Tune Req: Young and Old (C. Kingsley)

Subject: Tune Req: Young and Old (C. Kingsley)
From: GUEST,The Stage Manager
Date: 13 Aug 04 - 06:59 AM

More years ago than I care to relate a local Irish singer used to perform Charles Kingsley's Poem "Young and Old". I can only remember parts of the tune, and can't now put them together in a way that feels right.

I have a notion that this singer (who must now be dead) mentioned it as being set to a tune by Brendon Behan. Having a little knowledge of one and, some acquaintance with the other, this could mean the tune was: a) Borrowed/stolen by one or other of them   b) Largely made up on the spot by either of them   c) Behan never sang it and the story was a flight of Guinness fuelled bravado. d) Behan did actually devise a tune for the poem and I can't find it published anywhere.


Does anyone know of any settings for this poem?



Young and Old
When all the world is young, lad,
And all the trees are green;
And every goose a swan, lad,
And every lass a queen;
Then hey for boot and horse, lad,
And round the world away;
Young blood must have its course, lad,
And every dog his day.


When all the world is old, lad,
And all the trees are brown;
And all the sport is stale, lad,
And all the wheels run down;
Creep home, and take you place there,
The spent and maimed among:
God grant you find one face there,
You loved when all was young.


Bill

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Young and Old (C. Kingsley)
From: nutty
Date: 13 Aug 04 - 03:47 PM

Keith Marsden wrote a tune to this poem and it was recorded by hi group Cockersdale many years ago. It is also published in his songbook 'Picking Sooty Blackberries'.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Young and Old (C. Kingsley)
From: The Stage Manager
Date: 14 Aug 04 - 02:06 PM

Thanks Nutty,

Sooty Blackberries it is then.

Bill

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Young and Old (C. Kingsley)
From: Barbara
Date: 20 Feb 05 - 10:42 PM

Can someone here possibly post the tune or provide a link for it? A friend of mine is looking for this. I have two Cockersdale CDs, but it's not on either.
Blessings,
Barbara

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Young and Old (C. Kingsley)
From: nutty
Date: 21 Feb 05 - 01:03 PM

Barbara ..... if you could PM an email address to me ... I could send you a midi or a noteworthy file if you have that program

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Young and Old (C. Kingsley)
From: nutty
Date: 22 Feb 05 - 10:22 AM

These are the words in Picking Sooty Blackberries

When all the World is Young

When all the world is young, lad,
And all the leaves are green;
Every goose a swan, lad,
And every lass a queen;
Then hey for boot and horse, lad,
And round the world away;
Young blood must have its course, lad,
And every dog his day.


Then time is on your side, lad
With every colour bright
Age forever black, lad
And youth forever white
But time he changes sides lad
The colours slip away
The black and white of youth lad
Turn slowly all to grey


When all the world is old, lad,
And all the leaves are brown;
And all the sport is stale, lad,
And all the wheels run down;
Go home, and take you place there,
The spent and maimed among:
God grant you find one face there,
You loved when all was young.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Young and Old (C. Kingsley)
From: GUEST,zozimus
Date: 17 May 10 - 05:43 PM

Hi Stage Manager,
Hope you are still still round. I have a recording of Brendan Behan's mother singing "When All The World Was Young".It is possible Brendan gave her a melody for it. She recorded an L/P with the same title at the age of 78, her first recording. It is a different tune to what Keith Marsden used. Interesting that two different people independantly set the same poem to music.