Lady Godiva songs?

Subject: Lady Godiva songs?
From: Ian HP
Date: 16 Feb 99 - 11:43 AM

Some weeks ago I heard a wonderful radio feature about Lady Godiva, whose story I only knew the bare bones of (like most people, probably). I searched for a trad. song about her, incl. on Mudcat, but could find none. I think she deserves one. Does anyone know of any songs with her as the subject?

Subject: RE: Lady Godiva songs?
From: Steve Parkes
Date: 16 Feb 99 - 12:10 PM

Bare bones isn't what she's remembered for!

Herman's Hermits had a hit with L.G. in the UK years ago, but that's not what you want, is it?

Steve

Subject: RE: Lady Godiva songs?
From: MMario
Date: 16 Feb 99 - 12:36 PM

okay - I spotted a webpage with lyrics about lady godiva sometime last week - but do you think I can remember where? trying to reconstruct my thought process and find it again - but that may be hopeless...

but there is at least ONE out there...

MMario

Subject: Lyr Add: MIT Drinking Song^^^
From: Dave T
Date: 16 Feb 99 - 12:59 PM

Ian,

This is probably not exactly what you were looking for but...
It just happens that Lady Godiva is the adopted patron saint(OK, maybe not a saint) of the engineering school at the University of Toronto. In fact, the engineering band is called The Lady Godiva Band and they have a Lady Godiva theme song. Memorizing the lyrics and being able to sing this song anywhere, anytime was an essential part of obtaining an engineering degree. Remember, this was essentially a university drinking song, so it improves, at least in the minds of the singers, in direct proportion to the amount of alcohol consumed.

The U of T Lady Godiva Band Song
(Sung to the tune of the Battle Hymn of the Repbulic)

Godiva was a Lady who through Coventry did ride
To show to all the villagers her proud and lilly white hide
The most observant villager, and Engineer of course
Was the only one to notice that Godiva rode a horse

Chorus:
We are, we are, we are, we are, we are, The Engineers
We can, we can, we can, we can, we can, demolish 40 beers
Drink rum, drink rum, drink run, drink rum & come along with us
For we don't give a damn for any damn man who don't give a damn for us

Said she, "I've come a long, long way & I will go as far"
"With the man who lifts me from this horse & leads me to a bar"
The only two to take her up & stand her to a beer
Were a bleary-eyed Surveyor & a drunken Engineer

(Chorus)
(Repeat as necessary until your voice gives out and/or until the beer's gone)

There's probably more, but if there is I no longer remember it.

Dave T

Subject: RE: Lady Godiva songs?
From: rich r
Date: 16 Feb 99 - 08:41 PM

Ed Cray (Erotic Muse) cites the two verses above and 8 more verses from an anonymous collection of songs compiled at M.I T. (in Boston) probably in the 1950's. The tune used in that version was "The Son of a Gambolier". The latter tune was also used for a considerable body of bawdy lyrics.

rich r

Subject: RE: Lady Godiva songs?
From: Susan of DT
Date: 16 Feb 99 - 08:50 PM

a search on Godiva yields 2 hits - the MIT drinking song mentioned above and a fleeting mention in a song called Ivor. Lady Godiva was a little early for traditional songs to still be around (if ever started). She was Anglo-Saxon (Mercia) not long before the Norman Conquest of 1066.

Subject: RE: Lady Godiva songs?
From: Bruce O.
Date: 16 Feb 99 - 09:15 PM

The title of Thomas Deloney's ballad on Lady Godiva is: "How Couentry was made free by Godina, Countesse of Chester." It's in 'The Garland of Goodwill'. The earliest extant edition, 1631, is reprinted in F. O. Mann's 'The Works of Thomas Deloney'. Like many other pieces in 'The Garland of Goodwill', it was copied into the Percy Folio MS, and is reprinted from that copy in Hales and Furnival's edition of the MS, III, p. 475.

Subject: RE: Lady Godiva songs?
From: Ian HP
Date: 17 Feb 99 - 01:22 PM

Bruce O., that could be just what I'm looking for! Could you possibly post the lyrics and, if poss. the tune?

Subject: RE: Lady Godiva songs?
From: Bruce O.
Date: 17 Feb 99 - 02:07 PM

No luck- the tune for it was "Price Arthur died at Ludlow" which is unknown.

Subject: RE: Lady Godiva songs?
From: Ian HP
Date: 17 Feb 99 - 02:08 PM

Thanks, Bruce. Do you at least have the words?

Subject: RE: Lady Godiva songs?
From: Bruce O.
Date: 17 Feb 99 - 02:28 PM

Yes, but I don't want to type them. Mann's 'Works of Deloney' is fairly easy to find in libraries.

Subject: Lyr Add: How Coventry Was Made Free by Godiva...^^
From: MMario
Date: 17 Feb 99 - 03:33 PM

I KNEW I'd seen it somewhere.....

here it is as found web searching for delaney

MMario

How Couentry was made free by Godiva, Countesse of Chester.

To the Tune of Prince Arthnr died at Ludlow.

LEofricus, that Noble Earle
Of Chester, as I reade,
Did for the City of Couentry,
Many a noble deed.
Great priuiledges for the towne.
This Nobleman did get,

And of all things did make it so,
That they tole-free did sit:
Saue onley that for horses still,
They did some custome pay,
Which was great charges to the towne,
Full long and many a day.
Wherefore his wife, Godiva faire,
Did of the Earl request,
That therefore he would make it free,
As well as all the rest.
So when the Lady long had sued,
Her purpose to obtaine:
Her Noble Lord at length she tooke,
Within a pleasant vaine,
And vnto him with smiling cheare,
She did forthwith proceed,
Entreating greatly that he would
Performe that goodly deed.
You moue me much, faire Dame (quoth he)
Your suit I faine uould shunne:
But what would you performe and do,
To haue this matter done?
Why any thing, my Lord (quoth she)
You will with reason craue,
I will performe it with good will,
If I my wish may haue.
If thou wilt grant one thing (said he)
Which I shall now require,
So soone as it is finished,
Thou shalt haue thy desire.
Command what you thinke good, my Lord,
I will thereto agree:
On this condition that this Towne
For euer may be free.
If thou wilt thy cloaths strip off,
And here wilt lay them downe,
And at noone day on horsebacke ride
Starke naked thorow the Towne,
They shall be free for euermore:
If thou wilt not do so,

More liberty than now they haue,
I neuer will bestow.
The lady at this strange demand,
Was much abasht in mind:
And yet for to fulfil this thing,
She neuer a whit repinde.
Wherefore to all the Officers
Of all the Towne she sent:
That they perceiuing her good will,
Which for the weale was bent,
That on the day that she should ride,
All persons thorow the Towne,
Should keepe their houses and shut their doores,
And clap their windowes downe,
So that no creature, yong or old
Should in the street be seene:
Till she had ridden all about,
Throughout the City cleane.
And when the day of riding came
No person did her see,
Sauing her Lord: after which time,
The towne was euer free.

FINIS.