Lyr Req: Minorie

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Minorie
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 11 Aug 15 - 02:12 PM

I found a video of Ewan MacColl singing "Minorie."

It's a good tune, but it's only 8 measures long, and most of us don't want to listen to 8 measures of music sung 14 times with no variation. Yes, on the PA at the supermarket they play songs like that, but most of us disdain that stuff.

If I were performing this for people, I would make up a another 8 measures of music (a B part) and sing some of the verses to it.

No law says that every verse has to be the same loudness, same tempo and same timbre. The ballad singer is telling a story, after all, and some parts are more exciting than others.

Subject: Lyr Add: THE TWO SISTERS (from Cindy Mangsen)
From: GUEST
Date: 10 Aug 15 - 06:45 PM

Here's another stunning version of "The Two Sisters", this one by Cindy Mangsen:
Cindy Mangsen - The Two Sisters (You Tube). The song is on her 2012 duo album with husband Steve Gillette: Home by Dark.

Cindy's lyrics:

The Two Sisters (Traditional, Child #10)

There were two sisters sat in a bower
Binnorie, oh Binnorie
There came a knight to be their wooer
By the bonny mill dams of Binnorie

He courted the eldest with glove and ring
But he loved the youngest above anything

The eldest to the young one said
Will you come and see our father's ships come in?

She's taken her by the lily white hand
And led her down to the river strand

The young one stood upon a stone
And the eldest came and pushed her in

O sister sister reach me your hand
And you will inherit half my land

O sister I'll not reach my hand
And I will inherit all your land

O sister sister reach me your glove
And sweet William will be your love

Sink on, nor hope for hand or glove
And sweet William will be my love

Sometimes she sank, sometimes she swam
Until she came to the miller's dam

The miller hastened and drew his dam
And there he found a drowned woman

He made a harp of her breast bone
Whose sounds would melt a heart of stone

And the strings he made of her yellow hair
Whose sounds made sad the listening ear

He brought it to her father's hall
And there was the court assembled all

He laid the harp upon a stone
And straight it began to play alone

O yonder sits my father the king
And yonder sits my mother the queen

And yonder stands my brother Hugh
And by him William, sweet and true

But the last tune that the harp played then
Was "Woe to my sister, false Helen"

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Minorie
From: Jim Carroll
Date: 10 Aug 15 - 03:18 AM

Ewan and Peggy recorded a magnificent version of this ballad from Scots Traveller, Christina McAlistair in tyhe 1960s - hopefully, this and a load more of these recordings will see the light of day in the near future
Jim Carroll

Subject: Lyr Add: MINORIE (from Ewan MacColl)
From: GUEST
Date: 09 Aug 15 - 06:19 PM

'Minorie'

As sung by Ewan MacColl

There lived twa sisters in ane bower
Minorie, O, Minorie
And there cam' a young man tae be their wooer
On the bonnie dam sides o' Minorie

He's coorted the eldest wi' a' his land
Minorie, O, Minorie
He coorted the youngest wi' his right hand
On the bonnie dam sides o' Minorie.

He gied the elder a brooch and ring
Minorie, O, Minorie
But he loo'ed the youngest abune a' thing
On the bonnie dam sides o' Minorie

He coorted the eldest wi' his penknife,
Minorie, O, Minorie
But he loo'ed the youngest abune his life
On the bonnie dam sides o' Minorie.

O sister, sister, ye'll gang tae the broom
Minorie, O, Minorie
Tae hear the blackbird change its tune
And we'll maybe see the lads o' Minorie

They walked up and they walked doon
Minorie, O, Minorie
And thrice the blackbird changed his tune
But they never saw the lads o' Minorie.

O sister, sister, ye'll gang to the dam
Minorie, O, Minorie
To see oor faither's ship be comin' in
Tae the bonnie dam sides o' Minorie

They went to the dam and they stood on a steen
Minorie, O, Minorie
And the eldest dang the youngest in
To the bonnie dam sides o' Minorie

O she swam up and she swam doon
Minorie, O, Minorie
Till she swam to whar her sister did stand
On the bonnie dam sides o' Minorie.

O sister, sister, tak' me by the hand
Minorie, O, Minorie
And ye'll get the miller lad and a' his land
He's the bonnie miller lad o' Minorie.

It wasnae for that that I danged ye in
Minorie, O, Minorie
But you was fair and I was dun
And ye'll droon in the dams o' Minorie.

The miller's ae dochter gaed to the dam,
Minorie, O, Minorie;
For water to wash her faither's hands,
By the bonnie dam sides o' Minorie.

O faither, faither, fish in the dam
Minorie, O, Minorie,
For there's either a maid or a milk-white swan
Has drooned in the dams o' Minorie

There was nane o' them kent her face sae fair,
Minorie, O, Minorie
But weel kent the miller by her bonnie yellow hair,
'Twas his ain bonnie lass o' Minorie.


TRANSLATION

There lived two sisters in a wood
Minorie, O, Minorie
And a young man came to court them both
By the beautiful banks of Minorie

He courted the eldest with all his land (wealth)
Minorie, O, Minorie
He courted the youngest with his right hand (romance)
By the beautiful banks of Minorie

He gave the eldest a brooch and ring
Minorie, O, Minorie
But he loved the youngest above all things
By the beautiful banks of Minorie

He courted the eldest with his penknife (carpentry skills!)
Minorie, O, Minorie
But he loved he youngest more than his own life
By the beautiful banks of Minorie

Oh sister, sister we'll go to the meadow (?)
Minorie, O, Minorie
To hear the blackbird change its tune
And we'll maybe see the lads of Minorie

They walked up and they walked down
Minorie, O, Minorie
Three times the blackbird changed his tune
But they never saw the lads of Minorie

O sister, sister we'll go to the dam
Minorie, O, Minorie
To see if our father's ship is coming in
To the beautiful shores of Minorie

They went to the dam and stood on a rock
Minorie, O, Minorie
And the eldest pushed the yougest in
By the beautiful sides of Minorie

Oh she swam up and she swam down
Minorie, O, Minorie
Till she swam to where her sister did stand
By the beautiful sides of Minorie

Oh sister, sister take my hand
Minorie, O, Minorie
And you can have the miller lad and all his land
He's the handsome miller lad of Minorie

It wasn't for that I pushed you in
Minorie, O, Minorie
But you are pretty and I am ugly
And you'll drown in the dams of Minorie

The miller's own daughter went to the dam
Minorie, O, Minorie
For water to wash her father's hands
By the beautiful shores of Minorie

O father, father, fish in the dam (as a command, to 'fish' something out)
Minorie, O, Minorie
For there's either a girl or a milk-white swan
Has drowned in the dams of Minorie

None of them knew her face so fair
Minorie, O, Minorie
But the miller knew her well by her beautiful yellow hair
It was his own beautiful girl of Minorie

Rough translation by Greg Pastic

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Minorie
From: Don Firth
Date: 15 Apr 11 - 03:09 PM

In Child, under "The Twa Sisters."

Don Firth

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Minorie
From: Don Firth
Date: 15 Apr 11 - 03:06 PM

I first learned it as "Binnorie," but later heard it (MacColl, I think) as "Minnorie." Then, other variations, including an American transplant version with a chorus that went "Bow down, bow and balance to me." It began

There was an old lord by the Northern Sea,
    Bow down, bow down,
There was an old lord by the Northern Sea,
    Bow and balance to me.
There was an old lord by the Northern Sea,
And he had daughters one, two, three.
    I will be true, true to my love,
    Love, if my love will be true to me.

then goes on to tell the same story.

Many versions of Child #10.

Don Firth

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Minorie
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 15 Apr 11 - 10:41 AM

Seeyam, thanks for posting.   I like your solution (*) to the problem of chord symbols which vacillate - oscillate - won't stay put.

Subject: Chords to Minorie
From: GUEST,Seeyam Brijmohun
Date: 15 Apr 11 - 09:55 AM

Minnorie

            Am                              C
1.         *There lived twa sisters *in ane bower,
        G                Am
        *Minnorie, o, *Minnorie:
                        C                              G
        And there *cam' a young man to *be their wooer,
                    Am             G            Am
        On the *bonnie dam*sides o' *Minnorie.

The asterisks are where the chord changes are.
It's one of me favourite song.
Seeyam Brijmohun

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Minorie
From: Gypsy
Date: 30 Nov 00 - 10:35 PM

Blessings on all your heads! will send off info to our favorite shantyman, and make him sing it to us! Thank you so much!

Subject: Lyr Add: MINNORIE (sung by Ewan MacColl)
From: Abby Sale
Date: 30 Nov 00 - 12:09 AM

OK.  From Ewan MacColl, E&SPB, Riverside (and Washington) vol 1 (also on his Long Harvest vol I from Folkways so it's still available.  I haven't checked the words are identical on the two at this point but I recall that they are at least nearly so.)

                                                                   Minnorie
 

1.	There lived twa sisters in ane bower,
	Minnorie, o, Minnorie:
	And there cam' a young man to be their wooer,
	On the bonnie damsides o' Minnorie.

2.	He coorted the eldest wi' a' his land,
	Minnorie, o, Minnorie:
	He coorted the youngest wi' his right hand.,
	On the bonnie damsides o' Minnorie.

.3.	He gied the elder a brooch and ring,
	Minnorie, o, Minnorie:
	But he lo'ed the youngest abune a' thing
	On the bonnie damsides o' Minnorie.

4.	He coorted the eldest wi' his penknife,
	Minnorie, o, Minnorie:
	He lo'ed the youngest abune his life,
	On the bonnie damsides o' Minnorie.

5.	"O, sister, o, sister, ye'll gang to the broom,"
	Minnorie, o, Minnorie:
	"To hear the blackbird change his tune,
	And we'll maybe see the lads o' Minnorie.

6.	They walked up and they walked doon,
	Minnorie, o Minnorie:
	And thrice the blackbird changed his tune,
	But they never saw the lads o' Minnorie.

7.	"O, sister, o, sister, ye'll gang to the dam"
	Minnorie, o, Minnorie:
	"To see our faither's ships be commin' in
	To the bonnie damsides o' Minnorie."

8.	They went to the dam and they stood on a stane,
	Minnorie, o, Minnorie:
	And the elder dang the youngest in,
	To the bonnie damsides o' Minnorie.

9.	O, she swam up and she swam doon,
	Minnorie, o, Minnorie:
	'Till she swam to whar her sister did stand,
	On the bonnie damsides o' Minnorie.

10.	"O, sister, sister, tak' me by the hand,"
	Minnorie, o, Minnorie:
	"And ye'll get the miller lad and a' his land,
	He's the bonnie miller lad o' Minnorie.

11.	"It wasna for that that I danged ye in,"
	Minnorie, o, Minnorie:
	"But you was fair and I was dun,
	And you'll droon in the dams o' Minnorie.

12.	The miller's ae dochter gaed oot to the dam,
	Minnorie, o, Minnorie:
	For water to wash her faither's hands,
	By the bonnie milldams o' Minnorie.

13.	"O, faither, o, faither, ye'll fish the dam,"
	Minnorie, o, Minnorie:
	"For there's either a maid or a milkwhite swan,
	Has drooned in the dams o' Minnorie."

14.	There was nane o' them a' kent her face sae fair,
	Minnorie, o, Minnorie:
	But weel kent the miller by her bonnie yellow hair,
	'Twas his ain bonnie lass o' Minnorie.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Minorie
From: GUEST,Bruce O.
Date: 29 Nov 00 - 11:40 PM

But then it's not a real traditional version.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Minorie
From: Wavestar
Date: 29 Nov 00 - 09:47 PM

But that doesn't mean you can't adapt them, as a dozen people have done before you...

-J

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Minorie
From: GUEST,Bruce O.
Date: 29 Nov 00 - 09:39 PM

Gypsy, the lyrics are in the leaflet that came with the album>

Among the 97 tunes for the ballad (Child # 10) in Bronson's The Traditional tunes of the Child Ballads,I, #10, we find in the titles:

Binnorie, Scots 7
Balgonie, Scots 1
Binorie, Scots 12, English 2
Benonie, Scots 1

I didn't check possible additions in the appendices to the other volumes,

The lyrics from a real traditional version of a song are by definition correct, no matter how you think it should go.

Subject: Lyr Add: BINNORIE^^^
From: John in Brisbane
Date: 29 Nov 00 - 08:54 PM

Here's Binnorie from the DT:

BINNORIE

There lived twa sisters in yonder ha'.
Binnorie, o an' Binnorie,
They hid bit ae lad atween them twa,
He's the bonnie miller lad o Binnorie.

It fell aince upon a day...
That the auldest ane to the youngest did say
At the bonnie mull dams o Binnorie.

O sister O sister will ye gang to the brooms,...
An hear the little blackbirdie changing its tunes
At the bonnie mull dams o Binnorie.

O sister O sister will ye gang to the dams...
An see your father's fish boats safe on dry land
An see the mullart lad o Binnorie.

They hidna been half an hour at the brooms...
Till they thrice heard the blackbirdie changing its tunes
At the bonnie mull dams O Binnorie.

They hidna been an hour at the dams...
Till they saw their father's fish boats safe on dry land
But they sawna the bonnie mullart laddie.

The youngest ane she stood on a stane...
The aulest ane dung the youngest in
To the bonnie mull dams o Binnorie.

She swam up an she swam down...
Till she swam back tull her sister again
In the bonnie mull dams o Binnorie.

Sister O Sister will ye reach me yere glove...
An I'II make you heir o my true love
The bonnie mullart lad O Rinorie.

It wisna for that, that I dang ye in,...
It's because ye are fair an I am din*
An ye'll droon in the dams o Binnorie.

Oot cam the aul' mullart's daughter to the dams...
For water tae wash her father's hands
Fae the bonnie mull dams o Binnorie.

O father O father go a-fishing your dams...
For there's either a mermaid or a milk-white swan
In the bonnie mull dams o Binnorie.

They socht up an they socht down...
But they got naething but a droon'd woman
In the bonnie mull dams O Binnorie.

Some o them kent her by her skin so fair...
But weel kent the millart by her bonnie yellow hair
She's the millart's bonnie lass o Binnorie.

Some o them kent her by her goon o silk...
But the millart laddie kent her by her middle so jimp
'Twas his ain bonnie lass o Binnorie.

Mony a ane was at her oot takin...
An mony ane mair at her green grave makin
At the bonnie mull dams o Binnorie.

*din=dun, dark
From Grieg-Duncan Collection
Child #10

HTML line breaks added. --JoeClone, 5-May-02.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Minorie
From: Gypsy
Date: 29 Nov 00 - 06:43 PM

I would agree, but....went to MacColl website, and the track listed is indeed Minorie. Maybe same song different spellings?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Minorie
From: Diva
Date: 29 Nov 00 - 05:06 PM

Thats just what I was going to say. "Binourie" sung by Erland Voy on "Bonnie Mill Dams" by The Clutha

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Minorie
From: harpmolly
Date: 29 Nov 00 - 11:58 AM

er...I thought it was Binnorie?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Minorie
From: Gypsy
Date: 29 Nov 00 - 11:07 AM

Thank you kindly, Bruce O. She has the album, but can't quite translate the lyrics accurately. Anyone out there have them? Thanks, all

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Minorie
From: GUEST,Bruce O.
Date: 29 Nov 00 - 01:06 AM

It's a version of 'The Two Sisters', Child #10, that MacColl said he learned from his father. It's on an LP- Washington #715. (Originally issued on the Riverside label.)

Subject: Minorie
From: Gypsy
Date: 28 Nov 00 - 10:33 PM

Well, my friend is looking for these lyrics by Ewan MacColl, and can't find them anywhere. Sez that she posted, but I can't find the bloody post! Anyone able to help? Or to point me in the right direction? Thanks, all!