Lyr Req: Comin Through the Rye (modern)

Subject: Comin Through the Rye (modern)
From: Callie
Date: 15 May 02 - 09:20 PM

Hi all

My work colleague is looking for this song as she wants it sung at her wedding. On the digitrad I can only find Robbie Burns' original words. My colleague insists that there is a more colloquial version that starts off "when a laddie meets a lassie / comin' through the rye".

Is anyone able to help with these lyrics?

Any help will be much appreciated.

regards Callie

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Comin Through the Rye (modern)
From: Genie
Date: 16 May 02 - 03:59 AM

Callie,

I'm not sure what you mean by "more colloquial." The version I learned originally was 'translated' into more English (American) language (e.g., "if" instead of "gin"). Are you just looking for a version with the genders reversed ("If a laddie meet a lassie" instead of "If a lassie meet a laddie.")?

Please clarify.

Genie

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Comin Through the Rye (modern)
From: IanC
Date: 16 May 02 - 06:03 AM

Like Annie Laurie, Comin' Thro' The Rye was popularised by Jenny Lind on her 1849/50 tour of the USA. A Levy search on RYE will find you the sheet music of a number of versions from the 1850s. All the "modern" versions, as far as I know, are based on the Jenny Lind music.

As Genie says, there may well be more "anglicised" versions of the words, but there is probably not a standard one and you can do it yourself easily enough.

Cheers!
Ian

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Comin Through the Rye (modern)
From: IanC
Date: 16 May 02 - 06:19 AM

A slight correction, though it doesn't materially affect Callie's request.

I though I'd just confirm what I said using the Bodleian Collection. From this, it appears that Comin' Thro' The Rye, unlike Annie Laurie was fairly popular during the first half of the 19th Century. I still think that the modern versions will almost invariably spring from the "Jenny Lind" sheet music, which was incredibly widespread.

:-)
Ian

Subject: Lyr Add: COMIN' THRO' THE RYE (Burns' bawdy text)
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 16 May 02 - 01:10 PM

Well, the version Burns collected and the one on which he based his "polite" version went:

COMIN' THRO' THE RYE
  (Burns' bawdy text)
  
  O gin a body meet a body
  Comin' thro' the rye;
  Gin a body f**k a body
  Need a body cry.
    

     Comin' thro' the rye, my jo,
       An' comin' thro' the rye,
       She fand a staun o' staunin' graith
       Comin' thro' the rye.
    

Gin a body meet a body
  Comin' thro' the glen
  Gin a body f**k a body
  Need the warld ken.
    

Gin a body meet a body
  Comin' thro' the grain. 
  Gin a body f**k a body
  C**t's a body's aim.
    

Gin a body meet a body
  by a body's sel,
  When na body f**ks a body
  Wad a body tell
    

Mony a body meets a body
  They dare na weel avow
  Mony a body f**ks a body,
  Ye Wadna think it true.

From Merry Muses of Caledonia, Burns note: the discreet typography is as published. I think it's dumb, but I've left it because I'm not sure how Burns would have spelled either "fuck" or "cunt".

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Comin Through the Rye (modern)
From: Emma B
Date: 16 May 02 - 05:31 PM

the only 'modern' version I know I heard when working in Glasgow

Jean McPherson is a person wi' lovely yella' hair / We went tegitha' doon ra water last Glasgae fair / The rain it did come doon in torrents her hair she couldna' keep dry / And all the day the streaks of grey came running thro' the dye

But that's probably NOT the one you'd want at a wedding Sorry about the 'accent' but it really did sound like that

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Comin Through the Rye (modern)
From: GUEST,Callie
Date: 16 May 02 - 08:02 PM

Thanks all for your contributions. Dick, I'm sure your version will go down really well with the elderly aunts!

My colleague said that she found the version she was looking for (I'll post it next week after I next see her).

Thanks again. Mudcat never lets me down!

Callie

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Comin Through the Rye (modern)
From: GUEST,Mary
Date: 01 Feb 12 - 04:46 PM

When I was 8-11 years my grandfather lived with my family, he at that time was in his 80ies. He grew up in South Carolina, his father was from Ireland although I believe he was Scot decent. My grandfather sang " if a laddie meets a lassie coming through the rye, if a laddie kiss a lassie need the lassie cry" that is all I remember, but would like to know more if there is someone who knows more

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Comin Through the Rye (modern)
From: Mick Pearce (MCP)
Date: 01 Feb 12 - 07:57 PM

Mary - you can find an example of the sheet music referred to here: Comin' Thro' The Rye (Levy collection), which apart from the use of gin instead of if should be similar to what you remember.

(You can download the pdf version from here: Comin' Thro' The Rye - pdf)


Mick