Lyr Req/Add: The Cocks Are Crowing

Subject: The Cocks Are Crowing
From: Kim C
Date: 07 Mar 00 - 12:57 PM

Greetings - I am seeking the lyrics to The Cocks Are Crowing, as recorded by the Voice Squad on Good People All. It may be known by a different name but I haven't been able to figure that out. Thanks!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Cocks Are Crowing
From: Barbara
Date: 07 Mar 00 - 01:34 PM

Tell ya what, Kim. Let me make some more progress on my taxes (aaaaaarrrrggh!) and I'll have a go at transcribing them.
Blessings,
Barbara

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Cocks Are Crowing
From: Crowhugger
Date: 08 Mar 00 - 03:37 AM

Did someone say CROW?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Cocks Are Crowing
From: Barbara
Date: 08 Mar 00 - 04:14 AM

Awright, tomorrow! Honest. Didn't have time today.
B*
B

Subject: Lyr Add: THE COCKS ARE CROWING (from Voice Squad)
From: Barbara
Date: 08 Mar 00 - 09:10 PM

There's a couple phrases I'm not 100% on, one in parentheses and the other "eat nothing but ....?" Sounds like "hare, and..." but it could be something like "heartsen".
Blessings,
Barbara

THE COCKS ARE CROWING
trad., from the singing of Voice Squad

"The cocks are crowing, daylight is appearing
It's drawing nigh to the break of day
Arise my darling, out of your slumbers
Arise my darling, and come away."

And when he came to his true love's window
He kneel-ed low down upon a stone
And through the window he whispered softly,
"Arise, my darling, and let me in."

"Oh, who is that, that is at my window?
And who is that, that gives me no rest?"
"'Tis I, 'tis I, a poor wounded lover,
Who fain, love, would speak to you a while"

"Oh, go away, then and ask your daddy
If he would have you my bride to be,
And if he say no, then return and tell me,
For this is the last time I will trouble thee."

"Oh, my dad-dah, he is in his bed chamber,
He is fast asleep on his bed of ease,
And in his pocket there lies a letter
Which reads, Musha (much, a-) darling, unto your disgrace "

"Oh, what disgrace can he do unto me?
A faithful husband to you I'll be
And what other neighbors have round their houses
The same, my darlin', you will have with me."

"Oh go away, then, and ask your mammy,
I she would have you my bride to be,
And if she say no, then return and tell me,
For this is the last time I will trouble thee."

Oh, my ma-ma, she is an old aged woman,
And scarce can hear, love, a word I say,
But she bids you go, love, and court some other
For I'm not a-fitting of your bride to be."

"Oh, I will go unto the wild mountain,
Where I'll see nothing but the wild deer,
And I'll eat nothing but the wild hares, and
I'll drink nothing but my true love's tears."

"If the Killy Boyne, it were mine in the chorus
And the green fields, they were mine, and wide
If my pen were made of the temper-ed steel, sure
My true love's praises I could never write."

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Cocks Are Crowing
From: GUEST,Martin Ryan
Date: 09 Mar 00 - 07:39 AM

"herbs" rahter than "hares", I think. I'll check on the last verse later.

Regards

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Cocks Are Crowing
From: GUEST,John Moulden
Date: 09 Mar 00 - 08:26 AM

The Voive Squad's source for this song was Eddie Butcher, Magilligan Co Derry (though perhaps filteres through Frank Harte). Eddie sang, as the final line of the fifth verse: "Which readeth far, love, unto your dispraise." And Martin's right it was herbs rather than hares that were to be eaten.

Eddie sang another verse - the 9th

I may go but I'll court no other
My heart it's link-ed all in your charms
I would have you wed love, and leave your Mammy
For you're just fit to lie in your true love's arms

I know that songs get shortened in tradition, and often to their benefit, but, for me, the understated passion of that makes it more memorable than some of the other versess.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Cocks Are Crowing
From: Barbara
Date: 09 Mar 00 - 10:10 AM

Thanks both to John and Martin, that clarifies what I couldn't quite hear. And that's a lovely verse, John. I wonder why they left it out?
John, the word is "dispraise" ? i.e. criticism?
Blessomgs.
BArbara

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Cocks Are Crowing
From: Kim C
Date: 09 Mar 00 - 10:18 AM

THANKS, all of you! I really appreciate it. ---Kim

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Cocks Are Crowing
From: Barbara
Date: 09 Mar 00 - 01:06 PM

And if it is "dispraise", it probably is the same word in the beginning line of the next (6th) verse?
TIA, Blessings,
Barbara

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Cocks Are Crowing
From: John Moulden
Date: 09 Mar 00 - 03:00 PM

Barbara,

Your assumptions about dispraise are both correct.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Cocks Are Crowing
From: Barbara
Date: 09 Mar 00 - 04:43 PM

Thank you for your help, John.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Cocks are Crowing
From: Murray MacLeod
Date: 10 Dec 00 - 07:20 PM

For those who prefer their traditional songs served up with tasty guitar accompaniment, check out the version by Steve Tilston on his CD "Solorubato". He sings it in D and adds a lovely little touch by bending the C-sharp each time he plays the A chord at the end of each first line. Murray

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Cocks are Crowing
From: John Moulden
Date: 11 Dec 00 - 07:03 PM

And for those who like their singing the way ordinary people, as distinct from professionals do it - see if you can get to hear the original singer of this song, Eddie Butcher. No recording by him of anything is currently available but The Cocks are Crowing was first issued on an EP and later on a cassette called "Adam in Paradise." The EP was published by the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum (Cultra, Co Down) and the cassette by European Ethnic (Trinity College, Dublin)

Subject: Lyr Add: I WILL SET MY SHIP IN ORDER
From: michaelr
Date: 15 Feb 06 - 08:38 PM

It appears this song is related to "I Will Set My Ship In Order" and the whole gaggle of "Silver Dagger"/"Drowsy Sleeper" variants:

I WILL SET MY SHIP IN ORDER

I will set my ship in order,
I will sail her upon the sea;
I'll sail far over yonder border
To see if my lovie mind on me.

He sailed east and he sailed west,
And he sailed far, far seeking lan',
Until he came to his true love's window,
And rapped Loudly and would be in.

"Oh, who is that at my bower-window,
That raps so loudly and would be in?"
"It's I, it's I, your own true lover,
Oh rise, oh rise, love, and let me in."

"It's few true lovers I have without,
And as few lovers I have within;
Unless it be my true Love, Johnnie,
And I'm weel sure that ye're no him."

"Oh then, oh then, go and ask your father,
And see if he'll let you marry me,
And if he says no, love, come back and tell me,
For it's the last time I'll visit thee."

"My father's in his chamber writing,
And setting down his merchandise;
And in his hand he holds a letter,
And it speaks much to your dispraise."

"To my dispraise, love, to my dispraise?
To my dispraise, love, how could it be?
For I never slighted nor yet denied you,
Until this night ye've denied me."

"It's oh then, oh then, go and ask your mother,
And see if she'll let you my bride be;
And if she denies then come back and tell me,
And it will be the last time I'll trouble thee."

"My mother's in her chamber sleeping,
And words of love she will not hear,
So ye may go, love, and court another,
And whisper softly in her ear."

Then up she rose, put on her clothing,
It was to let her true love in;
But ere she had the door unlocked
His ship was sailing upon the main.

"Come back, come back, my true love, Johnnie,
Come back, come back and speak to me."
Oh, how can I come and speak wi' thee, love,
When our ship is sailing upon the sea?"

"The fish may fly, and the seas go dry,
And the rocks may melt down wi' the sun,
The working men may forget their labour
Before that I do return again."

She's turned herself right and round about,
And she's flung herself into the sea,
Saying, "Farewell for aye, my true love, Johnnie,
For ye'll never hae to come back to me."

from John Ord's Bothy Songs and Ballads, 1930.

I noticed the similarities while listening to Capercaillie's CD "Choice Language" on which this is recorded, and Dervish's "Spirit" which contains "The Cocks".

Cheers,
Michael

Subject: Tune Add: THE COCKS ARE CROWING
From: Artful Codger
Date: 30 Mar 07 - 09:03 PM

Eddie Butcher's 1966 EP "Adam in Paradise", which included "The Cocks Are Crowing", was apparently reissued on CD in 2006. This reissue contains a booklet which reportedly includes the full lyrics to the four songs on the album.

Does anyone have this CD? Or the original EP? If so, could you please post the lyrics from the booklet, or note differences from what Barbara transcribed?

Also, shouldn't the place name be Killybawn/Killybane, a townland in Fermanagh, Northern Ireland?

Here's an ABC of the melody, which I transcribed from a short sound clip of the Voice Squad:

X:1
T:The Cocks Are Crowing
L:1/8
M:3/4
Q:1/4=90
K:E
B,B,E |E3 E/F/ GA|F>E DC B,E|E2 GB cc |B3 B eB|
c2 Bc E/F/G/F/|E2 C3 c| [M:2/4] [L:1/8] B3 G/F/| [M:3/4] E>C B,C EF|E3|]

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Cocks Are Crowing
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 30 Mar 07 - 10:48 PM

The song is included in Tara 4007, "From the Edge of Memory," Phil Callery and The Long Wave Band. Track 7.

Lyrics are included in the notes.
Verse 5-last line: Which reads much a darling unto your dispraise.
Verse 6, line 1: Oh what dispraise can he do unto me?
Verse 10, line 3: wild herbs
Verse 11:
If the Killyboyne it were mine in the chorus
And the green fields they were mine in white
And if my pen were made of tempered steel
Sure my true love's praises I could never write.
Line 2, 'in white,' makes more sense to me in the Voice Squad transcription by Barbara- 'and wide.'

"Trad arr. P. Callery (IMRO) N O'Callnáin (Peer Music)(Irl)Ltd."
Note: "A song from a wonderful man, the late great Eddie Butcher, Magilligan Co. Derry. This is dedicated to Pauline McPhail."

http"//www.taramusic.com/sleevenotes/cd4007.htm

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Cocks Are Crowing
From: Artful Codger
Date: 31 Mar 07 - 05:13 AM

Yes, I'd come across Callery's version, as well as one from Dervish's album Spirit. I'm still interested in getting the definitive Eddie Butcher version, rather than someone else's setting based on it.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Cocks Are Crowing
From: michaelr
Date: 31 Mar 07 - 01:04 PM

What, do you suppose, is the meaning of "If the Killyboyne it were mine in the chorus"?

Cheers,
Michael

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Cocks Are Crowing
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 31 Mar 07 - 01:14 PM

The source for both versions posted here is cited as Eddie Butcher.
Has the original, 'definitive,' one and only true Eddie Butcher song been recorded? Or appeared in sheet music? Or heard correctly?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Cocks Are Crowing
From: Artful Codger
Date: 31 Mar 07 - 07:55 PM

Was I not clear about this in my earlier posting? In 1966 there was an EP recording (all of 13 minutes) of Eddie Butcher singing four songs of courtship; it was titled Adam in Paradise, and included "The Cocks Are Crowing". In 2006 (possibly 2005) it was reissued as a CD by some preservation society. The lyrics are reprinted in the accompanying booklet; I think one of the reviews mentioned that they were taken from the original EP liner notes.

My wild guess is that both "in the chorus" and "in/and wide" both serve as intensifiers in the sense of "altogether" and "far and wide", respectively. I'm dubious of the reading "green fields in white", since that's oxymoronic, or at least curiously seasonal, and not as parallel in construction.

There's a Killybawn graveyard, and probably a chapel nearby, so the chorus may sing there. ;-}

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Cocks Are Crowing
From: michaelr
Date: 31 Mar 07 - 11:57 PM

I read the latter line as meaning "...and the green, and wide, fields were mine". But I've never heard the phrase "in the chorus" (unless it referred to music).

Cheers,
Michael

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Cocks Are Crowing
From: GUEST,Martin Ryan
Date: 01 Apr 07 - 05:29 PM

Think I have a tape version of that EP somewhere. The words are probably in Hugh Shields' book on Eddy Butcher.

REgards

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Cocks Are Crowing
From: MartinRyan
Date: 01 Apr 07 - 05:42 PM

Yes - Shield's book "Shamrock, Rose and Thistle (Folk singing in North Derry)" contains a transcripton of one singing of the song by Eddy - with detailed comments on some of his variants. Bit tedious to transcribe - but I can send you a copy if you PM me.

Regards

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Cocks Are Crowing
From: Barbara
Date: 10 Apr 07 - 05:05 PM

If you search the DT, you may find a thread where I asked about the "Killyboine" and someone told me it had been misheard, and that the original was "If the Killyboine (or bane or whatever) were mine ink horn... so that the speaker is writting on a large canvas with as big of tools as he can find.
I'll go look and see if I can find that thread.
Blessings,
Barbara

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Cocks Are Crowing
From: Barbara
Date: 10 Apr 07 - 05:09 PM

It was John Moulden, and here's the link.What's a Killyboyne? http://www.mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=19045#192226

Blessings,
Barbara

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Cocks Are Crowing
From: michaelr
Date: 10 Apr 07 - 06:21 PM

Thanks very much, Barbara. That interpretation does make sense.

Slan,
Michael

Subject: ADD Version: The Cocks Are Crowing
From: GUEST
Date: 27 Jan 09 - 10:54 PM

THE COCKS ARE CROWING

The cocks are crowing, daylight is appearing
It's drawing nigh to the break of day
Arise, my darling, out of your slumber
Arise, my darling, and let me in

And when he came to his true love's window
He kneeled low down upon a stone
And through the window he whispered softly
"Arise, my darling, and let me in"

"Well, who is that that is at my window?
And who is that that gives me no rest?"
"'Tis I, 'tis I a poor wounded lover
Who fain would speak with you, love, awhile"

"Then go away, love, and ask your daddy
If he would have you my bride to be
But if he says no then return and tell me
For this is the last time I will trouble thee"

"Oh my dada is in his bed chamber
He's fast asleep on his bed of ease
But in his pocket there lies a letter
Which reads far, love, on to your disgrace"

"Oh what disgrace can he do unto me?
A faithful husband to you I'll be
And what other neighbours have 'round their houses
The same, my darling, you would have with me"

"Then go away, love, and ask your mammy
If she would have you my bride to be
But if she says no then return and tell me
For this is the last time I will trouble thee"

"Oh my mama, she's an old aged woman
And scarce can hear, love, one word I say
But she'd have you go, love, and court some other
For I'm not a fitting girl your bride to be"

"I'll go away but I'll court no other
My heart is linked all on your charms
I'd have you go, love, and leave your mammy
For you're only fit to lie in your love's arms"

"I'll go away unto the wild mountains
Where I'll see nothing but the wild deer
And I'll eat nothing but the wild herbs sure
I'll drink nothing but my true love's tears"

"And if the Kellybawn, it were mine in the chorus
And the green fields, they were mine and wide
If my pen was made of the tempered steel sure
My true love's praises I could never write"

---

When you post at Mudcat, please put your name or a consistent pseudonym in the "from" box. Also, when you post lyrics, please tell us where you found them. Source information is always very helpful. Thanks.

Note that this version is somewhat different from the version posted by Barbara above, and contains one additional verse.
-Joe Offer, Forum Moderator-

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Cocks are Crowing
From: Fred McCormick
Date: 28 Jan 09 - 05:17 AM

Anyone wishing to hear The Cocks is Crowing in its natural environment, so to speak, really should listen to a recent joint reissue by the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum and Taisce Cheol Dúchais Éireann. The reissue is called Adam in Paradise and the singer in question is Eddie Butcher of Magilligan, Co. Derry. He was the man from whom Hugh Shields collected TCIC, plus about 300 other songs. The CD is called Adam in Paradise, UFTM-ITMA 101, and includes the following tracks:-

The Enniskilling Dragoon
I Long for to Get Married
Adam in Paradise
The Cocks are Crowing

With only 4 tracks (the original issue was on an ep), this might not sound like great value. However, IMHO, Eddie Butcher was a fabulous singer, and anything by him is well worth obtaining.

Further recordings of Eddie Butcher, namely:

Another man's wedding
David's flowery vale
KILLYCLARE
TOSSING THE HAY

are on:-

TSCD 656
TSCD 651
TSCD 654
TSCD 655

respectively, in Topic's monumental 20 volume Voice of the People series.

Subject: RE: req/ADD: The Cocks Are Crowing
From: GUEST,Kirk McGee's Grandson
Date: 14 Oct 09 - 11:17 AM

Chitlins are served this time of year at many places in Tennessee,mostly at rural restaurants.Stans on I-65 south of Franklin used to serve them.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req/Add: The Cocks Are Crowing
From: Murray MacLeod
Date: 25 Jun 17 - 04:49 PM

I did a search for "the Cocks are Crowing" and was amazed to see that I had already contributed to this thread 17 years ago ...I went back and listened to Steve Tilston's rendition and it is just as fine today as it was back in Dec 2000.

The version which entrances me today, however, is John Doyle's stunning rendition, which can be heard here

I can honestly say that this is the most impressive performance and guitar accompaniment of a traditional song that I have ever heard.