Lyr Add: 'Another' Drunkard's Child

Subject: Lyr Add: THE DRUNKARD'S CHILD
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 08 Nov 00 - 09:31 PM

G'day all,

I just came across this version of The Drunkard's Child, which is different to any of that genre in the DigiTrad (at least under Drunkard ~). This comes from a new CD I am reviewing by Australian duo Us Not Them, Jason & Chlöe Roweth - Sleepers ... 16 songs all collected recently from Clarrie Milner, a lady who was raised in an extended family of sleeper cutters, on the far south coast of New South Wales.

Songs were part of day-to-day life for the whole family and Clarrie made especial efforts to learn all she heard. Most songs come from the popular traditions of her parents' and grandparents' day, but she often has beautiful tunes that are unfamiliar today.

The Roweths have identifies most of the songs but they can't track down this particular Drunkard's Child. I know that HC Work composed a song of this title, but I don't have any good reference on this area. Does anyone out there recognise this song - and its author? Regards,

Bob Bolton

The Drunkard's Child

I was taking my walk, on a cold winters morn,
Through the fields and the lanes, I wandered my way,
'Till I came to a hollow, all rustic and wild,
I heard a voice crying, "I'm a poor drunkard's child."

"My clothes they' re all ragged, tattered and torn,
I'm despised and dejected, forsaken and forlorn,
And on me they frown, and seem so unkind,
There's no sympathy for a poor drunkard's child."

"My mother she died, in the workhouse hard by,
And she left me an orphan, to weep and to sigh.
Broken hearted she died, looked up to heaven and smiled,
Saying 'Jesus protect you, my poor Drunkard's child."

"But now to conclude and to finish my song,
I hope what I've depended on, you will not think me wrong;
For I'm just and orphan, but I won't turn out wild,
I'll show a good example, though a poor drunkard's child."

Clarrie Milliner's version, from Sleepers, JCCD0004, Us Not Them

If there is interest, I will convert the dots into a MIDItext file and post them in a little while.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: 'Another' Drunkard's Child
From: MMario
Date: 08 Nov 00 - 09:38 PM

please if you would, bob...

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: 'Another' Drunkard's Child
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 08 Nov 00 - 09:47 PM

G'day again,

Dang! The fingers came in a close second to the brain ... that should be Clarrie Milliner!

If anyone wants to look at the web site for Us Not Them (and it is worth a look) it is at www.speedlink.com.au/users/usnothem/, and their email is [e-mail].

MMario: I will get it down into my music notation program (tonight ... ?). Jason & Chlöe claim copyright on their legitimate musical arrangements, but the tunes are traditional, so I have no reservations about submitting them.

Regards,

Bob Bolton

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: 'Another' Drunkard's Child
From: sophocleese
Date: 08 Nov 00 - 10:03 PM

Pretty please with a cherry on top?

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: 'Another' Drunkard's Child
From: Stewie
Date: 08 Nov 00 - 11:39 PM

In 1929, Jimmie Rodgers recorded a quite different sentimental piece by this title - as far as I can see from a quick search, it too is different from those in the DT. It was written by Rev Andrew 'Blind Andy' Jenkins from Atlanta. Jenkins is said to have composed over 800 songs, most of them sacred. His two most famous were 'Billy the Kid' and 'The Death of Floyd Collins. In Jenkins' song, the drunkard's child had become an 'orphan child' by the third line even though it is not clear that dad had actually carked it. The song ends:

Don't weep for me or mother
Although I know it is sad
But try to get someone to cheer
And save my poor lonely dad

'I'm awful cold and hungry',
She closed her eyes and sighed
Then those who heard her story
Knew the orphan child had died

--Stewie.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: 'Another' Drunkard's Child
From: Stewie
Date: 09 Nov 00 - 12:02 AM

Searching the DT further, the Jenkins' lyrics are there under the title 'The Orphan Child'. There is a reference to Rodgers in the note attached. I don't know why it is under that title. As far as I know, Jenkins titled his song 'The Drunkard's Child' and Rodgers certainly recorded it under that title. Curious.

--Stewie.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: 'Another' Drunkard's Child
From: Bruce from Bathurst
Date: 09 Nov 00 - 01:46 AM

Umm, Bob, that's 'Carrie' Milliner. She's a she, not a he.

Bruce

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: 'Another' Drunkard's Child
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 09 Nov 00 - 05:03 AM

G'day Bruce,

Damn! I knew that "l" went somewhere wrong! (At least, I did have 'she' in the text.)

I'll get the music into MIDItext later tonight.

Regard(les)s,

Bob Bolton

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: 'Another' Drunkard's Child
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 09 Nov 00 - 01:25 PM

There are some broadside versions at the Bodleian, all with the same text, a longer version of the above.  Here is one:

The drunkard's child  Printed between 1833 and 1841 by Birt, 39, Great St. Andrew Street, Seven Dials, London.

Ms. Milliner's version seems to derive from this song.  No indication of any author, unfortunately.

Malcolm

Subject: Tune Add: DRUNKARD'S CHILD
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 09 Nov 00 - 11:10 PM

G'day again,

OK – I have captured the dots and run then the MIDI through Alan of Oz's Mid2text program. I have timed the track, so this MIDI should run at the same speed that Chlöe Roweth sings the song – if not with all the subtleties of her rendition.

Sorry about the dodgy spelling in my first post – that is what comes of posting details from what passes for my memory these days. I am still waiting for my review copy and I had borrowed a copy from a friend – but had to return it ... (Actually, I probably didn't notice the spelling because, somewhere in the extended family, I had a distant aunt Clarrie – short for Clarissa. I didn't think that too odd; my best friend's favourite aunt was Aunty Bill - short for Berilda! Nice lady, too ... believed in taking nephews - and their best friends - to shows and restaurants!).

Malcolm Douglas: Thanks for that information. I had a nagging feel that these words did not sound American. There's a very British feel to parts of the song (not that that means it won't turn up in America). I suspect that we are left with (Unknown) unless we find a really early copy with credit.

Anyway, enjoy the tune:

Regards,

Bob Bolton

MIDI file: drunkard.mid

Timebase: 240

TimeSig: 6/8 36 8
Tempo: 061 (967742 microsec/crotchet)
Start
0240 1 61 080 0048 0 61 064 0012 1 61 080 0048 0 61 064 0012 1 62 080 0096 0 62 064 0024 1 62 080 0096 0 62 064 0024 1 56 080 0048 0 56 064 0012 1 57 080 0048 0 57 064 0012 1 61 080 0912 0 61 064 0048 1 57 080 0048 0 57 064 0012 1 57 080 0048 0 57 064 0012 1 62 080 0096 0 62 064 0024 1 62 080 0096 0 62 064 0024 1 64 080 0048 0 64 064 0012 1 66 080 0048 0 66 064 0012 1 66 080 0648 0 66 064 0312 1 62 080 0048 0 62 064 0012 1 62 080 0048 0 62 064 0012 1 66 080 0096 0 66 064 0024 1 69 080 0144 0 69 064 0036 1 71 080 0048 0 71 064 0012 1 66 080 0048 0 66 064 0012 1 64 080 0048 0 64 064 0012 1 62 080 0528 0 62 064 0312 1 66 080 0048 0 66 064 0012 1 64 080 0048 0 64 064 0012 1 62 080 0096 0 62 064 0024 1 61 080 0096 0 61 064 0024 1 59 080 0048 0 59 064 0012 1 61 080 0048 0 61 064 0012 1 59 080 0648 0 59 064 0312 1 61 080 0048 0 61 064 0012 1 61 080 0048 0 61 064 0012 1 62 080 0096 0 62 064 0024 1 62 080 0096 0 62 064 0024 1 56 080 0048 0 56 064 0012 1 57 080 0048 0 57 064 0012 1 61 080 0912 0 61 064 0048 1 57 080 0048 0 57 064 0012 1 57 080 0048 0 57 064 0012 1 62 080 0096 0 62 064 0024 1 62 080 0096 0 62 064 0024 1 64 080 0048 0 64 064 0012 1 66 080 0048 0 66 064 0012 1 66 080 0648 0 66 064 0312 1 62 080 0048 0 62 064 0012 1 62 080 0048 0 62 064 0012 1 66 080 0096 0 66 064 0024 1 69 080 0144 0 69 064 0036 1 71 080 0048 0 71 064 0012 1 66 080 0048 0 66 064 0012 1 64 080 0048 0 64 064 0012 1 62 080 0528 0 62 064 0312 1 66 080 0048 0 66 064 0012 1 64 080 0048 0 64 064 0012 1 62 080 0096 0 62 064 0024 1 61 080 0096 0 61 064 0024 1 59 080 0048 0 59 064 0012 1 61 080 0048 0 61 064 0012 1 59 080 0648 0 59 064
End

This program is worth the effort of learning it.

To download the March 10 MIDItext 98 software and get instructions on how to use it click here

ABC format:

X:1
T:
M:6/8
Q:1/4=61
K:C
^C5/2^C/2DD^G,/2A,/2|^C6|-^C2A,/2A,/2DDE/2^F/2|
^F6|-^F2D/2D/2^FA3/2B/2|^F/2E/2D5|-D2^F/2E/2D^CB,/2^C/2|
B,6|-B,2^C/2^C/2DD^G,/2A,/2|^C6|-^C2A,/2A,/2DDE/2^F/2|
^F6|-^F2D/2D/2^FA3/2B/2|^F/2E/2D5|-D2^F/2E/2D^CB,/2^C/2|
B,43/8||