Lyr Req: Annan Waters

Subject: Words to Annan Waters
From: GUEST,Carole Dalton
Date: 19 Feb 02 - 09:29 AM

I'm looking for the words to Annan Waters. I understand that it's a Scottish song. I have a version by Kate Rusby but I can't understand all the words she is singing! I'd like to do it with my band as three-part harmony but we're unwilling to try it without knowing all the words. Can anyone help please?

Subject: RE: Words to Annan Waters
From: Wolfgang
Date: 19 Feb 02 - 09:33 AM

old thred

Wolfgang

Subject: RE: Words to Annan Waters
From: Wolfgang
Date: 19 Feb 02 - 09:35 AM

Kate Rusby lyrics

Wolfgang

Subject: RE: Words to Annan Waters
From: Willa
Date: 19 Feb 02 - 03:04 PM

Hi, Carole; haven't seen you for ages! Hope to hear Outsider sing this the next time you come to Cottingham Live.

Subject: RE: Words to Annan Waters
From:
Date: 19 Feb 02 - 07:48 PM

It's in the Forum, 3 different times, but has yet to be harvested.

Annan Waters
Annan Waters
Annan Waters

Subject: RE: Words to Annan Waters
From: GUEST,Carole Dalton
Date: 16 Mar 02 - 12:28 PM

Thank you Wolfgang and George and Anne for your trouble. I've not used this forum before and I'm impressed with the response. I managed to find the old threads and I'm going to use Kate's words. I can't wait to hear it in three-part harmony. Once againe thanks. Carole

Subject: RE: Words to Annan Waters
From: GUEST,John
Date: 16 Mar 02 - 12:41 PM

You can hear a three part harmony version, performed by 'The Voice Squad' by clicking here

John

Subject: RE: Words to Annan Waters
From:
Date: 16 Mar 02 - 03:56 PM

I have the words to Annan Water (not Waters) in The Oxford Book of Ballads edited by Arthur Quiller Couch. This is an extremely early version. I could type it out or photocopy it if you wish - let me know. Also, Voice Squad recorder it and I can send you a tape of that if you wish. If you like Kate's version why not contact her direct? Let me know what you decide.

English singing folkie [e-mail]

Subject: RE: Words to Annan Waters
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 16 Mar 02 - 04:23 PM

The text published by Quiller-Couch was taken from Walter Scott's Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border, and has been posted here twice:

Annan Water
Annan Water

Kate Rusby learned the song from Nic Jones, though not directly; the lyric as he sung it, slightly anglicised, can be seen in several past threads, including:  Annan Water.  He found the Scott text in F.J. Child's The English and Scottish Popular Ballads, and reworked it slightly.  The tune Jones set it to is not traditionally associated with this song; he found it as The Brisk Young Lively Lad, collected by Lucy Broadwood in Surrey, in the Journal of the Folk Song Society, vol.I no.2, 1900.

Subject: RE: Words to Annan Waters
From: GUEST,dan Gale Rosen
Date: 23 Feb 05 - 09:24 PM

Hi, I'm looking for the chords to the Annan Waters song, or , better yet, some sort of accompaniment....I don't know how long ago you posted for the lyrics, but I assume that at some point you knew how to accompany it...It would be great to know, if you still check this. Thank you so much.


Dan Gale Rosen
[e-mail]

Subject: RE: Words to Annan Waters
From: GUEST
Date: 24 Feb 05 - 12:14 AM

so, nobody's ever posted the "original" tune, the one alluded to in one of these many annan water threads....

Subject: RE: Words to Annan Waters
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 24 Feb 05 - 12:55 AM

A tune was printed in R A Smith's Scotish Minstrel (1820) but I don't have a copy of that, so I don't know if it really belonged to the text or was set to it for convenience. I've never heard anyone sing the song other than to the tune Nic Jones adapted and fitted to it.

Subject: RE: Words to Annan Waters
From: Nerd
Date: 24 Feb 05 - 02:18 AM

Nic went to Child's book and found the song as an "additions and corrections" to, I believe, Child 215. In the original lyric it is clear that the lovers' parents have kept them apart, but Nic left out some verses. Some time in the 1990s, I went to the Child books and changed the song around, leaving out one of Nic's verses and adding back another.

Frank Harte sings basically Nic's version, and many Irish singers like Mick Moloney and the Voice Squad picked it up from him. I was in a singing circle with Frank once and someone asked me to sing it. Later, I asked Frank how he liked my version. His answer was vintage Frank:

"Sure, I like me own better!"

Subject: RE: Words to Annan Waters
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 24 Feb 05 - 02:43 AM

Yes, 215: Rare Willie Drowned in Yarrow. The DT file has Annan Water as number 4, heaven knows why.

Really, there isn't much relationship to Willie, though the plot is vaguely similar and the first verse made on the same model. Bronson, who could, if he had chosen, have included the tune from Smith as an appendix to 214, didn't bother; so he presumably saw no significant connection. Child does mention a broadside in the Laing collection (late 17th or early 18th century), Allan Water, or, A Lover in Captivity and quotes the first four lines (of 24) which are much as we have here. Unfortunately, he didn't quote the rest.

Subject: Lyr Add: ANNAN WATER
From: GUEST,starkey
Date: 22 Jan 07 - 10:08 PM

Oh, Annan water's wondrous deep.
And my love Anne is wondrous bonnie.
I'm loathe for her to wet her feet.
Because I love her best of any.
Go saddle for me the bonnie grey mare,
Go saddle her and make her ready.
For I must cross the stream tonight
Or never more to see my lady.

He's ridden over field and fen
O'er moor and mess and many's the mire.
But the spurs of steel were sore to bite.
Sparks from the mare's hooves flew like fire.
Oh, the mare flew over moor and mess,
And when she reached the Annan waters
She couldn't have ridden a furlong more,
Had a thousand whips been laid upon her.

(Chorus)
Oh, woe betide you, Annan waters,
By night you are a gloomy river.
And over you I'll build a bridge
That never more true love can sever.

Oh boatman, put off your boat.
Put off your boat for gold and money.
For I must cross the stream tonight
Or never more to see my lady.
The banks were steep, the waters deep.
From brim to brae the water's pouring,
And the bonnie grey mare she sweats for fear.
She stands to hear the water roaring.

And he has tried to cross the stream.
(And he has?) swum both strong and steady.
But the water's deep and strength did fail.
And never more he'll see his lady.
Oh, woe betide the willow wand.
And woe betide the bush and briar.
They broke beneath my true love's hand
When strength did fail and limbs did tire.

Oh, woe betide you Annan waters,
By night you are a gloomy river.
And over you I'll build a bridge
That never more true love can sever.

And never more
True love can sever

And never more etc.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Annan Waters
From: GUEST,Tommy Nolan
Date: 01 Jul 13 - 09:25 PM

Wow, this IS an old thread. Which thankfully coughed up the lyric I sought. I've only ever heard this song sung once b4 @ The Midnight Folk Club organised by Eilis Moore( yes, his sister( and a great musician from Cork called John Quinilan in The Dublin Resource Centre where I helped out odd nights at the door n clean up afterwards by Tom Callery and what was to become, The Voice Squad.Many is the tune and musician that grabbed my heart in those oh so heady days. Indeed, I went to see the voice squad on many occasions but never heard the song again, (excluding in my head as I rambled around Ireland. Big hello to John n Eilis should ye ever come across this and I hope ye're both well.
                                  Tommy xoxo

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Annan Waters
From: JHW
Date: 02 Jul 13 - 05:14 AM

The Blue Bell pub in Annan abuts the river and bridge. The words of the song are writ on the wall in the bar.
I have sung the song in that bar though with the text from Nic Jones first album 'Ballads and Songs'. Hearing this on a Dansette record player was what started me singing ballads.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Annan Waters
From: MartinRyan
Date: 02 Jul 13 - 05:50 AM

GUESTTommyNolan.

That'll be PHIL Callery, I imagine - you're the only Tom in this thread!

The Voice Squad, having stopped singing together for many years, are back together again for the past year or so - and singing mightily.

Regards

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Annan Waters
From: balladeer
Date: 04 Jul 13 - 06:41 PM

My friend Karen and I have been singing Annan Waters in Toronto for several years in our a cappella duo, Dragonfly. We probably learned it from a Voice Squad recording.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Annan Waters
From: GUEST
Date: 10 Feb 14 - 08:51 PM

What is meant by "moor and mess"? I always thought it was "moor and moss." I imagine it's not a typo, since it is in there twice?

-Aaron.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Annan Waters
From: Joe Offer
Date: 13 Sep 21 - 06:06 PM

Joe - clean up this mess...

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Annan Waters
From: GerryM
Date: 14 Sep 21 - 03:21 AM

Nice recording by Australian trio, Triantan. It is, indeed, moor and moss, according to them. Lyrics are also at that site.