Lyr Req: Stranger to this country

Subject: Lyr Req: Stranger to this country
From: GUEST,Skipy
Date: 10 Apr 04 - 10:41 AM

I'm a stranger to this country, from america I came
There are none here tath know me there are none that know my name


Don.t know the title.

I have done an advanced search in digitrad - no result

Thanks in advance fro your help.

Regards Skipy

Subject: Lyr Add: Stranger to this country
From: Sorcha
Date: 10 Apr 04 - 11:42 AM

I'm a stranger to this country, from America I came
There's no one here that kens me nor yet can tell my name
I came o'er tae this country tae wander for a while
Far frae my bonnie dearie, aye monie's the weary mile

Some say that I am rakish, some say that I am wild
Some say that I am guilty the lassies tae beguile
But I will prove them lying folk gin ye'll come alang wi' me
And be my leesome lassie on the plains o' Americay

Gie my regards tae Nancy wha bides on yonder hill
And likewise unto Betsy, she's a lass I like fu' well
But gie my love tae Maggie, for she's my heart's delight
I'd row her in my erms through a year lang winter's night

The ship that's on the saut saut sea maun sail without her sails
The wee wee fishies grow until they turn to muckle whales
In the middle o' the ocean maun grow a rowan tree
Afore that I prove false tae her that's gi'en her love tae me

So send me word my darlin' and westward I will sail
On a packet out of Leith my dear on a brisk and a pleasant gale
And when that I am landed, you'll plight your troth tae me
And we'll dance and sing thegether on the plains o' Americay

http://members.aol.com/tannahills2/lyrics/1067lyr9.htm

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Stranger to this country
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 10 Apr 04 - 01:54 PM

Starts out like the very old "When First Into This Country," in the DT. Title easily confused with "When First To This Country," also in the DT.

Sorcha, Thanks for the Tannahills' song.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Stranger to this country
From: Desert Dancer
Date: 10 Apr 04 - 01:57 PM

The song is "American Stranger". A search on that leads to this extensive thread American Stranger, another shorter one with a good set of words here, references to broadsides at the Bodleian Library here.

~ Becky in Tucson

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Stranger to this country
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 10 Apr 04 - 02:55 PM

Also known as "The Irish Stranger." Considered a variant of "When First Into This Country" in the Traditional Ballad Index, but the date of the Histed poem (1847), and suggested dates for "American Stranger" (1820-1824 for the Bodleian broadsheet I copied into the thread linked by Desert Dancer) suggest to me that the latter may be an earlier name- and a better one, since at least two other songs have that "first" in the title, causing confusion.

Suggested dates for "The Irish Stranger" broadsides in the Bodleian are about the same as for "American Stranger."

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Stranger to this country
From: Flash Company
Date: 11 Apr 04 - 09:56 AM

Think I heard this from Pete Seeger:-

When first unto this country a stranger I came.
I courted a fair maiden, Nancy was her name.
I courted her for love, her love I didn't obtain,
Do you think I've any reason or right to complain.

The rest of it has dropped out through the hole in my ozone layer!
Anyone else remember it?

FC

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Stranger to this country
From: Art Thieme
Date: 11 Apr 04 - 11:56 AM

Ewan MacColl and Isla Cameron did a fine and definitive version of this---with absolutely wonderful banjo work by Peggy Seeger. Maybe it was just Ewan on this track. Isla and Ewan alternated songs pretty much on this wonderful old LP album. Every song was a gem and Peggy has always been the most tasteful revival banjo player that ever was. She also added guitar backup when appropriate.

And Happy Traum did a great version of this song with guitar on a Kicking Mule LP album callled AMERICAN STRANGER if I recall right. There are some subtle and mind-boggling fast runs inside his version that has always amazed and befuddled me. I wish I could do it. His versions of trad songs are always inventive and very lovely yet right on in a way that does not detract from the great story being told.

Art Thieme

Subject: Lyr Add: WHEN FIRST UNTO THIS COUNTRY
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 11 Apr 04 - 06:32 PM

Flash Campany- it may be the version in the Peggy Seeger Songbook.

Lyr. Add: WHEN FIRST UNTO THIS COUNTRY (P. Seeger)

When first unto this country, a stranger I came.
I courted a fair maid and Nancy was her name.

I courted her for love, her love I didn't obtain;
Do you think I've any reason or right to complain?

I rode to see my Nancy, I rode both night and day,
Then I stole a fine white horse from Colonel William Gray.

The sheriff's men they followed and overtaken me,
They carted me away to the penitentiary.

They opened up the door and then they shoved me in,
They shaved off my head and they cleared off my chin.

They beat me and they banged me, they fed me on dry beans,
Till I wished to my own heart I'd never been a thief.

With my hands in my pockets and my cap set on so bold,
And my coat of all colors like Jacob's of old.

As Peggy Seeger noted in the songbook, "whole chunks of the plot seem to have been dropped." All in all, an unsatisfactory lyric.

Page 81, with chords and music, 1964, "Folk Songs of Peggy Seeger," Oak Publications.
See thread 15075 and collections for better lyrics. Thread 15075: Stranger

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Stranger to this country
From: Art Thieme
Date: 11 Apr 04 - 08:34 PM

But still a good song I've always thought. It is also on the NEW LOST CITY RAMBLERS---THE EARLY YEARS compilation CD on Smithsonian Folkways. We've been talking about that CD of the group with Tom Paley over on the thread looking for the lyrics to "Don't Put A Sales Tax On The Gals".

Art Thieme

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Stranger to this country
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 11 Apr 04 - 08:59 PM

The New Lost City Ramblers version is in the DT; title "When First to This Country," almost identical to the Peggy Seeger lyrics given above.
Stewie posted the Gant Family version, recorded by Lomax, thread 49741, apparently the source for both the Seeger and Rambler takes: When First to This Country

The versions in which our hero is hanged, imprisoned or both seems to be American, a departure from the cluster found in the British Isles, as noted by Stewie.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Stranger to this country
From: Flash Company
Date: 12 Apr 04 - 07:34 AM

Nice one Q, My name's Quinn, we Q's have to stick together.

FC

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Stranger to this country
From: GUEST,merdekaorang1125
Date: 29 Sep 04 - 10:51 AM

'Far From My Home' is sung by the Portway Peddlars (Len & Barbara Berry), on their LP 'Down the Green Groves'and in the accompanying booklet Barbara lists it as an Alfred Williams colection with a cat no OX259 and as collected from John Flux of Filkins and Frank Cook of Burford, both in Oxfordshire and not far apart. AW does not show it in his book 'Folk Songs of the Upper Thames' under any of the titles I've tried, including 'The Boys from Kilkenny' which I believe may be a similar song. The tune the Pedlars use is credited as coming from the singing of Graham Metcalf (a Yorkshireman resident in Oxford, England), but I don't know if he composed the tune or adapted it from elsewhere.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Stranger to this country
From: Fliss
Date: 29 Sep 04 - 12:45 PM

"When first unto this country, a stranger I came" has the same tune, more or less, to the hymn "Lord of all hopefulness", also an Irish hymn which I cant remember at the moment. Anyone know what the name of the tune is please? We play it at our sunday practice sessions as an Irish air.

cheers
Fliss

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Stranger to this country
From: jeffp
Date: 29 Sep 04 - 01:15 PM

The tune you are looking for is "Slane," which is also used for "Be Thou My Vision."

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Stranger to this country
From: Fliss
Date: 29 Sep 04 - 06:18 PM

Great thanks Jeff. Of course its "Be thou my vision" got Van Morrison singing it somewhere. Just couldnt remember earlier, senior moments!

The musicians at the practice will be pleased that it has a name.

We have a great practice every sunday 10-12.30. Irish music taken at a steady pace. So we have an age range of 12-78. All different instruments and abilities of the players.

So if anyone is in Shropshire - at home or on holiday - do come and join in. Its at the Birchmeadow Centre, Broseley.

We usually slope off to the Boat for lunch afterwards.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Stranger to this country
From: Flash Company
Date: 30 Sep 04 - 10:37 AM

Hey, I'll be in Ironbridge next week, unfortunately not at the weekend , so no Irish session (Damn!)

FC

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Stranger to this country
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 30 Sep 04 - 01:21 PM

The tune for "Slane" and the hymn "Be Thou My Vision" are in the Cyberhymnal, together with brief explanation. Slane Be Thou My Vision

The lyrics to "Lord of All Hopefulness" were written by Jan Struther ca. 1931; midi (of Slane) here: Lord of All Hopefulness

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Stranger to this country
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 30 Sep 04 - 01:42 PM

?No luck. Second day with trifocals- and so excuses, excuses. Cyberhymnal
May not be able to go directly to-
Be Thou My Vision- http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/b/t/btmvision.htm

Lord of All Hopefulness- www.oremus.org and enter title, which leads to a google search and direct entry from there. Maybe someone can figure out direct access.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Stranger to this country
From: Fliss
Date: 30 Sep 04 - 08:38 PM

Hi Flash Company
The Boat session is on Thursday evenings. The Boat is in Jackfield other side of river from Ironbridge.

http://www.streetmap.co.uk/newmap.srf?x=369500&y=302500&z=3&sv=369500,302500&st=4&mapp=newmap.srf&searchp=newsearch.srf&dn=580

Ignore the arrow. Its opposite side of river from Tar Tunnel.

Weve had a lot of swiss students in the BOat tonight. They are staying locally and have had a great evening. They borrowed instruments and joined in. Surprising how many Irish tunes they knew.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Stranger to this country
From: Cluin
Date: 30 Sep 04 - 08:46 PM

The Tannahill Weavers did a pretty good version of The American Stranger on their Land of Light album back in `86.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Stranger to this country
From: Cluin
Date: 30 Sep 04 - 08:47 PM

oh.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Stranger to this country
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 30 Sep 04 - 09:58 PM

All that stuff to do with Banks of the Bann (Slane, Lord of All Hopefulness etc) has been covered here before in some detail, sometimes even in discussions where it was relevant. That tune, and the various songs set to it, has nothing at all to do with the subject of this discussion, though Banks of the Bann does share a few words in its first line.

People who aren't familiar with the idiom frequently make the mistake of assuming that the apparent correspondence of a commonplace phrase implies some relationship between songs, but that is often -as here- not the case. Forgive me if I seem to be labouring the point, but it really would make life easier if we could stick to the matter in hand.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Stranger to this country
From: GUEST,Chris B (Born Again Scouser)
Date: 01 Oct 04 - 06:47 AM

Just like to echo what Art Thieme says about Happy Traum's version. The album (also called 'American Stranger') is absolutely delightful and Happy's version of the song segues into a cracking version of 'The 8th of January'. I've got a copy and no, you can't have it.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Stranger to this country
From: GUEST,Hugh Jampton
Date: 01 Oct 04 - 07:37 AM

ELSIE`S BAND do a superb version of "The American Stranger", very much the same as that posted by Sorcha but without the Scots expressions. They also sing of being aboard a "Falmouth packet" indicating the song has travelled well.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Stranger to this country
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 01 Oct 04 - 01:04 PM

In a discussion on the Ballad-L list some time ago, Steve Gardham pointed out what appears to be an earlier form of the song; a broadside called The Banks of the River, where the stranger is not from America, but from Yarmouth, and his intended destination is Jamaica. Steve cited editions of 1802 (Robertson of Glasgow) and c.1800 (Angus of Newcastle), around 20 years prior to any known American Stranger texts. You can see a later edition (undated but post 1818) at Bodleian Library Broadside Ballads:

The banks of the river

Incidentally, re. Q's post of 10 April: I'm not sure where the Ballad Index's reference to The Irish Stranger as an alternative title came from (it is a completely different song) but it may derive from a comment in Gale Huntington's Songs the Whalemen Sang, which I think was an editorial mistake.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Stranger to this country
From: Fliss
Date: 02 Oct 04 - 04:00 AM

Bull shit Malcolm... how booring life would be if we were all so pedantic! Some of us dont have the time to go trawling through all the past threads and links.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Stranger to this country
From: Betsy
Date: 02 Oct 04 - 08:37 AM

Skipy ,
Just in case you haven't got everything correct in your question maybe you want to check this out which sort of mixes up a lot of the info in this thread .It's in the DT

THE GREEN MOSSY BANKS OF THE LEA

When first from my country, a stranger, curiosity caused me to roam,
Over Europe I resolved to be a ranger, when I left Philadelphia, my home....................

There's another version there also - just trying to help not complicate matters.

The very time I heard the song was by Vin garbutt which went.......

When first in this country a stranger,curiosity caused me to roam,
To Europe I came as a ranger, when I left Philadelphia , my home....

BTW - hell of a tune !!

BEST O' LUCK.