Shirley Collins 'Harvest Home'

24 Nov 13 - 02:30 PM (#3578716)
Subject: Shirley Collins 'Harvest Home'
From: Tug the Cox

In the seventies I saw, a couple of times, Shirley Collins, probably with the Etchingham Steam Band, sing an up tempo song called Harvest Home, not the medley she recorded with Dolly including oats and beans and barley). I can find no trace of it, can anyone help?

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24 Nov 13 - 02:50 PM (#3578727)
Subject: RE: Shirley Collins 'Harvest Home'
From: Steve Gardham

Best of luck, Tug.
There are hundreds of 'Harvest Home' songs. If you can remember a few of the words or the first line we might stand a chance.

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24 Nov 13 - 04:05 PM (#3578746)
Subject: RE: Shirley Collins 'Harvest Home'
From: Tug the Cox

The chorus repeared 'Harvest home' twice, and I believe either said 'welcome to'or 'this is our ' Harvest home!

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24 Nov 13 - 05:09 PM (#3578773)
Subject: RE: Shirley Collins 'Harvest Home'
From: Steve Gardham

Your very brief description doesn't fit perfectly with any of the well-known oral HH songs. The well-known one that repeats HH, HH is one of the oldest dating back at least to the 17th century where it is known as 'The Country Farmer's Vain Glory'.
It starts
'Our oats they are howed and our barley's reaped,
Our hay is mowed and our hovels heaped;
HH! HH!
We'll merrily roar out our HH
HH! HH!
We'll merrily etc. x2. (3 more verses)

Versions occur in English Song Books like The Oxford Song Book. It's in Pills and Bell's Ancient Poems Ballads and Songs.

There is one called 'Welcome the Harvest Home' but it doesn't have the HH repeats.

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24 Nov 13 - 06:12 PM (#3578793)
Subject: RE: Shirley Collins 'Harvest Home'
From: Tug the Cox

That could well be it Steve, especially if it comes from Sussex. Is there a recording?

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25 Nov 13 - 03:10 AM (#3578865)
Subject: RE: Shirley Collins 'Harvest Home'
From: Steve Gardham

There may well be, very likely if Shirley sang it, but all of my sources are not from oral tradition. They do give the tune however but I'd be very surprised if it's not online somewhere.

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25 Nov 13 - 05:01 AM (#3578901)
Subject: RE: Shirley Collins 'Harvest Home'
From: GUEST,Guest

Is Shirley not still alive?

I'm sure she would be more than willing to enlighten you.

Try going through the library at Cecil Sharp House - it's amazing how many questions they can answer.

Incidentally, I have never been a fan of Shirley's singing but she is certainly excellent as a presenter.

I note she is introducing a show / presentation of Sussex carols. Wish we lived within hailing distance. Would love to be there.

Perhaps someone like Vic Smith will record it!? Please.

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