Lyr Req: Todd's Sweet Rural Shade

Subject: Todd's Sweet Rural Shade
From: SingsIrish Songs
Date: 10 Oct 00 - 09:49 PM

I have a recording by Boys of the Lough and really like the song--it is part of a compilation cd. I have found most of the other song lyrics at Mudcat...

Anyone have these lyrics handy?

Many thanks.

Mary

Subject: Lyr Add: TODD'S SWEET RURAL SHADE ^^
From: GUEST,Ian M.
Date: 12 Oct 00 - 05:18 PM

The song is in the collection "Shamrock, Rose and Thistle" by Hugh Shields.

One evening fair to take the air, as I carelessly did stray
Down by a grove, I chanced to rove - it being in the month of May
There I espied a comely maid. She has my fond heart betrayed.
Sly Cupid's dart did pierce my heart on Todd's sweet rural shade.

Oh, her carriage neat and limbs complete as she gently moved along
Her skin was like the fallen snow that was drifting o'er the land
Her cherry cheeks and yellow hair. She has my fond heart betrayed.
Ah, ye gods combine and ease my mind on Todd's sweet rural shade.

Oh the blackbird with her lovely notes does make the valley ring,
And the cuckoo joins in chorus then, for to welcome back the spring
The lark has left her verdant vale, the linnet for to aid,
For to please that fair beyond compare on Todd's sweet rural shade.

Oh, says I, my fair and comely maid would you consent to love?
Your deluding smile has me beguiled whilst crossing o'er yon shade
Do not deny - with me comply, and lend me your fond aid
And I'll resign this heart of mine on Todd's sweet rural shade.

Oh, says she, young man, I pray forebear - such jesting I disdain.
I am too young to be controlled by Cupid's cunning chain.
But if I thought you were sincere, as oftimes you have said,
Then I'd resign this heart of mine on Todd's sweet rural shade.

Then it's hand in hand we both walked on, out o'er yon dewy plain.
My bosom felt a warm glow, I knew not care nor pain.
Beneath yon bower we spent an hour, until unto me she said,
Oh, I'll resign this heart of mine on Todd's sweet rural shade.

Beneath yon bower, where verdant flowers they bedecked this noble maid,
And she blessed the day she chanced to stray on Todd's sweet rural shade. ^^

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Todd's Sweet Rural Shade
From: SingsIrish Songs
Date: 13 Oct 00 - 02:11 AM

Ian M.

Thanks so much for posting the lyrics! I am thrilled! Thanks too for citing the collection title. I shall have to see if I can locate a copy.

Cheers!

Mary

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Todd's Sweet Rural Shade
From: Joe Offer
Date: 13 Oct 00 - 02:34 AM

Hi, Ian - is the song traditional, written by Shields, or what? Is there any background information.
Any chance you might be able to transcribe a tune for us in Noteworthy, MIDI, or ABC format?
Thansk.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Todd's Sweet Rural Shade
From: GUEST,Ian M.
Date: 13 Oct 00 - 04:30 AM

Mary and Joe,

You will have noticed that the last verse only has two lines. I took the words from the LP cover and I suspect that the second and third lines of that verse have been missed out in order to squeeze it in. I will listen to the record tonight and supply the missing lines.

The sleeve note says that the song was collected from the late Eddie Butcher. He was a famous singer from, I think, Magilligan, County Derry. The collection "Shamrock, Rose and Thistle" is published by Blackstaff.

At present I lack the technical skills to post tunes but if you are prepared to wait.......

Good Luck Ian M.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Todd's Sweet Rural Shade
From: MartinRyan
Date: 13 Oct 00 - 04:38 AM

Joe

I have Shields' book. I'll check it out when I get a chance.

Regards

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Todd's Sweet Rural Shade
From: radriano
Date: 13 Oct 00 - 01:10 PM

Hi Joe,

I have a copy of the book as well. Hugh Shields collected the songs in his book, many of which came from the singing of Eddie Butcher. I suspect it would be difficult to post the melody because Mr. Shields tended to transcribe every nuance of the singer's rendition. It's quite a scholarly work but I find the transcriptions difficult to make out - interesting to look at but hard to use practically. At least for me, anyway. If Martin hasn't posted any info about the song by Monday I'll be happy to add whatever is in the book

When I attended the Songs Workshop at the Clancy Festival back in 1984, Hugh Shields did a very excellent job on the lecture portion of the class. I believe that was just before his book was published.


Regards,
Radriano

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Todd's Sweet Rural Shade
From: SingsIrish Songs
Date: 13 Oct 00 - 04:41 PM

I've just listened to my cd following the lyrics above. The last verse IS only two lines using the melody for the 3rd and 4th lines in the other verses.

Are there any chords included in the book by chance?

Mary

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Todd's Sweet Rural Shade
From: GUEST,Ian M.
Date: 13 Oct 00 - 06:26 PM

Mary is correct. Cathal McConnell only sings two lines for the last verse. Why? There is something not quite right here. There is no grammatical connection between these two lines. Can Martin or Radriano confirm that the version in the book ends in the same way? Cathal got his version from a Derry singer called Brian Mullen. The tune he sings it to is an upbeat version of the tune that carries "Down by the Sally Gardens". It also resembles a better known song along the same lines - "Dobbin's Flowery Vale".

Good Luck.

Ian M.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Todd's Sweet Rural Shade
From: SingsIrish Songs
Date: 14 Oct 00 - 09:15 PM

It seems to me that the last two lines are in the method of (sometimes) repeating the last strain in a song to end it, but in this case the words are changed to rather sum up what happens...she finally gave her heart to the man and was thankful she did spend the time "on Todd's sweet rural shade"...but it will be nice to confirm if the lyrics are complete.

Thanks Ian M, for mentioning "Down by the Sally Gardens" as the melody...it was bugging me as to what song the melody reminded me of. I agree that it is Sally Gardens, but with some variations in certain areas...will have to compare the melody lines very closely and will try to submit my findings. It won't be for a couple weeks since I'll be going out of town to visit family.

Haven't heard "Dobbin's Flowery Vale"..will have to see if I can locate a copy.

Mary

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Todd's Sweet Rural Shade
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 15 Oct 00 - 12:11 AM

Dobbin's Flowery Vale  There's an abc of the tune a little further down the thread.

Malcolm

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Todd's Sweet Rural Shade
From: GUEST,Martin Ryan
Date: 15 Oct 00 - 04:57 PM

To be exact, Hugh Shields appends those two lines to the previous verse - without any comment.

Regards.

p.s. I imagine this is on an Eddy Butcher tape - I'll check it out.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Todd's Sweet Rural Shade
From: radriano
Date: 16 Oct 00 - 11:52 AM

Hello everybody,

I'm going to make a GIF of the melody to "Todd's Sweet Rural Shade" - anyone who would like a copy can contact me at: [e-mail]

It is actually not that rare to find a traditional song that have a verse with extra lines in it. In Mr. Shield's book the two lines in question are shown as part of the last verse.

Mary, there are no chords in the book. Traditional Irish singing is done a cappella and this book follows that format.

Here are the notes about the song in the book:

"The location of this beautified marriage proposal seems precise but is obscure. The place-name is the sort that occurs only in poetry, and if we can more or less localize 'David's Flowery Vale' (no 21) or 'Walmsley's Shady Groves,' we are less successful with 'Todd's Sweet Rural Shade.' Since I have found no other version of the song it is probably an Ulster one. It is in the Gaelic tradition: from a rural encounter and a portrait of the girl we pass to dialogue with little action, all expresed with conventional elegance and plenty of internal rhyme. Indeed internal rhyme generally gives way only to admit flowers of rhetoric that would otherwise have to be excluded."

Regards to all,
Radriano

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Todd's Sweet Rural Shade
From: SingsIrish Songs
Date: 16 Oct 00 - 07:18 PM

Thanks for the extra info Radriano. Wasn't sure (until I did some research) how old the songbook mentioned might have been...and seeing as how some of the more modern publications might add chords, I thought I'd ask.

Cheers.

Mary

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Todd's Sweet Rural Shade
From: GUEST,Ian M.
Date: 17 Oct 00 - 06:08 AM

Hi,

I know it is not uncommon for there to be extra lines at the end of a song as a comment on what has gone before but what bothered me was the grammar. For the two lines to make sense you need to omit "they" in the penultimate line and "And" in the last line. Any thoughts, anyone?

Good Luck,

Ian M.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Todd's Sweet Rural Shade
From: radriano
Date: 17 Oct 00 - 11:17 AM

The last two lines in Hugh Shields' book are a bit different from your post, Ian. They are:

Beneath yon bower where verdant flowers they bedecked that lovelie maid,
Oh, she blessed the day she chanced to stray by Todd's sweet rural shade.


Well, it takes care of your objection to the "and" in the last line, anyway.

I have seen songs with extra verse lines that didn't come on the last verse. I can't give you any titles off the top of my head and I will surely admit that it's rare.


Radriano

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Todd's Sweet Rural Shade
From: SingsIrish Songs
Date: 17 Oct 00 - 03:56 PM

Yarmouth Town (won't you come down, etc) has a "short" verse stuck in the middle of the song....

I'll have to listen to the recording again, but could the "they" be simply to help the lyrics fit the music? I've come across songs where they lyrics aren't perfect grammatically (drawing a blank on an example)...might be the case here. Great observation at any rate Ian M!

Mary

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Todd's Sweet Rural Shade
From: radriano
Date: 17 Oct 00 - 07:34 PM

Mary, there's a very nice version of "Dobbin's Flowery Vale" on an album titled "Song of the Wage Slave" by a northern California band called "Out of the Rain." Great harmonies and arrangements.

Subject: Out of the Rain's CD
From: Joe Offer
Date: 17 Oct 00 - 08:20 PM

Notice that Radriano very modestly neglected to state that he is/was a primary member of "Out of the Rain," and that his home is nearly filled with copies of Out of the Rain's CD called With the Friends I Love Best. He'll be glad to sell you a copy if you send him a personal message. It's good stuff.
Here are the songs on the album:

• The Creggan White Hare
• Siul a Ruin
• If I Was A Blackbird
• The Merry Sisters / Craig's Pipes / The Curlew
• The Grey Funnel Line
• Will Ye Go To Flanders
• The Wild Rover
• Goodnight and Joy
• The Bright Shining Morning
• Blind Mary / Belles of Tipperery / Shearing the Sheep
• The Meeting of the Waters
• Slieve (Sliobh) Gallen Braes
• Austin Barry's / Clare Jig / Bank of Turf
• Down by the Glenside
• The Walls of Troy

This is first-class traditional singing. You'll like it. Unfortunately, this is NOT the album with "Dobbin's Flowery Vale," but I figured it was a good time to put in a plug for Richard's album. Song of the Wage Slave is available on cassette, also from radriano.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Todd's Sweet Rural Shade
From: SingsIrish Songs
Date: 18 Oct 00 - 02:21 AM

oooooooooooo....you both have got my interest! Radriano, the group doesn't have a website by chance??? I'll keep the albums in mind.

Thanks again everyone!

Mary

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Todd's Sweet Rural Shade
From: radriano
Date: 18 Oct 00 - 11:20 AM

Aw, shucks, Joe, how's a fella supposed to keep his modesty intact? However, thanks - I appreciate the plug and the kind words.

Mary, the band doesn't have a website, at least not yet.


Richard