Lyr Req: When I Was a Young Man (Albion Band)

Subject: Need lyrics for 2 Albion Band songs.
From:
Date: 13 Feb 00 - 09:29 PM

I'm looking for the lyrics to two songs from The Albion Band's album "Battle of the Field."

The songs are "I was a Young Man" and "Hanged I Shall Be"

If you know these--please post here or e-mail me--thanks.

Chris Boros Cleveland, Ohio

Subject: Lyr Add: WHEN I WAS A YOUNG MAN^^ & POOR MAN...^^
From: GUEST,bigJ
Date: 14 Feb 00 - 06:06 PM

Well, here are the words of the first of your requests. In fact two versions of the same song - one from Scotland and the other from the south of England. I suspect that the version that the Albion band use is and Anglified version of the first song.

WHEN I WAS A YOUNG MAN^^
(The Poor Man's Labour/ The Poor Man's Sorrows)
(English) Folk Music Journal 1966 - pp80-81

Noted by Mrs Harper from her mother, August 1907.

When I was a young man I was a rover,
Naething would satisfy me but a wife;
Lang, lang e'er I was the age of twenty,
Wearied was I o' a single life.

Kissin' and clappin' was my occupation,
Amang the families (females) I did rove,
But now I am married and repent at my leisure
So the poor man's labour's never o'er.

First when I married my wife Janet,
Out of her company I couldna stay,
For her voice was sweeter than the lark or the linnet,
Or the nightingale at the break o' day.

Now she's fairly altered her meaning
Now she's fairly altered her tune;
Nothing but scoldings come up her throat,
So the poor man's labour's never done.

The first half year that we were married
I could scarcely get one half hour's sleep;
With her two heels she rubbed my shins,
Saying, Husband dear, put down your feet.

When I asked her what was her meaning,
Her answer to me was, Come, come,
Young men's wives they must have pleasure;
So the poor man's labour's never done.

The next half year we were married
She bore to me a loving babe,
She set me down to rock the cradle,
And give it cowdy when it waket.

When it did cry she bitterly scolded;
To the door I was foced to run
Without trousers, wig or waistcoat,
So the poor man's labour's never done.

I gaed up to the top of yon hill,
To view my sheep they had all gone astray;
When I came back she was lying in her bed
At twelve o'clock on a winter's day.

When I came back both wet and wearied,
Wet and wearied, where could I run?
She was lying in her bed, the fire out beside her,
She says, Young man is the kettle on?

Oh, I'll go to my aged mother,
She was sitting all alone,
Says, There's plenty young women to be had
And why should I be tied to one?

Take the second one and try her
And if ye find she will not do
Take the third and then the fourth
And then you'll find your folly new.

O all young men that is to marry
Be sure and wile (wait) for a good wife,
Never marry my wife's sister
For she'll grieve you all your life.

Never marry her mother's daughter
For she'll grieve you ever more.
O death come and take my wife
And then my sorrows will be o'er.

POOR MAN'S SORROWS^^

from The Constant Lovers pp71-72

Noted by George Gardner from Charles Chivers, Basingstoke, Hampshire August 1906.

When I was a young man I liv'd rarely,
Yet my mind was not content
Till I had a young wife to live by me,
Then my sorrows did commence.

The very first year as I was married,
Scarce one hour could I get any sleep,
She rubb'd by shins till the blood did tingle,
Crying out, Husband, are you asleep?

The very next year as I was married,
A fine young baby there was born,
My wife forsook it and I took to it,
Wrapp'd up in flannel warm.

As I sat nursing at the side of the fire,
My wife came in as black as a gun,
And slap came her fist into my face
A poor man's sorrows never done.

When I came home both wet and weary,
No dry clothes for to put on,
It's enough to drive any poor man crazy,
A poor man's sorrows never done.

Come all young men who mean to marry,
Be careful how you choose a wife,
For if you should marry my wife's sister,
She'll prove a devil all the days of her life.

For the women want such a deal of pleasing,
I cannot please them do all I can,
But it's very well I know their meaning,
When they cry out, Husband, come, come come.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Need lyrics for 2 Albion Band songs.
From: GeorgeH
Date: 15 Feb 00 - 06:53 AM

BigJ, you're right, the Albion CB version is an anglified version of the first. From memory, its first verse is:

I was a young man, I was a rover,

Nothing would satisfy me but a wife;

As soon as I reached the age of twenty,

Weary was I of a single life.

I'd guess the adaptation was Martin Carthy's, as he sings it on the recording.

G.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Need lyrics for 2 Albion Band songs.
From: Wolfgang
Date: 16 Feb 00 - 11:34 AM

Chris, the second one has been in the Forum nearly two years ago: Hangèd I shall be.

Wolfgang