Lyr Req: Bill Norrie (Martin Carthy)

Subject: Lyr Req: Two Brothers (not those two)
From: Santa
Date: 25 Oct 03 - 10:52 AM

Another request from my good lady wife, currently singing at Darlington Folkworks. One attendee has mentioned a song wherein two brothers go into a wood, where they meet a beautiful maiden/lady, who turns out to be their mother. This has baffled one and all - any help here?

I have searched the DigiTrad under Two Brothers, without any joy.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Two Brothers, a Wood, and a Mother
From: Santa
Date: 25 Oct 03 - 06:25 PM

A little more: the brothers are hiding in the wood. One comes out to meet woman and is killed by woman's husband.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Two Brothers, a Wood, and a Mother
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 25 Oct 03 - 06:42 PM

Does the husband cut off the boy's head?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Two Brothers, a Wood, and a Mother
From: Santa
Date: 26 Oct 03 - 03:40 AM

If so, it wasn't remembered or passed on to me as part of the query. Your answer suggests that you might know a possibility?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Two Brothers, a Wood, and a Mother
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 26 Oct 03 - 12:15 PM

Well, there's Child Maurice (Child 83), but it isn't a close match. The two young men are master and servant rather than brothers, and although a meeting is arranged, it is the husband who goes, and kills the man he supposes to be his wife's lover; but who is really her illegitimate son. His wife only gets to meet the severed head. Martin Carthy re-made it as Bill Norrie.

I asked about the head as it ought to be the kind of thing that would stick in the memory, but I've known people to describe certain songs very oddly, and much at variance with what actually happened in them; memory can be a capricious thing. It's probably a completely different song that was meant.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Two Brothers, a Wood, and a Mother
From: Santa
Date: 26 Oct 03 - 03:04 PM

Thanks: I suspect this is it. Martin Carthy's name was mentioned but as the original requester had only heard it from another female singer, we thought that Martin's name had crept in as part of the folk tradition, rather than being a genuine lead. I'll pass the word back - but as the original requester was delighted to learn about Mudcat, I suspect she'll be browsing by herself soon.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Two Brothers, a Wood, and a Mother
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 26 Oct 03 - 03:18 PM

The text of Martin's rewrite is in the DT, as it turns out:  Bill Norrie.

Dick guessed wrong on the background for this one!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Two Brothers, a Wood, and a Mother
From: GUEST,julie dawid
Date: 04 Nov 03 - 10:24 AM

i am the 'original requester' and yes - bill norrie is exactly the song i meant. thanks! quite a miracle seeing that the whole process of asking-group-leader-who-asked-another-grop-who-called-her-husband-who-posted-it-on-mudcat seemed to play chinese whispers with the whole thing, but it worked wonders.
good stuff - now i just have to get me a library card and learn the tune!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Two Brothers, a Wood, and a Mother
From: Willa
Date: 04 Nov 03 - 03:13 PM

Hi, Julie.
Good to 'see' you here; I told you Mudcat was the place to be, and Meg certainly got things rolling for you.

If you ask for the tune on Mudcat some kind soul will probably post it for you.

Become a member- it costs nothing, and you can then send PMs to other members.

I thoroughly enjoyed the Folkworks w/e, particularly our late night singarounds.

Regards,

Ann

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Two Brothers, a Wood, and a Mother
From: Willa
Date: 06 Nov 03 - 04:25 PM

Julie
You might be able to find a copy of Topic Record TSCD452 (MARTIN CARTHY, RIGHT OF PASSAGE),which includes this song,in your local music library.