Origins: Tramps and Hawkers

Subject: RE: tramps and hawkers
From: GUEST,beachcomber
Date: 04 Nov 06 - 02:57 PM

One of the first Vinyl LPs I bought , when I earned my first real wage, was one of Robin Hall & Jimmie McGregor (with "The Galliards"). The two lads sang a lovely version of "Tramps and Hawkers" on it.
BTW I understand that Robin is departed this life but, I've not heard anything of Jimmie for years now ?

Subject: RE: tramps and hawkers
From: Charmion
Date: 04 Nov 06 - 02:30 PM

What I have always wanted to know about this song is this: What in blazes is "bla" and how does one gather it?

Subject: RE: tramps and hawkers
From: Little Robyn
Date: 04 Nov 06 - 02:18 PM

Then there's Jimmy Miller's song using the same tune.
Robyn

Subject: RE: tramps and hawkers
From: Scotus
Date: 04 Nov 06 - 01:38 PM

More recently, of course, there's that lovely 'spin-off' from Tramps and Hawkers called The Rose of the San Joaquin.

Jack

Subject: RE: tramps and hawkers
From: GUEST
Date: 04 Nov 06 - 10:47 AM

The late Jim Ringer, a California singer who performed with his wife Mary McCaslin, covered the song years ago. She's still around, by the way, and sounding great.

Subject: RE: tramps and hawkers
From: Scotus
Date: 03 Nov 06 - 10:51 AM

One of the older uses of the tune is for the ballad 'Captain Wedderburn's Courtship' - I'm sure Malcolm could give other (perhaps older) examples.

Jack

Subject: RE: tramps and hawkers
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 03 Nov 06 - 09:56 AM

So far as I know, the earliest examples of the song that we have are from the early 20th century; these appear in the Greig-Duncan collection. In 1960, MacColl & Seeger (Singing Island) printed a 4-verse set from Mary Brookbank.

The text "oldhippie" quotes is from Davy Stewart, who said that he'd learned it from another traveller by the name of "Thumby" Mathieson (Kennedy, Folksongs of Britain and Ireland, 789). The same version appears in the DT as TRAMPS AND HAWKERS; no traditional source is named. It has been widely recorded by Revival performers, to the extent that that particular version is probably now the norm, replacing the "scores of versions" that MacColl stated were current as late as the mid 20th century.

Nobody, so far as can be told, knows who wrote it; and it seems likely that more than one person has added verses over the years. MacColl again: "... there are few districts of Scotland which are not mentioned" [in one version or another]. I wouldn't think it particularly old, but it is sung to a tune that goes back further and has been used for a lot of songs over the years. More details are in earlier discussions on the song.

Subject: RE: tramps and hawkers
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 03 Nov 06 - 09:55 AM

Subject: RE: tramps and hawkers
From: Scoville
Date: 03 Nov 06 - 09:39 AM

I used to have a Battlefield Band version of that somewhere. Wasn't the tune the same as the one used for "Lakes of Pontchartrain"/"Wind that Shake the Corn"?

Subject: RE: tramps and hawkers
From: Keith A of Hertford
Date: 03 Nov 06 - 09:34 AM

Ireland has a long history.
It must have a song or two.
Perhaps the author had one in mind.

Subject: RE: tramps and hawkers
From: Jeri
Date: 03 Nov 06 - 09:07 AM

Tom, no one knows who wrote Tramps and Hawkers - it's VERY old. There have been lots of songs written using the same tune, though, so someone may have continued the story.

Subject: RE: tramps and hawkers
From: Tom Hamilton frae Saltcoats Scotland
Date: 03 Nov 06 - 08:39 AM

Thankyou for the words, however I wanted to know if the person that wrote the song, did they ever write a song about Ireland as well as they say in the song, 'I'll sing ye's a' of Erin's Isle
when I come back to you.' that's the bit I want to know, but thanks anyway for the imformation.

Tom

Subject: RE: tramps and hawkers
From: oldhippie
Date: 03 Nov 06 - 08:36 AM

Which song, by Barry Taylor.....

O come a' ye tramps and hawker-lads
an' gaitherers o' bla'
That tramp the country roun' and roun',
come listen one and a'
I'll tell tae ye a rovin' tale,
an' places I hae been
Far up into the snowy north,
or sooth by Gretna Green.

I've seen the high Ben Nevis
that gangs towerin' tae the moon
I've been roun' by Crieff an' Callander
an' by Bonny Doon
I've been by Nethy's silvery tide
an' places ill tae ken
Far up into the stormy north
lies Urquart's fairy glen

Sometimes noo I laugh tae mysel'
when dodgin' alang the road
Wi' a bag o' meal slung upon my back,
my face as broun's a toad
Wi' lumps o'cheese and tattie-scones
or breid an' braxie ham
Nae thinking whar' I'm comin' frae
nor thinkin' whar I'm gang.

I'm happy in the summer-time
beneath the dark blue sky
Nae thinkin' in the mornin'
at nicht where i'm gang to lie
Bothies or byres or barns,
or oot amangst the hay
And if the weather does permit,
I'm happy a' the day.

Loch Katrine and Loch Lomond,
they've oft been seen by me
The Dee, the Don, the Devron,
that a' flows tae the sea
Dunrobin Castle, by the way,
I nearly had forgot
And the reckless stanes o'cairn
that mairks the hoose o' John
o' Groat.

I've been by bonny Gallowa',
an' often roun' Stranraer
My business leads me anywhere,
I travel near an' far
I've got that rovin' notion
I wouldna like tae loss
For It's my daily fare
an' as much'll pay my doss.

I think I'll gang tae Paddy's Lan',
I'm makin' up my mind
For Scotland's greatly altered noo,
I canna raise the wind
But if I can trust in Providence,
if Providence should prove true
I'll sing ye's a' of Erin's Isle
when I come back to you.

or Jim Ringer.....on "The Bramble and The Rose" with Mary McCaslin?

Subject: RE: tramps and hawkers
From: GUEST,DonMeixner
Date: 03 Nov 06 - 08:33 AM

I think you'll find this is usually attributed to Traditional or Public Domain. The meoldy is certainly well used. I've used it myself on a recording and it was listed as melody Trad.

The words I don't know about. Seamus Kennedy has a vast knowledge of these songs. Perhaps he'll chime in.

Don

Subject: tramps and hawkers
From: Tom Hamilton frae Saltcoats Scotland
Date: 03 Nov 06 - 08:25 AM

I been wondering that the person that wrote and sang this song tramps and hawkers, if they ever did write a song about Ireland.

Tom