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11 messages

Lyr Req/Add: Blackthorn

08 Jul 99 - 03:02 PM (#93448)
Subject: Blackthorn
From: Malcolm

I'm trying to find the lyrics to a song which I think is called 'I'd rather lay Blackthorn'

can anybody help?

Malcolm

12 Jul 99 - 04:43 PM (#94491)
Subject: Lyr Add: BLACKTHORN
From: Nogs

Learned this off of a videotape of a morris dance sing-round. I know I got some of the verses from some other source (they were unintelligable on the tape), but I cant recall where. No idea about the author, age.

Blackthorn

Well I'd sooner be hedgin' than build a stone wall
And put up and push it and hope it don't fall
When the east wind blows bitter and hard in the trees
I'd rather lay blackthorn than dry-all and freeze

Cho:
And I'd sooner lay blackthorn,
sooner lay blackthorn,
Sooner lay blackthorn the rest of me days

I'd sooner go hedgin' than spend all me days
Seeking wealth and position and other mens' praise
Pike, billhook and axe are the tools of me trade
Six shillings a chain is the rate I am paid

I'd sooner go hedging than read from a book
For the longer you study the darker things look
And this readin' and weepin' is hard on the eyes
I'd rather lay blackthorn than learn to be wise

I'd sooner go hedgin', the best thing I know
For anger and anguish (at?) women make woe.
For no matter how hurt or assaulted I feel
A tussle with blackthorn will help it to heal

I'd sooner go hedgin' but come the next spring
I'm up and away like a bird on the wing
And all that I'll miss when I reach my new home
Is hedges to hack at and blackthorn in bloom

I'd sooner drink blackthorn when it brings forth its sloe
Its rheumy red liquor's the best that I know
Well it slips down your throat and it makes you feel good
You may drink your wines but you know that I would
(sooner DRINK blackthorn . .. )

The main body of the song is about making hedgerow out of blackthorn. The last verse may have been added later.

Nogs

12 Jul 99 - 06:00 PM (#94507)
Subject: RE: Blackthorn
From: Martin _Ryan

"Dry-wall" rather than "dry-all"?

Regards

12 Jul 99 - 09:47 PM (#94590)
Subject: Tune Add: THE BLACKTHORN STICK
From: John in Brisbane

Thought I'd add a tune for this, knowing that it almost certainly is not the one that NOGS heard. For anyone out there who has played the Irish jig 'Blackthorn Stick' a thousand times and always wanted to do something else with it, here's your chance. The AAB of the original tune fits fairly well with the lyrics proffered, but it would still be somewhat of a tongur twister, particularly at speed - just perfect to sing after 'Rocky Road To Dublin'.

Feedback from who try it would be welcomed.

Regards
John

MIDI file: blacktho.mid

Timebase: 120

TimeSig: 6/8 12 8
Key: G
Tempo: 150 (398301 microsec/crotchet)
Name: Blackthorn Stick, The
Start
0240 1 71 064 0050 0 71 000 0000 1 74 064 0060 0 74 000 0000 1 79 064 0070 0 79 000 0000 1 78 064 0050 0 78 000 0000 1 79 064 0060 0 79 000 0000 1 76 064 0070 0 76 000 0000 1 79 064 0050 0 79 000 0000 1 76 064 0060 0 76 000 0000 1 74 064 0070 0 74 000 0000 1 71 064 0050 0 71 000 0000 1 67 064 0060 0 67 000 0000 1 69 064 0070 0 69 000 0000 1 67 064 0050 0 67 000 0000 1 64 064 0060 0 64 000 0000 1 62 064 0070 0 62 000 0000 1 67 064 0050 0 67 000 0000 1 67 064 0060 0 67 000 0000 1 66 064 0070 0 66 000 0000 1 67 064 0050 0 67 000 0000 1 69 064 0060 0 69 000 0000 1 71 064 0070 0 71 000 0000 1 67 064 0050 0 67 000 0000 1 71 064 0060 0 71 000 0000 1 69 064 0120 0 69 000 0000 1 74 064 0060 0 74 000 0000 1 79 064 0070 0 79 000 0000 1 78 064 0050 0 78 000 0000 1 79 064 0060 0 79 000 0000 1 81 064 0070 0 81 000 0000 1 79 064 0050 0 79 000 0000 1 76 064 0060 0 76 000 0000 1 74 064 0070 0 74 000 0000 1 71 064 0050 0 71 000 0000 1 67 064 0060 0 67 000 0000 1 69 064 0070 0 69 000 0000 1 67 064 0050 0 67 000 0000 1 64 064 0060 0 64 000 0000 1 62 064 0070 0 62 000 0000 1 67 064 0050 0 67 000 0000 1 67 064 0060 0 67 000 0000 1 66 064 0070 0 66 000 0000 1 67 064 0050 0 67 000 0000 1 69 064 0060 0 69 000 0000 1 71 064 0070 0 71 000 0000 1 67 064 0050 0 67 000 0000 1 67 064 0060 0 67 000 0000 1 67 064 0120 0 67 000 0000 1 74 064 0060 0 74 000 0000 1 71 064 0050 0 71 000 0000 1 74 064 0060 0 74 000 0000 1 79 064 0070 0 79 000 0000 1 78 064 0050 0 78 000 0000 1 79 064 0060 0 79 000 0000 1 76 064 0070 0 76 000 0000 1 79 064 0050 0 79 000 0000 1 76 064 0060 0 76 000 0000 1 74 064 0070 0 74 000 0000 1 71 064 0050 0 71 000 0000 1 67 064 0060 0 67 000 0000 1 69 064 0070 0 69 000 0000 1 67 064 0050 0 67 000 0000 1 64 064 0060 0 64 000 0000 1 62 064 0070 0 62 000 0000 1 67 064 0050 0 67 000 0000 1 67 064 0060 0 67 000 0000 1 66 064 0070 0 66 000 0000 1 67 064 0050 0 67 000 0000 1 69 064 0060 0 69 000 0000 1 71 064 0070 0 71 000 0000 1 67 064 0050 0 67 000 0000 1 71 064 0060 0 71 000 0000 1 69 064 0120 0 69 000 0000 1 74 064 0060 0 74 000 0000 1 79 064 0070 0 79 000 0000 1 78 064 0050 0 78 000 0000 1 79 064 0060 0 79 000 0000 1 81 064 0070 0 81 000 0000 1 79 064 0050 0 79 000 0000 1 76 064 0060 0 76 000 0000 1 74 064 0070 0 74 000 0000 1 71 064 0050 0 71 000 0000 1 67 064 0060 0 67 000 0000 1 69 064 0070 0 69 000 0000 1 67 064 0050 0 67 000 0000 1 64 064 0060 0 64 000 0000 1 62 064 0070 0 62 000 0000 1 67 064 0050 0 67 000 0000 1 67 064 0060 0 67 000 0000 1 66 064 0070 0 66 000 0000 1 67 064 0050 0 67 000 0000 1 69 064 0060 0 69 000 0000 1 71 064 0070 0 71 000 0000 1 67 064 0050 0 67 000 0000 1 67 064 0060 0 67 000 0000 1 67 064 0080 1 67 100 0040 0 67 000 0000 1 74 064 0020 0 67 000 0040 0 74 000 0000 1 79 064 0070 0 79 000 0000 1 78 064 0050 0 78 000 0000 1 79 064 0060 0 79 000 0000 1 81 064 0070 0 81 000 0000 1 79 064 0050 0 79 000 0000 1 76 064 0060 0 76 000 0000 1 74 064 0070 0 74 000 0000 1 71 064 0050 0 71 000 0000 1 67 064 0060 0 67 000 0000 1 69 064 0070 0 69 000 0000 1 67 064 0050 0 67 000 0000 1 64 064 0060 0 64 000 0000 1 62 064 0070 0 62 000 0000 1 67 064 0050 0 67 000 0000 1 67 064 0060 0 67 000 0000 1 66 064 0070 0 66 000 0000 1 67 064 0050 0 67 000 0000 1 69 064 0060 0 69 000 0000 1 71 064 0070 0 71 000 0000 1 67 064 0050 0 67 000 0000 1 67 064 0060 0 67 000 0000 1 67 064 0120 0 67 000
End

This program is worth the effort of learning it.

To download the March 10 MIDItext 98 software and get instructions on how to use it click here

ABC format:

X:1
T:Blackthorn Stick, The
M:6/8
Q:1/4=150
K:G
B287/60d21/20g/6|-gf49/60g21/20e7/6g49/60e14/15d13/60|
-d19/20B14/15G14/15A7/6G49/60E21/20D3/20|
-D61/60G49/60G21/20F7/6G49/60A14/15B/5|-B29/30G49/60B21/20A119/60d21/20g2/15|
-g31/30f49/60g14/15a7/6g14/15e14/15d11/60|
-d59/60B49/60G21/20A7/6G49/60E21/20D7/60|
-D21/20G49/60G14/15F7/6G49/60A21/20B/6|-BG49/60G21/20G119/60d14/15B13/60|
-B43/60d14/15g7/6f49/60g21/20e7/6g3/20|-g2/3e21/20d7/6B49/60G14/15A7/6G/5|
-G37/60E21/20D7/6G49/60G21/20F7/6G2/15|-G41/60A14/15B7/6G14/15B14/15A27/20|
-A19/30d21/20g7/6f49/60g21/20a7/6g7/60|-g7/10e14/15d7/6B49/60G21/20A7/6G/6|
-G13/20E21/20D7/6G49/60G14/15F7/6G13/60|-G43/60A14/15B7/6G49/60G21/20G77/60G/30|
-G2/3d21/20g7/6f49/60g14/15a7/6g/5|-g37/60e21/20d7/6B49/60G21/20A7/6G2/15|
-G41/60E14/15D7/6G14/15G14/15F7/6G11/60|-G19/30A21/20B7/6G49/60G21/20G77/60|
-G7/10||

15 Jul 99 - 02:48 PM (#95526)
Subject: RE: Blackthorn
From: nogs

Yeah, its dry wall rather than dry-all.

I'm in the process of learning the abc and midi format (not to mention line breaks - thanks Joe), so I cant give you the melody. If you need it, ask again and I'll try and get it to you. It is definately not a tongue-twister at the pace I learned it.

12 Jan 08 - 05:53 PM (#2234981)
Subject: RE: Req/Add: Blackthorn
From: skipy

HI Peace, thanks for that found it ealier in forum search, but it makes no sence to me either.
Once again thanks for trying Skipy
Sadly just found out that it will fit to "wild rover" as the others on the course are not "folkies" (well 2 are + me, not bad out of 11 I surpose) I may have to sing it to them with that tune at least they will be able to join in. When I get home I will probably have to eat my own eyes!
Skipy

12 Jan 08 - 06:22 PM (#2235006)
Subject: RE: Req/Add: Blackthorn
From: Mr Red

Eric Paine sings it at the Somers TFC. He sings it at a gentle pace too.
Joy used to lay hedges but developed a reaction to thorns, especially blackthorn. Not good now either as she is a gardener. But she likes the song.

13 Jan 08 - 04:37 AM (#2235223)
Subject: RE: Req/Add: Blackthorn
From: GRex

I have this song on an Ian Woods/Charlie Yarwood LP called Hooks and Nets. The sleeve notes state that the words were originally from a poem. Charlie added the chorus and set it to a slowed down morris tune "Swaggering Boney"

         GRex

13 Jan 08 - 04:39 AM (#2235224)
Subject: RE: Req/Add: Blackthorn
From: GRex

On the LP the song named "The Hedging Song".


       GRex

13 Jan 08 - 05:19 AM (#2235237)
Subject: RE: Req/Add: Blackthorn
From: Mick Pearce (MCP)

I've posted a version of Swaggering Boney, along with my memory of the tune, in the tune request thread: Tune Req: Help! I'd sooner lay blackthorn

Mick

12 Jul 20 - 04:54 AM (#4063819)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req/Add: Blackthorn
From: Richard Bridge

Here is a nice 3-part harmony rendition - I'd sooner lay blackthorn