Lyr Req: Jon Loomes' Wild Boar (#18)

Subject: Lyr Req: Jon Loomes' Wild Boar (#18)
From: Roberto
Date: 16 Jul 05 - 12:16 PM

A need a general check to this transcription of The Wild Boar (F. J. Child n° 18) as sung by Jon Loomes. The notes say it is from an Appalachian version, I think the one in Bronson from the singing of Samuel Harmon, Tennesse, 1939. I'm not sure of the last line: boldly he's marched home again. Thank you. R

Wild Boar
Jon Loomes, Fearful Symmetry, Fellside FECD186, 2005.

Abram Bailey had three sons
As he was a noble hunter
And he is to the wildwood gone
As he was a noble hunter

As he's marched down by the Greenwood side
A pretty girl O there he spied
A pretty girl O there he spied
As he was a noble hunter

There is a wild boar in this wood
As you are a noble hunter
He'll crunch your bones and he'll drink your blood
As you are a noble hunter
Well, it's how can I this wild boar see?
Wind up your horn and he'll come to thee
Wind up your horn and he'll come to thee
As you are a noble hunter

He's put his horn up to his mouth
As he was a noble hunter
He's blown to the East,West, North and South
As he was a noble hunter
The wild boar's heard him in his den
And he's run to meet him there and then
Run to meet him there and then
As he was a noble hunter

They fought three hours by the day
As he was a noble hunter
At length he did this wild boar slay
As he was a noble hunter
Now as he's marched down by the wild boar's den
He saw the bones of a thousand men
Saw the bones of a thousand men
As he was a noble hunter

He's met the old witch wife on the bridge
As he was a noble hunter
Begone you rogue, you've killed my pig
As you are a noble hunter
Now, it's these three things that I crave of thee
Your hawk and your hound and your gay lady
Your hawk and your hound and your gay lady
As you are a noble hunter

Well, these three thinks you'll not have of me
As I am a noble hunter
Neither hawk nor hound nor gay lady
As I am a noble hunter
He split the old witch wife to the chin
And boldly he's marched home again
Boldly he's marched home again
As he was a noble hunter

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Jon Loomes' Wild Boar (#18)
From: treewind
Date: 16 Jul 05 - 12:55 PM

Jon Loomes is a MudCatter. In case he doesn't see this thread, I suggest you send a PM to "English Jon". (you might get a reply eventually...)

Anahata

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Jon Loomes' Wild Boar (#18)
From: Roberto
Date: 16 Jul 05 - 12:57 PM

Thank you. I'll do that right now. R

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Jon Loomes' Wild Boar (#18)
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 16 Jul 05 - 01:50 PM

In thread 50640, Turtle Old Man (27 Aug 02) posted the lyrics of Samuel Harmon's (Tennessee) "Wild Boar," which Branson includes in Group A No. 2, pp. 71-72. Wild Boar

If this is the basis for the version sung by Jon Loomes, a number of changes were made, some necessary to render the song understandable to an audience. The first verse by Harmon:

Abram Bailey he'd three sons
Blow your horn center*
And he is through the wildwood gone
Just like a jovial hunter.

Last verse:
He split the old witch wife to the chin
Blow your horn center
And on his way he went ag'in
Just like a jovial hunter.

* Necessary to change this- no one knows what is meant. 'Centaur' suggested by Bronson but it could have been 'hunter.' 'Jovial' becomes 'noble.'