Lyr Req/Add: Duna ^^^

Subject: RE: 'Duna'--Ring any bells?
From: Ushie
Date: 24 Mar 99 - 07:35 PM

Thanks, all, for the info.

Sandy, if you wouldn't mind posting the lyrics per G.B. I'd love to see them.

The tune I heard is pretty firm in my head, but I'm curious to hear what he has done with it. I am certain the song predates him. Of course, he may have worked with the traditional melody to make it his own.

I originally heard it as an encore in a baritone recital at Carnegie Hall, which also leads me to believe it's an older tune, since, generally speaking, only the older folk/Gospel material is used in "classical" repertory.

Ushie

Subject: RE: 'Duna'--Ring any bells?
From: Barry Finn
Date: 24 Mar 99 - 12:34 PM

"As I roved out one morning,
Away you roller bowler,
I met a Dou Dou fair,
Away you roller bowler,
Hey rig a jig a jig a ha ha ,
Good morning ladies all"

From the shanty Roller Bowler (or Good Morning Ladies All).

Barry

Subject: RE: 'Duna'--Ring any bells?
From: Don Meixner
Date: 24 Mar 99 - 08:07 AM

Very often in American folk music a Yella Gal, Yaller Girl, Yalloo or Yellow girl referes to a woman of mixed parentage. Specifically a Mulatto. "The Yellow Rose of Texas" mentions a woman who according to some historians was a Mulatto woman who kept Santa Anna busy in the sack while Sam Houston surrounded him at San Jacinto.

Further mentions of Yella Girls are found in Sea Chantys

"Why do them Yella girls Love Me so? Heave away Santy Anno, Because I won't tell them all I know, Along the plains of Mexico,"

I like the corruption of Dou Dou into Doodle, I certainly makes sense from the anglification (neat word Huh?) stand point.

Don

Subject: RE: 'Duna'--Ring any bells?
From: Barry Finn
Date: 24 Mar 99 - 12:38 AM

Hugill reports it both as "Doodle let me go" & Do let me go". I find it pretty close to "Dou Dou" a West Indian term for a women (though I've always sung it as doodle), Yella Gal, could there be a corruption here. Barry

Subject: RE: 'Duna'--Ring any bells?
From: Don Meixner
Date: 23 Mar 99 - 10:37 PM

I'm in Sandy's camp on this one.

"I wish I was in Lancashire or up in Callio(sp?)" "Away me Yaller Girls, Doodle Let me go" "Doodle let me go, me Gal" Doodle let me Go, 'Way me Yaller Girl" Doodle let me go"

Paddie Bell sings this on one of the Corrie Folk Trio albums released on Electra in the mid 60's.

Don

Subject: RE: 'Duna'--Ring any bells?
From: Barbara
Date: 23 Mar 99 - 09:40 PM

Well, I've sung 'Duna' as in "When I was a younger man..." and I've sung "Hurrah, me yaller gals..." and I always thought the chorus was "Do nah let me go, me gals.." As in "Do not" though I have heard others sing "doodle".
Blessings,
Barbara

Subject: RE: 'Duna'--Ring any bells?
From: Sandy Paton
Date: 23 Mar 99 - 07:23 PM

Gee, Anonymous, when Bert Lloyd sang that one, I was sure he was saying "doodle let me go!" Have I been wrong for more than forty years?

Nope, different song than the one Ushie's looking for. Later tonight, I could post the text that Gordon sings, if you want it, Ushie.

Sandy

Subject: RE: 'Duna'--Ring any bells?
From:
Date: 23 Mar 99 - 05:16 PM

isn't this the famous song "yeller girls" where the chorus goes :-

Duna let me go me boys Duna let me go Away me yeller girls Duna let me go

:-)

Subject: RE: 'Duna'--Ring any bells?
From: Sandy Paton
Date: 23 Mar 99 - 02:10 PM

Yes, Don, it's on his first Folk-Legacy recording, now available as a cassette: A Tune for November (C-40). I'll have to check the booklet to see what he says about it, but this I do remember: Gordon is convinced that he wrote the melody he sings, but it is surprisingly close to the melody my father sang for the song, which Dad had learned in a college glee club arrangement back in about 1920. I think Gordon had the song from his family, and may have reconstructed the melody from what he remembered. Some of our real Mudcat scholars can probably chase down the original poet and composer. If Ushie wants to learn the song, the cassette is listed on our web site. Click here: Folk-Legacy

Sandy (Folk-Legacy's resident Folk Fogey)

Subject: RE: 'Duna'--Ring any bells?
From: Don Meixner
Date: 23 Mar 99 - 12:54 PM

Gordon Bok sings a grand version of this song. I think its on a album I have of his he recorded on Verve Records ages ago. It may be on a Folk Legacy album too. Sandy would know that best of all of us.

I don't know where it came from but for a hunch I'd say it was Scottish or Maritime Canadian. But thats ony a guess.

Don

Subject: 'Duna'--Ring any bells?
From: Ushie
Date: 23 Mar 99 - 12:38 PM

I've been trying to track down an Irish (?) folk tune called "Duna" (sp?). I heard it in a concert a long time ago and would like to know if any of you all are familiar with it. (It isn't in the Mudcat DB under that spelling.) I remember most of one verse:

When I was a young man before my beard was grey, Thoughts of ----- and sailing ships They took my heart away.

But I'm weary of the sea now, I'm weary of the foam, And the little stars of Duna Call me home, The little stars of Duna call me home.

Thanks.