Lyr Req: Pretty Little Miss Out in the Garden

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Pretty Little Miss Out in the Garden
From: Jim Carroll
Date: 02 Jun 18 - 11:12 AM

If you can give me either an e'Mail address or a postal one I'll happily send you one RA
Not happy putting mine up publicly, but I'm sure if you contact Joe Offer he'll oblige
All our Clare songs are on line - we're hoping Limerick Uni will put the Travellers collection up in the not to distant future
Jim

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Pretty Little Miss Out in the Garden
From: GUEST,RA
Date: 02 Jun 18 - 10:22 AM

Thanks Jim Carroll. Is there a publicly available recording of Mary Delaney singing this song?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Pretty Little Miss Out in the Garden
From: Brian Peters
Date: 02 Jun 18 - 09:23 AM

Thanks, Jim, that's a fine version.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Pretty Little Miss Out in the Garden
From: Jim Carroll
Date: 02 Jun 18 - 02:48 AM

Something we discovered about this song while we were researching the notes for a CD of Clare songs:

Lady in Her Father’s Garden (Laws N42; Roud 264)
Tom Lenihan, Knockbrack, Miltown Malbay, Recorded 1980
“This is probably one of the most popular of all the 'broken token’ songs, in which parting lovers are said to break a ring in two, each half being kept by the man and woman. At their reunion, the man produces his half as a proof of his identity. Robert Chambers, in his Book of Days (1862-1864) describes a betrothal custom using a 'gimmal' or linked ring:
'Made with a double and sometimes with a triple link, which turned upon a pivot, it could shut up into one solid ring... It was customary to break these rings asunder at the betrothal which was ratified in a solemn manner over the Holy Bible, and sometimes in the presence of a witness, when the man and woman broke away the upper and lower rings from the central one, which the witness retained. When the marriage contract was fulfilled at the altar, the three portions of the ring were again united, and the ring used in the ceremony'.
The custom of exchanging rings as a promise of fidelity lasted well into the nineteenth century in Britain and was part of the plot of Thomas Hardy’s Far From the Madding Crowd. These 'Broken Token' songs often end with the woman flinging herself into the returned lover's arms and welcoming him back. Tipperary Travelling woman, Mary Delaney, who also sang it for us, knew it differently and had the suitor even more firmly rejected:

For it's seven years brings an alteration,
And seven more brings a big change to me,
Oh, go home young man, choose another sweetheart,
Your serving maid I'm not here to be!”

Reference:
The Book of Days, Robert Chambers, W & R Chambers, 1863-64.

LISTEN HERE

Jim Carroll

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Pretty Little Miss Out in the Garden
From: GUEST,Anonymous
Date: 01 Jun 18 - 11:59 PM

Another version by Big Medicine is much like Cousin Emmy's, but has:

"This is the ring you placed upon him,"

and "This is your LONESOME single soldier."

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Pretty Little Miss Out in the Garden
From: Mick Pearce (MCP)
Date: 20 Feb 12 - 07:58 AM

Here's the New Lost City Rambler's version. It's pretty close, but not identical, to the Cousin Emmy version Jim posted above. battle slain is the more usual expression you come across, but battle lain seems to be what they sing.

Mick

---

PRETTY LITTLE MISS

Pretty little miss, out in the garden;
Strange young man come riding by.
Down at the gate he did address her,
Saying, "Pretty little miss, won't you marry me?"

"Oh, no, kind sir, I have a love on the ocean,
Seven years long, sailing on the sea.
And if he sails a-seven years longer
Not a man on earth can marry me."

<banjo break>

"Perhaps your loved one he is drowned.
Perhaps he's in some battle lain.
Perhaps he's stole some pretty gal 'n' married,
You'll never see your love again."

"Oh if he's drowned, I hope he's happy,
Or if he's in some battle lain,
Or if he's stole some purty girl 'n' married
I'll love the girl that'd married him."

<fiddle break>

He pulled his hands both out of his pocket,
His fingers being both keen and small.
This is the ring he placed upon it,
Down at his feet, there she did fall.

He picked her up in his arms so tender,
Kisses he gave her, one, two, three.
"This is your lonesome single soldier?
Returning home for to married be."


Source: New Lost City Ramblers - 50 Years: Where Do You Come From? Where Do You Go?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Pretty Little Miss Out in the Garden
From: Mick Pearce (MCP)
Date: 20 Feb 12 - 05:45 AM

The New Lost City Ramblers' version originally asked for can be downloaded from Smithsonian Folkways: 50 Years: Where Do You Come From? Where Do You Go? New Lost City Ramblers.

There are three of the tracks than you can download for free in FLAC or MP3 format: Crow Black Chicken; Old Joe Bone; Pretty Little Miss.


Mick

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Pretty Little Miss Out in the Garden
From: Bob the Postman
Date: 20 Feb 12 - 01:09 AM

Blickie for Jes's URL above.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Pretty Little Miss Out in the Garden
From: GUEST,JesPiddlin
Date: 19 Feb 12 - 08:13 PM

I have a Squidoo lens at http://www.squidoo.com/the-maidens-promise that tells the story of another version of this song, which we have tried to find clues on for years. We keep finding these close matches, but not the same words. Grandma was always good to keep the words to the songs from changing, all the years she sang them. So, I know this version was something she heard. Please check out the link above and let me know if anyone relates to the small differences.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Pretty Little Miss Out in the Garden
From: GUEST,999
Date: 21 Sep 11 - 09:54 AM

It appears on Cowboy lyrics as Pretty Little Miss in the Garden.

Subject: Lyr Add: PRETTY LITTLE MISS OUT IN THE GARDEN
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 21 Sep 11 - 09:48 AM

Cousin Emmy's recording can be heard on her album "Kentucky Mountain Ballads" (Master Classics Records, 2009). I listened on Spotify, and made this transcription. I have boldfaced the words that are different from the ones GUEST,Dale posted above. I have also added punctuation.


PRETTY LITTLE MISS OUT IN THE GARDEN
As sung by "Cousin Emmy"

Pretty little miss out in the garden,
Strange young man came riding by.
Down at the gate he did address her,
Saying, "Pretty little miss, won't you marry me?"

"No, kind sir, I have a love on the ocean,
Seven year long, sailed on the sea,
And if he sails on seven years longer,
Not a man on earth can marry me."

"Perhaps your love he is drownded.
Perhaps he's in some battle land.
Perhaps he stole some pretty girl and married.
You'll never see your love again."

"If he's drownded, I hope he's happy,
Or if he's in some battle land,
Or if he stole some pretty girl and married,
I'll love the girl that married him."

He pulled his hands both out of his pockets,
His fingers bein' both keen and small.
"This is th'ring you placed upon here."
Down by his feet she did fall.

He picked her up in his arms so tender.
Kiss he gave her, one, two, three.
"This is your little single soldier
Returning home for to marry thee."

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Pretty Little Miss Out in the Garden
From: GUEST,John Foxen
Date: 17 Sep 11 - 11:36 AM

Tom McConville does a fine version called Pretty Fair Maid on his Tommy On Song CD

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Pretty Little Miss Out in the Garden
From: GUEST
Date: 16 Sep 11 - 12:27 PM

May Creasy is actually Cynthia May Carver, who performed as Cousin Emmy.
She was married to Johnny (Afred) Creasy at the time.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Pretty Little Miss Out in the Garden
From: Tim Chesterton
Date: 27 Feb 11 - 05:29 AM

Tim O'Brien does a fine version of this on his album 'Fiddler's Green'.

You can hear it here.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Pretty Little Miss Out in the Garden
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 27 Feb 11 - 12:21 AM

The US Copyright Office says PRETTY LITTLE MISS OUT IN THE GARDEN was registered in 1941 by Mae Creasy & Alfred Creasy of Knoxville, Tenn.

The Online 78-rpm Discographical Project says PRETTY LITTLE MISS OUT IN THE GARDEN was recorded by Cousin Emmy in 1947.

The Journal of Country Music says Mae Creasy performed as "Cousin Emmy."

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Pretty Little Miss Out in the Garden
From: GUEST,Deana
Date: 21 Feb 11 - 09:26 AM

My grandmother sang this song with a gay cowboy riding by, not a sailor and he had been gone for four years. The question section had what if he an indian slave, drown in a river or some foreign girl marry. Any one heard it with this version?

Subject: RE: Pretty little miss out in the garden
From: GUEST,Dale
Date: 06 Aug 03 - 04:33 PM

Well, thank you, Laura, for stopping by! Do come again.

That line gave me a lot of trouble. No idea how I got ring instead of being. I knew it didn't sound right, but I couldn't fix it. I'll alert Joe to your correction, and he'll fix it for us.   

You do have some fans here. Most recently we were discussing Carolina Home.

I work on the recording project at the Ozark Folk Center, and was pleased to run across the recordings from when you were a guest there.

Subject: RE: Pretty little miss out in the garden
From: GUEST,Laura Boosinger
Date: 06 Aug 03 - 02:25 PM

I just found this listing of the lyrics I sing to "A Pretty Fair Miss out All in the Garden." The line that they previous writer posted as "awkward" should read: His fingers being both lean and small"
Hope that makes more sense!
laura

Subject: RE: Pretty little miss out in the garden
From: masato sakurai
Date: 26 Feb 03 - 07:05 AM

Other versions in the DT:

THE YOUNG AND SINGLE SAILOR

JOHN RILEY

JOHN REILLY.

See also The Traditional Ballad Index: Pretty Fair Maid (The Maiden in the Garden; The Broken Token) [Laws N42].

~Masato

Subject: RE: Pretty little miss out in the garden
From: Jeanie
Date: 26 Feb 03 - 05:00 AM

And then there's this version:

Fair Maid Walking

Dale - I reckon she realized who he was right from the beginning, and was having a bit of a game !

- jeanie

Subject: RE: Pretty little miss out in the garden
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 26 Feb 03 - 04:33 AM

Fair young maid all in her garden
Strange young man passes her by
Said young maid will you marry me
This then sir was her reply.

Oh no kind sir I cannot marry thee
For I've a love who sails all on the sea
He's been gone for seven long years
Still no man may marry me.

What if he's in some battle slain
Or drownded in the deep salt sea
What if he's found some other love
And he and his love both married be.

I remember this fragment, but can't for the moment think where from, if I can find more info, I will post it.

Subject: Lyr Add: PRETTY LITTLE MISS OUT IN THE GARDEN
From: GUEST, Dale
Date: 26 Feb 03 - 01:46 AM

Some things just take longer than others. Here they are, WAY less than five years.   

These lyrics are definitely related to the songs mentioned by Joe, and as Ewan says, "I think they perhaps sang Cousin Emmy's version."

Never have figured out how in these songs that the sweet young miss never has the slightest clue that she is talking to her lover returned from over the sea until he says so. I do think the line, "I'd love the girl that would marry him" is one of the neatest thoughts ever put into a song, especially as sung by Laura.

Pretty Little Miss Out In The Garden
From the singing of Laura Boosinger, My Carolina Home. Upstream 888, 1990
Laura says,"From the singing of Cousin Emmy"

A pretty fair miss, all out in her garden
A strange young man came riding by
Down at the gate he did address her
Saying, pretty fair miss, won't you be my bride?

Well, no kind sir, I've a love on the ocean
For seven years long, he's sailed on the sea
And if he sails seven years longer
No man on earth could marry me

Perhaps your love is drowned in the ocean
Perhaps he's in some battle land
Perhaps he's courted a pretty girl and married
You'll never see your love again

Well if he's gone, I hope he's happy
Or if he's in some battle land
Or if he's courted a pretty girl and married
I'd love the girl that would marry him

He pulled his hands both out of his pockets
His finger's ring both lean and small       (this line is a bit awkward)
Here is the ring you placed upon them
Down at his feet, she did fall

He picked her up in his arms so tender
And kisses he gave her, one, two, three
I am your pretty single soldier
Returning home for to marry thee

The Laura Boosinger album, by the way, is highly recommended. When The Roses Bloom In Dixieland, Sweet Sunny South, Grandfather's Clock, I Will Arise, Under The Weeping Willow Tree, What'll We Do With The Baby-O, Free Little Bird, Over The Mountain, Wondrous Love, Pretty Little Miss Out In The Garden, Are You Tired Of Me My Darlin', My Carolina Home/Carolina Moon.

Subject: RE: Pretty little miss out in the garden
From: Ewan McV
Date: 03 Oct 98 - 06:01 PM

Second verse, by the way, is

Oh, no, kind sir, I have a love on the ocean Seven years sailed on the sea And if he sails for seven years longer No man on earth shall marry me

Subject: RE: Pretty little miss out in the garden
From: Ewan McV
Date: 03 Oct 98 - 05:58 PM

Ed, I can't tell from your message if the verse I quoted is the lyric you want. I won't type the whole lyric out unless you need that particular version. Let me know if it's the one.

Ewan

Subject: RE: Pretty little miss out in the garden
From: Ed Gould
Date: 03 Oct 98 - 04:21 PM

Thanks for the input. It seems the word's I've heard are very close in theme to the broken Token.

Ed

Subject: RE: Pretty little miss out in the garden
From: Ewan McV
Date: 30 Sep 98 - 06:50 PM

I think they perhaps sang Cousin Emmy's version of a song which has some dozens of variants of The Broken Token :

Pretty little miss out in the garden Strange young man came riding by Down at the gate he did adress her Saying 'Pretty little miss, won't you marry me?"

If that verse hits the spot, post a message and I'll hack out the rest for you.

Subject: RE: Pretty little miss out in the garden
From: Joe Offer
Date: 29 Sep 98 - 02:17 PM

Ed, I'm wondering if either of these is the song you're looking for:

THE BROKEN TOKEN

PRETTY LITTLE MISS

Click on the song titles to get to the lyrics, and let us know if either one is the right song. Otherwise, could you give us a few more phrases of the song to go on?
-Joe Offer-

Subject: Pretty little miss out in the garden
From: Ed
Date: 29 Sep 98 - 01:58 PM

Hi: I'm looking for the words to Pretty Little miss out in the garden as sung by the New Lost City Ramblers.

Thanks