Subject: Lyr/Chords Add: THE BLACKEST CROW From: Goody2Shz Date: 07 Aug 01 - 11:48 PM 3/4 | D | D | G | G | | G | G | Em | Em | | D | D | G | G | | G | G | Em | Em | | G | G | G | G | | Em | D | Em | Em | | D | D | G | G | | G | G | Em | Em | THE BLACKEST CROW As time got near my dearest dear when you and I must part How little you know of the grief and woe in my poor aching heart 'Tis but I'd suffer for your sake believe me dear it's true I wish that you were staying here or I was going with you. I wish my breast were made of glass wherein you might behold Upon my heart your name lies wrote in letters made of gold In letters made of gold my love believe me when I say You are the one that I will adore until my dying day. The blackest crow that ever flew would surely turn to white If ever I prove false to you bright day will turn to night Bright day will turn to night my love the elements will mourn If ever I prove false to you the seas will rage and burn.
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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Blackest Crow w/chord chart From: harpgirl Date: 08 Aug 01 - 12:13 PM ...thanks, Goody2Shz for some extra words to this song I love to sing. I like this version a lot! |
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Blackest Crow w/chord chart From: Malcolm Douglas Date: 08 Aug 01 - 12:16 PM See also:
Blackest Crow The original thread to which this is a sequel.
My Dearest Dear As recorded by Sweeney's Men (ca 1970). Tune given, traditional source unknown. The rest of the thread is a convoluted discussion of what various mis-heard words in Blackest Crow might really have been.
The Time Draws Near Text only: no tune mentioned or source named. My Dearest Dear -text as recorded by Lorraine Lee (Bennett) and Rick Lee, probably learned from the Ritchie Family.
There is an entry at The Traditional Ballad Index: |
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Blackest Crow w/chord chart From: Goody2Shz Date: 08 Aug 01 - 01:33 PM I could have used all those links when I was first looking for the lyrics. I actually ended up transcribing from the CD. I didn't originally (related thread Malcom mentions) do the Lyr Add because I didn't realize that it is the best way to get lyrics to folks. I'm a newby...and slow learner. I finally "got it" when someone asked me to post other lyrics I am transcribing. That's why I posted Blackest Crow a second time under a different heading. Sorry if I stumbled or did anything not quite right. |
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Blackest Crow w/chord chart From: Malcolm Douglas Date: 08 Aug 01 - 02:01 PM Don't worry about it, though usually it is best to keep things in the same place for ease of searching later on. I put the links in because they may be useful to people in the future, and not everyone would know that there are a number of different titles for this song and its variants; I'd intended to do it in the previous thread but got sidetracked by something or other. |
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Blackest Crow w/chord chart From: GUEST,spizzby@magickhat.com Date: 23 Dec 02 - 12:29 PM When I was child we sang additional words to this tune. I don't know their origin, but they are pretty, too. Your eyes are of the sparkling blue Your lips like rubies shine There is no fault within my love That ever I could find. The hawk and the owl and the eagle And the little sparrow, too. I would give them all to thee my love Gin I were wed to you. |
Subject: Lyr Add: THE BLACKEST CROW From: Thomas the Rhymer Date: 24 Feb 03 - 12:51 AM THE BLACKEST CROW... American Trad. The time draws near my dearest dear, for you and I to part How little do you know of the grief and woe, in my poor aching heart 'Tis but I suffer for your sake, believe me dear it's true I wish that you would stay with me, or I was going with you I wish my breast were made of glass, wherein you might behold Written your name upon my heart, in letters made of gold In letters made of gold my love, believe me when I say You are the one that I'll always love, until my dying day The blackest crow that ever flew, would surely turn to white If ever I prove false to you, bright day will turn to night Bright day will turn to day my love, the elements will mourn If ever I prove false to you, the seas will rage and burn I got this from a Laurie Lewis Recording, so the words may be 'not quite right' ttr |
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Blackest Crow From: masato sakurai Date: 24 Feb 03 - 01:22 AM This song has been posted and/or discussed at: Lyr Add: The Blackest Crow w/chord chart Sheet music to Blackest Crow or Time Draws.. lyr. add. The Time Draws Near The Blackest Crow: meaning?. See also The Traditional Ballad Index: My Dearest Dear. ~Masato |
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Blackest Crow From: Thomas the Rhymer Date: 24 Feb 03 - 01:36 AM Oh Masato!... Now I'm all waxing redundant... just kidding! I looked for it and found some of the sites you mentioned (not all of 'em) but none seemed to be 'in' the digitrad... Well then, thanks as ever! ttr |
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Blackest Crow w/chord chart From: GUEST,guy wolff On Lap top Date: 30 Jul 08 - 12:59 PM This is magic as a video All the best , Guy http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d6jh1vqNvMs |
Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Add: The Blackest Crow From: Richie Date: 16 Apr 11 - 08:21 PM Hi, I've been looking at the lyrics, curiously the fourth common verse is missing in this thread. 4. And when you're on some distant shore, Think of your absent friend, And when the wind blows high and clear, A line to me, pray send. And when the wind blows high and clear, Pray send a note to me, That I might know by your handwrite How time has gone with thee. Also IMHO this verse is wrong- haha. I know it's a folk song and people sing whatever and change the lyrics. It's the intent: "Bright day will turn to night my love the elements will mourn If ever I prove false to you the seas will rage and burn." I think it should be "turn" not burn: Bright day will turn to night my love the elements will turn If ever I prove false to you the seas will rage and burn. The elements are turning from one thing to another, they are not mourning. Also this is not the best line. The best line has the fire freezing and the sea burning. The elements turning.. One other verse has: 'Tis but I suffer for your sake, believe me dear it's true. Perhaps another wording (from a traditional version) could be: Or would I suffer for your sake, believe me dear it's true. Lastly I think "How little you know of the grief.." is better than: "How little do you know of the grief.." which is hard to sing. Richie |
Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Add: The Blackest Crow From: Richie Date: 16 Apr 11 - 08:32 PM Hi, This version titled Banishment (Belden- 1906) is one of first collected and earliest versions which was posted by Q but should appear in this thread: The Belden text from 1906 at the head of the list in the Traditional Ballad Index was taken from the Civil War diary of E. J. Sims, "sent to me in 1906..." Belden's text is incomplete, as shown. BANISHMENT My dearest dear, the time draws near When you and I must part, But little do you know of the grief and the woe Of my poor troubled heart heart heart heart. Or what I suffer for your sake, You who I hold so dear, ------- ------- I've one request to make of you, If I may be so bold: To place a room within your heart My secrets for to hold ------- ------- That this vain world may never know How deep I am in love with you. I wish my heart was made of glass, That in it you might behold Your name in secret there lies wrote In letters bright as gold. ----- ----- If I prove false to you, my love The raging sea will burn. If I prove false to you, my love, ----- The crow that is so black Will surely turn to white. Oh, do you see your turtle dove A-sitting on yonder barn, A-mourning for its own true love A I do mourn for mine? Sounds like a folk version of a composed 19th c. piece. The last verse could be an addition from another song. Belden, H. M., editor, 1940 (1973). Ballads and Songs, Univ. Missouri Studies, vol. XV, no. 1. |
Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Add: The Blackest Crow From: Richie Date: 16 Apr 11 - 08:45 PM Hi, This appears to be one of the earliest related texts, the English broadside called 'The Unkind Parents, or, The Languishing Lamentation of two Loyal Lovers'. It was printed for C. Bates, next the Crown-Tavern in West-Smithfield. The Bodleian dates Bates' operation to "between 1685 and 1714." Here are two of sixteen verses: Now fare thou well my Dearest Dear, and fare thou well a while, Altho' I go, I'll come again; if I go ten thousand mile, Dear Love, if I go ten thousand mile. Mountains and Rocks on wings shall fly, and roaring Billows burn. E're I will act Disloyalty; then wait for my return, Dear Love, then wait for my return. You can see the elements turning, in the last of the two above. Richie |
Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Add: The Blackest Crow From: Richie Date: 16 Apr 11 - 08:55 PM Hi, One last thing- haha. The first version and other has "As time grows near..." This is just wrong- and I'm not an English teacher- haha! See above- the first version posted in this thread: THE BLACKEST CROW As time got near my dearest dear when you and I must part How little you know of the grief and woe in my poor aching heart So would you say, "As time grows near when you and I must part"? I hope noe- it has to be "As time grows near, you and I must part." There can't be a "when" in this verse- sorry- haha. OR just sing "The time grows near when you an I must part..." Richie |
Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Add: The Blackest Crow From: Richie Date: 17 Apr 11 - 09:09 PM Hi, Just finished my latest painting: Kentucky Dance. I wanted to share it with you. I'm continuing to paint folk music songs and themes. You can see it on my blog (click to enlarge) http://richardmattesonsblog.blogspot.com/ I'm planning to paint a couple songs soon- John Hardy, Frankie and Johnny, Blackest Crow, Fly Around my Pretty Little Miss and Shady Grove. Richie |
Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Add: The Blackest Crow From: Richie Date: 18 Oct 11 - 10:13 PM Hi, I'm doing a Youtube series of unrehearsed (haha)educational vids of some of the songs I know. I'll start posting a few of them here to share. Here's the Blackest Crow: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aG7_y0RV-QY Richie |
Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Add: The Blackest Crow From: GUEST,Pappy Fiddle qv. Date: 03 Mar 12 - 02:52 PM When it talks about elements, this is probably not refering to oxygen, nitrogen, etc. but rather, bad weather. In the 1800's the term "elements" was often used to mean storm, tempest, rain, wind, snow, sleet, etc. |
Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Add: The Blackest Crow From: GUEST Date: 13 Mar 12 - 08:58 AM http://www.lancastercontra.org/sheetmusic/blackestCrow.pdf heard this at a session last night and rather liked it. |
Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Add: The Blackest Crow From: GUEST,leeneia Date: 13 Mar 12 - 10:11 AM thanks for the music, Guest. It's a good tune. |
Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Add: The Blackest Crow From: GUEST,Pappy Fiddle qv. Date: 30 Mar 12 - 11:53 AM "'Tis but..." today we'd say "by this I mean..." "I suffer for your sake" today we'd say something like, "I suffer thinking of your danger." "Gin" is a form of "given" (gi'en, with a hard G not J) Means "if". I envision this as a duet, a Civil War soldier leaving for the war and his sweetheart staying behind. The soldier is trying to express unending devotion. I'd like to change it around tho, so as to say that "even tho the crow might turn white, day to night, etc., I'd still be true to you." In spite of, rather than If-Then. "The time draws near..." etc. These rhymes are really elegant - near/dear, know/woe, part/heart. I think this would be sung by the lady. "I wish that you would stay with me, or I was going with you." Reminds me of that folksong we used to sing in the 60's, "The Cruel War" (qv) But I don't see any relevance with the birds, unless they are euphemisms for things the lady would give him, if they were married. I think those lines are probably pulled in from some other song, for filler. |
Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Add: The Blackest Crow From: Artful Codger Date: 30 Mar 12 - 02:41 PM This song stems from a long British ballad, printed on broadsides as "The Unkind Parents, or, The Languishing Lamentation of two Loyal Lovers". If it hasn't been transcribed in some other thread on this song, you can find it in the Roxburghe Ballads collection, volume 7, p. 552. You'll find the turtledoves part in there, as the ending verse: "And even as the Turtle Dove sits cooing on a Tree, For the return of her True Love, so will I wait for thee, Dear Love, So will I wait for thee." Although this is a floating verse which occurs in similar form in other songs, here it functions as a summary statement of the lover's fidelity, so it can't really be considered tacked on. Whether it remains integral to the shortened American versions, where it typically occurs in the middle, is more arguable. Also, this ballad (broadside published 1685-9) predated the American Civil War by centuries--the US wasn't even a glimmer in a colonist's eye--, and it refers to a parting by sea voyage. Still, there's nothing to stop one from adjusting or reinterpreting the song to fit a Civil War context. In my own collated and massaged version, I sing: Just as the patient turtledove a-cooing on a treeand The blackest crow that ever flew will surely turn to white -- Artful Codger |
Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Add: The Blackest Crow From: GUEST,Julia Date: 24 Feb 20 - 02:51 PM I really like Lori Goldston and Jordan O'Jordan ´s version of the Blackest Crow, Track 4 on their website: https://www.agaricusmusic.com/ |
Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Add: The Blackest Crow From: GUEST,henryp Date: 24 Feb 20 - 06:53 PM A haunting ballad - is it sung to the tune of The Humble Heart? http://www.americanmusicpreservation.com/shakerhistory-2.htm#thehumbleheart "One of the most beautiful early Shaker hymns is titled, The Humble Heart, words by Eunice Wyeth (1756-1830) and tune by Thomas Hammond Jr. (1791-1880)." Or has the hymn acquired the tune of a folk song? And is the tune related to The Parting Glass? https://www.rte.ie/culture/2019/0424/1045326-the-parting-glass/ "The origins of The Parting Glass can be found in Scotland. A version of the lyrics was known at least as early as 1605 with variations and fragments appearing in various songs down through the centuries. The melody was first collected in 1782." |
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