Origins: Paper of Pins (3) / Devil's Courtship

Subject: ADD Devil's Courtship(Child #2)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 05 Apr 21 - 01:34 AM

This will probably be easier to find here.

Thread #78932   Message #1425706
Posted By: ET
03-Mar-05 - 04:34 AM
Thread Name: ADD 'Devil Uisge Bheath' / Devil's Courtship
Subject: Lyr Add: THE DEVIL'S COURTSHIP (from Alan Reid)

They are:

THE DEVIL'S COURTSHIP
(from Alan Reid)

1. I'll buy you a pennyworth o' priens
If that be the way true love begins
If ye'll gang along wi me ma dear, if ye'll gang along wi me.

2. Ye can hae your pennyworth of priens
Though that be the way true love begins
For I'll never gang wi you ma dear, I'll never gang wi you.

3. I'll buy you a braw snuff box,
Nine times opened nine times locked
If ye'll gang along wi me ma dear, if ye'll gang along wi me.

4. I don't care for your braw snuff box
Nine times opened nine times locked
For I'll never gang wi you ma dear, I'll never gang wi you.

5. I'll buy you a silken goon
Wi nine stripes up and nine stripes doon
If ye'll gang along wi me ma dear, if ye'll gang along wi me.

6. You can hae your silken goon
Wi nine stripes up and nine stripes doon
For I'll never gang wi you ma dear, I'll never gang wi you.

7. I'll buy you a nine stringed bell,
Tae call yer maid whene'er you will
If you'll gang....

8. I'll nae hae your nine stringed bell
Tae call my maid whene'er I will
For I'll never....

9. I'll gie you a kist of gold
Tae conffort you when you are old
If you'll gang....

10. These are sweet words that you say
So mount your horse and ride away
I'll gang away wi you ma dear I'll gang away wi you.

11. They'd scarcely gaun a mile
When she spied his cloven heel
I rue I cain wi you she says, I rue I cain wi you.

12 I'll grip ye hard and fast,
Gold it won your virgin heart at last
And I'll no part wi you ma dear, I'll no part wi you.

13. As they were galloping along
The cold wind carried her mournful song
I rue I cain wi you she says, I rue I cain wi you.

The song is also called The Devil's Courtship. Music and words are in Martyrs, Rogues and Worthies, an excellent book of songs and tunes from Scotland by Alan Reid (also contains Quiet Days beside the River and other fab songs. ISBN 0 9540160 0 9 from [e-mail]

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Paper of Pins (3)
From: GUEST,crazy little woman
Date: 03 Aug 12 - 08:11 AM

This is said to be a song for children. It occurs to me that today's children will never have seen a paper of pins. I looked for an image of how pins used to be sold, but couldn't find one.

Will 'paper of pins' change to 'package of pins'? Somehow it lacks the charm.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Paper of Pins (3)
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 02 Aug 12 - 12:33 PM

Here's an old video with a nice little tune for this song:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_KHMXkar8Bo

Rosy and Joe are also a good example of stage presence.

This is a nice tune for mountain dulcimer.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Paper of Pins (3)
From: GUEST,Rashmi
Date: 02 Aug 12 - 03:43 AM

wow,finally i did find it the beautiful poem i once enacted when i was a kid:)

Subject: Lyr Add: I'LL GIVE TO YOU A PAPER OF PINS.
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 30 Mar 09 - 12:48 AM

From Games and Songs of American Children by William Wells Newell (New York: Harper & Brothers, 1884):

I'LL GIVE TO YOU A PAPER OF PINS.

This pretty and interesting, hitherto unprinted, children's song is more or less familiar throughout the Middle States. We have heard it with many variations from persons of all classes and ages. It may often be listened to in the upper part of the city of New York, as it is sung (with a mere apology for a melody) by three or four girls, walking with arms entwined, or crooned by mere infants seated on the casks which, in the poorer quarters, often encumber the sidewalk.

There are also English and Scotch versions, generally inferior as regards poetical merit and antiquity of language. The English form, however, seems to contain the primitive idea, where the wooer appears as a prince, who by splendid presents overcomes the objections of a lady. This mercenary character being repugnant to modern taste, the Scotch rhyme represents the suitor as the Evil One in person; while in the United States the hero is, in his turn, made to cast off the avaricious fair, or else the lady to demand only love for love.

The numerous couplets of the American rhyme are completely in the ballad style. A "paper of pins" is substituted for a "pennorth of pins." The "easy-chair" is modern, but the verse itself ancient, combing golden hair being a world-old occupation of beauties. The gown "trimmed with golden thread," or "set off with a golden crown," refers to the attire of olden times. The mediaeval bride wore a crown on the head and flowing hair; a costume also mentioned in old ballads as the usual dress of a demoiselle of rank arrayed for the dance.

"I'll give to you a paper of pins,
And that's the way my love begins;
If you will marry me, me, me,
If you will marry me."

"I don't accept your paper of pins,
If that's the way your love begins;
For I won't marry you, you, you,
For I won't marry you."

"I'll give to you an easy-chair,
To sit in and comb your golden hair.

"I'll give to you a silver spoon,
To feed your babe in the afternoon.

"I'll give to you a dress of green,
To make you look like any queen.*

"I'll give to you the key of my heart,
For you to lock and never to part.

"I'll give to you the key of my chest,
For you to have money at your request."

"I do accept the key of your chest,
For me to have money at my request;
And I will marry you, you, you,
And I will marry you."

"Ha, ha, ha, money is all,
And I won't marry you at all;
For I won't marry you, you, you,
For I won't marry you."

* Here verses may be improvised at pleasure; for instance, said the little reciter,

"I'll give to you a dress of black,
A green silk apron and a white cap,
If you will marry," etc.

This is from a New York child; our next version is from Connecticut:

"O miss, I'll give you a paper of pins,
If you will tell me how love begins:
If you will marry, marry, marry,
If you will marry me."

"I'll not accept your paper of pins,
And I won't tell you how love begins;
For I won't marry, marry, marry,
For I won't marry you."

"O miss, I'll give you a coach and six,
Every horse as black as pitch.

"O miss, I'll give you a red silk gown,
With gold and laces hanging round.

"O miss, I'll give you a little gold bell,
To ring for the waiter* when you are not well.

"O miss, I'll give you the key to my heart,
That we may lock and never part.

"O miss, I'll give you the key to my chest,
That you may have money at your request."

"I will accept the key of your chest,
That I may have money at my request."

"Ah, I see, money is all,
Woman's love is none at all;
And I won't marry, marry, marry,
And I won't marry you."

* In the English version "to ring up your maidens."

Finally, we have a variation with a more tender conclusion:

"Will you have a paper of pins?
For that's the way my love begins—
And will you marry me, me, me,
And will you marry me?"

"No, I'll not have a paper of pins,
If that's the way your love begins."

"Will you have a little lap-dog,
Who may follow you abroad?

"Will you have a coach and four,
Footman behind and footman before?

"Will you have a dress of red,
All trimmed round with golden thread?

"Will you have a satin gown.
All set off with a golden crown?

"Will you have the key to my chest,
To draw out gold at your request?

"Will you have the key to my heart,
That we may love and never part?"

"Yes, I will have the key to your heart,
That we may love and never part,
And I will marry you, you, you,
And I will marry you."

The same idea is contained in a song originally Scotch, but which comes to us (through an Irish medium) from Pennsylvania:

"Will you come to the Highland braes,
Bonny lassie, Highland lassie?
Will you come to the Highland braes,
My bonny Highland lassie?"

The reply is, "Na, na, it will not dee, bonnie laddie," etc.: when the wooer gradually increases his offers:

"I will give you a golden comb,
If you will be mine and never roam;"

and finally inquires,

"Will you go to the kirk with me,
There to be my wedded wife?"

which is eagerly accepted:

"And them's the words away to town,
And I will get my wedding-gown."

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: PAPER OF PINS (3)
From: GUEST,GUEST, tallgirl
Date: 28 Mar 09 - 08:24 PM

Wow....this information is great! I'll be 60 years old next month & when I was about 7 years old my dad taught me the "Packet of Pins" song. I enjoyed singing it with him, then forgot most of the lyrics.   I'd never seen the song anywhere & no one I knew had heard of it. My dad is deceased, but I treasure the songs I remember he sang so much & am glad I found this page. Thank you!

Subject: Origins: PAPER OF PINS
From: Joe Offer
Date: 30 Oct 02 - 03:33 PM

Here's the entry from the Traditional Ballad Index.
-Joe Offer-

---

Keys of Canterbury, The

DESCRIPTION: The young man comes to the girl and offers her his love or other gifts if she will marry him. She scornfully refuses. After several similar exchanges, he typically offers his MONEY. She accepts. He withdraws the offer: "You love my money but... not me"
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1849 (Halliwell)
KEYWORDS: bargaining courting rejection money dialog
FOUND IN: US(Ap,MW,SE,So) Britain(England(All),Scotland)
REFERENCES (11 citations):
Randolph 354, "The Paper of Pins" (3 texts, 3 tunes)
Eddy 39, "The Keys of Heaven" (4 texts, 3 tunes)
Sharp-100E 66, "The Keys of Canterbury"; 67, "My Man John" (2 texts, 2 tunes)
Scott-BoA, pp. 11-13, "The Keys of Canterbury" (1 text, 1 tune)
Copper-SoBreeze, pp. 262-263, "The Silver Pin" (1 text, 1 tune)
Lomax-ABFS, pp. 323-324, "Paper of Pins" (1 text, 1 tune)
Kennedy 135, "Madam, Will You Walk" (1 text, 1 tune)
LPound-ABS, 111, pp. 226-228, "Paper of Pins" (1 text)
Silber-FSWB, p. 346, "Paper of Pins" (1 text)
Fuld-WFM, p. 294, "I'll Give to You a Paper of Pins"
DT, PAPERPIN*
RECORDINGS:
Bradley Kincaid, "A Paper of Pins" (Supertone 9402, 1929; on CrowTold02)
CROSS-REFERENCES:
cf. "No, John, No" (plot)
cf. "Wheel of Fortune (Dublin City, Spanish Lady)"
cf. "The Courting Case" (theme)
cf. "The Lover's Quarrel" (plot, lyrics)
ALTERNATE TITLES:
Madam I Present You With Six Rows of Pins
Blue Muslin
I Will Give You The Keys of Heaven
If You Will Walk With Me
O Madam I Will Give to Thee
The Little Row of Pins
Notes: [In both of Sharp's versions], the lady accepts something and that's that. In "Keys of Canterbury" after rejecting various riches, she accepts a "broidered silken gownd," presumably a wedding gown, and the song ends there. In "My Man John", which also includes a servant who advises his master on how best to court the lady, she rejects all material things but accepts "the keys of my heart." - PJS
File: R354

---

Go to the Ballad Search form
Go to the Ballad Index Instructions

The Ballad Index Copyright 2002 by Robert B. Waltz and David G. Engle.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: PAPER OF PINS (3)
From: toadfrog
Date: 30 Oct 02 - 03:11 PM

Same song: Keys to Canterbury

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: PAPER OF PINS (3)
From: masato sakurai
Date: 30 Oct 02 - 09:50 AM

"Paper of Pins" sung by Mrs. Shirley Lomax Mansel, recorded during The John and Ruby Lomax 1939 Southern States Recording Trip.

Subject: Lyr Add: THE BUS STOP SONG (A PAPER OF PINS)
From: masato sakurai
Date: 30 Oct 02 - 08:36 AM

I first knew this song as "The Bus Stop Song."

(1) Theme: "Bus Stop"
    [aka: "Bus Stop Theme"; and
    aka: "Theme from 'Bus Stop'";

    The movie "Bus Stop" used the folk song "Paper of Pins" as a Main
    Theme to emphasize the folksy film characters; For this series
    composer Arthur Morton was chosen who had been an orchestrator
    for other film/TV composers many years; and this was one of the
    few times he was hired as composer and wrote a Main/End Title...
    His THEME for the TV series was held in wide esteem by colleagues
    in the early 1960s when it came out...]
    (From HERE)

(2) THE BUS STOP SONG (A PAPER OF PINS)
-- The Four Lads

I'll give to you a paper of pins
And that's the way our love begins
If you will marry me, me, me
If you will marry me

I'll give to you a feathery bed
With downy pillows for your head
If you will marry me, me, me
If you will marry me

But you don't want my paper of pins
And you don't want my feathery bed
You want my house and money instead
That is plain to see

Well here they are take everything
My house, my money, my wedding ring
And in the bargain I'll throw in me
If you will marry me
(From HERE)

~Masato

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: PAPER OF PINS (3)
From: Snuffy
Date: 30 Oct 02 - 08:23 AM

Also much parodied in the rugby song genre:

If i give you half a crown
Will you take your knickers down,
Will you marry
Marry, marry marry
Will you marry me.

etc

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: PAPER OF PINS (3)
From: GUEST,Q
Date: 30 Oct 02 - 12:17 AM

Nice book, but expensive and hard to find in N. Am. I see prices start at about 35 pounds.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: PAPER OF PINS (3)
From: GUEST,GUEST
Date: 29 Oct 02 - 11:51 PM

See Iona and Peter Opie's The Singing Game, page 140-143.

Subject: ADD: Keys of Heaven
From: GUEST,Q
Date: 29 Oct 02 - 10:59 PM

The Traditional Ballad Index lists the primary title of "Paper of Pins" as "Keys of Canterbury" with a date 1849 and Halliwell (Popular Rhymes and Nursery Tales) as the source. Back in 1997, in thread 1718, a version of this song was posted, with no source, by Bill D. No one added to his post.
Contemplator gives a version and lists many titles that the song has received and lists it as a variant of "Madam, Will You Walk?". Does anyone have more information? Keys of Canterbury
Contemplator: Keys

Randolph, Ozark Folksongs, has three versions of "Paper of Pins," two of which follow the usual progression, but one called "The Keys of Heaven" by the singer (Lillian Short, 1941), vol. 3, pp. 42-43, seems to be a link to the London text given by Bill D. Randolph provides music to the song.
^^
Lyr. Add: KEYS OF HEAVEN

Though you give me the keys of Heaven,
Though you give me the keys of Heaven,
No, I will not walk, no I will not talk,
No, I will not walk and talk with thee.

I will give you a silken gown,
A wreath of flowers shall be your crown,
Madam, will you walk? Madam, will you talk?
Madam, will you walk and talk with me?

Though you give me a silken gown
And a wreath of flowers for a crown,
Sir, I will not walk, sir, I will not talk,
Sir, I will not walk and talk with thee.

I will give you a coach and six,
Six black horses as black as pitch,
Madam, will you walk? Madam, will you talk?
Madam, will you walk and talk with me?

Though you give me a coach and six,
Six black horses as black as pitch,
Yet I will not walk, yet I will not talk,
Yet I will not walk and talk with thee.

I will give to you the keys to my heart,
And we'll be married till death do us part,
Madam, will you walk? Madam, will you talk?
Madam, will you walk and talk with me?

Since you give me the keys to your heart,
And we'll be married till death do us part,
Now I will walk, now I will talk,
Now I will walk and talk with thee.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: PAPER OF PINS (3)
From: GUEST,Richie
Date: 29 Oct 02 - 09:23 PM

-Douglas

Could you also put your source?

Thanks,

-Richie

Subject: Lyr Add: PAPER OF PINS (3)
From:
Date: 29 Oct 02 - 09:20 PM

^^PAPER OF PINS

I'll give to you a paper of pins,
If that's the way that love begins,
If you will marry, marry, marry, marry,
If you will marry me.

Well, I don't want your paper of pins,
If that's the way that love begins,
for I won't marry, marry, marry, marry,
I won't marry you.

I'll give to you a golden ball
To bounce from the kitchen to the hall,
If you will marry, marry, marry, marry,
If you will marry me.

I don't want your golden ball,
To bounce from the kitchen to the hall,
For I won't marry, marry, marry, marry,
I won't marry you.

I'll give to you a rocking chair
To sit in the garden and take fresh air
If you will marry, marry, marry, marry,
If you will marry me.

I don't want your rocking chair,
To sit in the garden and take fresh air,
For I won't marry, marry, marry, marry,
I won't marry you.

I'll give to you a silver spoon,
To feed the baby in the afternoon,
If you will marry, marry, marry, marry,
If you will marry me.

I don't want your silver spoon,
To feed the baby in the afternoon,
For I won't marry, marry, marry, marry,
I won't marry you.

I'll give to you the keys of the chest,
And all the money that I possess,
If you will marry, marry, marry, marry,
You will marry me.

If you'll give me the keys of the chest,
And all the money that you possess,
Then I will marry, marry, marry, marry,
I will marry you.

Ah ha ha now I see,
You love my money but you don't love me,
And I'll not marry, marry, marry, marry,
I'll not marry you.