Lyr Req: All in the Downs

Subject: Lyr Req: All in the Downs
From: ooh-aah
Date: 28 Jun 03 - 07:21 PM

This is related to the Patrick O'Brian/Desolation Island thread. In one of the books 'The Surgeons Mate', the main characters sing three songs together, 'Chevy Chase' 'The Lady and Death' and 'All in the Downs'. The only refernce to the last song in the DT is a rather crappy Yankee attempt to pinch "Spanish Ladies', which of course contains the line

            "For all in the Downs that night were to meet".

I'm pretty sure O'Brian referrs to a quite different song, as several times in the series his characters sing 'Spanish Ladies' under that name. Does anyone know 'All in the Downs'?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: All in the Downs
From: nutty
Date: 28 Jun 03 - 07:54 PM

This version of Black Eyed Susan starts with the words "All in the Downs" so could be what you are looking for.
Black-eyed Susan

and the full poem can be found here

John Gay

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: All in the Downs
From: Charley Noble
Date: 28 Jun 03 - 08:07 PM

Thanks, Nutty.

Charley Noble

Subject: Lyr Add: BLACK-EYED SUSAN (John Gay)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 30 Jun 03 - 08:50 PM

Lyrics copied from http://eir.library.utoronto.ca/rpo/display/poem871.html

SWEET WILLIAM'S FAREWELL TO BLACK-EY'D SUSAN: A BALLAD
(John Gay, 1720)

  All in the Downs the fleet was moor'd,
  The streamers waving in the wind,
When black-ey'd Susan came aboard.
  Oh! where shall I my true love find!
Tell me, ye jovial sailors, tell me true,
If my sweet William sails among the crew.

  William, who high upon the yard,
  Rock'd with the billow to and fro,
Soon as her well-known voice he heard,
  He sigh'd, and cast his eyes below:
The cord slides swiftly through his glowing hands,
And, (quick as lightning) on the deck he stands.

  So the sweet lark, high pois'd in air,
  Shuts close his pinions to his breast,
(If, chance, his mate's shrill call he hear)
  And drops at once into her nest.
The noblest captain in the British fleet,
Might envy William's lip those kisses sweet.

  "O Susan, Susan, lovely dear,
  My vows shall ever true remain;
Let me kiss off that falling tear,
  We only part to meet again.
Change, as ye list, ye winds; my heart shall be
The faithful compass that still points to thee.

  "Believe not what the landmen say,
  Who tempt with doubts thy constant mind:
They'll tell thee, sailors, when away,
  In ev'ry port a mistress find.
Yes, yes, believe them when they tell thee so,
For thou art present wheresoe'er I go.

  "If to far India's coast we sail,
  Thy eyes are seen in di'monds bright,
Thy breath is Afric's spicy gale,
  Thy skin is ivory, so white.
Thus ev'ry beauteous object that I view,
Wakes in my soul some charm of lovely Sue.

  "Though battle call me from thy arms
  Let not my pretty Susan mourn;
Though cannons roar, yet safe from harms,
  William shall to his dear return.
Love turns aside the balls that round me fly,
Lest precious tears should drop from Susan's eye".

  The boatswain gave the dreadful word,
  The sails their swelling bosom spread,
No longer must she stay aboard:
  They kiss'd, she sigh'd, he hung his head.
Her less'ning boat, unwilling rows to land:
"Adieu", she cries! and wav'd her lily hand.

Subject: Lyr. Add: Answer to Black-eyed Susan
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 06 Jul 08 - 10:38 PM

Lyr. Add: ANSWER TO BLACK-EYED SUSAN

Seeing sweet Susan's loyalty,
Tears down his cheeks did drop amain,
Into her arms he straight did fly,
Saying, why does my love complain?
I am thy William join'd to thee by oath?
Nothing but death shall part us both.

My dear, behold on my right breast,
You know there grows a certain mole,
Let not thy heart be sore oppress'd,
Here is the broken piece of gold,
Which we did break upon a certain day,
When you departed and I went away.

Sorrow and hardship I went through,
While I was on the raging main,
Now to my dear beloved Sue,
I am returned safe again;
No more I'll cross the raging ocean wide,
But live in pleasure with my loving bride.

Susan in a swoon did faint,
At William's feet I do declare,
He rais'd her up into his arms,
Soon he reviv'd his charming fair;
William and Susan sweetly pass'd along,
To Plymouth Church, where multitudes did throng.

Twenty stout sailors so brave and bold,
And twenty maids in rich attire,
A glorious sight for to behold,
Music played at their desire;
To charm the bride and bridegroom there,
Now they are join'd, a sweet happy pair.

Bodleian Ballads, Harding B28(74), between 1820-1824, printed by W. Armstrong, Liverpool. Anon.

A poor 'answer,' not up to the standards of John Gay's original, but added for completeness. Probably as opposite to a sailor's wedding as it is possible to get.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: All in the Downs
From: Charley Noble
Date: 07 Jul 08 - 05:52 PM

Q-

Ah, gee!

Well, it's good to know the couple got back together again, mole and all! I suppose there is always a temptation when a song achieves popularity for songwriters to do a sequel.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: All in the Downs
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 09 Jul 08 - 08:14 PM

A tune for ALL IN THE DOWNS can be seen in A Select Collection of English Songs: With Their Original Airs... by Joseph Ritson and Thomas Park, 1813, page 142.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: All in the Downs
From: Anglo
Date: 10 Jul 08 - 03:46 AM

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: All in the Downs
From: Anglo
Date: 10 Jul 08 - 03:47 AM

Oops, sorry about that blank post - I thought I was trying to look up Jim's reference.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: All in the Downs
From: Jim Carroll
Date: 11 Jul 08 - 03:49 AM

Black Eyed Susan was one of Norfolk singer Walter Pardon's songs, learned from members of his family.
Mike Yates wrote an extensive article on it which may (if my memory serves me) be on the Musical Traditions web-site (or was it Dance and Song).
Jim Carroll

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: All in the Downs
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 11 Jul 08 - 04:01 AM

Mike Yates, 'The Ballad of "Black-Eyed Susan" (Laws O28)'. English Dance and Song vol 42 number 1 (1980): 5-6.