Lyr Req/Add: Land of Green Ginger/Faithless Maria

Subject: Land Of Green Ginger
From: GUEST,Curious
Date: 23 Feb 04 - 12:09 PM

Any people out there aware of any songs or storys relating to the Land of Green Ginger old or new

Subject: RE: Land Of Green Ginger
From: Bobjack
Date: 23 Feb 04 - 12:16 PM

Nope.

Subject: RE: Land Of Green Ginger
From: GUEST,MMario
Date: 23 Feb 04 - 12:24 PM

Google says the Land of Green Ginger is a street in Hull - so 'spect there are a few - but whether they can be performed in public ...

Subject: RE: Land Of Green Ginger
From: Little Robyn
Date: 23 Feb 04 - 01:35 PM

About 40 years back there was a kids programme on telly that dramatised the story (it might have been the Shirley Temple Hour - after she grew up but before she hit politics).
I don't remember if there was a complete song or if it was just a single liner, but the main characters would sing:
"I'm Abu Ali" "I'm the mouse" "And Boomalackawee!"
They must have done that several times because it stuck in our family - we made a mouse suit for my little sister and we would sing it all over the place.
Many years later I found an old paperback edition of 'The Land of Green Ginger' but there wasn't music in it.
Robyn

Subject: RE: Land Of Green Ginger
From: GUEST,GUEST
Date: 23 Feb 04 - 01:46 PM

Can't help with songs about the Land of Green Ginger but it may be of interest that, according to "A Dictionary of Common Fallacies" by Philip Ward, the Land of Green Ginger in Hull got its name from land owned by one Moses Greenhinger (sic!) and hence it is nothing to do with Green Ginger.

Subject: RE: Land Of Green Ginger
From: Cool Beans
Date: 23 Feb 04 - 02:12 PM

Hey, Little Robyn, that children's program was on TV in America, too. I remember as much about it as you do, plus one more detail: the actor who played Abdu Ali was named Kuldip Singh. He first gained fame in the US as a contestant on Groucho Marx's quiz show "You Bet Your Life."

Subject: RE: Land Of Green Ginger
From: Eugene Judge
Date: 23 Feb 04 - 02:20 PM

More info on the origins of the name is here:

http://archiver.rootsweb.com/th/read/ENG-YKS-HULL


There appear to be two books of that name one written by Winifred Holtby and the other by Noel Langley.

ORB have a "Land of Green Ginger" track on a CD but I doubt if it is relevant to the books or the place.

Maybe someone from Hull can come up with info on any songs.

Subject: RE: Land Of Green Ginger
From: Folkiedave
Date: 23 Feb 04 - 02:37 PM

About 1973 or thereabouts the Watersons did the music for a film called "Land of Green Ginger" and starred in a folk club setting and which was filmed at the Hayworth Arms on Beverley Rd. Folkies were the extras. It was in the "Play For Today" series.

My main memory is that they had provided for some beer which we drank in about 20 minutes and the landlord seemed to just keep pouring free beer mistakenly thinking the film company would be paying. We were very pissed. At the end of filming we started a singaround and one lad got up to sing General Taylor. As he got to the chorus he leaned forward as he always did, and fell straight off the stage into the audience. Rest of it fades......................

Dave

Subject: RE: Land Of Green Ginger
From: GUEST,Jacqued
Date: 23 Feb 04 - 02:43 PM

I think there is a song about "The Land of Green Ginger" on a Christopher Rowe LP.   Will search the attic and let you know later.

Subject: RE: Land Of Green Ginger
From: Hand-Pulled Boy
Date: 23 Feb 04 - 02:50 PM

Yes, I had a book of Hull folk songs by Christopher Rowe which included the words and music to The land of Green Ginger.

It was crap so I binned it.

Subject: Lyr Add: LAND OF GREEN GINGER
From: GUEST,Jacqued
Date: 23 Feb 04 - 02:53 PM

Before I go into the attic for the LP I have found the words skulking amongst yesterdays songs!!

LAND OF GREEN GINGER

Come with me to the Land of Green Ginger,
Through streets paved with cobble stones.
Past the dim-lighted doorways and fast-shuttered windows,
Where the night mist slowly gathers all around you.

Come with me to the old part of the city,
To the church with the market all around.
Where the stalls stand deserted and wait for the morning,
And everyone in this white workd lies sleeping.

Come with me to the old dock down by the river,
Where the barges rest on the tide.
See the moon on the water, feel the stillness around you,
And only you are there alone to listen.

Come with me in the early hours of the morning,
Before the rise of the sun.
To the Land of Green Ginger in her moment of magic,
Where no-one in this white world has yet woken.

At the start of the day.

Subject: RE: Land Of Green Ginger
From: GUEST,Jacqued
Date: 23 Feb 04 - 03:03 PM

Sorry, not an LP but obviously a taped copy.   The LP may have been entitled "Songs of Humberside" by Christopher Rowe and Ian Clarke

Subject: RE: Land Of Green Ginger
From: Dave Sutherland
Date: 23 Feb 04 - 04:01 PM

There is a track on the album "From Humdrum To Tongue Drum"(SUN 06 CD) by Nottingham Band Fieldwork called "The Goole Captain" (Words L.Clark music Fieldwork)which has a fair bit of the action taking place in The Land Of Green Ginger.

Subject: RE: Land Of Green Ginger
From: Red and White Rabbit
Date: 23 Feb 04 - 05:32 PM

I still sing that song occassionally when I am remembering fondly the city I escaped - I still have the book with the words and music somewhere cant remember whats happened to the LP

Subject: RE: Land Of Green Ginger
From: TheBigPinkLad
Date: 23 Feb 04 - 05:54 PM

The Lindisfarne song "When the War is Over" contains a line "We'll drink whisky and green ginger"

Subject: RE: Land Of Green Ginger
From: gnomad
Date: 23 Feb 04 - 05:57 PM

I too have the LP lurking from a childhood mis-spent in Hull. I can confirm the title, and would add that I consider that song to be the best of the bunch, truly capturing the atmosphere of the old town as it was in those days.

I should think that Les would have an opinion about these days, since he lives just around the corner.

Subject: RE: Land Of Green Ginger
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 23 Feb 04 - 06:47 PM

Winifred Holtby wrote books for adults about Yorkshire (eg South Riding). Noel Langley wrote the book for children about Boumalackawee, and Tin Tac Ping Foo.

Kitty

Subject: RE: Land Of Green Ginger
From: Bassic
Date: 23 Feb 04 - 09:16 PM

Les is in Tailand on a quest. I believe he is mistakenly looking for the Land of Green Ginger amongst the spice Islands............pity no one told him it was just round the corner!! ;-)

Subject: RE: Land Of Green Ginger
From: LadyJean
Date: 23 Feb 04 - 10:55 PM

Beatrix Potter wrote, "In the land of Green Ginger there is a town called Marmalade that is inhabited exclusively by guinea pigs." It goes on to tell the story of Tuppeny the short haired guinea pig, who wants to be a long haired guinea pig, and the disaster that ensues. I think it's part of her Fairy Caravan series.

Subject: RE: Land Of Green Ginger
From: GUEST,davy
Date: 24 Feb 04 - 03:43 AM

A chap who lived in yorkshire called Brian Whitmee (sadly no longer with us) used to sing a song called land of green Ginger. Some of the Yorkshiere catters like Tyke will remember him and may have the lyrics.

Subject: RE: Land Of Green Ginger
From: Sttaw Legend
Date: 24 Feb 04 - 03:55 AM

Land Of Green Ginger has the smallest window in the world, or at least in the country.

Subject: RE: Land Of Green Ginger
From: Dave Bryant
Date: 24 Feb 04 - 06:23 AM

I can remember looking for The Land Of Green Ginger when I was up in Hull9 - It's so small that I walked past it twice.

Subject: RE: Land Of Green Ginger
From: Beardy
Date: 24 Feb 04 - 08:17 AM

Smallest window is at the George pub which it just happens is on the historic pub crawl of 'Ull this weekend. See 'Ull thread for details.

Stewart

Subject: RE: Land Of Green Ginger
From: Hand-Pulled Boy
Date: 24 Feb 04 - 03:02 PM

The George. Made famous by 'Crack Town'. Did you know that window is a double-glazed unit? It's only there because they ran out of mortar.

Subject: RE: Land Of Green Ginger
From: Skipjack K8
Date: 24 Feb 04 - 03:38 PM

I found the Land of Green Ginger today when I was trying to find an arcade at the end of White Frig It that seems to exist only in the fond imaginings of 'Ullians, where there is a shop called Fanshaw's, where men in brown coats be.

Subject: RE: Land Of Green Ginger
From: Bassic
Date: 24 Feb 04 - 09:55 PM

its Fanthorpes Skippy, and if you found L.O.G.G. then you were only about 30yds away!!

Subject: RE: Land Of Green Ginger
From: Sttaw Legend
Date: 25 Feb 04 - 03:50 AM

Emma Rugg was to be found on many occasions strumming her stuff outside Fanthorpes whilst watching the television in Fanthorpes window. Since becoming famous she's bought her own.

Subject: RE: Land Of Green Ginger
From: Bobjack
Date: 25 Feb 04 - 03:58 AM

What. Bought her own window, or bought Fanthorpes?

Subject: RE: Land Of Green Ginger
From: masato sakurai
Date: 25 Feb 04 - 04:45 AM

There's an edition at Bodleian Library Broadside Ballads. The image, however, isn't clear enough.

land of green ginger [title]

Subject: RE: Land Of Green Ginger
From: Sttaw Legend
Date: 25 Feb 04 - 05:18 AM

Bobjack, she bought the window to see her through the week.

Subject: RE: Land Of Green Ginger
From: Bobjack
Date: 25 Feb 04 - 05:30 AM

AAH, all has become clear.

Subject: RE: Land Of Green Ginger
From: Dave Bryant
Date: 25 Feb 04 - 05:58 AM

After that it was curtains.

Subject: RE: Land Of Green Ginger
From: Michael
Date: 25 Feb 04 - 11:44 AM

This thread is becomming a pane.

Subject: RE: Land Of Green Ginger
From: Bobjack
Date: 25 Feb 04 - 11:45 AM

I agree michael, I am beginning to glaze over.

Subject: RE: Land Of Green Ginger
From: GUEST
Date: 25 Feb 04 - 11:48 AM

I shutter to think where this sill end up.

Subject: RE: Land Of Green Ginger
From: Sttaw Legend
Date: 25 Feb 04 - 11:58 AM

Down a blind alley.

Subject: RE: Land Of Green Ginger
From: Michael
Date: 25 Feb 04 - 12:08 PM

Just mullion it over

Subject: RE: Land Of Green Ginger
From: GUEST, GEST
Date: 25 Feb 04 - 12:27 PM

Shut 'er Down. PLEASE !!! :-)

Subject: RE: Land Of Green Ginger
From: Hand-Pulled Boy
Date: 26 Feb 04 - 04:01 PM

it's still a crap song

Subject: RE: Land Of Green Ginger
From: Rt Revd Sir jOhn from Hull
Date: 26 Feb 04 - 08:39 PM

heloo, this is a street i n hull, with a pub in it called George, and its got a little window, [littlest window in hull, i think].

Subject: Lyr Add: FAITHLESS MARIA ... LAND OF GREEN-GINGER
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 26 Feb 04 - 11:22 PM

Meanwhile, I found this at The Library of Congress American Memory Collection

FAITHLESS MARIA
SHE LIVED IN THE LAND OF GREEN-GINGER.

Written and Sung by Harry Clifton.

Oh! pity me, pray, and hear what I've to say:
For, my bosom has been set on fire
By one I consider'd as true as the day;
But now she's a faithless Maria.
And when I recount all my troubles and woes,
And miseries which to you now I'll disclose,
You'll say in this world you would hardly suppose
There was such a false maid as Maria.

CHORUS: I may be to blame, but I love her the same,
Though my feelings she tried hard to injure;
She's as false as she's fair, and she's twelve pounds a-year,
And she lives in the land of Green Ginger.

I'm a journeyman baker, and first went to Hull
One Saturday night in September;
And Maria, a cook, and her elegant look
I shall ever have cause to remember.
Each day on my round I would go with my bread,
Contented till love nearly turned my poor head,
You see how I blush, and my face will go red,
When I mention the name of Maria. CHORUS

I called every morning, and how she would run,
When I knocked and shouted out: "Baker,"
And smiled, too beside when I said: "For my bride
I would take her and never forsake her!"
But a policeman came on the Green Ginger beat,
And as they're always looking for something to eat,
No matter if pudding that's stale, or cold meat,
Of course, he made love to Maria. CHORUS

At last when I asked her to settle the day,
She said with a smile of derision:
"She rather would marry her officer bold,
Who belonged to the borough division:
"What! deceive your poor Baker who loves you so true!"
She only said, "Rubbish," and answered, "Pooh, Pooh."
My heart it went down like a lump of stale dough,
As I took a last look at Maria. CHORUS

I could weep, I could cry, I shall pine, I shall die,
Each day I get thinner and thinner,
I grieve at my meals whether supper or tea,
And I fret at my breakfast and dinner.
You see at a glance how I'm wasting away,
Like butter exposed on a hot summer's day,
I nearly drop down when I hear the folks say:
"There's the Baker who once loved Maria." CHORUS

---

Click to play

Subject: RE: Land Of Green Ginger
From: Hand-Pulled Boy
Date: 27 Feb 04 - 09:03 AM

Now that's a much better song. It's got a lot of good ingredients.

Subject: RE: Land Of Green Ginger
From: GUEST,Little Sophie
Date: 30 Mar 05 - 05:15 AM

I watched the land of green ginger on BBC4 the other noight and i am trying to find a place where i can buy the film for my grandma. Because she remembers how it was when she was a little girl and she wants to see how it was.Please help me ! thanks.

Subject: RE: req/add: Land Of Green Ginger
From: GUEST
Date: 30 Mar 05 - 03:06 PM

I think you'll have to ask the BBC (Contact Information); The Land of Green Ginger written by Alan Plater, was a TV play first broadcast in 1973. It was shown again on Sat 26 March 2005 as part of a tribute night for Alan Plater, but the details have already vanished from the BBC website. The play doesn't appear to be in print , nor is it available from the BBC shop. Good luck!

Subject: RE: req/add: Land Of Green Ginger
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 30 Mar 05 - 05:28 PM

"The Land of Green Ginger" broadside in the Bodleian Library mentioned by Masato (Firth b.27(299), ca. 1849-1880, has the same lyrics as the song sheet found by Jim Dixon at American Memory called "Faithless Maria."

Harry Clifton, ("written and sung by") a music hall vocalist, born 1824, died in 1872.
Arthur Lloyd: Clifton

See thread 8460 for his song, "Good Ship Kangaroo." Kangaroo

Subject: Lyr/Tune Add: FAITHLESS MARIA (Harry Clifton)
From: Artful Codger
Date: 09 Jun 10 - 07:39 PM

Here are Clifton's original lyrics and tune. Aside from punctuation and capitalization the Bodley and American Memory broadsides agree with the original.


FAITHLESS MARIA
   "She lived in the land of Green Ginger."
   Written and sung by Harry Clifton. [ca. 1866]

Oh! pity me, pray, and hear what I've to say:
For my bosom has been set on fire
By one I consider'd as true as the day,
But now she's a faithless "Maria."
And when I recount all my troubles and woes,
And miseries which to you now I'll disclose,
You'll say in this world you would hardly suppose,
There was such a false maid as Maria.

        CHORUS.
   I may be to blame, but I love her the same,
   Tho' my feelings she tried hard to injure;
   She's as false, as she's fair, and she's twelve pounds a year,
   And she's* lives in the land of Green Ginger.                [she]

        2
I'm a journeyman Baker, and first went to Hull,
One Saturday night in September;
And Maria a cook and her elegant look,
I shall ever have cause to remember,
Each day on my round I would go with my bread,
Contented till love nearly turn'd my poor head,
You see how I blush, and my face will go red,
When I mention the name of Maria.

        3
I called every morning and how she would run,
When I knocked and shouted out, "Baker,"
And smiled too beside when I said, "For my bride
I would take her and never forsake her,"
But a policeman came on the Green Ginger beat,
And as they're always looking for something to eat,
No matter if pudding that's stale, or cold meat,
Of course he made love to Maria.

        4
At last when I asked her to settle the day,
She said with a smile of derision,
"She rather would marry her Officer bold,
Who belonged to the Borough division,"
"What, deceive your poor Baker who loves you so true."
She only said, "Rubbish," and answered, "Pooh, pooh,"
My heart it went down like a lump of stale dough,
As I took a last look at Maria.

        5
I could weep, I could cry, I shall pine, I shall die,
Each day I get thinner and thinner,
I grieve at my meals whether "supper" or "tea",
And I fret at my "breakfast", and "dinner".
You see at a glance how I'm wasting away,
Like butter exposed on a hot summer's day,
I nearly drop down when I hear the folks say,
"There's the Baker who once loved Maria."


Source: Sheet music published by Hopwood and Crew, 42 New Bond St. W, London; s/n 766. The serial number agrees with the 1866 date estimate.
Transcribed by Michael Heaney and Robert Wahl.


ABC transcription of the melody:

X:1
T:Faithless Maria
T:She lived in the Land of Green Ginger
C:Written by Harry Clifton
S:Sheet music published by Hopwood and Crew.
N:Bodleian Library, Harding Mus. R 649
Z:Michael Heaney and Robert Wahl
M:6/8
L:1/8
Q:3/8=68
K:C
C | C E G G F D | E C C C2 C/ C/ | C E c A G B, | D C2 z2 C |
w: Oh! pi-ty me pray and hear what I've to say, For my bo-som has been set on fi-re By
C E G G F D | E C C C2 C | C E c A G B, | D C2 z2 G |
w: one I son-si-der'd as true as the day, But now she's a "Faith-less Ma-ri-a." And
G B d d c d | e c c c2 G | G B c d D F | F (G/F/) (E/D/) E2 G |
w: when I re-count all my trou-bles and woes, And mi-se-ries which to you now I'll_ dis-_ close, You'll
c e c d B G | c A F G2 C/ D/ | E G c A G B, | D C2 z2 ||
w: say in this world you would hard-ly sup-pose, There was such a false maid as Ma-ri-a.
%
%    Chorus.
"^Chorus." C | C E G G F D | E C C C2 C/ C/ | C E c A G B, | D C2 z2 C/ C/ |
w: I may be to blame, but I love her the same, And my Feel-ings she tried hard to in-jure, She's as
c e c d B G | c A F G2 C/ C/ | E c A G F B, | D C2 z2 z |]
w: false, as she's fair, and she's twelve pounds a year, and she lives in the land of Green Gin-ger.


---

Click to play

To play or display ABC tunes, try concertina.net

Subject: RE: req/add: Land Of Green Ginger
From: Joe Offer
Date: 10 Jun 10 - 09:10 PM

"Faithless Maria" MIDI added, thanks to Artful Codger

Subject: RE: Lyr Req/Add: Land of Green Ginger/Faithless Maria
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 18 Oct 14 - 02:57 PM

I'll have 3 packets please. Who do I write the checque to?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req/Add: Land of Green Ginger/Faithless Maria
From: Richard Mellish
Date: 19 Oct 14 - 03:41 PM

Steve, I'm mystified by that posting of yours.

3 packets of what? Green ginger wine comes in a bottle.

And what's the relevance to this thread, in which the previous posting was over four years ago?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req/Add: Land of Green Ginger/Faithless Maria
From: GUEST
Date: 14 Mar 21 - 03:51 AM

It was called The "Shirley Temp,e Storybook"