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Tune Add: Jemima Brown (Harry Clifton)

23 May 10 - 09:18 PM (#2912827)
Subject: Tune Add: Jemima Brown (by Harry Clifton)
From: Artful Codger

Here's an ABC and MIDI for Harry Clifton's song "Jemima Brown", or "The Queen of the Sewing Machine" (ca. 1865). The original sheet music (with lyrics and accompaniment) is available online at the Lester S. Levy Collection.

The tune sounds like an adaptation of the German song "Mein Hut er hat drei Ecken" (My Hat Has Three Corners).

ABC transcription:

X: 1
T: Jemima Brown
T: The Queen of the Sewing Machine
% Vocal part only
C: Written, composed and sung by Harry Clifton. [ca.1865]
C: Arranged by J. Candy
S: Period sheet music published by Lee & Walker, Philadelphia
Z: by Artful Codger
M: 6/8
Q: 3/8=100
L: 1/8
K: Eb
%
%   Verse
B | e2B G2E | DF3 zF | (DF) A c2B| G3-G zB |
w: 'Twas at a Rail-way Sta-tion, Upo-on* the Brigh-ton line* I
%
e2B G2E | DF3 zF | (DF) A c2B | E3-E2 G |
w: first met my Je-mi-ma, Why should* I call her mine?_ Her
%
B2A F2A | c2B G2B | =A2B d2c | B3-B zB |
w: hair was light, her eyes were bright, Her dress a mor-ning gown._ A
%
c2B D2B | c2B He2 e | d e d (cG) =A | HB3 Hc3 d3-Hdz ||
w: trav'-ling box stood by her side, Up-on it Je-mi-*ma Brown.___
%
%   Chorus
|: d | e2B G2E | c2A F2E | D2F G2A | B3-B zB |
w: I used to take her ev'-ry-where, To all the sights in town_ And
=B2cd2c | c2B He2 (EF) | G B A G2 F | E3-E2 :|
w: then she left me in des-pair, Did* naugh-ty Je-mi-ma Brown._

Click to play

To play or display ABC tunes, try concertina.net

23 May 10 - 09:28 PM (#2912830)
Subject: RE: Tune Add: Jemima Brown (by Harry Clifton)
From: Artful Codger

You can find transcribed lyrics (from a broadside (1865), but very close to the original) at the National Library of Scotland's online broadside collection Word on the Street: Jemima Brown.
http://www.nls.uk/broadsides/broadside.cfm/id/16037

26 May 10 - 01:55 AM (#2914421)
Subject: RE: Tune Add: Jemima Brown (by Harry Clifton)
From: Joe Offer

MIDI posted, thanks to Artful Codger. Please let me know if the links above don't work.

-Joe-

26 May 10 - 03:55 AM (#2914455)
Subject: RE: Tune Add: Jemima Brown (by Harry Clifton)
From: r.padgett

I have the song by Walter Pardon from Norfolk on CD

Ray

26 May 10 - 04:01 AM (#2914458)
Subject: RE: Tune Add: Jemima Brown (by Harry Clifton)
From: r.padgett

Midi works too via a player!

Ray

26 May 10 - 05:29 AM (#2914480)
Subject: RE: Tune Add: Jemima Brown (by Harry Clifton)
From: Artful Codger

How does Pardon's version compare? Essentially same lyrics and tune?

26 May 10 - 10:06 AM (#2914594)
Subject: RE: Tune Add: Jemima Brown (by Harry Clifton)
From: r.padgett

Just checked the lyrics back and found very very close to WPs version

Cremorne shown as Creamery in WPs version

"babylinen builders" presumably sewing factory where nappies or somesuch clothing was sewn?

The singer/teller of the tale was totally taken in by Naughty jemima Brown even to the extent that he would visit here buying babies clothing (for the bottom drawer as we would say)

£50 would have been a fortune in those days too

Ray

I will check the tune in a bit!!

26 May 10 - 11:52 AM (#2914668)
Subject: RE: Tune Add: Jemima Brown (by Harry Clifton)
From: GUEST, Sminky

"Harry Clifton's Great Songs -

'On Board of the Kangaroo'

I never thought she would be false, or ever prove untrue,
When we sail'd away from Milford Bay, on board o' the 'Kangaroo'

'Jemima Brown'

Twas at a railway station, upon the Brighton line,
I first met my Jemima, why should I call her mine;
Her hair was light, her eyes were bright, her dress a morning gown;
A travelling box stood by her side, upon it 'Jemima Brown'.

Each song sent free for Eighteen Stamps.
Hopwood and Crew, 42, New Bond-street, W."

Era Magazine, Mar 12 1865

26 May 10 - 03:29 PM (#2914815)
Subject: RE: Tune Add: Jemima Brown (by Harry Clifton)
From: Jim Carroll

Walter Pardon's text in full.
Jim Carroll

Naughty Jemmima Brown.

'Twas at the railway station, upon the Brighton Line,
I first met my Jemmima, why should I call her mine,
Her eyes were bright, her hair was light, her dress a morning gown,
A travelling box stood by her side, upon it Jemmima Brown.

I used to take her everywhere, to all the sights in town,
And then she left me in despair, did naughty Jemmima Brown.

At a baby linen builders in the Burlington Arcade,
I next saw Miss Jemmima as by the shop I strayed,
She looked the queen of her sewing machine and I spent many a crown,
On collars and straps and babies caps to gaze on Jemmima Brown.

I used to take her.................

I sought an introduction, obtained it, all was right,
At eight o'clock I'd meet her and walk home every night,
to seal our love I bought her gloves, to the creamery we went down,
Took tea and shrimps, drank bitter beer and waltzed with Jemmima Brown.

I flew one night to meet her, the weather yet was warm,
I saw her friendly leaning on a nice young feller's arm.
Against my will, I felt quite ill, enquiring with a frown,
Who's that; it's only brother Bill, said naughty Jemmima Brown.

I used to take her.................

I want to ask a favour, I hope you won't be cross,
Nor think it bad behaviour, but father had a loss,
could you kindly lend us fifty pounds, my brother, he'll be bound
Oh course I would, could I refuse my life to Jemmima Brown.

I used to take her.................

From that very day I missed her, though she said she'd be my bride,
From Kennington to Chester, I sought her far and wide.
Years after that, when passing by a shop in Camden Town,
Midst heaps of greens and kidney beans, there stood Jemmima Brown.

I used to take her.................

She was weighing out potatoes, throwing coppers in the till,
Three lovely children by her side, the image of brother Bill,
Her broken vow, I see it now, but not my fifty pounds,
The shop was bought and I was sold by naughty Jemmima Brown.

I used to take her.................