Lyr Req: 'Twas on a Monday Morning, O

Subject: lyrics: Twas on a Monday morning . O
From: Jim k
Date: 16 Jul 98 - 06:45 PM

Has anyone got the lyrics for an English folk song beginning with these words ?

Subject: RE: lyrics: Twas on a Monday morning . O
From: BAZ
Date: 16 Jul 98 - 07:02 PM

Jim K
I think it's called Dashing away with the Smoothing Iron.

Twas on a Monday morning
When I beheld my darling
She looked so neat and Charming
In every high degree
She looked so neat and nimble O
An ironing of her linen O
Dashing away with the smoothing iron ( 3 times)
She stole my heart away.

That was off the top of my head but I think it's right. There's probably more verses I'll try to find them.
Regards Baz

Subject: RE: lyrics: Twas on a Monday morning . O
From:
Date: 17 Jul 98 - 10:40 AM

Subject: RE: lyrics: Twas on a Monday morning . O
From: gerard
Date: 17 Jul 98 - 10:43 AM

Apologies for the prvious epmty message! Or did you mean the Flanders & Swan song:

'Twas on a Monday a Monday morning the gasman came to call. I couldn't turn the tap on, I wasn't getting gas at all....'

It then proceed through various tradesmen each day.

Subject: RE: lyrics: Twas on a Monday morning . O
From: Bert
Date: 17 Jul 98 - 11:52 AM

I think this is the one you are looking for.

All the While

Bert.

Subject: RE: lyrics: Twas on a Monday morning . O
From: rich r
Date: 17 Jul 98 - 10:01 PM

I think the Modern Folk Quartette recorded "All The While"

rich r

Subject: RE: lyrics: Twas on a Monday morning . O
From: GUEST,Guy
Date: 22 Apr 03 - 04:32 AM

I thought it was the Modern Folk Quartet but it wasn't the American group that sang a song with lyrics something like:

"'Twas on a Monday morning, oh,
The rain it was a-raining,
My wife she turned to me and said,
I why don't you and I be wed
We can have a double bed

And all the time the rain it was araining."

And on through the week. I think for Thursday it went, "On Thursday nobody spoke."

Help?

Guy

Subject: Lyr Add: DASHING AWAY WITH THE SMOOTHING IRON
From: Orac
Date: 22 Apr 03 - 05:44 AM

DASHING AWAY WITH THE SMOOTHING IRON
Traditional English
^^^
'Twas on a Monday morning
When I beheld my darling
She looked so neat and charming
In every high degree
She looked so neat and nimble, O
A-washing of her linen, O

Refrain
Dashing away with the smoothing iron
Dashing away with the smoothing iron
She stole my heart away.

'Twas on a Tuesday morning
When I beheld my darling
She looked so neat and charming
In every high degree
She looked so neat and nimble, O
A-hanging out her linen, O (Refrain)

'Twas on a Wednesday morning
When I beheld my darling
She looked so neat and charming
In every high degree
She looked so neat and nimble, O
A-starching of her linen, O (Refrain)

'Twas on a Thursday morning
When I beheld my darling
She looked so neat and charming
In every high degree
She looked so neat and nimble, O
A-ironing of her linen, O (Refrain)

'Twas on a Friday morning
When I beheld my darling
She looked so neat and charming
In every high degree
She looked so neat and nimble, O
A-folding of her linen, O (Refrain)

'Twas on a Saturday morning
When I beheld my darling
She looked so neat and charming
In every high degree
She looked so neat and nimble, O
A-airing of her linen, O (Refrain)

'Twas on a Sunday morning
When I beheld my darling
She looked so neat and charming
In every high degree
She looked so neat and nimble, O
A-wearing of her linen, O (Refrain)

Subject: RE: lyrics: Twas on a Monday morning . O
From: nutty
Date: 22 Apr 03 - 07:04 AM

B erts link isn't working for me but I think he was referring to this song .......

All the While

Subject: RE: lyrics: Twas on a Monday morning . O
From: Mrs.Duck
Date: 22 Apr 03 - 08:02 AM

Dashing away with the smoothing iron is one of the first songs I learned. Somewhere there is a tape of me age 3 singing it. However I insisted it was called the Fire in Mexico !!

Subject: Lyr Add: ALL THE WHILE (Rudge-Dicks)
From: GUEST,Pauline.
Date: 24 Aug 03 - 01:06 PM

These are the lyrics that I know:
^^^
ALL THE WHILE
(Rudge-Dicks)

'Twas on a Monday morning-o. The rain it was a-raining.
My love she came to me and said,
"Oh, when will you and I be wed,
For I have bought a double bed
And Mother is complaining".
(Spoken:) "I can't abide her mother!"
And all the while the rain it was a-raining.

'Twas on a Tuesday morning-o. The snow it was a-glist'ning.
My love still hadn't gone away
So I did ask her, "Mistress, pray
What was it you said yesterday?
I really wasn't listening".
(Spoken:) "I laughed. She hit me!"
And all the while the snow it was a-glist'ning.

'Twas on a Wednesday morning-o. The hail it was a-hailing.
My love she made a quick retort,
And said, "To cut the story short,
I've bought our bed, the double sort.
Your hearing must be failing!"
(Spoken:) "She called me a deaf twit!"
And all the while the hail it was a-hailing.

'Twas on a Thursday morning-o. The day was not a hot one.
I said, "You've bought a double bed?
Well, that was what I thought you said.
You must be going off your head,
For I've already got one!"
(Spoken:) "We've got two now, ain't we?"
And all the while the day was not a hot one.

'Twas on a Friday Morning-o.
(Spoken:) "Nobody spoke!"

'Twas on a Saturday morning-o. The thunder it was frightening.
I shouted so that I'd be heard,
"Oh, let us marry on the third"
But did she answer? Not a word,
For she'd been struck by lightning!
And after that, the weather started brightening.
(Spoken:) "It was a lovely day. I went fishin'!

---

Bernard Cribbins recorded a version very similar to this, including the spoken parts. Cribbins called it "Folk Song."
-Joe Offer-

Subject: Lyr Add: ALL THE WHILE (Rudge-Dicks)
From: GUEST
Date: 24 Aug 03 - 01:09 PM

Here you go.

T'was on a Monday morning-O, the rain it was a-raining;
My love she came to me and said,
"Oh, when will you and I be wed,
For I have bought a double bed
And Mother is complaining".
(Spoken) "I can't abide her mother!"
And all the while the rain it was a raining.

T'was on a Tuesday morning-O, the snow it was a-glist'ning;
My love still hadn't gone away
So I did ask her, "Mistress, pray
What was it you said yesterday?
I really wasn't listening".
(Spoken) "I laughed: she hit me!"
And all the while the snow it was a-glist'ning.

T'was on a Wednesday morning-O, the hail it was a-hailing;
My love she made a quick retort,
And said, "To cut the story short,
I've bought our bed, the double sort,
Your hearing must be failing!"
(Spoken) "She called a deaf twit!"
And all the while the hail it was a-hailing.

T'was on a Thursday morning-O, the day was not a hot one.
I said, "You've bought a double bed?
Well, that was what I thought you said;
You must be going off your head,
For I've already got one!"
(Spoken) "We've got two now, aint we?"
And all the while the day was not a hot one.

T'was on a Friday Morning-O
(Spoken:) "Nobody spoke!"

T'was on a Saturday morning-O, the thunder it was frightening.
I shouted so that I'd be heard,
"Oh, let us marry on the third"
But did she answer, not a word,
For she'd been struck by lightning!
And after that the weather started brightening.
(Spoken) "It was a lovely day. I went fishin'……………………….!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Twas on a Monday Morning, O
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 24 Aug 03 - 02:00 PM

"Dashing Away with the Smoothing Iron" seems to have been collected by Sharp in Somerset. Anyone know any more?
Arch-feminists seem to classify it with the "barefoot and pregnant" mentality, but the tune is great. Is there an older usage?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Twas on a Monday Morning, O
From: allanwill
Date: 25 Aug 03 - 05:52 AM

Guest Pauline and Guest have the one I'm thinking of, but who does/did this version?

Allan

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Twas on a Monday Morning, O
From: Anglo
Date: 25 Aug 03 - 02:21 PM

Bernard Cribbins

Subject: Lyr Add: THE LINEN SONG
From: Zorg
Date: 25 Aug 03 - 03:06 PM

THE LINEN SONG

Twas on a Monday morning, when I did see my darling
When I did see my darling in every high degree
She was so fresh and willing-o, a-washing of her linen-o
A-washing of her linen-o, she stole my heart away.

Twas on a Tuesday morning, when I did see my darling
When I did see my darling in every high degree
She was so fresh and willing-o, a-wringing out her linen-o
A-wringing out her linen-o she stole my heart away.

Twas on a Wednesday morning when I did see my darling
When I did See my darling in every high degree
She was so fresh and willing-o a-damping down her linen-o
A-damping down her linen-o she stole my heart away

Twas on a Thursday morning when I did see my darling
When I did see my darling in every high degree
She was so fresh and willing-o ironing out her linen-o
Ironing out her linen-o she stole my heart away

Twas on a Friday morning when I did see my darling
When I did see my darling in every high degree
She was so fresh and willing-o a-folding of her linen-o
A-folding of her linen-o she stole my heart away

Twas on a Saturday morning when I did see my darling
When I did see my darling in every high degree
She was so fresh and willing-o an airing of her linen -o
Airing of her linen-o she stole my heart away

Twas on a Sunday morning when I did see my darling
When I did see my darling in every high degree
She was so fresh and willing-o a-wearing of her linen-o
A-wearing of her linen-o she stole my heart away

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Twas on a Monday Morning, O
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 25 Aug 03 - 03:27 PM

Dashing Away with the Smoothing Iron is number 869 in the Roud Folk Song Index. Cecil Sharp got three versions in Somerset: from Mrs Louie Hooper (Hambridge, Somerset, 6 January 1904); Captain Lewis (Minehead, Somerset, 1 May 1909); and Mrs Jane Gulliford (Combe Florey, Somerset, 8 September 1908).

Sharp printed it as Driving Away at the Smoothing Iron in 1909 (Sharp and Marson, Folk Songs From Somerset, vol. V no. 113, p.29); it was first published in the form given here (see Orac's post above) in 1916, and was also specifically published for schools, where it has been sung ever since. The tune is Captain Lewis' version, and the text is also mostly his, with Louie Hooper's "When I beheld my darling" and "She stole my heart away" substituted for his "And there I saw my darling" and "She looked so fine and gay".

George Gardiner found a version in Sussex, The Smoothing Iron (1906; unpublished) and Peter Kennedy prints another, The Linen Song, from Fred Perrier, Shrewton, Wiltshire, 1954 (learned in Somerset in 1897) in Folksongs of Britain and Ireland, 1975, p. 462. Carl Sandburgh, The American Songbag, 1927, prints a set learned from friends in California. I haven't seen that one.

Kennedy points out that the tune is related to that of All Around My Hat.

Zorg doesn't mention any source for the text he posts above, but it appears to be Fred Perrier's set with some words changed.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Twas on a Monday Morning, O
From: GUEST,Nice memory
Date: 27 Aug 03 - 12:25 AM

I remember the dashing away with the smoothing iron version from one of my Mum's old lp's "Folk Songs of the British Isles, which also included "What Shall we do with the Drunken Sailor?" (other lyrics Way hey & up she rises earlyie in the morning. ) & I think "My Bonnie Lies over the Ocean" by the Robert Shaw Chorale? MAybe? Nice memories... When I was a small child I thought the songs were cool.
Sweet Molly Malone with her Cockles & Mussels alive alive oh may have been there too....
Thanks!

Subject: Lyr/Tune Add: HANGING OUT THE LINEN CLOTHES
From: GUEST,MCP
Date: 27 Aug 03 - 08:01 AM

Here's the American Songbag version.

Mick

---

HANGING OUT THE LINEN CLOTHES

'Twas on a Monday morning, the first I saw my darling
A-hanging out the linen clothes, a hanging out the linen clothes.

'Twas on a Tuesday morning, the first I saw my darling
A-taking in the linen clothes, a-taking in the linen clothes.

'Twas on a Wednesday morning, the first I saw my darling
A-ironing of the linen clothes, a-ironing of the linen clothes.

'Twas on a Thursday morning, the first I saw my darling
A-mending of the linen clothes, a-mending of the linen clothes.

'Twas on a Friday morning, the first I saw my darling
A-folding of the linen clothes, a-folding of the linen clothes.

'Twas on a Sunday morning, the first I saw my darling
A-wearin of the linen clothes, a-wearing of the linen clothes.

Source: Carl Sandburg:The American Songbag, from Pauline Jacobson and friends of San Francisco

His notes say:
"From the break of day till set of sun, woman's work is never done. In those days there was linen. And woman took thought about her clothes. Six days she toiled and smoothed and fashioned her linen garb and vestment, and all the time she hoped to look good and seem fair and acceptable in the eyes of her "darling" who, the song says, saw her at work. He regarded her all the more highly because she was a working girl fixing her own clothes. Grandmothers of the present generation of Californians sang this song over wash-tubs and ironing boards, over needles as they stitched and hemmed. Thus we have it from Pauline Jacobson and friends in San Francisco."

X: 1
T:Hanging Out The Linen Clothes
M:C
L:1/8
S:The American Songbag, Carl Sandburg ex Pauline Jacobson & friends
K:Eb
E|GG GA (GF) EF|GG GA (GF) E
w:Twas on a Mon-day morn_ing, the first I saw my dar_ling
F|G<G GA GF E>F|G<G G>A GF E||
w:A-hang-ing out the lin-en clothes, a hang-ing out the lin-en clothes.

---

To play or display ABC tunes, try concertina.net

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Twas on a Monday Morning, O
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 28 Aug 03 - 10:46 PM

The Modern Folk Quartet recorded a song called AND ALL THE WHILE on their album "Changes", Warner Brothers LP 1546, 1964. One site says it was re-released as a CD in Japan in 1990.

I can't identify the "Dicks/Rudge" who gets credit for writing this one.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Twas on a Monday Morning, O
From: GUEST,Diana
Date: 25 May 05 - 01:06 PM

I've got a version of this (All the While) that includes a spoken line with each verse (funny!) but I haven't got the tune. If anybody can help with this please e-mail me at [e-mail] as I don't usually look at Mudcat.

Subject: Dashing Away with the Smoothing Iron
From: Joe Offer
Date: 25 May 05 - 02:16 PM

Click here to play the version in the Digital Tradition. Contemplator.com has a Barry Taylor arrangement of the same tune (under dashing). You can also try the ABC tune Mick posted above. And if you want to get really upscale, you can find a MIDI of a John Rutter arrangement here (click). Here's the entry from the Traditional Ballad Index:

Driving Away at the Smoothing Iron

DESCRIPTION: The speaker admires his darling as, on successive days of the week, she does various laundry-related tasks, all the while she is ironing, which action he apparently adores.
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1909
KEYWORDS: love clothes work nonballad
FOUND IN: Britain(England(South)) US(SW)
REFERENCES (4 citations):
Sharp-100E 82, "Driving Away at the Smoothing Iron" (1 text, 1 tune)
Sandburg, p. 117, "Hanging Out the Linen Clothes" (1 text, 1 tune)
Kennedy 205, "The Linen Song" (1 text, 1 tune)
DT, SMTHIRON*
Roud #869
ALTERNATE TITLES:
The Smoothing Iron
File: ShH82

---

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

The Ballad Index Copyright 2007 by Robert B. Waltz and David G. Engle.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Twas on a Monday Morning, O
From: GUEST
Date: 25 May 05 - 03:22 PM

Twas on a Monday Morning
Just as the sun was rising

I heard a song late 60's early 70's starting with the above. I think it was Lovely nancy by Cyril Tawney. Would I be right?

The Villan

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Twas on a Monday Morning, O
From: Joe Offer
Date: 25 May 05 - 04:23 PM

No, Villan, most probably, you may be hopelessly confused. Either that, or I am. I think you're thinking about Early One Morning (just as the sun was rising); but, indeed, you could be thinking about the tangled web of songs known sometimes as Lovely Nancy. The original request is too vague to ensure that "Dashing Away with the Smoothing Iron" is the correct song - but the thread has evolved into a discussion of that one.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Twas on a Monday Morning, O
From: Rasener
Date: 25 May 05 - 05:49 PM

I am not hopelessly confused. I do know I heard it from Cyril Tawney live and it was on an LP which I no longer have.
and it was not Early one morning (I do know that song) and it was not "Dashing away with the smoothing iron"

Twas on a Monday Morning
Just as the sun was rising
I heard a ??????????
?????????
It was for my lovely Nancy

I will investigate and get back on this one.

Subject: Lyr Add: APRIL MORNING
From: Rasener
Date: 25 May 05 - 06:17 PM

I got it. I did hear it from Cyril over 30 years ago.
The words I was thinking of are different, but hey it was over 30 years ago since I last heard this song. Still remember the tune vividly. It was the thread title that had me thinking of this one. Thanks for that. I have solved one of my queries.

it was

APRIL MORNING

It was on an April morning just as the sun was rising
It was on an April morning I heard the small birds sing
They were singing lovely Nancy, for love it is a fancy,
Sweet were the notes that I heard the small birds sing.

O young men are false and they ever will deceive you
O young men are false and they never will prove true,
For they're roving and they're ranging, and their minds are ever changing,
Seeking for to find out some other love that's new.

O, if I had but my own heart in keeping
O, if I had but my own heart back again,
Safe within my bosom I would lock it up forever,
And it should wander never so far from me again.

Why do you spend all your time in courting?
Why do you spend all your long time in vain?
O I don't intend to marry, I would rather longer tarry,
Young men don't you spend all your single lives in vain.

---

On One April Morning in the DT?
-Joe-

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Twas on a Monday Morning, O
From: GUEST,G.I. JOE
Date: 25 May 05 - 07:50 PM

Could it be the LANCASHIRE LADS

Oh it was last Monday morning as I have heard them say
Our orders came from manchester we were to march away
Leaving many a pretty fair maid to cry what shall i do
For the Lancashire lads they have gone abroad what ever shall I do

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Twas on a Monday Morning, O
From: Rasener
Date: 26 May 05 - 02:38 AM

Joe the one you link to i.e. Killen's "One April Morning" was learned from Cyril Tawney

Subject: Lyr Add: CHARLIE HE'S MY DARLING
From: Rasener
Date: 26 May 05 - 04:00 AM

Could the originator of this thread mean this one
CHARLIE HE'S MY DARLING

Melody - Seq. by Randy Ralph

Left: Robert Burns, 1794; right: Carolina Oliphant, (Lady Nairne), 1766-1845

Twas on a monday morning,
Right early in the year,
That Charlie came to our town,
The young Chevalier.
Chorus:
An' Charlie he's my darling,
My darling, my darling,
Charlie he's my darling
The young Chevalier.

2. As he was walking up the street,
The city for to view,
O there he spied a bonie lass
The window looking thro'.
Chorus:

3. Sae light's he jimped up the stair,
And tirl'd at the pin;
And wha sae ready as hersel',
To let the laddie in.
Chorus:

4. He set his Jenny on his knee,
All in his Highland dress;
For brawlie weel he ken'd the way
To please a bonie lass.
Chorus:

5. It's up on yon heathery mountain,
An' down yon scroggy glen,
We daur na gang a milking,
An' Charlie and his men.
Chorus:

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Twas on a Monday Morning, O
From: Joe Offer
Date: 26 May 05 - 12:59 PM

Villan, it could be any song that mentions Monday. The original request doesn't give us enough to go on. The thread, however, is our only discussion of the various versions of "Dashing Away with the Smoothing Iron," and all these other Monday songs tend to confuse the basic discussion.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Twas on a Monday Morning, O
From: GUEST
Date: 26 May 05 - 01:07 PM

vague memory that Edward the [whatever the roman numeral was]and teh red hot pokers
did a cool folk reggae version of "Dashing Away with the Smoothing Iron"

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Twas on a Monday Morning, O
From: Rasener
Date: 26 May 05 - 01:21 PM

The thread does say 'Twas on a Monday Morning, O' not "Dashing Away with the Smoothing Iron" so have you all gone away from the original intention of the thread and changed it around to your interpretation?

I am not trying to be funny Joe, just my considered opinion.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Twas on a Monday Morning, O
From: GUEST,Dave Roberts, Salt Town Poets
Date: 27 May 05 - 09:27 AM

The song quoted above as 'All The While' was indeed recorded by Bernard Cribbins in the early 60s and issued on a Parlophone EP (along with Hole In The Ground, Winkle Picker Shoes Blue and Red Head, from memory) but in this instance it was entitled simply 'Folk Song'.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Twas on a Monday Morning, O
From: Joe Offer
Date: 27 May 05 - 12:37 PM

What's the tune for "All the While"? It seems to be related to "Dashing," but is it the same tune?
-Joe Offer-

Villan, it's possible that we're all barking up the wrong tree and the requestor wanted an entirely different song. But he posted his request in 1998 and hasn't been back since. The second post and almost everything else in the thread has been about "Dashing," and it's the only thread we have about "Dashing."

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Twas on a Monday Morning, O
From: Rasener
Date: 27 May 05 - 01:18 PM

Sorry Joe hadn't picked up on the date. Thought it was a new thread.

Why don't you change the thread name then?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Twas on a Monday Morning, O
From: Snuffy
Date: 27 May 05 - 07:00 PM

Joe, not recognisable as the same tune at all. "Dashing" is brisk and bumpy, whilst "All The While" is slower and lilting and tries to sound "medieval".

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Twas on a Monday Morning, O
From: Joe Offer
Date: 28 May 05 - 03:42 AM

Can anybody get me the dots for "All the While"?
Thanks.
-Joe Offer-
[e-mail]

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Twas on a Monday Morning, O
From: Snuffy
Date: 15 Jun 05 - 08:25 AM

Not well enough to transcribe it, Diana. I haven't heard it for many years.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Twas on a Monday Morning, O
From: GUEST
Date: 21 Jun 05 - 01:04 PM

I first heard it in about 1956 and decided a few years ago I'd like to track it down. Had no idea Bernard Cribbins had recorded it. I think my best bet will be to get hold of his disk.

Subject: Lyr Add: COURTING TOO SLOW
From: Cod Fiddler
Date: 21 Jun 05 - 01:17 PM

You're all wrong! Clearly, this is the song your after!
It's on the wonderful Spiers and Boden "Bellow" album.

Richard.


COURTING TOO SLOW

It was on one Monday morning and oh and it was soon
I bought my pretty Betty a pair of new shoon
A pair of new shoes and slippers also
But I lost my pretty Betty by courting too slow
I lost my pretty Betty by courting too slow.

I bought my pretty Betty a garland of green
And ribbons that you wear so fair to be seen
And rings for her fingers all made of glittering gold
But I lost my pretty Betty by not being bold
I lost my pretty Betty by not being bold.

It was on one Tuesday evening and oh and it was late
I fain would have kissed her but I was too straight
I was thinking how to gain her consent to be true
But I lost my pretty Betty by courting too slow
I lost my pretty Betty by courting too slow.

For in there come a sailor all in his tarry trews
He went into the chamber where my true love was
He kissed her and he clapped her he flattered her so
He fair won the day by my courting too slow
He fair won the day by my courting too slow.

So come all you bold fellows and pray take my advice
And when you go a-courting now don't you be too nice
But you kiss all them pretty girls and you let them for to know
That you don't mean to lose them by courting too slow
That you don't mean to lose them by courting too slow.

(Words: traditional. Jon Boden uses a tune written by Peter Bellamy)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Twas on a Monday Morning, O
From: GUEST,Philippa
Date: 22 Jun 05 - 07:01 AM

also recorded by Peggy Seeger on "Penelope Isn't Waiting Any More", 1976

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Twas on a Monday Morning, O
From: Le Scaramouche
Date: 22 Jun 05 - 07:45 AM

I think Peter Bellamy's source was an Ulster variant.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Twas on a Monday Morning, O
From: GUEST,h
Date: 03 Dec 08 - 05:50 PM

The Bernard Cribbins 'Twas on a Monday Morning, O' song is available on CD or to download from Amazon and is called 'Folk song' as was said on one of these ere threds.

Download just finished, so I've been able to listen to 'Right said Fred', and 'The hole' for the first time in years

The 'folk song' tune is soso IMHO, but could be improved, and with a suitably folkie voice, accompaniment, and an utterly sincere introduction .... :)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Twas on a Monday Morning, O
From: Suegorgeous
Date: 03 Dec 08 - 06:08 PM

Interesting that the thread originator never came back to tell us which song it was!

May I suggest it could also have been:

Twas on a Monday morning, the time appointed was
To walk down to a meadow green field and meet a bonnie lad
To meet a bonnie laddie, and keep him company
For he's all low down in the broom
Waiting in the broom for me.

And - why do all these things happen on a Monday? or is it the alliteration?

Sue

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Twas on a Monday Morning, O
From: GUEST,Geoff
Date: 07 Dec 08 - 02:34 PM

Thanks everyone. I had recently, for some reason, got that Bernard Cribbins song buzzing round my head (hadn't heard it for years - didbn't know it was Cribbins), so now I have the lyric! For anyone who wants the tune I can hum it but don't do dots any more (used to sight read at school but long out of practice). If anyone can transcribe my hum....

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Twas on a Monday Morning, O
From: GUEST,Geoff
Date: 07 Dec 08 - 02:49 PM

I've just found it on U Tube now. That's the one I wanted OK, great to hear it again - the lyric right at the end is "(Spoken) "It was a lovely day. I went fishin' I caught four! One of them was a great big fat (something) one. Oh lovely!

Subject: Lyr Add: The Green Willow
From: Artful Codger
Date: 03 Mar 09 - 11:07 AM

This post relates to the song originally sought: "April Morning" (="['Twas] on One April Morning"), sung variously by Cyril Tawney, Louis Killen, Tony Rose and June Tabor.

As I was searching for Tawney's source version, Google Books pulled up a mention of the song in a 1914 issue of the Journal of the Folk-Song Society—sadly, unviewable. However, the first two lines could be gleaned (agreeing with the Killen/Rose transcription), as well as the source: "sung by Mr. R. Bryant, Cowley, nr. Exeter, March 1908" (all in caps). If someone has access to the 1914 issues, could you please post that version of the song, or at least indicate differences from the Killen/Rose transcription? My crafty attempts to pull up more failed, but as the text broke words into syllables with space-delimited hyphens, I suspect the entire song is there, with music.

Further surfing led me, through another song fragemnt, to the broadside, "The Green Willow". The Bodley copies of this broadside contain clear relatives of all of the "April Morning" stanzas except the first. You can draw your own conclusions.

Bodley Ballads: Harding B 11(1432) [between 1813 and 1838]
Published by J. Catnach, 2, Monmouth-court 7 Dials
Also Harding B 11(1433) [1819-1844] with differences shown in brackets.
Published by Pitts, 6, Gt. St. Andrew Street, Seven Dials

The Green Willow.

Young men are false and they are so deceitful,
Young men are false and they seldom will prove true,
For rangling and jangling their minds are always changing,
They're always see[k]ing for some pretty young girl that is true.

It's all round my hat I will wear a green willow,
It's all round my hat for a twelvemonth and a day,
If any one should ask you the reason why I wear it,
O tell them I have been slighted by my own true love.

You false hearted young men you know you have deceived me,
You false hearted young men you caused me to rue,
For love it does grow older & seldom does grow bolder,
All fades away like the sweet morning dew.

O that I had but my own heart to keep it,
O that I had but my own heart again,
Closely in my bosom I would lock it up for ever;
[O] Never would I ramble so far far again.

For many a long hour have I spent courting,
For many a long hour have I spent in vain,
But since 'tis my misfortune that I must die a maiden,
O never would I ramble so far far again.


The fragment mentioned earlier (consisting of the first two verses above) was printed in The History of Signboards from the Earliest Times to the Present Day (1908) by Jacob Larwood, L.R. Sadler, John Camden Hotten, on page 247. It was quoted a passage discussing the use of the willow as a symbol of sadness and forsaken love. The writer(s) had heard it sung by an old Northumberland woman, but had never seen it in print.

He/they also wrote (possibly quoting Douce at this point):
'[...] the Agnus castus or vitex was supposed by the ancients to promote chastity, "and the willow being of a much like nature," says an old writer, "it is yet a custom that he which is deprived of his love must wear a willow garland."—Swan's Speculum Mundi, ch. vi, sec. 4. 1635.'

Other threads here have discussed the relationship (by parody?) between "The Green Willow" and the later "All Around My Hat".

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Twas on a Monday Morning, O
From: BB
Date: 03 Mar 09 - 03:27 PM

Re 'Courting Too Slow', Bellamy's notes to his recording of it say, "Another set of broadsheet verses which came to me without a tune. That which I have composed for it sounds a bit Irish, but I believe the song to be originally Scots."

Barbara

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Twas on a Monday Morning, O
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 04 Mar 09 - 01:46 AM

I'm going to stick to one song at a time here; this thread has wandered off course (inevitable, with 'Monday Morning' in the title) right from the start. Indeed, most of the 'answers' have been random guesses; some modestly likely, some obviously wrong. Mudcat Disease, as I have come to think of it.

Though we never did find out what song 'Jim k' actually wanted, 'Artful Codger' has brought the discussion back to an interesting topic, so I'll go with that for now, starting with ''Twas on One April Morning'.

Google's references to the Journals are sometimes wrong or misleading, and that is the case here: the citation you found was to the Index to volume IV, so the date is out by four years. ''Twas on One April Morning' was printed in Journal of the Folk-Song Society vol IV part 2 (issue no 15) 1910, 94-96. It was noted from Mr R Bryant at Cowley near Exeter, Devon, by L Priscilla Wyatt-Edgell in March 1908. The words quoted in the DT as ON ONE APRIL MORNING , whether they were copied from recordings by Lou Killen or Tony Rose (the DT doesn't specify), don't differ greatly from what Mr Bryant sang; mostly, somebody has just added extra words and repetitions. Here is the text as originally printed:


'TWAS ON ONE APRIL MORNING

'Twas on one April morning,
Just as the sun was rising,
'Twas on one April morning,
I heard the small birds sing.
They were singing, lovely Nancy,
For love it is a fancy,
So sweet were the notes
That I heard the small birds sing.

Young men are false
And full of all deceiving;
Young men are false,
And seldom do prove true;
For they're roving and they're ranging,
And their minds are always changing,
And they're thinking for to find out
Some pretty girl that's new.

O if I had
But my own heart in keeping!
O if I had
But my own heart back again!
Close in my bosom
I would lock it up for ever,
And it should wander never
So far from me again.

Why would you spend
All your long time in courting?
Why would you spend
All your long time in vain?
For I don't intend to marry,
I'd rather longer tarry
So young man, don't you spend
All your long time in vain.


Sung by Mr R Bryant, Cowley nr Exeter, March 1908.

Noted by L Priscilla Wyatt-Edgell.

Journal of the Folk-Song Society vol IV part 2 (issue no 15) 1910, 94-96.


This is number 1546 in the Roud Folk Song Index. Only two examples are known from tradition; this one and a one-verse fragment, with tune, got by Cecil Sharp from Ellen Carter at Cheddar, Somerset, on 13 August 1908. The latter can be found in Roud, Upton & Taylor, Still Growing (London: EFDSS, 2003, 38) together with Mr Bryant's text for comparison. Lucy Broadwood thought it a product of the 18th century stage, and pointed out the melodic and thematic similarity to the enormously popular 'Early One Morning'.

I will add the tune later when I have a little more time.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Twas on a Monday Morning, O
From: Artful Codger
Date: 26 Sep 09 - 04:24 PM

Further comments on "'Twas on one April morning" (which was not the song sought in this thread) would be better placed in this thread: 107721 (Tune Req: on one april morning), where versions, tune transcriptions and commentary have already been posted.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Twas on a Monday Morning, O
From: GUEST
Date: 31 Jan 10 - 04:16 PM

Does anyone have the chords/tabs to Upon a Monday morning oh/Folk Song? I mean the Rudge/Dicks version as sung by Bernard Cribbins. I'd like it in 'C' if possible, but I can transpose. I'm stuck on the 3rd/4th/5th lines where it looks like it goes from 'C' to 'B', but then I get lost.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Twas on a Monday Morning, O
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 01 Feb 10 - 08:53 PM

Myles Rudge (words) and Ted Dicks (music) co-wrote 2 other songs that are listed in the catalogue of the National Library of Australia:
MY KIND OF SOMEONE (1960)
RIGHT, SAID FRED (1962)

WorldCat.org lists a few more:
QUIETLY BONKERS (1965)
CARRY ON SCREAMING (1966)
WINDMILL IN OLD AMSTERDAM (1989)

So, the good news is, I think we have identified the authors, but the bad news is, there probably isn't any printed sheet music out there for FOLK SONG (which seems to be the official title of the song we're looking for).

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Twas on a Monday Morning, O
From: GUEST
Date: 28 Jun 10 - 06:45 PM

Has anyone got the chords/tabs for Cribbins' 'All the While/Folk somg'?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Twas on a Monday Morning, O
From: GUEST,JimCubb
Date: 24 Sep 10 - 04:40 PM

Here are the chords icould find. Yes, it does go to a B7.

http://crash.ihug.co.nz/~dexy/music/twason.txt