Tune Req: What of the bow?

Subject: What of the bow?
From: Naemanson
Date: 16 Jan 01 - 11:57 AM

I am reading A Conan Doyle's book The White Company. In a scene set in a tavern a "gleeman" sings the following song. My question is about the song. Is this a traditional song or did Conan Doyle write it for his book?

What of the bow?
The bow was made in England:
Of true wood, of yew wood
The wood of English bows
So men who are free
Love the old yew tree
And the land where the yew tree grows.

What of the cord?
The cord was made in England:
A rough cord, a tough cord
A cord that bowmen love
So we'll drain our jacks
To the English flax
And the land where the hemp was wove.

What of the shaft?
The shaft was cut in England:
A long shaft, a strong shaft
Barbed and trim and true
So we'll drink all together
To the gray goose feather
And the land where the gray goose flew.

What of the men?
The men were bred in England:
The bowman--the yeoman—
The lads of dale and fell
Here's to you--and to you
To the hearts that are true
And the land where the true hearts dwell.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: What of the bow?
From: Naemanson
Date: 16 Jan 01 - 10:05 PM

Refresh!

Subject: RE: Tune Req: What of the bow?
From: Matt_R
Date: 16 Jan 01 - 10:20 PM

You picked a good one, Brett! My sister is a member of the A.C.Doyle Soceity of America, so I know all this stuff. Yes, the poem is original, written by Doyle. I have attempted several times to write a tune for it, but have always found the tune of the Act III finale of "La Boheme" -- 'The Tattoo' works best. The other Doyle-penned poem in the book, "The Franklin's Maid", I put to music several years ago.

Lol...sometime me and my sister just start singing "The Song of The Bow" (as it is known) for no apparent reason, much to the puzzlement of others!

--Matt

Subject: RE: Tune Req: What of the bow?
From: Naemanson
Date: 16 Jan 01 - 10:30 PM

Well, I mentioned it to the guys in Roll & Go and two of them want to try writing a tune to it. If I can somehow get your tune then we'll have three tunes and can take our pick.

My sense is that it should be a old fashioned drinking song tune with lots of room for harmony.

Thanks for the information!

Brett

Subject: RE: Tune Req: What of the bow?
From: Sorcha
Date: 16 Jan 01 - 10:34 PM

With just a little alteration, the tune "(Old) Rosin the Bow/Beau might work.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: What of the bow?
From: Matt_R
Date: 16 Jan 01 - 11:53 PM

Well, you guys HAVE to remember, with old rosin the beau's aside, this song IS supposed to be an old standard in the 1350's when The White Company takes place, so it should definately have a medeival sound. Also remember...it was used as a marching song and theme more than a simple tavern songs, so it would probably be more of a bravado, unison type song.

Hordle John, why is it you sit upon this man?
By the Rood, I had forgotten him!

Subject: RE: Tune Req: What of the bow?
From: Sorcha
Date: 17 Jan 01 - 12:15 AM

ah, well, then. Guess the Trouveres things might work, or Minniesingers......I didn't know that. I have never read the book. "Rosin" is from the 1800's isn't it?

Subject: RE: Tune Req: What of the bow?
From: GUEST,jjmcgaffey
Date: 05 Apr 07 - 06:20 PM

_Thank_ you! The song is used in S.M. Stirling's Dies the Fire series - I think in the second book, might be the third. I've been hunting for it for a year or so, since I read it. Nice to know where it came from - and now I need to figure out what tune Stirling puts it to!

Subject: RE: Tune Req: What of the bow?
From: Flash Company
Date: 06 Apr 07 - 11:14 AM

There is another verse to this, can't remember it all, but it begins

What of the mark?
Ah, that is not in England,
An old mark, a bold mark,
Is waiting o'er the sea.........

Sorry, rest has gone, but if anyone has a copy of 'The Children's Encyclopedia' I bet it is in there!

FC

Subject: RE: Tune Req: What of the bow?
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 07 Apr 07 - 10:39 AM

On of the residents of our club, Ged Todd, has put a cracking good tune to it and a chorus! I can't do ABC stuff and wouldn't without Ged's permission anyway but maybe Bernard here could be convinced to contact Ged to record it for Mudcat? I would count it as a good contender for an English national anthem:-)

The 'missing' verse is

"What of the mark?   
Ah, seek it not in England,
A bold mark, our old mark
Is waiting over-sea.      
When the strings harp in chorus,      
And the lion flag is o'er us,
It is there that our mark will be."

Cheers

Dave

Subject: RE: Tune Req: What of the bow?
From: nutty
Date: 07 Apr 07 - 01:21 PM

Conan Doyle wrote poetry as a young man and had a number of his poems/ songs published.

What of the Bow? can be found here   CLICK    along with a number of his other works.