Lyr Req: Hedger and Ditcher (from Silly Sisters)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Hedger and Ditcher (from Silly Sisters)
From: Artful Codger
Date: 09 Feb 12 - 12:45 AM

Here's a version which the poet John Clare (1793-1864) completed "from scraps from my father and mother":


Nobody cometh to woo.

On Martinmas eve the dogs did bark,
   And I opened the window to see,
When every maiden went by with her spark,
   But ne'er a one came to me.
And O dear what will become of me?
   And O dear what shall I do,
When nobody whispers to marry me—
   Nobody cometh to woo?

None's born for such troubles as I be:
   If the sun wakens first in the morn
"Lazy hussy" my parents both call me,
   And I must abide by their scorn,
For nobody cometh to marry me,
   Nobody cometh to woo,
So here in distress must I tarry me—
   What can a poor maiden do?

If I sigh through the window when Jerry
   The ploughman goes by, I grow bold;
And if I'm disposed to be merry,
   My parents do nothing but scold;
And Jerry the clown, and no other,
   E'er cometh to marry or woo;
They think me the moral of mother,
   And judge me a terrible shrew.

For mother she hateth all fellows,
   And spinning's my father's desire,
While the old cat growls bass with the bellows
   If e'er I hitch up to the fire.
I make the whole house out of humour,
   I wish nothing else but to please,
Would fortune but bring a good comer
   To marry, and make me at ease!

When I 've nothing my leisure to hinder
   I scarce get as far as the eaves;
Her head's instant out of the window,
   Calling out like a press after thieves.
The young men all fall to remarking,
   And laugh till they 're weary to see't,
While the dogs at the noise begin barking,
   And I slink in with shame from the street.

My mother 's aye jealous of loving,
   My father's aye jealous of play,
So what with them both there's no moving,
   I'm in durance for life and a day.
O who shall I get for me to marry me?
   Who will have pity to woo?
'T is death any longer to tarry me,
   And what shall a poor maiden do?


Source: Life and remains of John Clare: the Northamptonshire peasant poet, by John Clare and John Law Cherry. P. 328 in the section "Old Songs and Ballads"

The section introduction has this to say:

I commenced sometime ago with an intention of making a collection of Old Ballads, but when I had sought after them in places where I expected to find them, namely, the hayfield and the shepherd's hut on the pasture, I found that nearly all those old and beautiful recollections had vanished as so many old fashions, and those who knew fragments seemed ashamed to acknowledge it, as old people who sung old songs only sung to be laughed at; and those who were proud of their knowledge in such things knew nothing but the senseless balderdash that is bawled over and sung at country feasts, statutes, and fairs, where the most senseless jargon passes for the greatest excellence, and rudest indecency for the finest wit. So the matter was thrown by, and forgotten until last winter, when I used to spend the long evenings with my father and mother, and heard them by accident hum over scraps of the following old melodies, which I have collected and put into their present form.

Plus ça change...

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Hedger and Ditcher (from Silly Sisters)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 11 Sep 10 - 12:42 PM

Hmm. Maybe it was AFTER I tried to post those lyrics that the "corrupt cookie" message appeared. That was my first post of the day. Funny, I normally have no trouble with cookies. But last evening, I was using my wife's computer and experimenting with different browsers. I changed an option on my "membership" page, then I switched to a different browser to see if it had taken effect. I got "corrupt cookie" messages then, too. Is it possible I did something on the other computer that affected this one? If so, the "corrupt cookie" message must have been false or at least misleading; surely it was something stored on the Mudcat server, that changed, not just my cookie. Hmm.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Hedger and Ditcher (from Silly Sisters)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 11 Sep 10 - 12:24 PM

WTF? That was me, Jim Dixon. I don't know how I managed to post a message with no "From" name at all. I was, and am, logged in. However, when I first sat down at the computer today, I saw a message saying my cookie was corrupt and I needed to reset it, so I did, or at least I thought I did. Right now, above the message box, it says "From: Jim Dixon". We'll see what happens...

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Hedger and Ditcher (from Silly Sisters)
From: GUEST,AlanG at work
Date: 11 Sep 10 - 12:23 PM

Trio Threlfall do a lovely version of it and then swing into Sorry the Day I was Married on their Morning Tempest CD.

Subject: Lyr Add: NOBODY COMING TO MARRY ME
From:
Date: 11 Sep 10 - 12:03 PM

From Ashburner's New Vocal and Poetic Repository (Ulverston: George Ashburner, 1807), page 21:


NOBODY COMING TO MARRY ME.

1. Last night the dogs did bark.
I went to the gate to see,
When every lass had her spark,
But nobody coming to me.

CHORUS: And it's oh dear, what will become of me?
Oh dear, what shall I do?
Nobody coming to marry me,
Nobody coming to woo.

2. My father's a hedger and ditcher.
My mother does nothing but spin,
And I'm a pretty young girl,
But the money comes slowly in.

3. They say I'm beauteous and fair.
They say I'm scornful and proud.
Alas! I must now despair,
For, ah, I am growing very old.

4. And now I must die an old maid.
Oh, dear, how shocking the thought!
And all my beauty must fade,
But I'm sure it is not my fault.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Hedger and Ditcher (from Silly Sisters)
From: pavane
Date: 09 Sep 10 - 05:42 AM

As mentioned by the late BruceO in 2000

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Hedger and Ditcher (from Silly Sisters)
From: pavane
Date: 09 Sep 10 - 05:40 AM

See also these in the Bodley ballad collection. (You have to scroll down and maybe across)

Nobody comes to marry me

Nobody coming to woo

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Hedger and Ditcher (from Silly Sisters)
From: GUEST
Date: 09 Sep 10 - 12:36 AM

Same chorus, somewhat different verses (same general gist though) from "The Belles of Bedlam" on "Who's Your Sire". I'll see if I can transcribe, but it's a good album, very bouncy.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Nobody comin' to marry me
From: GUEST,Bruce O.
Date: 28 Feb 00 - 03:32 PM

I've run across a copy of the song in Alfred Williams' 'Folk-songs of the Upper Thames' (3 verrses and chorus, no music) and I've seen a broadside copy issued by Kendrew of York in the Library of Congress.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Nobody comin' to marry me
From: GUEST,NancAurelia
Date: 21 Feb 00 - 01:23 PM

Yes, Thanks. That's it! Now I know why it sounded so familiar -- that tape was stolen from my car a few years ago -- no doubt by someone who didn't appreciate it! I really should buy another copy!

No, the melody I know is not the same as Johnny's so long at the fair. But similar maybe -- kind of bouncy.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Nobody comin' to marry me
From: Gypsy
Date: 20 Feb 00 - 05:58 PM

Does this have the same tune as "Johnnies so long at the faire"? Think I've heard it performed that way.

Subject: Lyr Add: HEDGER AND DITCHER (from Silly Sisters)
From: Áine
Date: 19 Feb 00 - 07:03 PM

Dear Nanc,

Is this what you're looking for? -- Áine

Hedger & Ditcher
Maddy Prior & June Tabor
from a Silly Sisters Album called, "No More To The Dance"

My father's a hedger and ditcher
my mother does nothing but spin
They say I'm a pretty young girl
but the money comes slowly in
-Oh dear, what shall become of me
-Oh dear, what shall I do
There's nobody coming to marry me
Nobody coming to woo

The doggie began to bark
and I looked out to see
I saw two young men out a'hunting
but nobody's hunting for me
-Oh dear, what shall become of me
-Oh dear, what shall I do
There's nobody coming to marry me
Nobody coming to woo

Oh, must I die an old maid
Oh dear, how shocking the thought
There's nobody coming to marry me
Surely it's not me own fault

My father's a hedger and ditcher
my mother does nothing but spin
They say I'm a pretty young girl
but the money comes slowly in
-Oh dear, what shall become of me
-Oh dear, what shall I do
There's nobody coming to marry me
Nobody coming to woo

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Nobody comin' to marry me
From: GUEST,Bruce O.
Date: 18 Feb 00 - 10:03 PM

It's a descendent of "My father's a delver of dykes (later hedger and ditcher)" (c 1725), but I can't find a copy of the revised version of c 1805. It's title, according to my sometimes faulty memory, was "Nobody coming to marry me" and started with a revised line of the earlier song, "Last night the dogs did bark". Murray on Saltspring could probably answer this. There a copy in 'The Union Imperial Songbook', p. 25, 1815, but I didn't copy it.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Nobody comin' to marry me
From: Susan A-R
Date: 18 Feb 00 - 08:44 PM

Hmmm, I'll have to dig out my Silly Sisters tape. As I recall it is

Me father's a hedger and ditcher Me mother does nothin' but spin They say that I'm pretty enough But the money comes slowly in

Oh dear what can the matter be Oh dear, what shall I do There's nobody comin' to marry me Nobody comin' to woo

There's another verse about hunters. I tried the Maddy Prior site. Lots of good lyrics there, but this one wasn't up there.

Someone will come up with it.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Nobody comin' to marry me
From: wysiwyg
Date: 18 Feb 00 - 08:35 PM

I hope you get it, it sounds like a great one!!

Subject: Nobody comin' to marry me
From: GUEST,NancAurelia
Date: 18 Feb 00 - 05:25 PM

I'm surprised that I couldn't find this song by searching. Does anyone have the rest of the lyrics? The chorus is something like:

Oh, dear, what will become of me? Oh, dear, what will I do? There's nobody comin' to marry me, marry me Nobody comin' to woo.