Lyr Req: cornish songs

Subject: cornish songs
From: CharlieA
Date: 19 Nov 01 - 10:29 AM

being a cornish lass in the midlands i have decided that it is time i learn a few songs from my home county (or country! *g*). anyone got any good songs (not the obvious ones like camborne hill tho) Cxxx

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: cornish songs
From: Sorcha
Date: 19 Nov 01 - 10:35 AM

'Allo! On the main forum page, there is a white box called Digitrad and Forum Search. Put Cornwall in and click go. Bob's your uncle!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: cornish songs
From: CharlieA
Date: 19 Nov 01 - 10:39 AM

done that got 5/6 not what i was looking for. soz *g* cxxx

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: cornish songs
From: Sorcha
Date: 19 Nov 01 - 10:51 AM

Odd. When I do it, I get at least 8 different songs, and a long page of links to threads with discussion and lyrics posted. I can't remember how to link to a SuperSearch results page....

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: cornish songs
From: Scabby Douglas
Date: 19 Nov 01 - 11:05 AM

Search for "padstow"... It's under the heading Cornish May Carol... Cracking song..

Cheers

Steven

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: cornish songs
From: CharlieA
Date: 19 Nov 01 - 11:07 AM

yes i know that one - thats where i was from ish - not to be sung on any other day on pain of being thrown in the harbour! *g* Cxxx

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: cornish songs
From: Sorcha
Date: 19 Nov 01 - 11:11 AM

Then you need to give us some titles or lyric snippets. No point in us looking for stuff you have already found, and we don't know what you have.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: cornish songs
From: CharlieA
Date: 19 Nov 01 - 11:32 AM

I'm looking for some ballad style songs - the more unusual songs - i know most of the well known cornish songs. Just throw some lyrics at me (and i'll dodge the sharp corners *g*) and i'll have a read. I was looking for stuff not in the forum - like from peoples personal collections. that sorta thing. Cxxx

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: cornish songs
From: Sorcha
Date: 19 Nov 01 - 11:35 AM

OK.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: cornish songs
From: Sorcha
Date: 19 Nov 01 - 11:49 AM

Charlie, have you checked out these links?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: cornish songs
From: Dead Horse
Date: 19 Nov 01 - 04:55 PM

I got this book. It's a big thick book. It's called “Folksongs of Britain and Ireland.” It's got a Cornish section. It's got twelve songs from Cornwall.

They are:

Camborne Hill
May Day Song
Wassail Song
Come And I Will Sing You
The Sweet Nightingale
It Rains, It Hails, and Blows and Snows
The Holly Bears A Berry
Hal-An-Tow
John The Bone
Where Are You Going To, My Pretty Maid
Trelawny
The Tree On The Hill

Pick what you want and I'll post the English and/or Cornish lyrics

HTML line breaks added. --JoeClone, 13-Jan-02.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: cornish songs
From: GUEST,Bobby Bob, Ellan Vannin
Date: 19 Nov 01 - 05:33 PM

Mervyn Davey (his bardic name is Telynor an Werin) produced a book entitled 'Hengan' which is subtitled 'Traditional Folk Songs, Dances and Broadside Ballads Collected in Cornwall'. It was published back in 1983 by Dyllansow Truran, and the address is Trewolsta, Trewirgie, Redruth, Cornwall. Its ISBN number is -

ISBN 0 907566 71 5

It has -

21 songs 'From the Mouths of the People'
9 'Reconstructions
15 pieces of 'Dance Music' and
14 'Broadside Ballads'.

The broadsides are in English only, but the 30 oral and reconstructed songs are in Cornish and English.

It would be worth getting hold of a copy of that. I'm sure there are other publications with Cornish songs in as well these days.

Lhiats,

Bobby Bob

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: cornish songs
From: Snuffy
Date: 19 Nov 01 - 07:32 PM

Camborne Hill in the DT is extremely short. I know several Cornishmen who have promised to give me more verses, but they've never delivered. Can you oblige, Charlie?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: cornish songs
From: breezy
Date: 19 Nov 01 - 08:26 PM

'cry of tin' by the Cornwall Songwriters- Lyngham House Music,St. ERvan, Wadebridge, Cornwall PL27 7RT. This brings you up to date, but the big hit of the moment is Roger Bryant's 'Cornish Lads' as featured on a Rum n Shrub shanty CD.Good hunting, see you in the ringers on May -Day eve and hear Webber's 'Hail, Hail the 1st. of May-o'.Then there's the book of the newer may day songs available from the same address I think its Mike Connor you be chasin' ater.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: cornish songs
From: Wotcha
Date: 19 Nov 01 - 09:48 PM

Try:
Helston Hal an Tow;
The Candleford Anthem (The Beauty of Kashmir aka Cadgwith Anthem);
Trelawney's Army;
Song of the Western Men.
Check the threads for contributions by former Mudcatter BAZ who has some great songs.
For modern songs and some shanties try the Cornish group "Hanging Johnny."
Or just take a trip to the Cove Inn, Cadgwith on a Friday and listen to the local "fishermen" sing as they have for generations (recorded by Peter Kennedy in the 1950s).
Cheers,

Brian

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: cornish songs
From: CharlieA
Date: 20 Nov 01 - 04:58 AM

Breezy, any chance you could post webbers 1st of may'o' for me or PM me with it. hopefully i will get time off for May DAy (and be down the ringers with dad and woff on may day eve). Dead Horse if i could have the Wassail song, Hal an Tow and the tree on the hill. Snuffy i willtry and remember all i can. to follow! thanks all keep em commin. Cxxx

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: cornish songs
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 20 Nov 01 - 09:18 AM

Hal An Tow has been discussed, and posted, a number of times here.  I've put a list of links to relevant threads at:  What does 'Hal an Tow' mean?.

You might also look at an earlier discussion,  CORNISH SONGS,  which contains links to further material available here.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: cornish songs
From: JudeL
Date: 20 Nov 01 - 11:26 AM

There's one who's chorus is (I think) :
For Cornishmen are fishermen,
and Cornishmen are miners too
but when the fish and tin are gone
what are the Cornish lads to do

If I can find the rest of the song (I had the lyrics somewhere) I'll post the verses (unless someone beats me to it).

Jon Heslop (one of those who do "cry of tin" ) has also written some lovely songs of the area. Ordinary Men, Cheap Boat etc

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: cornish songs
From: Matthew Edwards
Date: 20 Nov 01 - 12:05 PM

John Howson's Veteran label Click Here has some Cornish recordings. On the CD Vic Legg: I've come to sing a song: Cornish Family Songs VT129CD you can hear the following:
1.I've come to sing a song
2.Thorneymore woods
3.Young man cut down
4.Garners Gay
5.If I do,I do
6.The beggerman
7.Just beginning to sprout
8.The banks of the sweet Dundee
9.She crab/Lonely widow
10.Barbara Ellen
11.The molecatcher
12.Banks of the sweet primroses
13.Dockyard medley:
(a)Dockyard children
(b)Rushing through the dockyard
(c)Two newly-weds
(d)Barely 23
(e)Little bit of wastage
14.Outlandish Knight
15.The hell-bound train
16.Me and my wife

Evidently not all of these songs are specifically Cornish as such, but Vic comes from a Cornish traveller family, and nearly all his material comes from them. He can be heard singing regularly at the Bodmin Folk Club these days. There are also songs from his mother, Sophie Legg, together with her sisters, Betsy and Charlotte Renals, on an earlier Veteran cassette Catch Me If You Can VT119 (out of stock at present, but may be reissued on CD).

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: cornish songs
From: Matthew Edwards
Date: 20 Nov 01 - 12:21 PM

Sorry I posted my previous message before going on to mention another goody from Veteran; 'Rouse, Rouse':Traditional Christmas Carols from Padstow in Cornwall collected by Doc Rowe; on VT117 (cassette only).Contents are:
Jesse
Softly the night
Lo! The Eastern sages rise
Shepherds rejoice
Angels from the realms
Harky, Harky
Bold the grace
Lo! He comes an infant stranger
Zadock
Mountains
Rouse, Rouse

This is a field recording (on one song you can hear a phone ringing, followed by a hushed conversation!), but it is a real pleasure to listen to. I'm sure that if enough Mudcatters demanded this John Howson might be prevailed upon to reissue this on CD in time for Christmas!!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: cornish songs
From: GUEST,Kernow John
Date: 20 Nov 01 - 12:42 PM

Bobby Bob I understand fom Merve that Henegan is now out of print. However he did give me permission to photocopy a library copy I found. I have posted some of these in the past in both English and Cornish but didn't seem to generate much interest. If anyone would like more let me know.
I have posted Cornish Lads to the forum but can't remember if I added the tune.
Mike O'Connor sometimes reads these pages and is a member of Cornish Songwriters. He can be contacted at Folknews Kernow.
Cornish Songwriters have at least 2 books out "Cry of Tin" and "Silver Harvest" I can recommend both. Both books have CD's to go with them.
Hope this helps KJ.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: cornish songs
From: MMario
Date: 20 Nov 01 - 12:57 PM

Kernow John - yes, please post. A lot of times a posting does not seem to generate much interst - but down the road you start finding a lot of people referring to it - or singing it, etc. I know with some postings I just bookmark and/or download rather then trash up a thread.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: cornish songs
From: Jeanie
Date: 20 Nov 01 - 02:44 PM

Kernow John - I wonder if the "Merve" you mention is the self same "Merve" I sang with in the band "Fal Folk" 20+ years ago, based at the Dock & Railway in Falmouth. Sounds like it might be.If it is - say hello to him from me ! Apart from the "standard" Cornish songs already mentioned (e.g. Cadgwith Anthem, Camborne Hill etc.) we sang one called "The Mystery" (in Cornish and English) about a boat that sailed from Newlyn to Australia in 1850-something. "Now if you'll hear me, I'll tell you of a boat//Her name the Mystery, from Newyln she put out .." Forgive my poor Cornish spelling, but it was something like "Un cok kernewek a Newyln ha wolyas/Hinwys an Mystery , ha pumptek ton y bos..." I used to have a recording of us singing this - if you have the words to post here, that would be great !

I don't think anyone on this thread has mentioned "Tom Bawcock's Eve" yet. That was another one we did. Also "The Candlelight Fisherman".

Regards to "Merve" !

Jeanie

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: cornish songs
From: GUEST,BB & Doctor Tom
Date: 20 Nov 01 - 03:02 PM

Hi, Charlie. Come and raid our bookshelves when you're in CM at the end of May.

Subject: ADD: WASSAIL (Truro 1957)
From: Dead Horse
Date: 20 Nov 01 - 03:39 PM

WASSAIL (Truro 1957)

Now Christmas is over and the New Year begin
Pray open your doors and let us come in
Ch With our wassail
Wassail, wassail, wassail
And joy come to our jolly wassail

Good mistress and master, sitting down by the fire
Whilst we poor wassail boys are traveling the mire

This ancient old house we'll kindly salute
It is the old custom you need not dispute

We are here in this place, we orderly stand
We're the jolly wassail boys with a bowl in our hand

We hope that your apple trees will prosper and bear
And bring forth good tidings when we come next year

We hope that your barley will prosper and grow
That you may have plenty and more to bestow

Good mistress and master, how can you forbear?
Come fill up our bowl with cider and beer

Good mistress and master, sitting down at your ease
Put your hands in your pockets and give what you please

I wish you a blessing and a long time to live
Since you've been so free and so willing to give

Line Breaks <br> added.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: cornish songs
From: breezy
Date: 20 Nov 01 - 03:57 PM

Charlie, I'ld like to but go and ask Dave first.I'll sing it on Friday at the Silver cup Harpenden.

Subject: Lyr Add: THE TREE ON THE HILL
From: Dead Horse
Date: 20 Nov 01 - 03:59 PM

Hal-An-Tow is in the lyrics pages.
THE TREE ON THE HILL.
Now on a hill there was a tree.
Such a tree you never did see.
The tree on the hill and the hill stood still.
And the green grass grew all around.
And the green grass grew all around, my boys.
And the green grass grew all around.
And the green grass grew all around, my boys.
And the green grass grew all around.

Now on that tree there was a branch.
Such a branch you never did see.
The branch on the tree.
The tree on the hill and the hill stood still.
And the green grass grew all around.
And the green grass grew all around, my boys (etc.)

Now on that branch there was a twig.

Now on that twig there was a leaf.

Now on that leaf there was a nest.

Now in that nest there was an egg.

Now in that egg there was a bird.

Now on that bird there was a wing.

Now on that wing there was a feather.

Now on that feather there was a flea.
Such a flea you never did see.
The flea on the feather.
And the feather on the wing.
And the wing on the bird.
And the bird in the egg.
And the egg in the nest.
And the nest on the leaf.
And the leaf on the twig.
And the twig on the branch.
And the branch on the tree.
And the tree on the bill and the hill stood still.
And the green grass grew all around.

And one day I'll understand how to format in this box, dammit. If you want the Cornish, I'll have to try and see what the OCR on my scanner does with it.
P.S. Have you ever tried to scan pages on a Big Thick Book? It aint as simple as I look :-)

HTML line breaks added. --JoeClone, 27-Nov-01.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: cornish songs
From: Dead Horse
Date: 20 Nov 01 - 04:04 PM

Ye gods! How did my smiley end up with mouth on bottom line? It's true what my old form teacher used to say, "Must try harder"

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: cornish songs
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 20 Nov 01 - 04:31 PM

From the notes in Peter Kennedy's Folksongs of Britain and Ireland (1975):

Wassail Song

"Harold Tozer and the Truro Wassail Bowl Singers, rec. P. Kennedy, Malpas, 1957: BBC 25653

The Truro "Wassail Boys", up to the time when this recording was made, had maintained an unbroken tradition of wassailing around Truro and district between Christmas and the New Year.  Into the wooden Wassail Bowl, which they carry from door to door, goes a wide variety of alcoholic drinks and coins donated by the householders and landlords of public houses on whom they call.
"The Boys" consisted on this occasion of Harold Tozer (aged 52) lead singer, Thomas Jewel (aged 64) bass and Albert Jose (aged 67) descant.  Mr Tozer started going round with the Wassail Boys at the age of sixteen and the other two began ten years prior to the date of the recording."

Very similar sets have been found in a number of parts of England.

The Tree on the Hill

"John Casley, Morvah, Cornwall, rec. P. Kennedy, 1956: BBC 23654"

You need to use html for line-breaks, thus: <BR>.  It's all explained in the FAQ.  The only reliable way of placing accents over letters is also to use html codes, but you may have trouble with Cornish, which uses superscript "-" a lot, and for which there appears to be no code in the Western Character Set.  When I've posted Cornish text in the past, I've used acute accents instead, but it's a less than ideal expedient.  If your OCR reads the accents properly, you may get away with copy-and-paste for them, but there's no guarantee that they will display correctly in all browsers.

Subject: Lyr Add: MY PAN ESEN OW KWANDRA
From: GUEST,Síle
Date: 21 Nov 01 - 01:10 AM

My Pan Esen Ow Kwandra
(Sung to tune "I Love my Love")

My pan esen ow kwandra
Klywys a'n eyl tenewenn
Un el ow talleth kana
A ughov war an wydhenn
Ev a wrug ow kusulya
Frut annedhi may torenn
Moy es dywow ni a vya
Bys vynytha na sorren

A out war nas drok venyn
Wortho pan wrussys koel
Rag ev ow tebel edhen
Neb glywsys ow kana
Hag an dohoro dhe anken
Mars ni a wra omdenna
Prederis peub a'y worfen
Fatell allo gorfenna

Aban na vynn'ta krysi
Ty a kell ow herensa
Vynytha hedra vywi
Omma ny'm gwelydh arta

A Eva kyns dell vy serrys
My a wra oll dell vynni
Drov e dhymmo desempis
Ha my a ra dybri

==

As I Was Walking

As I was walking
I heard on one side
An angel beginning to sing
Above me on the tree
He did advise me
That I should gather fruit from it
Greater than gods we'd be
Nor troubled forever

O out upon you bad woman
Listening to him
For he was an evil bird
Whom you heard singing
And will bring us to sorrow
Unless we refrain
Let us both think on the end of it
How it can end

Since you will not believe
You shall lose my love
As long as you live
You shall not see me again

Eve, rather than you be angry
I'll do all as you wish
Bring it to me immediately
And I will eat it

HTML line breaks added --JoeClone, 27-Nov-01.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: cornish songs
From: Kernow John
Date: 21 Nov 01 - 07:04 AM

There is a guy called Harry Glasson writing songs about the fishing, farming and customs in Cornwall today. He was made a Bard at the last Gorseth to honour him for his music.
Our band does some of his songs and they never fail to go down well. I will ask him next time I see him if it's OK to post them. Look out for one in particular called Flora Day it's about a man that left Wendron (near Helston) when the Cornish mines closed down and went out to Michigan to find work. But his big dream is to raise enough money to get back home just to be at Flora Day and hear the band. Anyone who has been at the 7am start of Flora Day will know the feeling Harry talks about in the song.
KJ

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: cornish songs
From: jacqui.c
Date: 04 Jun 06 - 07:31 PM

I'm looking for the words of 'Cornishmen are fishermen' and somewhere that I can find the tune - can anyone help?

Subject: Lyr Add: CORNISH LADS (Roger Bryant)
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 04 Jun 06 - 07:36 PM

CORNISH LADS By Roger Bryant
^^^

Well Cornish lads are fishermen
And Cornish lads are miners too
But when the fish and tin are gone
what are the Cornish boys to do?
Well.....etc

From Newlyn town we used to sail
Through rain and mist and lashing gale
The mackerel shoals we hoped to find
And soon we've left Land's End behind
Well.....etc

We've searched the seven stones all around
But not a sign or shoal we've found
Round Island light is now in sight
But Scillies are a barren ground
Well.....etc

The winding engines used to sing
A melody to Cornish tin
And Geevor lads they all would grin
At pay day on a Friday
Well.....etc

The water now reclaims the mine
And young men talk of old men's time
And go to work in gold or coal
Or face a life upon the dole
Well.....etc

The hammer of the auction man
Is the only sound we soon will hear
And visitors will make the noise
And order drinks from Cornish boys
Well.....etc

We'll do as we have done before
Go out to roam the wild world o'er
Wherever sea or ship are found
Or there's a hole down underground


Well Cornish lads are fishermen
And Cornish lads are miners too
So when the fish and tin are gone
That's what the Cornish boys will do

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: cornish songs
From: Desert Dancer
Date: 04 Jun 06 - 08:48 PM

Also discussed in this thread.

~ Becky in Tucson

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: cornish songs
From: jacqui.c
Date: 05 Jun 06 - 03:59 AM

Thank you!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: cornish songs
From: pavane
Date: 05 Jun 06 - 04:45 AM

Many years ago, I lived in Chadwell Heath (Essex). The library there had a specialist music section, which included books such as Kidson's Traditional Tunes (1896). (In 1971, I was the first person since 1936 to take it out of the library!)

They had one book which was songs from Cornwall - unfortunately that is all I can remember, except for the title of one of the songs, Boats of Sennen.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: cornish songs
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 05 Jun 06 - 04:56 AM

Rosie Hardman wrote a song called The Road to Marazion

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: cornish songs
From: Cats at Work
Date: 05 Jun 06 - 05:19 AM

Jacqui - I could have sung this for you while you were at the cottage. Jon and I have recorded it and Jon is one of Cornwall Songwriters, along with Roger Bryant. Give me a ring and I'll do something about getting it to you. Cats

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: cornish songs
From: GUEST,JD
Date: 05 Jun 06 - 07:30 PM

The best version of 'Cornish Lads' was sung and recorded by Jinks Stack a fantastic 3 part harmony group from Cornwall. They were the actual carriers of the song which made national news during the South Crofty closing procedure - double page in the Guardian, local and national BBC etc etc. It was these lads who in my view made the song what it has become.

They also sing other good Cornish Songs and Graham O'Callaghan continues to sing them at festivals and clubs around the country. I hear that they are to reform with their first gigs in the autumn.

Graham's e-mail is [e-mail] if you want more help.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: cornish songs
From: GUEST
Date: 07 Dec 13 - 03:30 PM

Hi,

I'm writing on behalf of my 80 something grandma who has lived in padstow most of her life. I've recently discovered that a CD once existed of the padstow carols.



I would love to source a copy (tape or CD) of rouse rouse or harky harky, even if it was just a copy for her to listen to as more and more frequently we are having to pick her up for Christmas before the carollers visit her.

It would make her year not only to have a copy but also to introduce great grandchildren to the beautiful music.

Many thanks
Tamsin

Sent from my HTC

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: cornish songs
From: Little Robyn
Date: 07 Dec 13 - 07:50 PM

Hi Tamsin, if you contact Sue Norfolk who puts out the Padstow Echo magazine, she might know where to find a copy.
Kathy (Cats) sings with the carollers and she may also have a recording.
I have an old tape recording that I copied back in 1972 but it's here in NZ and isn't on CD.
I'm sure you'll find it somewhere - possibly on youtube by now???
No, I've just checked and it seems to have been removed. The nearest I can find is the Sheffield Carols.
Robyn

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: cornish songs
From: doc.tom
Date: 08 Dec 13 - 07:38 AM

GUEST - Tamsin. If you send me a personal message (PM), we'll see what we can do! 'Oss, Oss!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: cornish songs
From: GUEST
Date: 08 Dec 13 - 12:09 PM

Those Carol evenings are listed in West Sheffield and London

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: cornish songs
From: GUEST
Date: 11 Dec 13 - 04:52 AM

Thank you to you all. It would make grandma's Christmas if I could sort something out
. Will try and pm you now doc.tom.

Oss, Oss a very merry Christmas to you all.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: cornish songs
From: GUEST
Date: 11 Dec 13 - 05:13 AM

Doc.Tom: I'm guessing that I need to be a member to pm you? I've sent Joe a very nice email requesting membership, but if I'm being dense and have missed something, then please help a poor emmet!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: cornish songs
From: Long Firm Freddie
Date: 11 Dec 13 - 11:30 AM

There's links to Angels from the Realms of Glory and While Shepherds Watched (Tune: Zadoc) as sung on the street of Padstow plus sheet music for Rouse, Rouse on this page:Cornish Carols

LFF

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: cornish songs
From: TamsinF
Date: 13 Dec 13 - 11:24 AM

This is really good thank you lff. Just got to work out how to download them now!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: cornish songs
From: maeve
Date: 13 Dec 13 - 11:47 AM

Welcome to Mudcat, TamsinF.

Maeve

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: cornish songs
From: TamsinF
Date: 18 Dec 13 - 07:03 PM

Thanks Maeve

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: cornish songs
From: Gurney
Date: 19 Dec 13 - 04:39 PM

Cyril Tawney recorded an LP, 'Children's Songs from Devon and Cornwall,' I think of songs he had personally collected, mostly.
His wife Rosemary may have more information.