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Origins: Young Johnny (The Green Bed) DigiTrad: GREEN BED JACKSON Related thread: (origins) Penguin: The Green Bed (10)
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Subject: ADD: My Johnny (The Green Bed) From: Joe Offer Date: 27 Oct 05 - 11:44 PM I received the following request in an e-mail: The tune is a lilting minor one, in the basic three chord 4/4 time. My grandfather may have edited the words, but this is what I remember: Young Johnny 's been on land, Young Johnny 's been on shore. The story in the song is that Johnny has asked for the hand of a pretty lass, but her father wants him to have money. When he comes back from Ireland... "Puts his hands into his pockets and pulls them, full of gold" But then Johnny says he doesn't want to marry the lass, after all, because her father is too hard to please. It's quite a stretch to remember, and the first line might be 'Young Johnny 's been to sea' instead of the way I remember Grampa singing it. Here's a version from the Max Hunter Collection: My Johnny Cat. #1170 (MFH #508) - As sung by O.B. Campbell, Vinita, Oklahoma on August 9, 1971 VERSE 1 My Johnny's been on th sea My Johnny's been on shore My Johnny's been to Ireland Where he has been before Your welcome home, dear Johnny Your welcome home, from sea Last night my daughter, Polly Was dreaming of thee VERSE 2 What luck did you have John Very bad indeed I lost my ship an' cargo Upon th raging sea Your welcome home, dear Johnny Your welcome home, from sea Last night my daughter, Polly Was dreaming of thee VERSE 3 Go bring your daughter Polly An' set 'er down by me To drown th meancholy And married we will be My daughter Polly's absent An' has been so today An' if she war at home, John She would not let you stay VERSE 4 My daughter Pollys' very rich N' you are very poor An' if she was at home, John She'd turn you out-of-doors John looked very weary An' hung down his head An' called for a candle To light 'im up to bed VERSE 5 Th beds are full of strangers An' have been so this week An' now poor Johnny Your lodging you must seek John looked upon th people An' looked upon them all He looked upon th landlady An' gave a reckoning call VERSE 6 Twenty shillings of th new An' thirty of the ole John then drew out his both hands Full of gold With th sight of th money Made the old lady rue I hope my daughter Polly Will soon return to you VERSE 7 I hope you are joking I hope you speak unjust Without any exception She loves John th best Down came Miss Polly With a smiling face She gave John a sweet kiss An' then a slight embrace You're welcome home, dear Johnny You're welcome home, from sea Th great beds are empty An' waiting for thee VERSE 8 Before I'd be within our beds I'd be within th street For when I had no money My lodging I might seek But now I have money I'll make th taverns roar For a bottle of brandy An' cider below Here's the entry from the Traditional Ballad Index: Johnny the Sailor (Green Beds) [Laws K36]DESCRIPTION: Johnny comes from sea and asks the innkeeper for a bed and the chance to see her daughter (Molly). Neither is granted. He reveals that his last trip made him rich; the innkeeper offers him all he asked. He ignores the offer; he will go where he is wantedAUTHOR: unknown EARLIEST DATE: 1905 (Belden) KEYWORDS: sea money courting greed landlord sailor FOUND IN: Britain(England(South)) US(Ap,MW,NE,SE,So) Canada(Mar) Ireland REFERENCES (16 citations): Laws K36, "Johnny the Sailor (Green Beds)" Belden, pp. 160-162, "Green Beds" (2 texts plus reference to 1 more) Randolph 53, "Johnny the Sailor" (3 texts plus 2 excerpts, 1 tune) Randolph/Cohen, pp. 70-72, "Johnny the Sailor" (1 text, 1 tune -- Randolph's 53A) Eddy 32, "The Green Bed" (1 text) Gardner/Chickering 24, "The Green Beds" (2 texts, 1 tune) Warner 49, "Captain John" (1 text, 1 tune) BrownII 108, "Green Beds" (2 texts plus 2 excerpts and mention of 1 more) Hudson 42, pp. 156-158, "Young Johnny" (1 text) Brewster 31, "Young Johnny" (2 texts, 1 tune) Sandburg, pp. 430-431, "Jackson" (1 text, 1 tune) Vaughan Williams/Lloyd, pp. 48-49, "The Green Bed" (1 text, 1 tune) SHenry H779, p. 54, "The Sailor in the Alehouse" (1 text, 1 tune) JHCox 124, "Young Johnny" (1 text) Silber-FSWB, p. 142, "Jackson" (1 text) DT 323, JACKBEDS* JACKBED2* Roud #276 RECORDINGS: Warde Ford, "Johnny" (AFS 4200 A1, 1938; tr.; in AMMEM/Cowell) CROSS-REFERENCES: cf. "The Wild Rover No More" (plot) cf. "The Saucy Sailor (Jack and Jolly Tar II) [Laws K38]" cf. "Snapoo" (plot) ALTERNATE TITLES: The Liverpool Landlady Jack Tar Notes: Laws's numeration of the ballad subfamily known as "Jackson" is confused. In Native American Balladry he lists it as an American song, with no known relatives, and numbers it as dH40. However, in British Broadsides, he lists it as a version of "Johnny the Sailor." The latter identification is clearly correct, even though Sandburg describes his text as a "survivor of the years of the War with Mexico." - RBW File: LK36 Go to the Ballad Search form The Ballad Index Copyright 2005 by Robert B. Waltz and David G. Engle. |
Subject: ADD Version: Young Johnny (The Green Bed) From: Joe Offer Date: 27 Oct 05 - 11:50 PM One more version from The Max Hunter Collection: Young Johnny Cat. #1404 (MFH #508) - As sung by Mary Jo Davis, Fayetteville, Arkansas on July ?, 1953 VERSE 1 Young Johnny's been in Ireland Young Johnny's been on sea Young Johnny's now in Ireland Where he has been before So, welcome young Johnny So, welcome --- --- --- VERSE 2 What luck, what luck, young Johnny What luck had you on sea Bad luck, bad luck, said Johnny Bad luck had I on sea I lost my ship, my cargo too Out on th raging sea But bring down your daughter, Polly And married we will be VERSE 3 O, Johnny, she is absent An' won't be here this day And if she were here I'm sure you could not stay For she is very rich And you are very poor And if she were here She would turn you from th door VERSE 4 Young Johnny being sleepy He hung down his head And called for a candle To light himself to bed My beds are full of strangers An' have been all this week An' so with that con-------- ---- --- --- you must seek VERSE 5 He looked upon th poeple He looked upon them all He looked upon th landlord To him he gave a call Saying, here are thirty of th new And twenty of th old With that he drew from his pocket His both hands full of gold VERSE 6 O Johnny, young Johnny I merely spoke in jest I know I've no exception I'm sure I love you best My great beds are empty An' have been all this day My great beds are empty And there you may stay VERSE 7 Before I'd lie within your door I'd lie out on th street For when I had no money My lodging I might seek An' now moneys plenty My head is in a whirl With a bottle of sweet brandy And on my knee a girl VERSE 8 Come all you young people Wherever you may be Who expect to make your money Out on th raging sea Be sure to make good use of it And lay it up on store For without that companion She'll turn you from th door |
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