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11 May 21 - 02:50 PM (#4105706) Subject: Lyr Req: Bill Palmer The Farmer From: Mick Pearce (MCP) My friend Elaine remembers these words from school (late 1950s/early 1960s, uk): Bill Palmer the farmer was not a clever man He planted a walnut, that's how it all began. He chose to put it close to the side of his house, <? It wasn't no bigger than a any small mouse ?> Does anyone remember this or know the source? Mick |
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11 May 21 - 03:28 PM (#4105709) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bill Palmer The Farmer From: GUEST,# Someone on a Birmingham site makes mention of singing the song in school, and on another site someone mentions doing the song in junior high. Couldn't find much else about it, however. |
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12 May 21 - 09:33 AM (#4105794) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bill Palmer The Farmer From: Snuffy I do remember hearing this in the late '50s, most likely from my sister - I have a vague idea that it may have been a mnemonic for her piano practice. I can't remember many of the words apart from the opening lines: Bill Palmer the farmer was not a wise<\b> man He planted a ...... under ....... |
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12 May 21 - 09:48 AM (#4105797) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bill Palmer The Farmer From: GUEST,# "Bill Palmer the farmer Was not a clever man He planted a walnut That's how it all began ...the thing about that tree it blocks up the window So no one can see!" That is from https://yacf.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=94486.0 |
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19 May 21 - 10:23 AM (#4106668) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bill Palmer The Farmer From: GUEST Thanks for the info people. We'd found the last reference but like you, nothing else. Elaine thinks it came from a more substantial book than the Singing Together ones. Thanks for trying Mick |
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21 May 21 - 12:32 PM (#4106869) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bill Palmer The Farmer From: GUEST,MCP Small update. Looking at books on ebay it looks as if the book was one of the Oxford School Music series. Sadly there appear to be 3 books in the Senior series(1956) and at least 2 in the Junior series (1954) and no indexes in the listings! Mick |
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26 May 21 - 11:18 AM (#4107638) Subject: Lyr/Tune Add: THE WALNUT TREE (Roger Fiske) From: GUEST,Lyr Add - MCP It did in fact come from one of those and the song is actually called The Walnut Tree. I give the words and music below. Thanks again to those who looked for it. Mick THE WALNUT TREE (Roger Fiske) Bill Palmer, the farmer, was not a clever man. He planted a walnut; that's how it all began. He chose to put it close to the side of his house; It wasn't no bigger than any small mouse. It wasn't no bigger than any small mouse. The walnut grew tall but it hadn't room to spread; A big tree should not be too near a house, its said. His wife Jill said 'Look Bill, the thing about that tree, It blocks up the winder so no one can see. It blocks up the winder so no one can see.' To calm her Bill Palmer said, 'Never mind, my dear; I'll climb up and cut off the biggest branch what's there'. He had a long ladder, and with his large saw He climbed up and sat there; Jill stood by the door. He climbed up and sat there; Jill stood by the door. But while he was sawing, his wife said, 'Look at you, You're sitting the wrong side of where you're sawing through. Oh Billy, you silly, you'll come such a bump.' As she spoke the bough broke, and Bill fell down 'clump'! As she spoke the bough broke, and Bill fell down 'clump'! Source: The Oxford School Music Books, Junior Book 1 by Roger Fiske and J.P.B. Dobbs, OUP, 1954 X:1 T:The Walnut Tree C:Roger Fiske L:1/4 M:3/4 K:G G | A G G | B G G | c/G/ G G | d2 w: Bill Pal- mer, the far- mer, was not a clev- er man. d | e c A | d B ^G | c/B/ A =G | A2 w: He plant- ed a wal- nut; that's how it all be-gan. G | A G G | B G G | c G G | d2 w: He chose to put~it close to the side of his house; |: d | c d d | B d d | A d d | G2 :| w: It was- n't no big- ger than an- y small mouse. |
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28 May 21 - 12:57 AM (#4107868) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bill Palmer The Farmer From: cnd Excellent searching, MCP! Good find. I was getting nowhere with this one. |
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28 May 21 - 07:21 AM (#4107897) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bill Palmer The Farmer From: Mick Pearce (MCP) cnd - It wasn't really my searching - it was actually Elaine herself who found it. She thought it might have been an Oxford music book, so we looked for some online and eventually found a cover that she though looked familiar. There was a copy on ebay - there was no contents list, but it was only a few pounds, so she bought it on spec. And lo and behold there was the song with it's correct title! Mick |
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19 Feb 22 - 06:10 PM (#4137234) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bill Palmer The Farmer From: GUEST,guest The first few lines came into my head recently. Remember singing it in school in NSW in mid to late 1950's. |