forces (old distant relative of mine) What a woman eh? my kind a gall. Yours,Aye. Dave

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs of the English Civil War
From: Lesley N.
Date: 08 Feb 00 - 04:21 PM

My favorite is When the King Enjoys His Own Again. I have it at When the King Enjoys His Own Again (http://www.contemplator.com/folk5/kingjoy.html).

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs of the English Civil War
From: Snuffy
Date: 08 Feb 00 - 04:48 PM

Bruce I'll spend the next week looking through those treasures.

Dave I'm off to search the web for "Lathom House". I'll let you know if I have any success.

Lesley I agree, it's lovely.

Thanks, one and all (but more contributions gratefully received)

Wassail!

V

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs of the English Civil War
From: GUEST,Bruce O.
Date: 08 Feb 00 - 05:30 PM

"Over the hills and far away" is later, 1706.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs of the English Civil War
From: GUEST,Bruce O.
Date: 08 Feb 00 - 05:33 PM

Use any search engine on 'Cavalier songs' or 'cavalier ballads'.

Subject: Lyr Add: The Hunter in His Career^^
From: Dave (the ancient mariner)
Date: 09 Feb 00 - 11:02 AM

Bruce O quite right thanks for letting them know I forgot it was Queen Ann Commands and we obey!..

However I found One: (about 1630)
The Hunter In His Career

Long ere the morn expects the return
Of Appolo from the ocean queen
Before the croak of the crow and the break
Of the day in the welkin seen
Mounted he'd halloo and cheerfully follow
To the chase with his bugle clear
Echo doth he make and the mountains shake
With the thunder of his career

Now bonny bay in his foine waxeth grey
Dapple-grey waxeth bay in his blood
White-Lady stoops with the scent in her chaps
And Black-Lady makes it good
Poor silly Wat his wretched state
Forgets these delights for to hear
Nimbly she bounds from the cry of the hounds
And the music of their career

Hills with the heat of the gallopers sweat
Reviving their frozen tops
And the dales purple flowers that droop from the showers
That down from the rowels drop
Swains their repast and strangers their haste
Neglect when the horns they do hear
To see a fleet pack of hounds in a sheet
And the hunter in his career

Thus he careers over heaths over meres
Over deeps over downs over clay
Till he hath won the moon from the morn
And the evening from the day
His sport then he ends and joyfully wends
Home again to his cottage where
Frankly he feasts himself and his guests
And carouses in his career

(foine=skin) Reprinted in 1855 in W. Chappels Popular music of olden time I can fax the music if you cannot find it elsewhere Yours,Aye.Dave.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs of the English Civil War
From: GUEST,Bruce O.
Date: 09 Feb 00 - 11:14 AM

That's by William Bass and is earlier than the English Civil War. [ABC of it's tune is among the broadside ballad tunes on my website. A broadside ballad version of the song is listed in my broadside ballad index, as are other songs that used it's tune.]

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs of the English Civil War
From: bobby's girl
Date: 09 Feb 00 - 06:51 PM

One of the best sources of Civil War songs is a band called Strawhead - see http://listen.to/strawhead

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs of the English Civil War
From: GUEST,Petr
Date: 09 Feb 00 - 07:57 PM

Somewhere I heard that Lowlands of Holland dates from the time of the English Civil War but that's all I can tell you. Petr

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs of the English Civil War
From: GUEST,Bruce O.
Date: 09 Feb 00 - 09:02 PM

I'll believe that last when it's proved. James Oswald printed a tune "The Lowlands of Holand [sic] in 1742. There's no known text of the song that is that old.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs of the English Civil War
From: Dave (the ancient mariner)
Date: 18 Mar 00 - 05:35 PM

Just remembered a song John Tams recorded on his Home Service CD called Babylon which dates back to the Civil War.. Although the versions in the Mudcat are US civil war the song does go back to English civil war origin hope this might be of help. Yours, Aye. Dave

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs of the English Civil War
From: GUEST,Bruce O.
Date: 18 Mar 00 - 06:48 PM

What "Babylon" goes back to the English civil war? "Babylon is Fallen" is by Henry Clay Work and was written as a sequel to his "Kingdom Coming".

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs of the English Civil War
From: Dave (the ancient mariner)
Date: 18 Mar 00 - 10:50 PM

Guest Bruce O John Tams album has a copy which I was reliably told by someone who is very knowledgable, was of English Civil War origin. Dave