Dancers of Stanton Drew/Wedding at Stanton Mews

Subject: Wedding at Stanton Mews
From: Johannes Schiefner
Date: 08 Feb 99 - 04:08 PM

Found this song on an old Bully Wee Band record ( "MAdmen of Gotham") without the lyrics printed out. Can anybody supply them?

Subject: RE: Wedding at Stanton Mews
From:
Date: 09 Feb 99 - 05:56 AM

I have a song called 'The Dancers of Stanton Drew' on an old album (c. 1975). It is about a wedding party that hires another fiddler when the first one refuses to go on playing music on a Saturday. He turns out to be the devil, and turns them all to stone. Stanton Drew is in Dorset, I think, and the song refers to some standing stones in the area. But I'm not sure about that. If it's the one you mean I could bring it in next week. (I'll be away for a few days.) - Susanne

Subject: RE: Wedding at Stanton Mews
From: Johannes Schiefner
Date: 11 Feb 99 - 11:46 AM

Yes, indeed the song title is "The wedding at Stanton Drews" - sorry for the misspelling. I have listened over the song again and from what I catch - not being a native English speaker myself - it must be the very same one. So I am looking forward to hearing more about it here. - Josie

Subject: RE: Wedding at Stanton Mews
From: Alan of Australia
Date: 12 Feb 99 - 10:12 AM

G'day,
Here's a song that fits the description. If anyone knows more let us know. Especially the name of the author.

THE WEDDING AT STANTON DREW

The sun shone hot on the holy grey stone walls of the village church
And from their homes along the road the villagers they marched
All in their best they all were dressed to greet the bride and groom
Yes laughter filled the air that fateful day at Stanton Drew.

The sermon o'er the couple kissed the service now is done
And to the village green the congregation now must run
The piper strikes a merry note and boldly starts to play
We'll eat and drink and laugh and sing and dance away the day.

All the food is gone the wine's all drunk they only want to dance
And any pretty girl who wants to rest can't stand a chance
But as the village clock strikes twelve to end the wedding day
The piper blows his last note and his music fades away.

Oh piper won't you play for me the lady softly begged
But the piper stood with his pipes beside and he firmly shook his head
Midnight has struck it's Sunday now I can no longer play
For it's only the devil's children will dance on the sabbath day.

Well they loudly scoffed they scorned the man for having such beliefs
But trusting men of God will always stand close by their faith
No bribery nor change to praise(???) could ever bring him back
And no-one noticed join the ring the man all dressed in black.

Diabolical (original meaning) fiddle lead break.

Oh piper won't you play for me the lady softly begged
But the piper stood with his pipes beside and he firmly shook his head
Midnight has struck it's Sunday now I can no longer play
For it's only the devil's children will dance on the sabbath day.

What can I do the lady cried we'd only just begun
But with no music for your ears you might as well go home
Well I'll play the violin for you a voice came from the back
And that is when they turned and saw the man all dressed in black.

Now no-one knew just what it was that chilled your very soul
But something in this stranger's way just made your blood run cold
And then his music soared away up through the village street
The rhythm held each wedding guest and brought them to their feet.

They danced and danced till each and every one was fit to drop
And as his music soared away the time came to a stop
I'll play the violin for you a voice came from the back
And that is when they turned and saw the man all dressed in black.

Oh the wind it howled the lightning flashed and thunder loudly cracked
I'll make you dance the devil laughed till the flesh falls from your back
Then suddenly the music stopped the man in black was gone
Of the bride & groom & their wedding guests there was nothing left but stone.

Well the sun came up on the Sunday morn and dew lay on the ground
The piper stood by the ring of stones and he sadly looked around
As he understood just what he saw his eyes were full of tears
And all the while the lady's words kept ringing in his ears.

Oh piper won't you play for me the lady had softly begged
But the piper stood with his pipes beside and he sadly shook his head
Midnight it came it's Sunday now I could no longer play
And it was only the devil's children that danced on the sabbath day.

Oh piper won't you play for me the lady softly begged
But the piper stood with his pipes beside and he firmly shook his head
Midnight has struck it's Sunday now I can no longer play
For it's only the devil's children will dance on the sabbath day.

Cheers,
Alan

Subject: RE: Wedding at Stanton Mews
From:
Date: 16 Mar 99 - 04:13 AM

Alan's song is not the one I have. For the latter see another thread, 'Stanton Drew, need words'. Sorry my knowledge of HTML is so basic I haven't dared to provide links so far. - Susanne

Subject: Lyr Add: DANCERS OF STANTON DREW^^
From: Stewie
Date: 21 Nov 99 - 12:32 AM

In another thread, there was mention of the Yetties in connection with 'Song of the Western Men'. That reminded me of another great song that the Yetties recorded. Actually, I had it from a good mate, Phil Beck, (whom any Oz people with WA folk connections will know; he's now with Hobson's Choice) but he learned it from a Yetties record. A song based on a legend surrounding one of the ubiquitous stone circles in the British Isles. It's a good'un. It does not appear to be in the DT, and it would be a worthy addition.

DANCERS OF STANTON DREW

Midsummer's eve it fell on a Saturday
Sue and William were to be wed
They had music played by a fiddler
'Let's go dancing, William', she said

Refrain:
They danced, danced all around
Danced, danced to the fiddler's sound

Midnight struck and then cried the fiddler
'Dancing on a Sunday wouldn't be right'
Sue gave a laugh, 'Don't care if to hell I go
'I'll find another fiddler tonight'

Off went the fiddler cursing and grumbling
Then another fiddler came along the way
'You'd like to dance and I'd like to play for you'
Tunes he played both merry and gay

'Stop', cried the dancers, 'No', said the fiddler
He kept on in spite of all their noes
They couldn't stop their jerking and stumbling
Quick as a flash he turned them into stone

Stanton Drew's in the county of Somerset
That's where the devil played at Sue's request
They paid the price for dancing on a Sunday
Ever as stones they will stay at rest

SOURCE: The Yetties 'Our Friends – The Yetties' Argo LP ZFB 32

WRITER: Parker/Holland EFDSS Publications (Information on label on record itself)

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Dancers of Stanton Drew
From: alison
Date: 21 Nov 99 - 12:55 AM

Here's a picture of Stanton Drew (look under "stone circles"),...from a great site, with heaps of stone circles, burial mounds etc....

slainte

alison

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Dancers of Stanton Drew
From: alison
Date: 21 Nov 99 - 12:57 AM

Stewie, do you have a tune?

slainte

alison

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Dancers of Stanton Drew
From: Stewie
Date: 21 Nov 99 - 02:44 AM

Alison, only on a scratchy old Yetties album.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Dancers of Stanton Drew
From: Lorraine
Date: 21 Nov 99 - 07:50 AM

I sing that song too. I found it on an Eileen McGann album but which one I don't remember and it appears to be hiding from me at this moment. I believe she credits the authorship to a Canadian named Paddy Tully but I may really have that messed up. When we went to Ireland and England this past summer I dragged my poor unsuspecting family to Stanton Drew and we were all astounded wtih the site. Feelings of magic and awe to walk down a lane through a sheep guarding gate and into the field of grazing sheep and huge standing stones. This was our introduction to standing stones and a fine one. We were there for ages communing to the stones both my 11 and 17 year old say it was their favorite spot as there were no tourist stands- just an honesty box at the beginning of the lane. Sorry I have no skill at rendering music to paper so I'm no help there.--Lorraine

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Dancers of Stanton Drew
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 21 Nov 99 - 12:58 PM

Oooh,this is a different one, I have the Wedding at Stanton Drew, same stone circle, same story, different worms.

Can't remember them at the moment, had my song book stolen 2 years ago, and still haven't managed to replace all of them. I'm trying to remember it, but swiss cheese brain keeps playing 'The Devil came down to Georgia' at me. The only lines I can remember is ' no one noticed, joining them, a man all dressed in black', and 'well I'll play the violin for you, said the man, yada yada yada'.

I did have it on a cassette, but that has gone the way of all things in a house with a toddler, a slob and two cats.

If anyone can suggest........ not that!, you know what I mean....

LTS

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Dancers of Stanton Drew
From: alison
Date: 22 Nov 99 - 12:17 AM

If eiterh of you has a mic attached to the computer you can play or sing it in and send me a voicemail.. and I'll transcribe it...

slainte

alison

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Dancers of Stanton Drew
From: sophocleese
Date: 22 Nov 99 - 12:23 AM

Lorraine, it's on her Turn it Around album. She says she learned it from Paddy Tutty but doesn't mention authorship. Sorry alison I don't have a mic attached to my computer or I'd try and figure a way to get it to you.

Subject: RE: Wedding at Stanton Mews
From: MMario
Date: 07 Mar 02 - 01:44 PM

refresh - anyone know the tune for this one?

Subject: RE: Wedding at Stanton Mews
From: Jimmy C
Date: 07 Mar 02 - 02:02 PM

I have " The Dancers of Stanton Drrw" on a tape by Eileen McGann. I am having trouble locating it, I may have loaned it to a friend. What I remember about the song is the chorus
They danced, danced, danced all around
They danced, danced to the fiddlers sound

I believe the first verse started with
Michelmass it fell on a Sunday"
or words to that effect. When the second fiddler came along he said " You want to dance
And I want to play for you
So I'll play till the break of dawn

When morning came they all were tired dancing but could not stop while the fiddler kept playing. He eventually turned the wedding party into stone pillars. I have heard they have some stone pillars near Stanton Drew, which may have something to do with the origin of the song. I believe the locals there refer to the pillars as "The dancers" I will keep lookin for the tape. Hope this is the one you want. If I can't find the words I am sure the song mentioned above by (sky@worldmusic) is the same one.

Jimmy

Subject: RE: Wedding at Stanton Mews
From: MMario
Date: 07 Mar 02 - 02:06 PM

The tune for the one you've mentioned is already posted her in the forum. I'm looking for the tune to the lyrics posted in this thread.

Thanks for the offer tho'

Subject: RE: Wedding at Stanton Mews
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 07 Mar 02 - 05:49 PM

Stanton Drew is in Somerset.... not Dorset.

I have/had the same recording of the Bully Wee and there are other threads about this song on here somewhere, maybe a JoeClone can find them and blicky please?

LTS

Subject: RE: Wedding at Stanton Mews
From: Hrothgar
Date: 08 Mar 02 - 03:57 AM

As far as I remember (I haven't heard it for donkey's years):

Midsummer's Eve it fell on a Saturday,
Sue and William went to be wed.
They had music played by a fiddler,
"Let's go dancing" William he said.

CHORUS:
They danced, danced, danced around
Danced, danced, to the fiddler's sound.

Midnight came and "Stop!" said the fiddler,
"Dancing on a Sunday wouldn't be right."
Sue gave a laugh, "Don't care if to hell I go,
"I'll find another fiddler tonight."

He went off and left them a-grumbling,
Then another fiddler came along the way,
"You'd like to dance and I'd like to play for you,"
Tunes he played both merry and gay.

"Stop!" cried the dancers, "No" said the fiddler,
He carried on in spite of all their moans.
They couldn't stop their jerking and a-stumbling,
Then in a flash he turned them to stone.

Stanton Drew in the county of Somerset,
That's where the devil played at Sue's request,
They paid the price of dancing on a Sunday,
Now they are standing all at rest.

Don't know the author, and I'd be about 90% certain from the style of it that it is not traditional.

Hope I have all the line breaks right.

Subject: RE: Wedding at Stanton Mews
From: Teribus
Date: 08 Mar 02 - 05:04 AM

The version that Hrothgar posted was recorded by the Yetties ages ago, sorry I can't lay my hands on the details as I am not at home, but I think the name of the recording was "All at Sea".

Cheers,

Bill.

Subject: RE: Wedding at Stanton Mews
From: MMario
Date: 08 Mar 02 - 08:09 AM

Lots of information people - but on the wrong song! The one hrothgar posted is in the DT and we have the tune. I'm looking for a tune or any other information regarding the lyrics posted by Alan of Oz in the Feb 12 '99 posting in this thread.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Dancers of Stanton Drew
From:
Date: 04 Nov 02 - 12:54 PM

Hi,
I re-released this song on my CD "The Roving Jewel". When I originally recorded it on my first self-titled recording, I had learned it from some people in England in 1978, and thought it was traditional. When I did the re-release, I did some research and found out that it had been previously recorded in the 1960s I believe, and the author cited was Holland/Parker, published by EDFSS Publications.

Paddy Tutty
Saskatoon, SK Canada
http://www.prairiedruid.net

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Dancers of Stanton Drew
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 04 Nov 02 - 01:17 PM

To be more precise: words by Muriel Holland, music by Jim Parker; published in English Dance and Song, vol.33 number 3, 1971.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Dancers of Stanton Drew
From: mg
Date: 04 Nov 02 - 04:41 PM

Hi Paddy...didn't you come to St. John's Newfoundland a few times between around 74-76 and sing at the folk club there?

mg

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Dancers of Stanton Drew
From: Tinkercat
Date: 04 Nov 02 - 04:50 PM

Hi Liz,
your bits of a different version rang a bell. I think that version is on a Bully Wee record, don't know which, though.
Cheers
TC

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Dancers of Stanton Drew
From: GUEST,Moleskin Joe
Date: 05 Nov 02 - 04:31 AM

It's on their Madmen of Gotham LP.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Dancers of Stanton Drew
From: Santa
Date: 05 Nov 02 - 04:14 PM

I thought the only appearance of Stanton Drew was on Adge Cutler's song of political protest "When the Common market Comes to Stanton Drew"

"...flamingoing down on the village green...."

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Dancers of Stanton Drew
From: My guru always said
Date: 05 Nov 02 - 04:31 PM

Alison: If you've not had anything high-tech yet, the Yetties kindly sent it to me on a cassette a year ago so I could hear it. They asked me to destroy it afterwards but I wondered if it might be useful one day. I'll be glad to post it to you if it'll help?

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Dancers of Stanton Drew
From: GUEST,Paddy Tutty
Date: 24 Mar 03 - 12:58 PM

To Mary,
Regarding Newfoundland back in 1976: yes, I spent the month of November in St. John's and sang at the folk clubs as much as possible while I was there. (I just returned there last summer to play the festival!)

And to Malcolm,
Thanks for the extra information on the Stanton Drew authors!

Paddy

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Dancers of Stanton Drew
From: GUEST,Ian Guild
Date: 26 Feb 06 - 11:22 PM

Just come across this thread.
I have a version of it on Madmen of Gotham LP by the Bully Wee Band(SAW10 from about 1978. It is credited to Colin Reece.
The group re-formed for a number of gigs in Kent back in 2004/5 and had CDs available.
Ian Cutler of the group still performs regularly in the South East as a member of Hot Rats

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Dancers of Stanton Drew
From: GUEST,Colin Reece
Date: 01 Mar 06 - 11:19 AM

The 'Colin Reece' Ian Guild refers to as being credited with 'The Wedding At Stanton Drew' is me. If you go to www.colinreece.co.uk and follow the Lyrics links, you can get the whole story. For anyone interested in Bully Wee, we're back touring and loving it and about to bring a live CD out. All details can be got from the above site.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Dancers of Stanton Drew
From: MMario
Date: 01 Mar 06 - 11:28 AM

Colin - are the words posted in this other thread correct? May we add them to the Digital Traditionn? Would you object to the tune being posted and would you be able to provide the melody?

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Dancers of Stanton Drew
From: GUEST,Colin Reece
Date: 13 Mar 06 - 08:18 AM

To MMario, There are a few places where the lyrics have gone astray a bit I'll do my best to correct.

2nd line of the chorus (ie "Oh piper etc...") should be "But the piper stood with his pipes by his side and he firmly shook his head"

4th verse: "They laugh, they scoff they scorn the man for having such beliefs
But trusted men of God will always stand close by their faith
No bribery nor change to praise could ever bring him back
And no-one noticed join the ring the man all dressed in black.

7th Verse: "They danced and danced til each and everyone was fit to drop
And all the time the fiddler played they found they could not stop
Then with an evil laugh the man refused to slow the pace
Then with a howl threw back his cowl to reveal the Devil's face"

As for the tune, I haven't got it transcribed anywhere, but once again if you go to my website www.colinreece.co.uk, go to the Bully Wee Band page, at the bottom of the page you'll find a short sound snippet of Bully Wee singing the song live in January 2005. The tune to the verses and the chorus are the same.

It doesn't sound as though I should have any objection to my lyrics being added to the Digital Tradition although you'd better tell me what it is. As I don't visit Mudcat very often maybe you could educate me by emailing ma at [e-mail]

Subject: RE: Dancers of Stanton Drew/Wedding at Stanton Mews
From: Richard Mellish
Date: 24 Mar 11 - 06:40 PM

A similar story (mysterious fiddler plays on the Sunday morning and the dancers can't stop) attaches to a place called Hårga in Hälsingland in Sweden. The song tune "hårgalåten" (meaning the Hårga tune) is one of the most-played tunes for dancing hambo.

I wouldn't be surprised if much the same story is also told of other places with stone circles.

Richard

Subject: RE: Dancers of Stanton Drew/Wedding at Stanton Mews
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 25 Mar 11 - 12:32 AM

X-ref re tune to my posts on Pop To Folksongs thread recently refreshed.

~M~

Subject: RE: Dancers of Stanton Drew/Wedding at Stanton Mew
From: GUEST,Paul Burke
Date: 25 Mar 11 - 03:25 AM

Although the song is fairly modern, it could derive from an earlier song or local story. Does anyone local to the area know of any earlier references to the story?

Interestingly, the same story is told of the Nine Ladies stone circle in Derbyshire (on Stanton Moor- spooky or what?*), but again the earliest references at least on the web are undated or modern. There is an intriguing reference here to a legend from Germany about dancers being transformed into a stone circle for dancing naked, which suggests a witchcraft element, but perhaps that's just Germany for you. Interestingly,too, the list includes Stantons neither Drew nor Moor.

*what. If you've got stones, Stanton is a bit obvious.

Subject: RE: Dancers of Stanton Drew/Wedding at Stanton Mews
From: Old Vermin
Date: 25 Mar 11 - 07:24 PM

There's a short story by Thomas Hardy - The Fiddler of the Reels

Subject: RE: Dancers of Stanton Drew/Wedding at Stanton Mew
From: GUEST
Date: 25 Mar 11 - 07:58 PM

Dating- the legend has to be post reformation- dancing on Sunday would have been ordinary then. They even danced in churchyards.

Post reformation- well most things would have stayed the same, unless forbidden by some local zealot, up till the Civil War period.

Then dancing anytime would have been as bad.

Afterwards the problem was not Sunday but attendance. There are places near here where villages were relocated by the landlord so he could count the tenants as they came along the road to church. Defaulters could be evicted. This looks promising for an origin.

In the 18th/19th centuries the peasants (Sweeney's men) revolted against the Church- but only to fetter themselves in the stronger irons of the Methodists. Sabbatarianism didn't really relax in most of rural UK till the 1920s thereafter.

So the legend is most likely to be 18th century if it's not a 1950s holograph.