Subject: RE: Help: The Unfortunate Rake
From:
GUEST
Date: 21 Jun 18 - 04:00 AM
Here's something for your enjoyment. I've added a few interesting variants of the "Unfortunate Lad / Bad Girl" family to soundcloud.
I've written a few short notes on the songs as well.
I also made the effort to add transcriptions for every variant, where I found them online I've checked them against the recordings to make sure they are correct.
Some I've transcribed myself.
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The Unfortunate Rake - A. L. Lloyd & Alf Edwards
From "English Street Songs" (1956) Riverside Records - RLP 12-614.
This is a composite, the tune is from "My Jewel, My Joy", a fragment collected by P. W. Joyce on December 17, 1848, from the singing of Mr. W. Aldwell of Cork, who said that he learned it about 1790, first printed in "Old Irish Folk Music & Songs" (1909) and the words are taken from "The Unfortunate Lad", printed on various 19th century broadsheets with a few additional changes made by Lloyd.
There has been some debate over whether the mention of "St. James' Hospital" goes back to a version from the British Isles or not. It is possible that Lloyd took this name from one of the American or Canadian variants of "The Bad Girls Lament".
See Mrs. G. A. Griffin's version for an example:
St. James Hospital - Mrs. G. A. Griffin
The title "The Unfortunate Rake" was possibly made up by Lloyd, broadside texts of this song were usually titled "The Unfortunate Lad".
Look here for some examples of broadside texts:
http://ballads.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/search/roud/2
https://www.earlyblues.com/Essay%2093.gif
See also this recording of Ewan MacColl singing a similar text which he most likely got from A. L. Lloyd:
http://tobarandualchais.co.uk/en/fullrecord/7955/1
Here's the full text as A. L. Lloyd sang it:
As I was a-walking down by St. James' Hospital,
I was a-walking down by there one day,
What should I spy but one of my comrades
All wrapped up in flannel though warm was the day.
I asked him what ailed him, I asked him what failed him,
I asked him the cause of all his complaint.
"It's all on account of some handsome young woman,
'Tis she that has caused me to weep and lament.
"And had she but told me before she disordered me,
Had she but told me of it in time,
I might have got pills and salts of white mercury,
But now I'm cut down in the height of my prime.
"Get six young soldiers to carry my coffin,
Six young girls to sing me a song,
And each of them carry a bunch of green laurel
So they don't smell me as they bear me along.
"Don't muffle your drums and play your fifes merrily,
Play a quick march as you carry me along,
And fire your bright muskets all over my coffin,
Saying: There goes an unfortunate lad to his home."
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St. James' Hospital - A. L. Lloyd
From "First Person" (1966) Topic 12T118.
A later recording of A. L. Lloyd's "The Unfortunate Rake".
There are minor wording changes in the last verse that move it closer to "My Jewel, My Joy", a fragment collected by P. W. Joyce on December 17, 1848, from the singing of Mr. W. Aldwell of Cork, who said that he learned it about 1790. It was first printed in "Old Irish Folk Music & Songs" (1909).
The title has been changed to "St. James' Hospital".
Listen to A. L. Lloyds earlier recording for comparison:
The Unfortunate Rake - A. L. Lloyd & Alf Edwards
Here's the full text as A. L. Lloyd sang it on this album:
As I was a-walking down by St. James' Hospital,
I was a-walking down by there one day,
What should I spy but one of me comrades
All wrapped up in flannel though warm was the day.
I asked him what ailed him, I asked him what failed him,
I asked him the cause of all his complaint.
"Well, it's all on account of some handsome young woman,
'Tis she that has caused me to weep and lament.
"And had she but told me before she disordered me,
Had she but told me of it in time,
I might have got pills and salts of white mercury,
But now I'm cut down in the height of me prime.
"Get six young soldiers to carry me coffin,
Six young girls to sing me a song,
And each of 'em carry a bunch of green laurel
So they don't smell me as they bear me along.
"And don't muffle your drums, me jewel, me joy,
Play your fifes merry as you carry me along,
And fire your bright muskets all over me coffin,
Saying: There goes an unfortunate lad to his home."
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My Jewel, My Joy - Sam Hinton
From "The Wandering Folksong" (1966) Folkways Records - FA 2401.
A recording of Folk Revival singer Sam Hinton singing "My Jewel, My Joy", a fragment collected by P. W. Joyce on December 17, 1848, from the singing of Mr. W. Aldwell of Cork, who said that he learned it about 1790. It was first printed in "Old Irish Folk Music & Songs" (1909).
It has been expanded with some sample verses of unknown origin which are not unlike A. L. Lloyd's "The Unfortunate Rake".
Liner Notes are available here:
The Wandering Folksong
Here's the full text as Sam Hinton sang it:
My jewel, my joy, don't trouble me with the drum;
Sound the dead march as my corpse goes along.
Over my body throw handfuls of laurel,
And let them all know that I'm going to my rest.
As I was walking by St. James Hospital,
As I went down by the hospital gate,
I met a young man all wrapped in white linen --
All wrapped in white linen, so cruel was his fate.
"Had she but told me before she disordered me;
Had she but told me about it in time,
I might have got salts and pills of white mercury,
But now I'm a young lad cut down in his prime. "
My jewel, my joy, don't trouble me with the drum;
Sound the dead march as my corpse goes along.
Over my body throw handfuls of laurel,
And let them all know that I'm going to my rest.
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Pills Of White Mercury - Tom Spiers
From "Allan Water" (2001) LTCD1005. Tom Spiers learned it from Peter Hall, who collected it from Peter Anderson, a resident of Ellon Old People's Home in Aberdeenshire in the 1960s.
It may have originally come from Alexander Robb of New Deer, Aberdeenshire, collected by Gavin Greig in 1906 under the title "Disordered".
Alex Robb's version had a different opening line:
One night as I walked thro' Caperally
I don't have access to "The Greig-Duncan Folk Song Collection Vol. 7", so I'm unable to provide the complete text as Alexander Robb sang it.
Here's the Roud entry:
https://www.vwml.org/record/RoudFS/S203119
This version is unique in it's graphic description of the questionable treatment of Syphilis in earlier times.
Here's an article on the medical uses of mercury in the 1700's:
http://www.umich.edu/~ece/student_projects/remedies/mercury.html
Here's the full text as Tom Spiers sings it:
As I was a-walking by the banks o' the Ugie
Listen dear friends what I have to relate
Who should I spy there but one of my comrades
Wrapped up in white flannel aye and sad was his fate
The mercury was beatin', the limestone was reekin'
His tongue all in flames hangin' over his chin
A hole in his bosom, his teeth they were closin' / were a loosin'
Bad luck tae the girlie that has gi'ed him the glim
And had she but told me, when she disordered me
Had she but told me of it in time
I might have been cured by the pills of white mercury
But now I'm a young man cut down in my prime
Down at the street corner two flash girls were standin'
And one tae the other did whisper and say
There goes that young man who once was so jolly
But now for his sins his poor body it must pay
My parents they warned me and often they've chided
Sayin' with those flash lassies do not sport and play
But I never heeded, and I scarce ever listened
But still carried on in my own wicked way
Oh doctor, dear doctor before your departure
Take all these bottles of mercury away
Then send for the minister to say a prayer over me
Before that they lay my poor body in the clay
Then you'll get six fine young fellas to carry my coffin
And six pretty fair maids tae bear up my pall
And you will give each one a bunch of red roses
So that when they pass by me they'll not know the smell
And had she but told me, when she disordered me
Had she but told me of it in time
I might have been cured by the pills of white mercury
But now I'm a young man cut down in my prime
It bears some likeness to "The Buck's Elegy", the earliest known full text of the "Unfortunate Lad" song family dating from the mid-nineteenth century:
As I was walking down Covent Garden,
Listen awhile, and the truth I'll relate,
Who should I meet but my dearest comrade,
Wrapt up in flannel, so hard was his fate.
Had I but known what his disorder was,
Had I but known it, and took it in time,
I'd took pila cotia, all sorts of white mercury,
But now I'm cut off in the heighth of my prime.
Doctors take away your mercury bottles,
For I am going to draw my last breath,
And into my coffin throw handfuls of funeral fine,
Let them all see that I die a sad death.
When I am dead wrap me up in funeral fine,
Pinks and fine roses adorning my head,
Come all gallows whores that do mourn after me,
Let them all follow me unto my grave.
There is Capt.— , and likewise Capt. Townsend.
These are the men that shall hold up my pall;
Come draw up your merrymen, draw them in rank and file,
Let them fire over me when I lay low.
Come bumble your drums, bumble them with crapes of black,
Beat the dead march as we go along,
Come draw up your merry men, draw them in rank and file,
Let them fire over me when I lay low.
From Holloway & Black, "Later English Broadside Ballads Vol. 1" pp.48-49.
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Young Man Cut Down In His Prime - Harry Brazil
From "Down By the Old Riverside" (2007) MTCD345-7.
Recorded by Mike Yates in Gloucester, 1978 from Harry Brazil, a Traveller.
A traditional version that includes the seldom heard "Pills of White Mercury" verse.
Full Liner Notes are accessible here:
https://www.mustrad.org.uk/articles/brazils.htm
The album can be bought here:
https://gumroad.com/l/MDrqY
See also "Pills Of White Mercury" as sung by Tom Spiers for a more complete text:
Pills Of White Mercury - Tom Spiers
An alternate recording of Harry Brazil made by Gwilym Davies is accessible here:
http://glostrad.com/through-the-dark-arches/
A third, text only recording made by Dr Peter Shepheard is available here:
https://www.springthyme.co.uk/brazil/SoldierCutDown.html
Here's the full text as Harry Brazil sang it on this occasion:
As I was a-walking all through the dark arches,
Dark was the night and dull were the day;
Who should I meet only one of my comrades,
Who was wrapped up in blankets much colder than clay.
Give me a candle to light him to bed with,
Likewise a flannel to bind up his head;
His poor head is aching, his kind heart is breaking,
There's nobody knows how that poor man lays ill.
If I'd a-known that my friends they disliked me
If I'd a-known it I took it in time;
It might have been one of those pills of white mercury,
But now I'm a young man cut down in my prime.
At the top of the street there was two girls a-standing,
One to the other they whispered and said;
"There goes a young man whose money we've squandered,
Now we have brought him to his solemn grave."
So beat the drums over and play the fife mallorys *
Play the dead march as you carry him along;
Take him to a churchyard and fire three volleys over him,
There goes a young soldier that never done wrong.
My poor aged father, my old aged mother,
Often times told me they'd bring me to ruin;
To never go courting flash girls of the city,
Pray stay at home and keep sweet company.
If I'd a-known that my friends they disliked me
If I'd a-known it I took it in time;
It might have been one of those pills of white mercury,
But now I'm a young man cut down in my prime.
* merrily
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The Sailor Cut Down In His Prime - Nelson Ridley
From "Travellers' Songs from England and Scotland" (2015) MTCD254.
Recorded by Ewan MacColl and Peggy Seeger in 1974 in Harlow New Town, Essex, from Nelson Ridley, a Traveller, originally from Kent.
This traditional version displays a rather curious phonetic corruption in verse 3 which begins at 01:00:
Now, beat the drum slowly and play the dead march now,
Beat the drum slowly as we carry him along;
That's sweet Billy Caution as I said to Marjorie,
I'm in a deep sitivation, I'm sure I will die.
The strange expression "sweet Billy Caution as I said to Marjorie" is a corruption of "pila cotia and salts of white mercury". The word "sitivation" is a misunderstanding of salivation, which was caused by mercury poisoning from the treatment of veneral disease.
Here's an article on the medical uses of mercury in the 1700's:
http://www.umich.edu/~ece/student_projects/remedies/mercury.html
Here's the coresponding verse from "The Buck's Elegy", the earliest known full text of the "Unfortunate Lad" song family dating from the mid-nineteenth century:
Had I but known what his disorder was,
Had I but known it and took it in time,
I'd took pila cotia, all sorts of white mercury
But now I'm cut off in the height of my prime.
From Holloway & Black, "Later English Broadside Ballads Vol. 1" pp.48-49.
"Travellers' Songs from England and Scotland" can be bought here:
http://www.mtrecords.co.uk/index2.htm
See Harry Brazil's version for a longer text:
Young Man Cut Down In His Prime - Harry Brazil
Here's the full text as Nelson Ridley sang it:
Now, as I was a-walking down through the dark arches,
Dark was the morning and dark was the night;
Who should I spy then was one of my shipmates,
He was wrapped up in flannels, much colder than clay.
We will carry him to the churchyard, three valleys over,
Play the dead march as we carry him along;
Now, never go courting flash gels in the city,
Flash gels in the city are the ruin of me.
Now, beat the drum slowly and play the dead march now,
Beat the drum slowly as we carry him along;
That's sweet Billy Caution as I said to Marjorie,
I'm in a deep sitivation, I'm sure I will die.
It's yonder, round the corner there's three maids a-standing,
One to each other they whispered and said:
'Here comes the young sailor, what money he squandered -
He's the young sailor cut down in his prime.'
Now beat the drum slowly and play the dead march now,
Beat the drum slowly as we carry him along;
Never go courting flash gels in the city,
Flash gels in the city are the ruin of me.
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Noo I'm A Young Man Cut Down In My Prime - Willie Mathieson
From "The Unfortunate Rake" (1960) Folkways Records - FS 3805.
Sung by Willie Mathieson of Ellon, Aberdeenshire, recorded by Hamish Henderson, for The School of Scottish Studies archives, on a field trip in February 1952.
A Scottish variant of "The Unfortunate Lad".
Liner Notes are available here:
The Unfortunate Rake
See this recording from The School of Scottish Studies for more info:
http://tobarandualchais.co.uk/en/fullrecord/15832/10
Here's an alternate recording made by Alan Lomax in 1951:
Willie Mathieson - Noo I'm A Young Man Cut Down In My Prime (Fragment)
See also "Pills Of White Mercury" as sung by Tom Spiers for another Scottish variant:
Pills Of White Mercury - Tom Spiers
And here's another Scottish version, sung by Neil Robertson of Strichen, Aberdeenshire:
http://tobarandualchais.co.uk/en/fullrecord/55045/4
http://tobarandualchais.co.uk/en/fullrecord/48307/5
Here's the full text as Willie Mathieson sang it:
As I was a-walking one bright summer morning,
As I was a-walking one bright summer day,
Its who did I spy but one of my comrades,
Rolled up in white flannel and cauler than clay.
O love, it is cruel, cruel to deceive me,
Why didn't you tell me your sorrows in time?
My head is an-aching, my heart is a-breaking,
Noo, I'm a young man cut down in my prime.
Its I have an aged father, likewise a mother,
Oft times they did tell me it would ruin me quick,
I never did believe them, I always did deceive them,
And still with the city girls I spent all my time.
Go send for my mother to wash and to dress me,
Go send for my sister to comb my black hair;
Go send for my brother to play the pipes slowly,
And play the dead march as they carry me along.
O love, it is cruel, cruel to deceive me,
Why didn't you tell me your sorrows in time?
My head is an-aching, my heart is a-breaking,
Noo, I'm a young man cut down in my prime.
There's a bunch of roses to lay on my coffin,
There's a bunch of roses for my head and my feet,
There's a bunch of roses to lay in the churchyard,
To perfume the ways as they carry me along.
At the gate of the churchyard two girlies were standing,
The one to the other in a whisper did say:
"Here comes the young man whose money we have squandered,
And noo they have laid him down in his cauld grave."
O love, it is cruel, cruel to deceive me,
Why didn't you tell me your sorrows in time?
My head is an-aching, my heart is a-breaking,
Noo, I'm a young man cut down in my prime.
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One Bright Summer Morning - Beatrice Mapsey Johnson
From "Zoop Zoop Zoop" (1993) New World Records 80427 - 2.
Sung by Beatrice Mapsey Johnson of St Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands in 1980.
A traditional version of "The Bad Girls Lament" that has the line "I am deep in salvation, and surely must die" in verse 2. "Salvation" is here a misunderstanding of "salivation", which was caused by mercury poisoning from the treatment of veneral disease.
Here's an article on the medical uses of mercury in the 1700's:
http://www.umich.edu/~ece/student_projects/remedies/mercury.html
See also Texas Gladden's version from Virginia where this is made clear:
One Morning In May - Texas Gladden
The word "introduced" in verse 3 "Oh send for the young man that first introduced me" is probably a corruption of "had seduced" and "the tricks he would've sold me" may have originally been "pills".
Liner Notes are available here:
http://www.newworldrecords.org/album.cgi?rm=view&album_id=80427
Here's the full text as Beatrice Mapsey Johnson sung it:
One bright summer morning as I was walking,
One bright summer morning, so early one morn,
Whom shall I met up, my dear darling damsel,
She was wrapped up in flannel most colder than clay.
Oh come dearest mother, come and sit down besides me,
Oh come dearest mother, come and pity my crime,
My sad heart is aching, my poor heart is breaking,
I am deep in salvation, and surely must die.
Oh send for the young man that first introduced me,
Oh send for the doctor although it is late,
For if he would've told me the tricks he would've sold me,
For I am a poor girl cut down in my prime.
Six jolly young sailor; come and carry my coffin,
Six jolly young sailor; come and walk by my side.
And a bunch of primroses to put on my coffin,
For the people will smell me when I'm passing along.
For my name is Loretta, but don't call my name.
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One Morning In May - Texas Gladden
From "Ballad Legacy" (2001) Rounder CD 1800.
Sung by Texas Gladden of Saltville, Virginia, recorded by Alan & Elizabeth Lomax in 1941.
This traditional version of "The Bad Girls Lament" contains the very unusual expression "My body's salivated and I'm bound to die". Salivation was caused by mercury poisoning from the treatment of veneral disease.
Here's an article on the medical uses of mercury in the 1700's:
http://www.umich.edu/~ece/student_projects/remedies/mercury.html
Here's the full text as Texas Gladden sang it:
When I was a young girl, I used to see pleasure,
When I was a young girl, I used to drink ale,
Out of the ale house and into a jailhouse,
Right out of a barroom and down to my grave.
Come Papa, come Mama, and sit you down by me,
Come sit you down by me, and pity my case,
My poor head is aching, my sad heart is breaking,
My body's salivated and I'm bound to die.
Oh send for the preacher, he'll come and pray for me,
And send for the doctor to heal up my wounds,
My poor head is aching, my sad heart is breaking,
My body's salivated, and Hell is my doom.
I want three young ladies to bear off my coffin,
I want four young ladies to carry me on,
And each of them carry a bunch of wild roses,
To lay on my coffin, as I pass along.
One morning, one morning, one morning in May,
I spied this young lady all wrapped in white linen,
All wrapped in white linen and cold as the clay.
Here's an earlier transcription made by Miss Alfreda M. Peel on April 28, 1934 and titled "When I Was a Young Girl":
One Morning, one morning,
one morning in May
I spied a young lady all wrapped in white linen
and cold as the clay.
When I was a young lady
I used to see pleasure
When I was a young girl
I used to drink ale
Out of the ale house
into a jail house
Out of a jail house and
into my grave.
Come papa, come mama
and sit you down by me
Come sit you down by me,
and pity my case.
My poor head is aching,
My sad heart is breaking
My body's salivated,
And I am bound to die.
Send for the preacher
To come and pray for me
Send for the doctor
to heal up my wounds.
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When I Was In Horseback - Mary Doran
From the singing of Mary Doran, a young Traveller of Waterford, Co. Waterford, Ireland, recorded by Sean O'Boyle and Peter Kennedy in 1952.
The introduction was spoken by A. L. Lloyd, in a radio programme "Songs of the People", originally broadcast circa 1967.
My thanks go to ChrisJBrady from mudcat.org for providing the full recording of the programme:
https://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=144129
A related variant was recorded in 2016 from Molly Collins, a Traveller of County Longford, Ireland by the Song Collectors Collective:
As I Went Out Walking One Fine Summer's Morning - Molly Collins
Mary Doran's version has a beautiful modal tune, quite similar to the tune used by many American singers of "The Bad Girls Lament", see Texas Gladden's Virginia version for a fine example:
One Morning In May - Texas Gladden
The mention of "Will you bring me to Tipperary" here may be influenced by "The Streets of Laredo / Tom Sherman's Barroom", which often has the line "Take me to the prairie" in the corresponding verse.
Here's the full text as Mary Doran sang it:
When I was in horseback wasn't I pretty?
When I was in horseback wasn't I gay?
Oh but wasn't I pretty when I entered Cork City
When I met with me downfall on the fourteenth of May?
Six jolly soldiers to carry my coffin,
Six jolly soldiers to march by my side.
And let each jolly soldiers take a bunch of red roses
And them for to smell them as we go along.
Play the pipes only, play the drum slowly,
Play up the dead march as we go along.
Will you bring me to Tipperary and lay me down easy,
I am the young soldier that never did wrong.
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St. James Hospital - James 'Iron Head' Baker
From "Deep River Of Song: Black Texicans - Balladeers and Songsters of the Texas Frontier" (1999).
Sung by James 'Iron Head' Baker at the Central State Farm, Sugarland, Texas, May 1934, recorded by John Avery Lomax.
One of the few traditional variants recorded from African American singers.
The title "St. James Hospital" is a bit of a mystery, the sound recording doesn't include that line.
The tune is of the beautiful modal type also heard in Texas Gladden's and Mary Doran's versions, but here the protagonist is a cowboy instead of a soldier or young girl.
This version is closer to "The Unfortunate Lad" than it is to "The Streets of Laredo / Tom Sherman's Barroom". For an example of a more typical cowboy version from Texas look here:
https://www.loc.gov/item/lomaxbib000174/
"The Cowboy's Lament" was written by the cattle drover Francis Henry Maynard (1853-1926) who based it on a variant of "The Bad Girls Lament" he heard in 1876 on the Wichita trail in Kansas.
Tom Sherman's Barroom was a real place in Dodge City, Kansas.
Compare this to Moses 'Clear Rock' Platt's version, another African American singer and to "The Dying Cowboy" as sung by Alan Lomax:
The Dying Cowboy - Alan Lomax
See also this video of Doc Watson performing the song:
St. James Hospital - Doc Watson
Here's the text as James 'Iron Head' Baker sang it:
"It was early one mornin' as I passed St. James Hospital,
It was early one mornin', mornin' month o' May,
When I looked in the window and I spied a dear cowboy---
Wrapped up in white linen, he was cold as the clay."
"Says, "Come, dear mother, mother, an' seat yourself nigh me,
Come, dear father, too, and sing me a song,
For my knee-bones are achin' an' my poor heart am breakin',
Well, I know I'm a po' cowboy, father, an' I know I done wrong."
"Six young gamblers, papa, to balance my coffin,
Sixteen young whore gals for to sing me a song,
Tell them bring 'long a bunch of them sweet-smellin' roses,
So they can't smell we(sic) while they drive me 'long."
"Well, in my saddle, father, I used to go dashing,
Father, in my young days when I used to look gay,
Down roun' some church-house, carryin' those handsome young ladies---
Well, the women oughta carry me, follow me to my grave."
Taken from "Cowboy Songs and Other Frontier Ballads" John A. Lomax & Alan Lomax, 1966 (First pub. 1910) p.p. 420-21.
The recording lacks the opening line and the first three words of the second line.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
The Dying Cowboy - Alan Lomax
From "Texas Folk Songs" (1982) Arion - ARN 33690.
Originally from James 'Iron Head' Baker at the Central State Farm, Sugarland, Texas in May 1934, recorded by John Avery Lomax.
The mention of "St. James Hospital" in the opening verse is a bit of a mystery, the sound recording of James 'Iron Head' Baker is missing that line:
St. James Hospital - James 'Iron Head' Baker
Here's the text as Alan Lomax sang it:
It was early one mornin' I passed St. James Hospital,
It was early one mornin', mornin' month of May,
I looked in the window and I spied a dear cowboy
Wrapped up in white linen, well, he was cold as the clay.
Sayin', "Come, dear mother, come an' seat yourself nigh me,
Come, dear father, come and sing me one song,
For my knee-bones are achin' and my poor heart is breakin',
I know I'm a poor cowboy, and I know I done wrong.
I want sixteen young gamblers, papa, to carry my coffin,
I want sixteen young whore gals for to sing me my song,
Tell them bring 'long a bunch of those sweet-smellin' roses,
So they can't smell me as they drive me on.
'Twas once in the saddle, papa, I used to go dashing,
Father, in my young days when I used to be gay,
Down roun' that old church-house, with them handsome young ladies,
Them girls oughta carry me, follow me to my grave.
It was early one mornin', I passed St. James Hospital,
Lord, it was early one mornin', mornin' month of May,
I looked in the window and I spied a dear cowboy
And he was wrapped in white linen, he was colder than clay.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
St. James Hospital - Mrs. G. A. Griffin
A variant of "The Bad Girls Lament" sung by Mrs. Georgia Ann Griffin of Newberry, Alachua, Florida, originally from Dooly County, Georgia, recorded by John Avery Lomax in 1937.
The original tape I got this from is accessible here:
https://www.floridamemory.com/items/show/238003
Here's the Library of Congress reference:
https://www.loc.gov/item/afc9999005.5309/
For another American text that mentions "St. James Hospital", collected by Cecil Sharp from Mrs. Laura Virginia Donald at Dewey, Bedford County, Virginia on June 8th, 1918 look here:
https://cecilsharpva.wordpress.com/songs-laura-virginia-donald/
https://www.earlyblues.com/Essay%20102.gif
Here's the text as Mrs. Georgia Ann Griffin sang it:
As I was a-walking by St. James' Hospital,
As I was a-walking one morning in May,
It's who should I meet but my own dear daughter,
Wrapped up in white linen and [dirty sheets on]*.
...
It's first to the barroom and then to the dance room,
And out of the dance room and now to my grave.
Oh it's six jolly sportsmen to carry my coffin,
Get six pretty fair maids to carry me there,
And each one of them a bunch of red roses,
To keep them from smelling me as they march along.
* The words in brackets are probably wrong, it's hard to make out what she is singing there, but it's not the standard "colder than clay".
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The Bad Girls Lament - Wade Hemsworth
From "Folk Songs Of The Canadian North Woods" (1955) Folkways Records - FW 6821.
Sung by Albert Wade Hemsworth, he learned it in the Canadian North Woods (Northern Ontario and Quebec).
Liner Notes are available here:
Folk Songs of the Canadian North Woods
Here's another Canadian version that is very similar:
https://www.earlyblues.com/Essay%20101.gif
Here's a recording from the Jack Horntip collection:
http://www.horntip.com/mp3/fieldwork/horntip_collection/s/abby_sale/
Here's the text as Wade Hemsworth sang it:
As I walked down to St. James' Hospital,
St. James' Hospital early one day,
I spied my only fairest daughter
Wrapped up in white linen as cold as the clay.
So beat your drums and play the fife lowly,
And play the dead march as you carry me along;
Take me to the churchyard and lay the sod over me,
I am a young maid and I know I've done wrong.
Once in the street I used to look handsome;
Once In the street I used to dress gay;
First to the ale house, then to the dance hall
Then to the poor house and now to my grave.
So beat your drums and play the fife lowly,
And play the dead march as you carry me along;
Take me to the churchyard and lay the sod over me,
I am a young maid and I know I've done wrong.
Send for the preacher to pray o'er my body,
Send for the doctor to heal up my wounds,
Send for the young man I first fell in love with,
That I might see him before I pass on.
So beat your drums and play the fife lowly,
And play the dead march as you carry me along;
Take me to the churchyard and lay the sod over me,
I am a young maid and I know I've done wrong.
Let six pretty maidens with a bunch of red roses,
Six pretty maidens to sing me a song,
Six pretty maidens with a bunch of red roses
To lay on my coffin as they carry me along.
So beat your drums and play the fife lowly,
And play the dead march as you carry me along;
Take me to the churchyard and lay the sod over me,
I am a young maid and I know I've done wrong.
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St. James' Hospital - Tom Lenihan
From "Tom Munnelly - The Mount Callan Garland: Songs from the repertoire of Tom Lenihan", Baile Atha Cliath Comhairle Bhealoideas Eireann, An Colaiste Ollscoile 1994.
Sung by Tom Lenihan of Knockbrack, Miltown Malbay, Co. Clare, Ireland, recorded by Tom Munnelly on March 13th 1973.
This version is unique, it is the only variant of the "Bad Girls Lament" recorded outside of America/Canada to mention "St. James Hospital".
Tom Lenihan learned the song from his sister Margaret who emigrated to America. Tom was not known for singing American songs, the rest of his repertoire is Irish, but we don't know where Margaret learned the song, so this question remains unanswered.
Here's Tom Lenihan's explanation of the "white house, red house, black house" verse:
"The first night he was with her 'twas grand. The second night it showed up there was danger - the red house. And the third night was the black house was - she was ruined, the craytur! Oh God, yes!"
Here's another interpretation given in the book:
white house = church/innocence, red house = bawdy house, and black house = mortuary
Another recording of Lenihan singing this song, recorded by Jim Carroll and Pat Mackenzie in July 1976 is accessible here:
Songs of Clare - Saint James' Hospital sung by Tom Lenihan
A third transcription made by Nathan D. Rose on June 30, 1988 may be seen here:
http://villasubrosa.com/Nathan/texts/lenihantext.html#6
http://villasubrosa.com/Nathan/watson.html
See also this recording of Luke Cheevers singing Tom Lenihan's version:
https://www.itma.ie/digital-library/sound/st_james_hospital_luke_cheevers
Here's a Newfoundland version that bears some likeness to Lenihan's text:
http://gestsongs.com/15/annie.htm
Here's the text as Tom Lenihan sang it for Tom Munnelly:
Once I was walking by Saint James' Hospital
Bright was the morning and clear was the day.
Who should I meet but a faithful companion
Wrapped up in flannels all ready to die.
From her sweet lips a few words were spoken,
From her sweet lips a few words there came:
"This is a warning for young girl's protection,
Which causes their ruin and leads them astray."
"Daughter, dear daughter 'tis often I told you,
Often I told you, but now you are lain,
To stop your street walking and all your old talking.
Often I told you, but now you are lain."
"If I had done what my old mother told me,
What a good girl would I be today.
Everyone hates me, my name does disgrace me.
Often she told me but now I am lain."
"Show me that young man that hangs round the corner,
Show me that young man that dresses so gay.
First your true lover and now your deceiver,
Show me that young man that led you astray."
"That is a question that I cannot answer.
He put me in a hack and he drove me away,
First by the white house, then by the red house,
In to the black house and now to my grave."
"There lies the body of one that was handsome,
There lies the body of one that was fair.
There lies the body of a lovely young lassie
Who died from destruction one bright summer's day."
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Jones' Hospital - Captain Pearl R. Nye
Sung by Captain Pearl R. Nye in Akron, Ohio in 1937, recorded by John Avery Lomax.
This version has almost completely lost the original story.
Interestingly the tune has been shortened here and the sanzas are sung as two liners.
"Jones' Hospital" is more commonly referred to as "St. James' Hospital" in American and Canadian variants of "The Bad Girls Lament".
The original recording is accessible here:
https://www.loc.gov/item/afcnye000015/
Here's the text as Captain Pearl R. Nye sang it:
At Jones Hospital I saw my own daughter,
Wrapped up in white flannel as cold as the clay.
It was first to the opera, then to the ale house,
Then to the dance hall, church, next was the grave.
Oh, parents and children, yes, friends and my neighbors,
My heart is breaking, my grief it is so sore.
She was fair and so handsome, a type of real beauty,
So lovely that most anyone would admire.
Her lover beguiled her, they fled from my presence,
The end you now see is here in death so cold.
I plead that they tarry and that they should marry,
She is here now, forsaken as you now behold.
Oh girls, here take warning, behold my poor daughter,
Who met, loved a stranger so cunning and wise.
He betrayed and soon left her, as he did some others,
Then in her anguish she weakened and died.
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Bad Girl's Lament - Jack McNally
Sung by Jack McNally at Stacyville, Maine in 1942, recorded by Helen Hartness Flanders.
A poorly remembered fragment of "The Bad Girls Lament".
I apologize for the poor audio quality but there's no better recording available.
Original cassette recording is accessible here:
https://archive.org/details/HHFBC_tapes_D30B
Here's the text as Jack McNally sang it:
When I was a young girl I used to look happy,
When I was a young girl I used to look gay.
It was first to the alehouse and then to the jailhouse,
Then to the [resthouse] and down to my grave.
Let three/four [fair] ladies bear my pal,
Give them white ribbons and [make them go].
Take me to the churchyard and throw the sod over me,
I'm a young girl and I know I've done wrong
* The words in brackets are probably wrong, I can't make out what he sings there.
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Bad Girl's Lament - Hanford Hayes
Sung by Hanford Hayes at Stacyville, Maine in 1942, recorded by Helen Hartness Flanders.
A single stanza fragment of "The Bad Girls Lament" with an unusual tune.
I apologize for the poor audio quality but there's no better recording available.
Original cassette recording is accessible here:
https://archive.org/details/HHFBC_tapes_D29B
Here's the text as Hanford Hayes sang it:
Beat your drums, play the fifes merrily,
Sound the deadmarch as you carry me on.
Take me to the churchyard and throw the dirt over me,
I'm a young girl and I know I've done wrong.
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The Girl In The Dilger Case - D. K. Wilgus
From "The Unfortunate Rake" (1960) Folkways Records - FS 3805.
Sung by Dr. Donald Knight Wilgus to a standard tune of the "Unfortunate Lad" song family. Originally collected by E. C. Perrow from Jack Sykes of Louisville, Kentucky, in 1915.
A localized Kentucky variant of "The Bad Girls Lament".
No explanation is given how the story connects to the song, but this is the story as supplied by Dr. Wilgus:
"Dilger had been a policeman and a private bouncer in a
low class variety theatre. He was a husky, virile, rather good-looking
chap of about 35. He was surprised in a bawdyhouse by two policemen. He
killed them both and was subsequently executed for the crime."
Liner Notes are available here:
The Unfortunate Rake
Here's the text as D. K. Wilgus sang it:
Once I was young and sweet as the roses;
Out on the street so gaudy and gay.
I went first to the dance hall, from there to the whore house,
And now from the whore house I go to my grave.
Send for my mother to sit by my bedside,
Send for the preacher to pray over me,
Send for the doctor that heals me so easy,
Send for the young man that I like to see.
The Ninth Street girls will carry my coffin,
The Eighth Street walkers will sing a sweet song;
Give them each a bunch of red roses
To keep me from smelling as they carry me along.
* Ninth Street - Dr. Wilgus believes this should read Green Street.
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I have decided to leave out "The Streets of Laredo / Tom Sherman's Barroom", I feel that it's destinct enough to deserve separate treatment.
I also ignored the English "Young Sailor Cut Down" versions for the most part. There's little variation between them and I didn't feel like incuding lots of near identical texts.
Still, this should give anyone interested in this song family a good overview of versions.
I think that this song family should not be refered to as "Unfortunate Rake", that title was most likely made up by A. L. Lloyd.
There's no proof that the two stanza fragment he provided (the only one to actually contain the word "rake") was ever sung in Dublin or anywhere else.
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sj
