Lyr Req: Kate of Coalbrookdale / ...Colebrook Dale

Subject: Lyr Req: Kate of Coalbrookdale
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 26 Apr 03 - 12:03 PM

Went looking in the DT for this one, and couldn't find it. I then took the option of searching on Google, Sheeeeeeite!! there was the Jon Raven original LP offered for sale on 2 different sites, one for an exorbitant £70, and the other [Vinyl Tap] for the mind boggling sum of £160. Now if I phoned them up and offered to sell them some of my old vinyl, do you think I'd get offered anything like that??
Bet your sweet bippy they wouldn't. This is iniquitous.
Giok

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Kate of Coalbrookdale
From: Sorcha
Date: 26 Apr 03 - 12:07 PM

It ate my post! I don't know, but check out this thread.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Kate of Coalbrookdale
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 26 Apr 03 - 12:27 PM

That's "collectors' prices" for you. I don't think I've ever heard the song, but there are a couple of broadside editions by Pitts of London at  Bodleian Library Broadside Ballads:

Kate of Colebrook dale

Image files on the site aren't showing just at the moment, but will doubtless be back later on.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Kate of Coalbrookdale
From: RolyH
Date: 26 Apr 03 - 12:33 PM

The track is on the 1971 sampler "The World of Folk" (Argo SPA-A 132) which is probably a cheaper option.

Subject: ADD: Kate of Colebrook Dale
From: RolyH
Date: 26 Apr 03 - 01:22 PM

KATE OF COLEBROOK DALE
(trad arr.Raven)

When gentle love first fired my breast
I rode from far to fair
No shepherds swain was ere so blessed
Or so unknown to care

For heath or hills I traversed wide
And sought each verdant vale
But the lass of all my pride
Was Kate of Coalbrook Dale

How happy sure were then my days
Such tranquil joys I knew
Where ere I went I spoke her praise
And found her just and true

And oft in yonder shady grove
I told my heart and tale
And whispered themes of softest love
To Kate of Colebrook Dale

But,ah how fleeting was my joy
For I've no wealth in store
Her parents thought our love amiss
We vowed to meet no more.

From the above album
One or two of the words may need "tweaking"

Subject: Lyr Add: Kate of Coalbrookdale
From: Sorcha
Date: 26 Apr 03 - 01:24 PM

An Add for Roly H's post of 26 Apr 03 - 01:22 PM this thread. Thanks, Roly!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Kate of Coalbrookdale
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 26 Apr 03 - 01:34 PM

Do you know what tune Raven set it to?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Kate of Coalbrookdale
From: nutty
Date: 26 Apr 03 - 02:28 PM

Kate of Coalbrook Dale is one the tracks on Songs for a Changing World, which also includes tracks by Nick Jones and Tony Rose ..... a really great LP.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Kate of Coalbrookdale
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 26 Apr 03 - 08:06 PM

It isn't on the original Songs of a Changing World. Was there a later release?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Kate of Coalbrookdale
From: harvey andrews
Date: 26 Apr 03 - 08:21 PM

Jon is an old friend. Unfortunately he now has Parkinson's and cannot play or sing anymore. I'll pass this info on...it'll make him smile.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Kate of Coalbrookdale
From: Stewie
Date: 26 Apr 03 - 09:45 PM

Harvey, that is sad to hear. I have derived a great deal of pleasure from his recordings over the years.

--Stewie.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Kate of Coalbrookdale
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 26 Apr 03 - 10:26 PM

Yes. Please do give him our best wishes, and tell him he's not forgotten.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Kate of Coalbrookdale
From: nutty
Date: 27 Apr 03 - 02:40 AM

The memory may be playing tricks Malcolm ....... now I'll have to go through the whole of my record collection to find out.........

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Kate of Coalbrookdale
From: nutty
Date: 27 Apr 03 - 04:16 AM

Malcolm .... of course you are correct ..... the song was on a "WORLD OF FOLK" sampler ...... published by Decca in 1971.

The title given is KATE OF COLEBROOK DALE (Trad. arr. Raven)

There are a couple of Broadsides of the song in the Bodleian Library The earliest being ......

Printer: Pitts, J. (London)
Date:    between 1802 and 1819
   
Imprint: Printed and Sold by J. Pitts, 14, Great St. Andrew-street, Seven Dials

Illus. Ballads on sheet: 1

Note: The cut is coloured. Harding B 12(48) is another issue.
               
Copies:    Harding B 12(47)
         
Ballads:    1. Kate of Colebrook dale ("When gentle love first fir'd my breast ...")

I can't give a link to the image at the moment as,unfortunately, the Bodleian Server has problems

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Kate of Coalbrookdale
From: nutty
Date: 27 Apr 03 - 04:20 AM

I've just realised above post repeats info Malcolm has already given ....... I plead old age (and a very late night)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Kate of Coalbrookdale
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 03 May 03 - 07:28 PM

Thanks to Roly, I now have the tune. It's a slight modification of the melody for Lucy Wan that appeared in the Penguin Book of English Folk Songs, as it turns out. I'll have a stab at a midi, but Jon's phrasing isn't all that easy to capture on paper (at least for those who, like me, are barely literate musically) so it may take a while. In the meantime, the "Penguin" tune is at  Mudcat Midis:

Lucy Wan.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Kate of Coalbrookdale
From: masato sakurai
Date: 03 May 03 - 08:28 PM

Link to Bodleian Library Broadside Ballads:

kate of colebrook dale [title] (2 Pitts editions)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Kate of Coalbrookdale
From: nutty
Date: 03 May 03 - 08:51 PM

Malcolm ....if you want to PM me your email address ... I'll send you a Noteworthy file of the tune.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Kate of Coalbrookdale
From: GUEST
Date: 23 Oct 10 - 09:59 AM

hi, i have an oold version with a soft male voice singing, the voice a bi... unstable, anyone knows who that might be? mus be before the 1970s
thanks
(is this site still alive?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Kate of Coalbrookdale
From: GUEST,Doc John
Date: 23 Oct 10 - 11:23 AM

I'm sorry to hear about Jon Raven's illness, Harvey; please pass on my best wishes. I greatly enjoy his recordings but I don't have the Subject LP unfortunately which I think also featured his bother Mike, a superb guitar player and nice guy, who died a few years ago.

Subject: Lyr Add: KATE OF COLEBROOK DALE (from Bodleian)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 24 Oct 10 - 11:54 PM

From the Bodleian Library broadside collection, Johnson Ballads 879:


KATE OF COLEBROOK DALE.

When gentle love first fir'd my breast,
I rov'd from fair to fair,
No shepherd swain was then so blest,
Or so unknown to care;
O'er heath o'er hills I travers'd wide,
And sought each verdant vale,
Yet still the lass of all my pride
Was Kate of Colebrook Dale.

How happy sure were then my days,
Such tranquil joys I knew,
Where'er I went I spoke her praise,
I found her just and true;
For oft in yonder shady grove,
I told my ardent tale,
And whisper'd themes of softest love,
To Kate of Colebrook Dale.

But, ah! how fleeting was my bliss,
For I'd no wealth in store,
Her parents thought our love amiss,
We part to meet no more;
But hope shall cheer my tortur'd mind,
For what will tears avail,
Tho' thou wert faithful fair and kind,
Dear Kate of Colebrook Dale.