Lyr Req: Little Ball of Yarn

Subject: Lyrics wanted - Little ball of yarn + chorus
From: Steve Parkes
Date: 19 Mar 99 - 04:13 AM

Yeah, I know it's on the DT, but I'm after a version with this chorus:

Oh, the blackbird and the thrush
Sing it out from every bush:
"Keep your hand upon your little ball of yarn!"
[repeat the whole lot]

Ta, Steve

Subject: RE: Lyrics wanted - Little ball of yarn + chorus
From: Barry Finn
Date: 19 Mar 99 - 02:15 PM

Search the DT's database (upper right hand coner of this screen) by entering in square [ ] brackets the phrase ball of yarn & you'll have 3 versions jump at ya. Barry

Subject: RE: Lyrics wanted - Little ball of yarn + chorus
From: Kernow John
Date: 19 Mar 99 - 02:49 PM

Steve
I think I have the version you want by the Yetties. I'll post it later.
regards Baz

Subject: Lyr/Chords/Tune Add: LITTLE BALL OF YARN
From: Kernow John
Date: 19 Mar 99 - 03:50 PM

In the [C]merry month of May on a [F]bright and sunny [Dm]day,
I was [G]strolling round my old grandfathers [C]farm,
When I spied a pretty maid and [F]unto her I [Dm]said,
"Let me [G]wind up your little ball of [C]yarn."

(Chorus)
Oh, the blackbird and the thrush, they sing [F]out from ev'ry [Dm]bush,
Keep your [G]hand upon your little ball of [C]yarn.
Oh the blackbird and the thrush, they sing [F]out from ev'ry [Dm]bush,
Keep your [G]hand upon your little ball of [C]yarn.

"Oh no kind sir,"said she, "for a stranger you must be,
And you might have some other little charm."
But I said, "my little love, come and be my turtle dove,
Let me wind up your little ball of yarn."

Now that maid rose with a blush, and ran off in such a rush,
To tell the other girls of all the fun.
Me not wishing to be seen, I slipped off across the green,
After winding up her little ball of yarn.

Now twelve months had passed away, and I chanced to be that way,
And I found her with a baby on her arm.
I said "my little miss, oh, you never thought of this,
When I wound up your little ball of yarn."

So now my pretty maid, take a warning from the shade,
And never rise too early in the morn.
And like the blackbird in the bush, keeps on singing to the thrush,
Keep your hand on your little ball of yarn.


X: 1
T:Ball of Yarn
M:C
L:1/4
K:C
GF|ECEG|c2Bc|dcBc|D2BA|
GGB3/2A/|GGFD|E4-|E2GF|ECE/G3/2|
c3c|dcBc|D2BA|G2B3?2A/|GGFD|C4-|C2||
G3/2F/|ECEG|C2Bc|D2BA|
GGBA|GGFD|E4-E2|G3/2F/|ECEG|c2Bc|
dcBc|D2B3/2A/|GGBA|G/G3/2FD|C4-|C2||

% Output from ABC2Win Version 2.1 h on 3/19/99

Regards Baz

Subject: Lyr Add: LITTLE BALL OF YARN
From: Roddy
Date: 20 Mar 99 - 09:49 PM

In the merry Month of May by the banks of Killyleagh,
When the goose-gabs and the nettles were in bloom,
I a-spied a fair young maid and unto her I said,
"Would you let me roul' your little ball of yarn?"

"Oh, no, kind Sir," says she. "You're a stranger unto me,
And besides, I have no other charms;
So, get home to Hell to those who have money and fine clothes
And will let you roul' theit little ball of yarn."

So I set that maiden down, laid her gently on the groun',
Not intendin' for to do her any harm;
Then I whispered in her ear, "You're my ducky, you're my dear."
And she let me roul' her little ball of yarn.

Well, now a year has passed, and I met that maid, alas!
She had a darlin' babby on each knee.
"Ah, now then, pretty miss, did you ever think of this
When you let me roul' your little ball of yarn?"

"Come all you maidens young and free, hear my story, list to me,
And don't be taken in by young men's charms!
Be like the blackbird and the thrush and keep one hand well roun' your brush,
And the other on your little ball of yarn!"

Never ceases to raise a laugh at concerts.
Roddy

Subject: RE: Lyrics wanted - Little ball of yarn + chorus
From: Steve Parkes
Date: 22 Mar 99 - 03:40 AM

Baz, Roddy - thanks! I'll have to learn both versions and do 'em on alternate nights!

Steve

Subject: RE: Lyrics wanted - Little ball of yarn + chorus
From: GUEST,Jerry Elsmore
Date: 15 Apr 00 - 06:29 PM

I can rememner singing a version with that chorus in the Butley Oster near Ipswich in the late seventies / early eighties. I think John Goodluck recorded it, afraid I can't recall the name of the old Suffolk singer in the pub, but he was a guest at the Norwich Folk Festivals. The verses were very similar to Version 1.

Subject: Lyr/Tune Add: LITTLE BALL OF YARN (trad. Suffolk)
From: Snuffy
Date: 17 Apr 00 - 06:54 PM

Here's another version from Suffolk, with no chorus.

LITTLE BALL OF YARN

Oh, it was one fine summer's day in the merry month of May,
I was strolling round my dear old father's farm,
When I met a pretty miss and I shyly asked her this
"May I wind up your little ball of yarn?"

"Oh, no-o, Sir" says she, "You're a stranger, I can see
And you might do me some harm."
"Oh no, my turtle dove, you're the only one I love.
Let me wind up your little ball of yarn"

So I took this pretty maid to a spot beneath the shade
Intending not to do her any harm
And to my surprise when I gazed into her eyes,
I was winding up her little ball of yarn

Now a year or two passed by, I'm telling you no lie
I met her with a baby in her arm.
I said "Oh, sweet young miss, oh I never expected this,
When I wound up your little ball of yarn"

Now all you fair young maids, take a lesson from the shades
And don't get up too early in the morning
For the blackbird in the bush keeps on whistling to the thrush,
"Keep your hand on your little ball of yarn."

Here's the abc for it

X: 1
T:Little Ball of Yarn
M:2/4
L:1/8
Q:1/4=120
S:Hubert Smith
A:Suffolk
P:A5
N:Recorded at Thorpe Morieux 1983
D:Many a Good Horseman VTVS01/0
K:D
P:A
AA|
FD FA|d2 cd|ed cd|E2 AB|cc|cc BA|(FA3)|z2 AA|
FD FA|d2 cd|ed cd|E2 cB|A2 cB|A
Wassail! V

Subject: Lyr Add: BALL O' YARN (from Oscar Brand)
From: GUEST,Mrr
Date: 18 Apr 00 - 03:34 PM

Speaking of How Many Versions... there is one by Oscar Brand on one of the Bawdy Songs and Backroom Ballads albums, that is different yet:

BALL O' YARN

In the merry month of June, when the roses were in bloom,
I chanced to take a walk about the farm.
There I met a pretty miss and I politely asked her this:
"Would you let me spin your little ball o' yarn?"

CHORUS: Ball o' yarn, ball o' yarn,
Would you let me spin your little ball o' yarn? (bis).

[Note that the chorus repeats the usage of "ball o' yarn" within the verse that it follows.]

Well, she gave me her consent, and behind the fence we went.
I promised her that I would do no harm.
Then I gently laid her down and I ruffled up her gown,
And 'twas then I spun her little ball o' yarn. CHORUS

It was nine months after that in a poolroom where I sat,
I felt a heavy hand laid on my arm
And a gentleman in blue said, "Young man, we're after you!
You're the father of a little ball o' yarn." CHORUS

In my prison cell I sit with my bathrobe in the shade,
And the shadow of my nose upon the wall;
And the women as they pass thrust their hatpins up my coat,
And the little mice play hopscotch with my shoes.
(Cho - use last line from prior verse).

My fave is that last para with absolutely no rhymes...

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Little Ball of Yarn
From: Stewart
Date: 09 Dec 10 - 09:56 PM

Here's a delightful version (similar to the previous post) from the late Walt Roberstson singing this song at an informal session on a Sunday morning at the breakfast table of a home on the Hood Canal, WA, 1983. From the audio archives of Bob (Deckman) Nelson

Little Ball of Yarn - sung by Walt Robertson

Cheers, S. in Seattle

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Little Ball of Yarn
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 10 Dec 10 - 03:58 PM

East Riding version

On the twenty-first of May I was walking out that way,
On the way to me old grandfather's farm,
When I spied a pretty maid and unto her I said,
Can I wind up your little ball of yarn?

Oh sir she said to me, you're a stranger I can see,
But I will grant you any other charm,
Then I took her by surprise and I slipped between her thighs
And I wound up her little ball of yarn.

Now a twelvemonth on that day I was walking out that way,
When I spied her with a baby on her arm,
I said to her now miss, well I didn't think on this
When I wound up your little ball of yarn.

Now a few days after that in my parlour where I sat,
I saw a shadow coming past the barn,
And a policeman with his truncheon quite disturbed my Sunday luncheon,
I was father of a little ball of yarn.

So come all you pretty maids that go beneath the shade,
I will tell you of the beauties of the palm,
Where the blackbird and the thrush they sing out from every bush,
Keep your hand upon your little ball of yarn.

I seem to remember Bob Roberts singing a version with that repeat chorus.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Little Ball of Yarn
From: GUEST,JJ on his jollies
Date: 10 Dec 10 - 05:49 PM

Our very own Bernard sings a version of this sing, and very good it is too.

Perhaps he could comment......Bernard?......where's that man when you need him?!

JJ

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Little Ball of Yarn
From: Lighter
Date: 10 Dec 10 - 07:49 PM

Robertson's version is not only the most elaborate I've encountered, it's the only one where the "ball of yarn" is masculine equipment: "I rolled *out* that little ball of yarn."

His version of "Five Night's Drunk" goes (unusually) to the tune of "Castles in the Air"/ "The Ball o' Kirriemuir."

Nice performances.

Subject: Lyr Add: THE LITTLE BALL OF YARN (trad. Ozarks)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 13 Dec 10 - 09:09 AM

From Unprintable Ozark Folksongs and Folklore: Roll Me in Your Arms, Vol. 1 by Vance Randolph (Fayetteville : University of Arkansas Press, 1992), page 97:

(This song appears with musical notation for the melody line.)


THE LITTLE BALL OF YARN

It was in the month of May an' the jacks begin to bray,
An' the jinnies begin to hover 'round the barn,
An' I met a little maid an' unto her I said,
Let me wind up your little ball of yarn, yarn, yarn,
Let me wind up your little ball of yarn.

Oh, no siree, said she, you're a stranger unto me,
Perhaps you may have some other charm,
But you'd better to to those who have money an' fine clothes,
An' wind up their little ball of yarn, yarn, yarn,
An' wind up their little ball of yarn.

Well, I took her 'round the waist an' I gently laid her down,
Not thinkin' I was doin' any harm,
While the blackbird an' that thrush were a-banging in the brush,
I wound up her little ball of yarn, yarn, yarn,
I wound up her little ball of yarn.

Subject: Lyr Add: WINDING UP HER LITTLE BALL OF YARN
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 13 Dec 10 - 09:31 AM

Could this rather innocent song be the ancestor of the double-entendre versions?

From the sheet music at The Library of Congress:


WINDING UP HER LITTLE BALL OF YARN.
Words, Earl Marble. Music, Polly Holmes.
Boston: White, Smith & Co., 1884.

1. It was many years ago,
With my youthful blood aglow,
I engaged to teach a simple district school.
I reviewed each college book,
And my city home forsook,
Sure that I could make a wise man from a fool.
Mr. School Committee Frye
Thought 'twould do no harm to try
To see if unruly scholars I could "larn;"
When his daughter I espied,
With her knitting by her side,
As she wound up her little ball of yarn.

2. I was gone on her at once,
For I wasn't quite a dunce,
And she was an apple-dumpling sort of girl.
With her tender eyes of blue,
Dimpled cheeks of rosy hue,
And her teeth as bright as shining rows of pearl.
Long before the school was done,
I the maid had wooed and won,
As we hunted eggs one morning in the barn.
When her work she laid aside,
Just to please me as I sighed,
And she wound up her little ball of yarn.

3. Oh, those times were long ago,
And my blood has not the flow
That it had in those sweet days of auld lang syne,
But I think of every charm
That endeared me to the farm
When the maid with all her knitting work was mine.
And as round the fire we sit
In these days when shadows flit,
And her trembling hands the stockings take to darn,
In my memory I live o'er
All those happy days of yore,
When she wound up her little ball of yarn.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Little Ball of Yarn
From: The Sandman
Date: 13 Dec 10 - 09:48 AM

Dick Miles used to sing that song, he recorded it on the album The Dunmow Flitch with an interesting clarinet accompaniment.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Little Ball of Yarn
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 13 Dec 10 - 07:22 PM

Brilliant! So our bawdy English song is highly likely a parody of this, as with so many other bawdy songs being parodies of popular songs. Thanks for posting it, Jim.