Origins/ADD: Stodola Pumpa / Stodole Pumpa (Czech)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Stodola Pumpa / Stodole Pumpa (Czech)
From: Judy Cook
Date: 20 Feb 06 - 05:34 PM

I learned both songs from my mother. It's always a delight to me to find others who remember the same songs.

I remember Sorcha's verses with Mark Cohen's chorus. My understanding is the chorus is nonsense meaning "Barn - Pump" as he suggests.

I will be happy to sing "Stodola Pumpa" in public if anyone requests it on my upcoming UK tour.

Cheers,
Judy Cook

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Stodola Pumpa / Stodole Pumpa (Czech)
From: GUEST,Ron Hontz, a guest
Date: 20 Feb 06 - 04:56 PM

Thanks for that info, Dale. You are correct in both ways--it is found on eBay and the price is very, very reasonable. I just sent an inquiry to one seller to make sure it is the book that I recall. If so, it should also contain a song called The Spanish Cavalier. I recently ran across a version of that latter title called The Young Caballero by the Beverley Sisters, a Brit trio who were popular in the 1950's. It had different lyrics and the tempo was quite different but is definitely was the same song. Ahh--how music tends to stay in one's mind for life!!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Stodola Pumpa / Stodole Pumpa (Czech)
From: GUEST,Dale
Date: 20 Feb 06 - 11:39 AM

Ah, that's the Golden Book of Favorite Songs. You should be able to find it in varying condition at eBay for very little money. Look for its big brother though, The BLUE Book of Favorite Songs, which incorporates all of the songs in Golden,all the songs in Grey, plus an "enlarged supplement".

Stodala Pumpa is on page 128 in Blue, it's the last page in Golden, or should be, I don't have my copy of Golden handy.

CZECH Folk Song
Arr. by Ruth Heller
Tr. by Frank Kubina
English version by R.H.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Stodola Pumpa / Stodole Pumpa (Czech)
From: GUEST,Ron Hontz, a guest
Date: 19 Feb 06 - 01:07 PM

"But a lot of the early music books have sources that are pretty close to the origins. I still have some of those old copies at my school- and I use them!"

Being a visitor brought here by Google, I'm not sure who posted that bit but I sure would like them to tell me the title of the songbook that has Stodola Pumpa. It if it the same book I sang from at a one-room schoolhouse in first grade (1952-53), it should also contain a song titled "The Spanish Cavalier" and have a yellowish\brownish cover. Knowing the title, I can go scout it up on e-Bay.

Thanks.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Stodola Pumpa / Stodole Pumpa (Czech)
From: open mike
Date: 19 Dec 05 - 03:11 AM

I remember this from the Girl Scout song book..
now if i could only remember WHERE is " " " "

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Stodola Pumpa / Stodole Pumpa (Czech)
From: GUEST
Date: 18 Dec 05 - 08:52 PM

I'm not sure if this is so old that no one cares but the first lyrics shown are very close to Ifca's Castle.
We used to sing it in choir in High School in the late '40s
As I recall it was something like this:
Across the plains of gold and green, a young boy plainly can be seen.
But no tis not a boy at all, it's Ifca's Castle, spires so tall ----
Sorry that is all I can remember.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lyrics from a song dad sang in my yo
From: GUEST,M Locke
Date: 09 Oct 05 - 09:46 PM

I remember learning th song about Ifca's Castle in grade school in Alden,NY in the late 50's also.

Above a plain of gold & green a young boy's hea is clearly seen.

Chorus

A hoo ya hoo ya hoo ya ya
swiftly flowing Labe
(repeat)

But no tis not his lifting head, tis Ifca's Castle's spires instead.

Chorus

For our pleasure it was made, this grey ol building deep in shade.

Chorus,

I was surprised to hear, from from a Fresh Air child from Queens, NY that we hosted in the early 80's that the song was still being taught in elementary school chorus then,

I don't know about today.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lyrics from a song dad sang in my yo
From: Deckman
Date: 30 Jan 02 - 03:44 PM

We also sang this song in camp in the late fourties, here in Western Washington. Our version wasn't "pumpa", but "bumpa." CHEERS, Bob

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lyrics from a song dad sang in my yo
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 30 Jan 02 - 02:44 PM

I never sang Stodola Pumpa in school, but my sister did. According to her, the song is about a young man and woman at a fair or some such, and everytime they get close to a kiss or cuddle, the band strikes up a loud polka (the stodola pumpa part) and messes up their moves.

Sounds authentic to me!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lyrics from a song dad sang in my yo
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 30 Jan 02 - 02:05 PM

I have found some references to a Czech folk song called "Ifca's Castle." There was a 4-part choral arrangement by "Harley" published as sheet music by "Fischer."

(By the way, Google has gotten amazingly smart lately. If you search for "Ifka castle" it asks you, "Did you mean 'Ifca castle'?")

In 1959, the Calvin College Orchestra & Band recorded an LP on the Word label, which contained both "Stodola Pumpa" AND "Ifca's Castle"! I have no idea, though, if the album included singing or lyrics. And lots of luck finding it anyway!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lyrics from a song dad sang in my yo
From: MMario
Date: 15 Aug 01 - 04:26 PM

yup! that's the one I learned, Thanks Jean!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lyrics from a song dad sang in my yo
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 15 Aug 01 - 04:19 PM

Jean, that's wonderful! I taught "Across the fields" to my women's chorus the first year we were together and some of them thought it was really dumb to sing a song from elementary school! But a lot of the early music books have sources that are pretty close to the origins. I still have some of those old copies at my school- and I use them!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lyrics from a song dad sang in my yo
From: kytrad (Jean Ritchie)
Date: 15 Aug 01 - 03:31 PM

Sorcha- No, only those two verses to the "Across the fields" song, that I know. I sang them last year to a family we visited in the Czech Republic, and they joined in, in Czech... They knew the landmarks, too, the river and the castle. Thrilling!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lyrics from a song dad sang in my yo
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 15 Aug 01 - 01:43 PM

I remember it from a grade school music book (3rd or 4th grade) used during music class in Milwaukee, c. 1958, though I only remember the chorus, no verses. And I remember it being identified as Polish (at least in that book).

Most of the songs in the book(s) used in class had folk origins, but were mostly adaptations and simplifications with folk roots. Pity. Some of us ended up interested in folk music anyway.

Bat Goddess

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lyrics from a song dad sang in my yo
From: Mark Cohen
Date: 15 Aug 01 - 12:36 AM

I'm pretty sure when I learned Stodola Pumpa that the verse was four different lines, and I don't remember anything about a maiden gay (or straight--oof! sorry). But I could very well have learned verses written for American schoolchildren, and either Amos' or Sorcha's verses might be closer to the original Czech. The truth is out there....

I do remember that this song is characterized by an abrupt change in tempo from verse to chorus. The verse is a nice easy 2/4, about 90 on a metronome, and then the "Stodola pumpa" chorus jumps up to about a 180 polka, with a whole word on each beat!

Aloha,
Mark

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lyrics from a song dad sang in my yo
From: SINSULL
Date: 14 Aug 01 - 10:15 PM

And for a GUEST no less! What's going on around here?
Come back soon, Heather.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lyrics from a song dad sang in my yo
From: Deckman
Date: 14 Aug 01 - 06:34 PM

YIPPEE! Mudcat scores again ... ain't thia fun! CHEERS, Bob

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lyrics from a song dad sang in my yo
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 14 Aug 01 - 04:22 PM

This for me is the essence of Mudcatting. Well done to all concerned. Jock

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lyrics from a song dad sang in my yo
From: Sorcha
Date: 13 Aug 01 - 08:55 PM

Neat, Heather! Thanks for stopping by and letting us know that. Your dad is certainly welcome here anytime.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lyrics from a song dad sang in my yo
From: GUEST
Date: 13 Aug 01 - 08:51 PM

Thank all of you so much for helping with the words to the songs! I called my father last night and he went sort of blank on everything but the Philmont Scout camp part. This evening he called and remembered that the Walking alone, along the merry lane... song may be called "Meadowlands." He says he thinks he remembers playing it in the band in Jr. High school in Tyler, Texas! He also thinks the Czech song, which he had thought was Russian, was a popular number in WWII.

At any rate, I came and checked the Mudcat responses while I was on the phone with him and received all your wonderful responses! I was reading off the lyrics and he was saying "Yes, yes... I remember that!," and was pleased as punch with learning new verses. (Now he wants to learn all about how to post messages on boards such as this). He said this just made his day and I want you all to know how much I appreciate your time. Thanks! Heather

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lyrics from a song dad sang in my yo
From: Sorcha
Date: 13 Aug 01 - 11:33 AM

Here is more of Stodla:

Walking at night, along the meadow way.
Home from the dance, beside my maiden gay.
Walking at night, along the meadow way.
Home from the dance, beside my maiden gay, HEY!

CHORUS:
Stodily, stodily, stodily pumpa.
Stodily pumpa, stodily pumpa.
Stodily, stodily, stodily pumpa.
Stodily pumpa, pump-ump-ump.

Nearing the woods, we heard the nightingale.
Sweetly she helped me tell my begging tale.
Nearing the woods, we heard the nightingale.
Sweetly she helped me tell my begging tale, HEY!

CHORUS

Many the stars, that brightly shone above.
But none so bright as her one word of love.
Many the stars, that brightly shone above.
But none so bright as her one word of love, HEY!

CHORUS

Subject: Lyr Add: STODOLA PUMPA
From: Amos
Date: 13 Aug 01 - 11:28 AM

Here's one set of lyrics. Doesn't include the images mentioned from memory, but the song may have widely varying verses being as wide-spread as it is..

A.

Stodola Pumpa

1.
Far in the hills I hear the nightingale
Singing a song that brings home back to me.
Three years ago at home I left my love.
Still she is waiting, waiting there for me. Hey!

CHORUS
Stodola, stodola, stodola pumpa.
Stodola, pumpa, stodola pumpa.
Stodola, stodola, stodola pumpa,
Stodola pumpa, pum, pum, pum.

Three years to wait is much too long for us.
My love and I, we now could married be.
Yes, she and I, we now would have a son,
Strong and so handsome, handsome just like me!
Hey! (Chorus)

Son, when you're grown, you must not stay at
home.
Into the army you will come with me.
Here in the army you will learn to drill.
When you are good, then you can march with me!
Hey! (Chorus)
(After last verse repeat chorus very softly.)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lyrics from a song dad sang in my yo
From: MMario
Date: 13 Aug 01 - 09:32 AM

I vaguely remember the second one from elementary school -

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lyrics from a song dad sang in my yo
From: Mark Cohen
Date: 13 Aug 01 - 04:25 AM

Hmm....a quick Google search uncovered the following: (1) it's Czech, not Polish, (2) none of the web pages seemed to be an obvious source for the lyrics, though I didn't check them to see, (3) there are a large number of webpages in Portuguese that mention this song, for reasons I can't fathom, (4) it's very popular in elementary level choral and band collections -- which is probably why I remember learning it in 4th grade at Rhawnhurst Elementary School. Our principal was Miss Pyrczak, which is probably why I thought it was Polish.

Sorry...maybe you'll have better luck! And the offer of the tune is still good.

Aloha,
Mark

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lyrics from a song dad sang in my yo
From: Mark Cohen
Date: 13 Aug 01 - 03:02 AM

Oh, and I do remember the tune, so if you find the words and are stuck for the tune, let me know and I can probably find a way to get it to you.

Aloha,
Mark

Subject: Lyr Req: Lyrics from a song dad sang in my youth
From: Mark Cohen
Date: 13 Aug 01 - 03:00 AM

The first one is Polish, and is called "Stodola Pumpa". I don't remember the lyrics, but a Google search for that title should help. The "Pumpa" in the title is a pump; I don't recall what "Stodola" means--barn, maybe? The chorus is simply,

Stodola, stodola, stodola pumpa
Stodola pumpa
Stodola pumpa
Stodola, stodola, stodola pumpa
Stodola pumpa, pum, pum pum!

Hope that helps. I grew up in Philadelphia and went to the Philmont ranch a couple of times as a Cub Scout....never made it past that, though.

Aloha,
Mark

Subject: I need help!Elusive lyrics, perhaps Eastern Europe
From: GUEST,H.A.N.K.
Date: 13 Aug 01 - 12:02 AM

I am searching for the words to two songs my father sang to me as a child and which I now sing to my own children. My father learned the songs at Philmont Scout Ranch in the 1940s.

The lyrics I know are:

Walking alone, along the merry lane
Home from the dance, with my maiden gay
OOOOhhhh'
Studel a studel a studel a Oompah

The other one is:

Across the golden fields of grain,
A young boy's head is seen so plain
A hoya hoya ho ya ya
Swiftly flows the water
Zumna zoy ocha, Zumna zoy ocha

But it is not a boy at all,
It is god's castle
With spires so tall
A hoya....

I have searched many web sites, to no avail. I think the second song is Russian or eastern European, perhaps Hungarian or Rumanian. I would appreciate any help or suggestions for where to se

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