Lyr Req: When First unto This Country

Subject: When First Unto This Country Lyrics?
From:
Date: 05 May 02 - 08:53 PM

Hi, Just wondering if someone could send me the complete lyrics for this old tune. I'd really appreciate any help. Please send to [e-mail]. Thank you!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: When First Unto This Country Lyrics?
From: masato sakurai
Date: 05 May 02 - 09:25 PM

Three songs which begin "When first to this country" are in the DT.

THE BANKS OF THE BANN

BROWN GIRL

WHEN FIRST TO THIS COUNTRY

~Masato

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: When First Unto This Country Lyrics?
From: Bonnie Shaljean
Date: 06 May 02 - 07:50 AM

There's an absolutely beautiful traditional Irish song called PHOENIX ISLAND (sometimes known as Felix Island) which begins "When first I came unto this country" and if I had the words I'd happily post them for you! Anyway, if the above titles don't pan out it's worth a look.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: When First Unto This Country Lyrics?
From: Joe Offer
Date: 06 May 02 - 08:44 PM

Another one in the Digital Tradition is When First Into This Country, but that's not the one that's running in my head. This one's gonna bug me until I find it....
-Joe Offer-

Subject: ADD: When First Unto This Country (Ochs)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 06 May 02 - 08:49 PM

Well, here's one from Phil Ochs, but I don't think it's the one I recall. There's one on the Garcia/Grisman album called Not For Kids Only, and one by the New Lost City Ramblers. Not having completely moved into my wife's home after my January wedding, I can't find either CD.

-Joe Offer-

---

When First Unto This Country
By Phil Ochs

When first unto this country a stanger I came,
I fought the Revolution, peace and quiet was my aim.
When the Indians attacked us, at least that's what I'm told,
So we threw them off their land with no thought of greed or gold.

Then our ships were being boarded, other countries took our men,
Napoleon was too powerful, the British lost again.
And then hopelessly outnumbered, we fought our level best,
and we borrowed from Old Mexico the American South West.

And when that war was over there was no one left to fight
So we turned and fought each other--to the historians' delight
Then for thirty years we rested, and tried to ease the pain,
until the Cuban sugar crop we gladly freed from Spain.

Then Europe started feudin', there were profits by the score,
so the ammunition makers fought the war to end all war,
but old Hitler started marchin', he practiced over in Spain,
the Depression was defeated, the world was safe again.

So we joined the United Nations in hopes that war would cease
and except for Korea, we almost kept the peace.
Yes, it's time to really end all wars, the H-Bomb makes it worse
Besides this song is much too long to add another verse.


copied from here (click)

Subject: ADD: When First Unto This Country (Garcia/Grisman)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 06 May 02 - 09:04 PM

WHEN FIRST UNTO THIS COUNTRY

When first unto this country
A stranger I came
I courted a fair maid
And Nancy was her name.

I courted her for love
Her love I didn't obtain
Do you think I've any reason
Or right to complain.

I rode to see my Nancy
I rode both night and day
I stoled a fine stallion
From Colonel Charles Grey.

I rode to see my Nancy
I rode both day and night
I courted fairest Nancy
My own heart's true delight.

The sheriff's men they followed
And overtaken me
They carted me away
To the penitentiary.

They opened up the door
And then they threw me in
They shaved off my hair
And they cleared off my chin.

They beat me and they banged me
And they fed me on dry beans
'Til I wished to my own soul
I'd never been a thief.

With my hands stuck in my pockets
And my cap set on so bold
My coat of many colors
Like Joseph's of old

Repeat first verse.

From the David Grisman/Jerry Garcia CD, Not for Kids Only

This story of an immigrant's troubles was collected from a Texas family during the Great Depression. The bitter experiences come out sad but sweet in music.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: When First Unto This Country Lyrics?
From: Joe Offer
Date: 06 May 02 - 09:22 PM

The New Lost City Ramblers recording is on the CD called The Early Years, 1958-1962. The album notes say the lyrics came from the Lomax book called Our Singing Country. Those lyrics are the same as what's in the Digital Tradition as When First To This Country - except that the DT & Lomax call it "When First To," and New Lost City Ramblers have it "When First Unto." Oh, and the Lomax book and the NLCR album have the horse described this way:

I rode to see my Nancy, the pride of my life,
Till I saw a fine gray horse, both plump-looking and white

The tune isn's quite what I remember. Maybe it's the Baez or Ian and Sylvia tune that's in my memory?
Hey - note that Lomax is scripturally incorrect. Grisman/Garcia correct the lyrics and speak of Joseph's coat.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: When First Unto This Country Lyrics?
From: Joe Offer
Date: 06 May 02 - 10:32 PM

Hmmm. I think I'm hearing the voice of Bill Staines singing this song - anybody know what album it's on?
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: When First Unto This Country Lyrics?
From: Jim Krause
Date: 07 May 02 - 12:44 AM

Joe, Happy Traum recorded it on his 1975 recording Relax Your Mind on the Kicking Mule lable KM110. I suspect that the disc is long out of print, unless Happy has reissued it on CD.
Jim

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: When First Unto This Country Lyrics?
From: Melani
Date: 07 May 02 - 12:55 AM

Ian and Sylvia recorded it--either on "Northern Journey" or their first album, I think.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: When First Unto This Country Lyrics?
From: Jim Krause
Date: 07 May 02 - 01:19 AM

Boy, I haven't thought of that song in years. I used to sing it all the time. Maybe I should revive it.
Jim

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: When First Unto This Country Lyrics?
From: widowmaker
Date: 07 May 02 - 05:52 AM

The version you require is the Banks Of The Bann a beutiful song from N-Ireland

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: When First Unto This Country Lyrics?
From: GUEST,Charley Noble
Date: 07 May 02 - 09:06 AM

I was always intrigued with the tune, how it shifted from one key to another between lines of the verse, and how it s-t-r-e-t-c-h-e-d out as you sing "a-n-d I c-o-u-r-t-e-d a f-a-i-r y-o-u-n-g m-a-i-d-e-n, Nancy was her name." I was also intrigued by the miscellaneous verses that were aggregated in this song. Certainly is unique.