Lyr Req: When I Was a Young Man (Peter S. Beagle)

Subject: When I was a young lad
From: GUEST,Sionnach
Date: 23 Feb 00 - 01:44 PM

I was asked to find the lyrics to a filk, sung to the tune of "The Ash Grove". The only words the good gentleman could remember were the first lines: "When I was a young man/And very well thought of", and the closing lines: "And I'll know when I love/By the way I behave". Could the mighty power of the amassed minds of the Mudcat fill in the rest? Thanks much. Sionnach

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: When I was a young lad
From: Ringer
Date: 23 Feb 00 - 01:51 PM

What is a filk? (sorry, no idea where the words can be found)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: When I was a young lad
From: MMario
Date: 23 Feb 00 - 01:53 PM

Sionnach - while not doubting the least the powers of the MudCat, you might want to ask about this at rec.soc.sca

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: When I was a young lad
From: GUEST,Sionnach
Date: 23 Feb 00 - 05:50 PM

To the Eagle: Filking, at least the way I've always heard it used, means writing new lyrics (often a parody) to a familiar tune. It's a popular practice among science fiction fans as well as in the Society for Creative Anachronism (of which I am a member). And MMario, thank you for the hint. The gist of the song -- or at any rate, the parts he could remember -- seemed "crossover" enough to have found its way to traditional music lovers. So I thought I'd ask here. Any other hints or suggestions would be most welcome.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: When I was a young lad
From: GUEST,hollowfox
Date: 24 Feb 00 - 09:41 AM

You'll find the words in the novel by Peter Beagle; no tune. It was popular in the filk circuit in the 1980's to the tune of The Ash Grove. Enjoy.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: When I was a young lad
From: MMario
Date: 24 Feb 00 - 10:02 AM

hollowfox, WHICH novel?

BTW - check here for "The Innkeeper's Song" also by Peter Beagle...

url = http://www.white-mountain.org/kim/psbeagle/books/innkeeper/

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: When I was a young lad
From: GUEST,Pete Peterson at work
Date: 24 Feb 00 - 10:12 AM

aww NUTS I'm at work and I don't remember it well enough to post the words. i will do this tomorrow from home using a battered xerox copy of the Westerfilk Collection if nobody has relieved me of the duty. DT's Own, Dick Greenhaus, sung it at Annap's Winter Gathering so there are others out there who know it.

Subject: Lyr Add: WHEN I WAS A YOUNG MAN (Peter S. Beagle)
From: MMario
Date: 24 Feb 00 - 10:37 AM

FOUND IT!
WHEN I WAS A YOUNG MAN

(Words: Peter S. Beagle copyright 1968
Music: "Ash Grove"
From The Last Unicorn by Peter S. Beagle
Reprinted in The Westerfilk Collection, Volume One)


When I was a young man, and very well thought of.
I couldn't ask aught that the ladies denied.
I nibbled their hearts like a handful of raisins,
And I never spoke love but I knew that I lied.

But I said to myself,"Ah, they none of them know
The secret I shelter and savor and save.
I wait for the one who will see through my seeming,
And I'll know when I love by the way I behave."

The years drifted over like clouds in the heavens;
The ladies went by me like snow on the wind.
I charmed and I cheated, deceived and dissembled,
And I sinned, and I sinned, and I sinned, and I sinned.

But I said to myself, "Ah, they none of them see
There's a part of me pure as the whisk of a wave.
My lady is late, but she'll find I've been faithful,
And I'll know when I love by the way I behave."

At last came a lady both knowing and tender,
Saying, "You're not at all what they take you to be."
I betrayed her before she had quite finished speaking,
And she swallowed cold poison and jumped in the sea.

And I say to myself, when there's time for a word,
As I gracefully grow more debauched and depraved,
"Ah, love may be strong but a habit is stronger,
And I know that I loved by the way I behaved."

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: When I was a young lad
From: GUEST,Sionnach
Date: 24 Feb 00 - 12:49 PM

Thank you all -- the Eagle, Hollowfox, Pete, and MMario. I knew that the mighty Mudcat mind would prevail. Your assistance is greatly appreciated!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: When I was a young lad
From: GUEST,hollowfox
Date: 24 Feb 00 - 12:53 PM

Apologies...I thought I'd typed in the title of the book. I was doing a fast check (a 'cat scan?) before work, and thought did not translate into deed.