Lyr Req: by the studying of economy..

Subject: by studying of economy..
From: richardw
Date: 22 Aug 00 - 08:29 PM

Looking for an obscure song from mid 1800s. A character I am researching was giving the nickname, "boy Economy" because he constantly sang the line "by the studying of economy we live like a Lord."

Can't find it in Levy, LOC, Bodlein etc.

Any ideas? Joe? Bruce?

Richard Wright

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: by the studying of economy..
From: Noreen
Date: 23 Aug 00 - 07:38 PM

refresh

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: by the studying of economy..
From: richardw
Date: 24 Aug 00 - 06:48 PM

refresh

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: by the studying of economy..
From: Brendy
Date: 24 Aug 00 - 10:01 PM

Is there any more relevant info you can give us on this, richard?

B.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: by the studying of economy..
From: Sorcha
Date: 24 Aug 00 - 11:35 PM

Like Who, What, Where, When, Why? Apparently it is a theater piece? Which play? When was the play written? I had zero luck with any phrase on mega search engines.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: by the studying of economy..
From: richardw
Date: 24 Aug 00 - 11:40 PM

Brendy;

Not really. The song is mentioned in the diary of a Canadian Overlander who walked west from the eastern Canada to the goldfields of B.C. When this particular party left Huntingdon Quebec there was a young Englishman who joined the party. His name was W. Merriat. He was seldom refered to by name. Because he was young and sang "by studying of economy we live like a Lord", constantly, he was within days known only as "the boy Economy." I presume it was a popular song of the time (1862) but I cannot find any trace of it. I have written a book on the trek westward and would now that it is republished I am trying to tie up a few loose ends for a website. So, I would like to find this song and the complete words.

Richard Wright

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: by the studying of economy..
From: richardw
Date: 24 Aug 00 - 11:59 PM

Sorcha;

I guess I was writing my reply while you were posting, but to clarify, this is not from a play (as far as I know) but appears in an 1862 diary. I have had similar luck with search engines--which is why I came to mudcaters, who seldom fail. Thanks for your interest.

Richard

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: by the studying of economy..
From: Sorcha
Date: 25 Aug 00 - 12:54 AM

hmmmmmmm, only real valid reference was to "Hamlet", guess that is not real relevant, huh? All the others were Biblical. Will keep looking. Any other snippets of lyrics that you know of? (love challenges)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: by the studying of economy..
From: richardw
Date: 25 Aug 00 - 11:26 AM

Sorcha;

Nope, I wish but that's the complete information given in the diary.It does sound like something from a musical play, perhaps an old farce. Maybe one that Merriat had played in.

What's the Hamlet ref.? Could be spoof on Hamlet , or a musical version I suppose. One of the challenges of this type of historical material is that they were usually writing for themsleves, so felt no need to amplify the information. A song title or a line was all that was needed. Like us jamming. We don't write in our journal (usually) what tunes we played, just that we jammed or performed. And then of course some journalists used the tune title, some the song title and some a line form a verse or a chorus.

Ah well. Thanks for your help

Richard