Origin: Flash Companie / Yellow Handkerchief

Subject: Flash Companie
From: victoria
Date: 24 Jul 98 - 01:11 PM

I would appreciate help in establishing earliest known date and source {if other than oral tradition) for song from Kennedy Folksongs of Britain and Ireland. Song title is "Flash Companie or the Yellow Handkercheif" I do not have access to Kennedy's book and live in a rural area so library is small. I'm searching for songs that would have been current in the period of the Revolutionary war. Thanks for any help, Victoria

Subject: RE: Flash Companie
From: Susan of DT
Date: 24 Jul 98 - 07:38 PM

Kennedy only traces it to 1906

Subject: RE: Flash Companie
From: Martin Ryan.
Date: 26 Jul 98 - 12:04 PM

1906 seems to be the date of collection by the EFDSS. Their publication "The Wanton Seed" refers to other collected versions - all with the same words. This usually means a well-circulated broadsheet - but there is no mention of one.

The item also suggests the air is Irish used, among other things, for "Green Bushes".

Interesting one.

Regards

Subject: ADD Version: Flash Company (from Waterson)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 26 Jul 21 - 03:30 PM

Arlene Immerman sings a female version that's very nice. IShe sent lyrics to me.

Flash Company
Trad
S: Norma Waterson
From Waterson: Carthy Common Tongue

First I loved William and then I loved John
But now I love Thomas he's a clever young man
With his white coat and stocking and his high ankle shoe
He wears a velvet jacket like a flash lad he goes
Fiddling and dancing was all his delight
But keeping flash company has ruined him quite
Has ruined him quite and a great many more
If it hadn't have been flash company he'd never have been so poor

Take this yellow handkerchief in remembrance of me
And wear it around your neck when in flash company
Dry up your briny tears and don't look so sad
There's plenty more flash girls all around to be had

Rocks shall run to water and the sea shall run dry
If I should prove false to the lad that loves I
The sweetest strawberries shall grow in the sea
If I should prove false to the one that loves me

First I loved William and then I loved John
But now I love Thomas he's a clever young man
With his white coat and stocking and his high ankle shoe
He wears a velvet jacket like a flash lad he goes

Take this yellow handkerchief in remembrance of me
And wear it around your neck when in flash company
Dry up your briny tears and don't look so sad
There's plenty more flash girls all around to be had

Subject: RE: Flash Companie
From: RTim
Date: 26 Jul 21 - 04:29 PM

Earliest Version according to Steve Gardham's spreadsheet of Earliest versions is - 1850 broadside printed by Birt of London...

Tim Radford

Subject: RE: Flash Companie
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 26 Jul 21 - 04:39 PM

Yes, not many printings all about 1850. Jackson of Birmingham, Hodges, Such and Birt of London.

For one without imprint see Bodleian Harding B11 (4190) duplicated at Harding B15 (109a).

I haven't seen anything earlier but that doesn't mean that earlier versions weren't printed. All have the same title 'Flash Company'.