Tune Req: Flower Of York / Rose of York

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Flower Of York / Rose of York
From: LDH
Date: 22 Nov 02 - 01:53 PM

Hi Susanne,

Sorry to take so long replying; I'm glad you enjoy the song; the story's even better - if you have trouble getting a copy of the book I'll be happy to send you mine (long's I get it back!.) It was published in 1961 and is quite possibly out of print now.

The reason I actually contacted Mudcat in the first place was because of Roy's recording of the song. His was the second one I heard on the radio and thought, 'right, time to set the record straight!'

I'm not sure if Mike is actually back in Scotland but I do know that he will be here in December for sure, because I'm doing backing vocals on his new CD being recorded then!

Lesley

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Flower Of York / Rose of York
From: Jim McLean
Date: 15 Nov 02 - 12:17 PM

Lesley!
I've found the master tape of the LP containing The Rose of York, dated 19th October 1971, NEVIS LP 005.
You can have it if you want as you could possible make CDs quite cheaply from it.
Cheers,
Jim

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Flower Of York / Rose of York
From: Jim McLean
Date: 15 Nov 02 - 11:34 AM

Hi Lesley,
Nice to hear from you. I'm afraid I could never get distribution for the album then and the Wee MacGreegor had quite a hold on it! He made it quite imposible to retail profitably. Check with Gus McDonald of Kub Records to see whether he has the master tape or not as I may have passed it on to him along with others a few years ago. I'll check and see if I have it and you'd be welcome to it, free gratis, if I have. My email is [e-mail].
Cheers,
Jim

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Flower Of York / Rose of York
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 14 Nov 02 - 05:25 PM

Lesley - I have to confess, I have stolen your tune and written another song for it....

I'll stop singing it if you want.... but I never realised it wasn't traditional.

LTS

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Flower Of York / Rose of York
From: Susanne (skw)
Date: 14 Nov 02 - 05:05 PM

Lesley, thanks a lot for sending the original lyrics and a bit of history. It's a marvellous and moving song, and I'll certainly keep a lookout for the book next time I go to Britain. Roy Bailey's version is the only one I've got but I can hardly imagine anyone doing it better. However, he's changed the lyrics somewhat (sounds like he learned it orally, in true folk fashion). I've just checked again - this is what he sings, word for word. We'll add a link to this thread so that people can check out the original.   

Thread creep: Is it true Mike Whellans has gone back to Scotland to live?

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Flower Of York / Rose of York
From: Joe Offer
Date: 12 Nov 02 - 07:16 PM

Hi, Lesley - have your friend e-mail the tune to me in any format, and I'll see to it that it gets posted in Mudcat MIDIs. The original title of this thread was a mistake, "Flower of York." When we correct titles of threads, we attempt to retain the original title so the original requestor can find it. I slightly changed the format of the lyrics you sent me, to more closely fit the format we use in the Digital Tradition (song title all caps at top, songwriter names in parentheses on the next line).

-Joe Offer (click to e-mail)-

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Flower Of York / Rose of York
From: LDH
Date: 12 Nov 02 - 07:09 PM

Folks,

Can I just clarify....I'm the lady who 'wrote' the tune but as I don't actually write music I will endeavour to get a friend of mine to do it for me and post it asap.

Also, I'm pretty sure - unless someone can tell me different - that Flower of York is Rose of York. Check the words posted in this thread.

Lesley Hale.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Flower Of York / Rose of York
From: LDH
Date: 12 Nov 02 - 07:05 PM

Hello Jim!

How are you? Good to know you're still alive and kicking. You might be surprised just how many people have asked me if they can still get a copy of the LP....I've made dozens of tapes myself for friends who in turn have made copies for their friends.

Tich and Andy and I have gotten together over the years to do the odd gig and we've recently been asked to do harmony backing on a new Micke Whellans CD. I did a tape myself - Find Me an Island - and that's done the rounds as well over the years. Tich and Andy are still singing full-time.

Let me know what you've been up to.

Lesley

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Flower Of York / Rose of York
From: Jim McLean
Date: 12 Nov 02 - 01:46 PM

Hi Lesley,
I made the LP with you a long time ago for Nevis Records NEV R005. How are you? It's beeen a few years.
Jim McLean

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Flower Of York / Rose of York
From: Tig
Date: 12 Nov 02 - 01:26 PM

You should have tried asking on Sunday!

The Badger recorded them for someone only the other week - they too were having problems finding them.

How's Farthing?

Subject: Correction: Rose of York (Hale/Thomson)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 12 Nov 02 - 01:08 PM

I got a fascinating personal message from Ms. Lesley Hale, and I prompltly misinterpreted it and identified Lesley as a Mr. Anyhow, Ms. Hale gave me permission to post this in the Forum.
-Joe Offer-

---

Hi Joe,

I've just joined as a Mudcat member and I would like to set the record straight concerning the song 'The Rose of York', a song which I co-wrote and wrote the music for along with a guy called Ken Thomson.

I've become increasingly alarmed at the versions of this song that I've heard which have frankly gotten out of proportion.

May I please be allowed to give THE DEFINITIVE version so that your members have the correct words.

As a background, Ken & I wrote the song after reading the magnificient book, "Covenenant with Death" by John Harris and I would urge anyone to read it; its well worth it.

In brief, the book tells the story of a regiment which was recruited for Kitchener's army from a town in Yorkshire and was made up almost entirely of family relations, of sons, brothers and friends who trained initially in Egypt waiting to be called to the front. The narrator of the story is a chap called MARK FENNER, a journalist working for the local paper. His friend, MASON is the one who fell into the barbed wire when he was shot and Sgt. Major BOLD, also shot & killed is one of the best characters in the book.

Here is the complete and correct version of the song:

THE ROSE OF YORK
(Lesley Hale & Ken Thomson)

My name it is Mark Fenner and I am a Yorkshireman
I earn my living by my pen, tell a stirring tale I can
But the one I tell you now boys, was writ by foolish men
When petals fell from a Rose of York, never to bloom again

Come all you young unmarried men the boys of the Bulldog breed
We're looking for the strong and brave that's what Britannia needs
We'll fight the huns in France and drown them in the Seine
But petals fell from a Rose of York never to bloom again

Well, we first shipped out to Egypt where the heat was hard to bear
We were waiting for the call to France for the Bosche were fighting there
We talked of what we'd do boys, brother son and friend
But petals fell from a Rose of York never to bloom again

At last we heard the Push was on and we sailed across the Med
We little thought in two weeks time we'd most of us be dead
And the girls at home would weep with a grief that's hard to mend
And petals fell from a Rose of York never to bloom again

With shouts of joy we led the charge towards the German wire
The handsome Mason was first to fall as the guns they opened fire
His face no longer handsome on the barbs he met his end
And petals fell from a Rose of York never to bloom again

We had a Sergeant Major, Bold by nature, bold by name
But German guns don't pick and choose and Bold died just the same
And the other gallants followed the coin of life to spend
And petals fell from a Rose of York never to bloom again

Well, we didn't want to lose you but we thought you ought to go
Your King and country need you Lord Kitcher told you so
But the story I have told you was writ by foolish men
When petals fell from a Rose of York never to bloom again.

The first group to record this song was Bitter Withy (myself, Tich Frier & Andy Ramage) on an LP called Bitter Withy Sampler.

                  ***********
And for the guy who happens to think that Lesley Hale is a fella...well, I 'aint!.

Here's hoping this sets the record a bit straighter,

Lesley Hale.

---

Registered Mudcatters can contact Lesley Hale by personal mesage here (click)

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Flower Of York
From: GeorgeH
Date: 09 Jun 00 - 06:47 AM

Yup. Buy Roy's excellent recording of it. Much preferable to pillaging it from some techno-freak here . .

(Translation: I lack the skills to post anything more than words here - but Roy Bailey's recording of it is magnificent).

G.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Flower Of York
From: Bugsy
Date: 08 Jun 00 - 09:33 PM

It's basically the same as the first line. That's if you go by Roy Bailey's version.

Cheers

bugsy

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Flower Of York
From: John in Brisbane
Date: 08 Jun 00 - 07:13 PM

You'll find the lyrics in the DT, where it is titled THE ROSE OF YORK. I'll have a look for the tune. Regards, John

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Flower Of York
From: Sorcha
Date: 08 Jun 00 - 02:52 PM

(can't resist--sorry for the KTS here) Surely it is not The Fergie you are looking for?

Subject: Flower Of York
From: magician
Date: 08 Jun 00 - 12:47 PM

I have the words but have forgotten all but the last line of the tune. The last line is "The petals fell from the flower of York never to bloom again". The dots would do nicely. Ta.