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30 May 97 - 12:06 PM (#5946) Subject: The Spotted Cow From: Hutch The Spotted Cow I have a folksong in mind but can only remember the first few lines. I think Steeleye Span did a recording but cannot get hold of one. Does anyone else know the rest of the words; One morning in the month of may as from my cot I strayed just at the dawning of the day I met with a pretty maid Good morning to you, morrow, said I Good morning to you now The maid replied, Kind Sir, she cried I've lost my spotted cow ....and then it goes along the usual lines of folk songs of this period.
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30 May 97 - 07:28 PM (#5953) Subject: RE: The Spotted Cow From: Alan of Australia Have the words, will type up and post soon. Do you realize it's about a prostitute? Cheers, Alan |
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31 May 97 - 11:27 AM (#5978) Subject: Lyr/Chords Add: SPOTTED COW From: Alan of Australia Here they are SPOTTED COW
..........D.........G..........A............D................................G.D
"Good morning to you, wither?" said I "Good morning to you now"
"No longer weep no longer mourn, your cow's not lost my dear
"I must confess you're very kind I thank you sir," said she
And in the grove they spent the day, they thought it passed too soon,
If he should cross the flowery dale or go to view the plough Cheers,
Alan (Version without chords) SPOTTED COW One morning in the month of May as from my cot I strayed Just at the dawning of the day I met with a charming maid Just at the dawning of the day I met with a charming maid. "Good morning to you, wither?" said I "Good morning to you now" The maid replied, "Kind Sir" she cried "I've lost my spotted cow" "No longer weep no longer mourn, your cow's not lost my dear I saw down in yonder grove come love and I'll show you where" "I must confess you're very kind I thank you sir," said she "We will be sure her there to find come sweetheart go with me" And in the grove they spent the day, they thought it passed too soon, At night they homeward bent their way while brightly shone the moon. If he should cross the flowery dale or go to view the plough She comes and calls, "You gentle swain, I've lost my spotted cow." |
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02 Jun 97 - 05:03 AM (#6059) Subject: RE: The Spotted Cow From: Hutch Thanks everso. I'm not so sure about the "maid" being a pro. I'd rather think of it as two young people doing what comes naturally (no pun intended). Thanks again. |
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03 Oct 20 - 09:35 AM (#4074145) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Spotted Cow From: Greum The sleeve notes from Steeleye Span's Below the Salt album certainly suggest the woman is a prostitute, but I'm not sure the words of the song suggest this. I first saw her through the swirling mists that rose from the Thames, her body illuminated by the gas-lamp beneath which she stood. Her imitation jewellery reflected the hissing flame and I could just discern the long slit in her skirt and the badly applied rouge on her cheeks. As I neared her she turned towards me in a practised manner. “I've lost my spotted cow,” she said in a voice coarsened by the inclement weather but still retaining the charm of a country accent. I looked at her, suddenly moved. “What brought you to this sorry state?” I asked. |
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03 Oct 20 - 10:45 AM (#4074156) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Spotted Cow From: GUEST https://www.mainlynorfolk.info/peter.bellamy/songs/thespottedcow.html |
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03 Oct 20 - 08:27 PM (#4074221) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Spotted Cow From: Tattie Bogle This song brings back rather ludicrous memories of doing it at Girvan Folk Festival a few years back, in their Folk Band competition. The competition was not intended to be serious in any way, more to be as daft as possible. So, while my 2 bandmates were singing the song on stage, I was crawling around the audience on my hands and knees with a spotty blanket on my back, plaintively mooing. In the end, I gave up mooing, and shouted, "I'm here!" Sorry! |
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04 Oct 20 - 05:18 AM (#4074258) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Spotted Cow From: Gordon Jackson Hmm, I don’t think it’s ever a good idea to treat the sleeve notes of folk rock bands as gospel. We have, inter alia, Baring-Gould, Kidson, the Hammonds and Gardiner and, more recently, Roy Palmer and Roud and Bishop all including the song in their collections without the merest hint of the woman being a prostitute. That the song was written by a townie, rather than it springing up, fully-grown, from a field or a meadow in southern England, seems pretty well established. But a prostitute? I think most people with a serious interest in folksong would be more inclined to pay heed to those collectors I mentioned above, rather than Steeleye Span (not that I dislike their version, as it happens); I think their sleeve note was intended as a piece of humorous nonsense. |
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04 Oct 20 - 08:21 AM (#4074266) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Spotted Cow From: GUEST The line "I've lost my spotted cow" is a come on. It means "Come with me to the countryside." (Know what I mean, nudge, nudge). The fact that the request is repeated just means "Let's go off to the countryside again. Any old excuse. Tradsinger |
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04 Oct 20 - 09:32 AM (#4074272) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Spotted Cow From: Greum Gordon, I agree. I was really wondering why Alan of Australia claimed she was a pro. |
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04 Oct 20 - 04:05 PM (#4074318) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Spotted Cow From: GUEST,threelegsoman I posted this one on YouTube last year: Spotted Cow (The) (Including lyrics and chords) I worked out my own chord progression for the recording. |
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04 Oct 20 - 07:22 PM (#4074340) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Spotted Cow From: Gordon Jackson I've never had anyone, male or female, say to me 'I've lost my spotted cow', but if it ever happens I'll be sure to reply 'Thanks, I'd love to have sex with you'. Let's see where that gets me. |
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05 Oct 20 - 03:32 PM (#4074433) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Spotted Cow From: GUEST Steeleye Span.... Spotted Cow. |
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06 Oct 20 - 07:32 AM (#4074479) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Spotted Cow From: Greum What phrase do they use, Gordon? ;) |
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06 Oct 20 - 11:02 AM (#4074506) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Spotted Cow From: Gordon Jackson 'Just how desperate do you think I am?' :( |
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23 May 22 - 05:43 PM (#4142379) Subject: RE: Lyr ADD: The Spotted Cow From: Joe Offer What about the one with this as the chorus? Lolly-doll, lolly doodle, lolly toodle link-a-laddle lum La lally to-dee, to-de link-a-lay Casey Casebeer sings it. |
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23 May 22 - 06:02 PM (#4142381) Subject: RE: Lyr ADD: The Spotted Cow From: GUEST,diplocase Joe, my spotted cow is completely unrelated to the lost spotted cow, but here it is! Casey THE SPOTTED COW (Roud 0956, possibly Child #283 Crafty Farmer) Frank Joy on Folk songs of the Catskills CD From singing of Frank Joy. Also known as 'The Crafty Farmer" and earlier as 'The Yorkshire Bite.” (Frank Hinchliffe of s. Yorkshire and Harry Cox each recorded a version.) another New York State version 1939 appears as "The Kennebec Bite." See Also the detailed references in "American Balladry from British Broadsides", by G. Malcolm Laws, Jr. this version has an extra beat from time to time Oh, there was an old fa’mer and he lived not very far from here, He become a very weal-thy fa’mer, as you sh’ll shaw’tly hear. He’d hawses and cows and many oth’r things, He had a boy to woik f’r’m, the boy's name was John. CHORUS: Lolly-doll, lolly doodle, lolly toodle link-a-laddle lum La lally to-dee, to-de link-a-lay Early one mornin’ he called to his man, The boy came to’m his word t’ und’stand. He said, * “The old spotted cow has no way to the fair, She looks the best, and she we can spare.” (CHORUS) The boy took his leave and went off to the fair, He was there a * little while when he met two men. After a lot a’ dickerin’, that neva seem to end, The boy sold the cow for six pound ten (CHORUS) As these two men wen’ in to drink They paid the boy all down in chink. Sayin’ * to the landlady, the boy he did say, “What shall I do with the money, I pray?” CHORUS: Lolly-doll, lolly doodle, lolly Toodle link-a-laddle lum La lally To-dee, To-de link-a-lay “It's I * will sew it in your coat linin’,” said she, “For fear on the way it’s robbed of you be.” Now there sat a highwayman, sippin’ at his wine, And sayin’ to ‘mself, “That money will be mine.” (CHORUS) The boy took ‘is leave and for home he did go, The highwayman folla’d soon after also. He'd gone a little hways, he'd ova-taken the boy, “You're well ova-taken, it gives me joy.” (CHORUS) “How far are y’ going - going this way?” “Four * miles, or more, as near’s I c’n say.” “Hop on behind,” the highwayman said, I'll getcha to yer home 'fore the sun has set.” CHORUS: Lolly-doll, lolly doodle, lolly Toodle link-a-laddle lum La lally To-dee, To-de link-a-lay They rode till they come to a long narra lane, “Now, said the highwayman, I'll tell ya very plain. Deliver up that money without any strife, ‘r in this long lane I will take away yer life.” CHORUS: Lolly-doll, lolly doodle, lolly Toodle link-a-laddle lum La lally To-dee, To-de link-a-lay The boy seeing now no time to dispute, He leeped from the horse without fear or doubt. From the coat linin’ the money he tore out, And in the long grass he did scatter it about. (CHORUS) The highwayman leeped from the haws also, And little did he think it was to his loss. For while he was pickin’ up the money that was lost, The boy jumped aboard and went off with the horse. (CHORUS) The highwayman holla’d and bade ‘im to stay, The boy said nothin’ but he rode straight away. Back to his master and thus he did bring, A haws and a saddle and many fine thing. (CHORUS) By, the soivant being out, she saw John, She went in to acquaint the old man. the old * man came out, "What the devil is the fuss, Why, the old spotted cow is turned to a haws!” (CHORUS) On, the saddlebags * bein’ opened, out a’ them were told, Five hundred pounds in silver and gold. “For a boy, you've done mighty reh, So half a’ this money you shall have f’ y’ share!” (CHORUS) |
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25 May 22 - 04:50 AM (#4142496) Subject: RE: Lyr ADD: The Spotted Cow From: Reinhard This one is not Roud 956 (master title The Spotted Cow) but Roud 2637 (master title The Crafty Ploughboy, also known as Well Sold the Cow and The Yorkshite Bite) |
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25 May 22 - 05:51 AM (#4142499) Subject: RE: Lyr ADD: The Spotted Cow From: Richard Mellish A different song from Oz, The Wallaby Track (first line "One morning I rolled up the few things I'd got") has the girl asking whether the boy has seen "my old poley(?) cow" and him explaining that he's looking for a wife. That one ends with them enjoying "Plenty of tooralye ...". |
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25 May 22 - 07:35 PM (#4142581) Subject: RE: Lyr ADD: The Spotted Cow From: GerryM Reinhard, I take it that last title has a typo for Yorkshire? |
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26 May 22 - 12:04 AM (#4142594) Subject: RE: Lyr ADD: The Spotted Cow From: Reinhard Oh dear, yes, of course it's a typo. How embarrassing! |
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27 May 22 - 11:33 AM (#4142617) Subject: RE: Lyr ADD: The Spotted Cow From: Steve Gardham How very dare you, Sir? That's Norfolk and good!:) |