Lyr Req: Lady Isobella (about Tichborne Dole)

Subject: Origins: Lady Isobella
From: Cordwangler
Date: 31 Jan 04 - 10:54 AM

Does anyone know the full words to the song 'Lady Isobella' and could tell me if this is a traditional song or one written in the traditional style? It's about the Tichborne Dole. A friend said he learned it from a LP of Hampshire songs years ago and can't remember the details. Thanks for your help.

Subject: RE: Origins: Lady Isobella
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 31 Jan 04 - 12:11 PM

I doubt if it would be traditional, and I don't know where an "Isobella" might come into it; the originator of the Dole was Lady Mabella de Tichborne, according to the story. There were a lot of topical -and ephemeral- broadside songs on the business of the Tichborne Claimant, of course, but that's quite another matter.

Can you get your friend to quote a little of what he does remember? You haven't really given us a lot to go on so far.

Subject: Lyr Add: LADY ISABELLA / THE TICHBORNE DOLE
From: Cordwangler
Date: 01 Feb 04 - 09:54 AM

LADY ISABELLA (OR THE TICHBORNE DOLE)

Lady Isabella, why do you weep so mournfully?
I hear the cries of Tichborne, as the hungry yearn for bread
Money for their sickly
And a graveyard for their dead
And a graveyard for their dead

Lady Isabella, why do you weep so mournfully?
Oh husband if you care, give them flour for their bread
Money for their sickly
And a graveyard for their dead
And a graveyard for their dead

Lady Isabella, why do you weep so mournfully?
I'll give you what you ask for, for I'm softened by you cries
You can have the ground you crawl around
Before your body dies
Before your body dies

Lady Isabella, why do you crawl so mournfully?
There's blood in your mouth and there's blood on your knee
But you've measured out the goodly sum of acres twenty three
Of acres twenty three

Lady Isabella, why do you sleep so mournfully?
You've given up your life for your husband's wicked soul
But you've given us forever the Tichborne Dole
Forever

It has a really nice tune but I'm not able to write the musical score I'm afraid. The song seems complete, but there may be more verses, I don't know. As I said I'd like to find out where the song originates, if it's traditional, or if contemporary, who wrote it. Either way it's a great song I'm sure you'll agree! I have heard of Lady Mabella, Malcolm, but it seems she has the alias Isabella as well, according to some sources (one being The Readers Digest book 'Folklore, Myths and Legends of Britain').

Subject: RE: Lyr req: Lady Isobella (about Tichborne Dole)
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 01 Feb 04 - 01:05 PM

Hmm... I wouldn't trust that book too far unless the information is confirmed elsewhere. I knew a few people who contributed to it, in good faith, and they disowned the end result. That's not to say that Isabella isn't a legitimate alternative, though I've never come across it myself.

By the looks of it, the song is certainly a modern one.

Subject: RE: Lyr req: Lady Isobella (about Tichborne Dole)
From: GUEST,JohnL
Date: 25 Jul 06 - 09:02 AM

"Lady Isabella" was on "Hampshire - A Musical Portrait", an LP by various artists released in 1978 by Forest Tracks. It's not traditional (though I've been singing it for 25 years) - I think the writer (and singer on the album) was Graham Penney, who has written a number of very good songs (The Channels, The Knife-and-Scissor Man, Ladies of the Night, etc). Forest Tracks are believed to have plans to rerelease the album on CD.
I suspect the reason "Isabella" was used in the lyric in preference to "Maybelle" was simply a matter of scanning.

Subject: RE: Lyr req: Lady Isobella (about Tichborne Dole)
From: GUEST,David J
Date: 26 Jul 06 - 06:20 AM

Thanks John - I always wondered where the song originated from. It seems Isabella was in fact Mabella