To Thread - Forum Home

The Mudcat Café TM
https://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=33180
35 messages

Lyr Req: Cadgwith Anthem

14 Apr 01 - 01:20 PM (#440512)
Subject: Lyr req: Caves/Beauty of Kashmir?
From: Nemesis

Have only ever heard this in public, never on a recording - does anyone know lyrics/artistes??

Thanks a lot,

Hille


14 Apr 01 - 02:10 PM (#440548)
Subject: Lyr Add: THE CADGWITH ANTHEM
From: Micca

Do you mean this one??

The Cadgwith Anthem

Come fill up your glasses and let us be merry,
For the moonlight is shining all over the hill.

As we roam through the valleys,
Where the lilies and the roses,
And the beauty of Kashmir lay drooping his head.
Then away, then away, then away
To the caves in yonder mountain Where the robbers retreat.

We come from the mountains, our pistols are loaded,
For to rob and to plunder it is our intent.

Hush, hush in the distance there's footsteps approaching,
"Stand, stand and deliver!", it is our watch cry.

Your gold and your silver, your life if resisting.
We'll laugh at your agonies, we'll scorn at your pain.


14 Apr 01 - 04:53 PM (#440634)
Subject: RE: Lyr req: Caves/Beauty of Kashmir?
From: Roughyed

Steeleye Span did this is four part harmony on 'All Around My Hat' album. Great song for a singaround cos the harmonies are manifold.


14 Apr 01 - 08:07 PM (#440740)
Subject: RE: Lyr req: Caves/Beauty of Kashmir?
From: Keith A of Hertford

Yes, a great sing, But the message?


15 Apr 01 - 12:16 AM (#440913)
Subject: RE: Lyr req: Caves/Beauty of Kashmir?
From: Wotcha

'tis very popular in Cornwall: the Cadgwith "Fishermen" still sing it on Friday nights .... Maybe something to do with the wreckers and smugglers who made such a good living in days of yore: note Admiral Benbow of Penzance.
"Stand and deliver" is the command offered by the highwaymen of the 18th Century, so some other tradition is involved here too.
Cheers,
Brian


15 Apr 01 - 03:20 AM (#440957)
Subject: RE: Lyr req: Caves/Beauty of Kashmir?
From: Liz the Squeak

It's basically just a song about highway men, a bit like Whiskey in the Jar, which also makes about as much sense as a goldfish in a privet bush.

LTS


15 Apr 01 - 03:47 AM (#440963)
Subject: RE: Lyr req: Caves/Beauty of Kashmir?
From: Roughyed

Apart from the floater verse about carriages a-rolling, Whiskey in the Jar seems a pretty straightforward story of robbery and betrayal. I think what's interesting about the Cadgwith Anthem (I see it's on the main site under Beauty of Kashmir by the way) is that it seems to be a song from inside a community of robbers/higwaymen but it gives a fairly romanticised picture of the way of life.

It feels to me like a song that has been written by some antiquarian somewhere. Not that it detracts from it's beauty, I just find that sort of thing interesting. Of course it could have been written by some pot-poet in Seven Dials like half of our traditional songs.


15 Apr 01 - 05:48 AM (#440988)
Subject: RE: Lyr req: Caves/Beauty of Kashmir?
From: Lanfranc

Another recording can be found on Robin Dransfield's "Tidewave" album.

As to its origin, I've always had a suspicion that it might have something to do with a Cornish soldier returning from duty on the NorthWest Frontier of India. Why else bring in "the beauty of Kashmir", which is as remote a concept for a Cornish highwayman to come up with as I can think of.

Cornwall is not noted for "caves in yonder mountains" - caves in cliffs, yes, in mountains, not that I know of. Relocate the narrative to refer to Kashmiri brigands, and it seems to me to make more sense.

Except for the "stand and deliver" which doesn't sound very Kashmiri, but could be a later addition.

The tune has a hymn-like quality, and you could almost hear a Salvation Army band playing it, were it not for the rising cadence on the last "away", which is more reminiscent of the a capella carol tradition of South Yorkshire.

If only we could impose version control on songs, "Mudsoft Sourcesafe for Folksongs"!


15 Apr 01 - 11:31 AM (#441091)
Subject: RE: Lyr req: Caves/Beauty of Kashmir?
From: Micca

Alan,I always thought the "Beauty of Kashmir" is a botanical reference...a kind of Rose??? but apart from that I see what you mean...


15 Apr 01 - 12:28 PM (#441115)
Subject: RE: Lyr req: Caves/Beauty of Kashmir?
From: Liz the Squeak

There's a village in Dorset called Cashmoor..... very nice pub.

And why is the beauty of Kashmir drooping HIS head.... is there something deeper about this song than we have been lead to believe? Was it perhaps the first noted incidence of a gay Cornish infantryman, daring to speak love's name??

LTS *BG*


15 Apr 01 - 07:05 PM (#441342)
Subject: RE: Lyr req: Caves/Beauty of Kashmir?
From: Lanfranc

A quick search with Google came up with 108 hits for "beauty+kashmir"!

None that I could say was particularly relevant to this discussion, except that there is a version of the song where it's "its" not "his" head that's drooping, thus avoiding Liz's gay Cornishman!

More research needed!


15 Apr 01 - 08:52 PM (#441412)
Subject: RE: Lyr req: Caves/Beauty of Kashmir?
From: Stewie

Thread creep: this reminded me of a totally unrelated broadside sung by Jean Ward on an album with Jon and Mike Raven 'Kate of Coalbrookdale' (Argo ZFB 29)- a delightfully flowery lovesong called 'The Rose of Cashmere', set to the tune of 'The Waters of Tyne'.

By thy footsteps of lightness
That mock the wild deer
I love thee, I love thee
My Rose of Cashmere

As Jon Raven noted, the song might well have been happier in polite society and, in time and style, shared a place with 'The Pirate's Serenade'. Quite lovely all the same.

--Stewie.


16 Apr 01 - 03:29 AM (#441534)
Subject: RE: Lyr req: Caves/Beauty of Kashmir?
From: Joan from Wigan

'Beauty of Kashmir' is in the DT - but only two verses. Thanks, Micca, for the other two. And for anyone interested in the aforementioned 'Rose of Cashmere', a gif of the sheet music can be found at (sorry, I will learn to do blue clickies one day): http://www.lib.unc.edu/music/cam/ns2/ns2-7p2.GIF

Joan


16 Apr 01 - 03:45 AM (#441536)
Subject: RE: Lyr req: Caves/Beauty of Kashmir?
From: Joan from Wigan

Forget that link! Oh for the facility to amend incorrect items after they're posted! 'The Rose of Cashmere' is included in a list of available sheet music on: http://www.lib.unc.edu/music/eam/ns2/ns2.html
Scroll down the list of items and it will give you two links, one for the cover and one for page 2.

Joan


16 Apr 01 - 01:05 PM (#441748)
Subject: RE: Lyr req: Caves/Beauty of Kashmir?
From: LR Mole

The Beauty of Cashmere is only exceeded by the Suavity of Crewneck and the Security of Turtlenecks. No sweat.


16 Apr 01 - 06:27 PM (#442019)
Subject: RE: Lyr req: Caves/Beauty of Kashmir?
From: Snuffy

There are actually three versions in the DT
  1. Beauty of Kashmir
  2. The Candleford Anthem
  3. Come Fill Up Your Glasses (Robbers)

    As the Cornish also indulged in a bit of wrecking, could the "Beauty of Kashmir" have been a ship they lured onto the rocks?

    Wassail! V


21 Apr 01 - 04:29 PM (#446235)
Subject: RE: Lyr req: Caves/Beauty of Kashmir?
From: Noreen

I have been assured that 'the Beauty of Kashmir' refers to a rose, and droops its head.


21 Apr 01 - 05:24 PM (#446257)
Subject: RE: Lyr req: Caves/Beauty of Kashmir?
From: bradfordian

And I thought the Beauty of Kashmir was a horse! But again thanks to Micca, having heard the song some while ago I was taken with it but felt shy of singing it as there were only the two verses. I shall now incorporate this into my "repotoire". Watch out the Yorkshire meet! Cheers Baz.


22 Apr 01 - 01:23 PM (#446673)
Subject: RE: Lyr req: Caves/Beauty of Kashmir?
From: Noreen

In 37-part harmony at the Jug...


22 Apr 01 - 03:15 PM (#446738)
Subject: RE: Lyr req: Caves/Beauty of Kashmir?
From: Joan from Wigan

The Open Door Folk Club always use it as their closing song, and the harmonies are out of this world...


22 Apr 01 - 05:02 PM (#446818)
Subject: RE: Lyr req: Caves/Beauty of Kashmir?
From: Geoff the Duck

Just a quick threadcreep:-
Baz / Bradfordian. You make a reference to the Yorkshire Gathering.
Are we to expect you at the Jug, and if so do you intend to camp?
Mrs.Duck is coordinating the event and would like people to book field/beergarden space for tents/campers etc. you can send a "mudcat mail" message to let us know.
Apart from that, I am from Bradford, although now located in Pontefract. I am just wodering if you might be a Baz who I know?
Quack
Geoff the Duck (aka Gilday)


26 Apr 11 - 12:43 PM (#3142749)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Cadgwith Anthem
From: GUEST,Amy in Delhi.

I, too, have been long intrigued by the reference to 'the Beauty of Kashmir' in this song. It seems such an out-of-context reference to 18th century English highway robbery, and as I live in North India and have been to Kashmir 30plus times, I really want to understand the meaning of it. As someone mentioned earlier, the reference to highway brigands and caves in mountains is certainly more Himalayan than Cornish. I always assumed the "beauty'' to be a young Kashmiri Prince (?!) (most Kashmiris are stunning to look at), but then couldn't make it make sense with the rest of the song.
It also occurred to me that back in the 60's and 70's, many well-known musicians, artists and writers stayed in Srinagar's houseboats on Dal Lake as part of the hippy trail and were heavily charmed by its extraordinary beauty and unique culture/language. Does anyone know if Steeleye Span headed that way in those days? I feel there's a definite message 'hidden in plain sight' in this song, and would love to know what it is!
Thanks folks.


26 Apr 11 - 01:14 PM (#3142774)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Cadgwith Anthem
From: Tradsinger

I am sure there has been a long thread on this already, tracing it back. Note that in Cadgwith itself, they sing 'beautiful Kashmir", not "the beauty of Kashmir".

Tradsinger


26 Apr 11 - 02:14 PM (#3142825)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Cadgwith Anthem
From: Brian May

I must confess that I thought 'The beauty of Kashmir' was horse!!!

Waiting to to 'Stand and deliver' the horse was drooping its head - seemed to make some sort of sense.

I love these threads . . .


13 Oct 11 - 07:26 AM (#3238288)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Cadgwith Anthem
From: GUEST,Gerry Bates

From the ambience of the song I always imagined that it was the fine woollen cloth called cashmere that was referred to, not the Indian state of Kashmir. It made more sense!

Looking at the preceding line, it makes even more sense if it's a flower. However, I can find no reference to a flower called cashmere or kashmir. Could it be a mis-hearing of catsear?


22 Nov 11 - 09:06 AM (#3261452)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Cadgwith Anthem
From: GUEST,Katie

I personally think that the roses and lilies are exotic Kashmiri females who, along with a handsome young man, have been rescued / captured from a wreck by a band of drunken robbers / highwaymen. They are being taken in a wagon to the robber's retreat on the wooded hillside and there is much revelry and goading going on, i.e. they're returning to their own 'caves in the mountain' and the young kashmir man is bowing his head with fatigue, despair, who knows... :) The robbers would have been impressed with his maybe effeminate beauty (compared with their swarthy features) and probably meant to carry away the womenfolk to marry - much in the style of the Doones in Lorna Doone. I love listening to the Fisherman's Friends sing this song and this is the story I conjure in my head, makes perfect sense to me lol!


22 Nov 11 - 07:31 PM (#3261807)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Cadgwith Anthem
From: Artful Codger

Now all we need is a theory about "rows of cashmere" (bolts) "draping the head." {Now that the evil seed has been planted, my job is done.}


23 Nov 11 - 01:32 PM (#3262181)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Cadgwith Anthem
From: GUEST,Longbeard

Is there a verse missing?

'And now we'll return to our wives and our children
Expecting their fathers to come robbing this way'

Only had a quick look through. Written in the fifties as sung by Steeleye Span but verses added in a session more recently. Met someone in Brittany recently who was at that session!


23 Nov 11 - 05:27 PM (#3262325)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Cadgwith Anthem
From: Artful Codger

See other threads on the song. Contrary to the hype, it wasn't "written in the 50's by Cadgwith fisherman," and although some more verses have been added (that also is described in those threads), the earliest collected version (1901) consisted of only two verses--as it happens, those sung in Cadgwith by the fishermen's choir, with a few alterations; a fuller four-verse version was published in 1906.

Of the verses reportedly "written" at the session you refer to, only three seem to have "entered the tradition", and two of the three have proven to be just slight variants of the verses in the 1906 text. I don't doubt that additional verses were written, but they don't appear to have acquired legs--the relevance of that session is inflated.

(BTW, why would the children expect their fathers to come robbing this way? Do the robbers follow a route, like caroling children? "Here we come a robbering..." Clearly too much liquor at that session.)

Next we'll be hearing that Steeleye Span actually wrote the song, time-travelled to Cadgwith and taught it to the fishermen, who mistook the line "beautiful (roast of) catsmeat" (actually, loin chops) for "the beautiful (rose/daffodil/hydrangea/invasive weed of) Cashmere". Then the fishermen time-travelled back to the 1890's, taught it to seamen, and the rest, as they say, is revisionist history. I'm off to tell Bert Lloyd, John Jacob Niles and George Bush...


24 Nov 11 - 02:57 PM (#3262828)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Cadgwith Anthem
From: GUEST,Longbeard

HUEEEEEY. AIN'T YOU THE MAN. EVERYTHING YOU SING MAKES SENSE. MUST HAVE A COPY OF THAT SONG BOOK! Will sing that last verse with even more gusto next time out.


24 Nov 11 - 07:29 PM (#3262996)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Cadgwith Anthem
From: Artful Codger

Making sense does usually help. When I write lyrics, I try to avoid bits that stick out like sore thumbs, and yes, I revise many obvious corruptions in songs. But if you prefer to parrot the mistakes of others and sing rubbish, that's certainly an option.


25 Nov 11 - 05:29 PM (#3263512)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Cadgwith Anthem
From: GUEST,Longbeard

And so ends a broadcast from the self righteous party.


26 Nov 11 - 02:32 PM (#3263840)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Cadgwith Anthem
From: Artful Codger

And the usual reasoned rebuttal of the football hooligan: Is someone besting you logically, showing errors in your pronouncements? Then it's time for ad hominem attacks.


06 Dec 15 - 03:25 AM (#3756049)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Cadgwith Anthem
From: GUEST,odonian

beauty of kashmir - opium poppy?


11 Jul 16 - 04:53 AM (#3799767)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Cadgwith Anthem
From: GUEST,Vlad 111

Spoil heaps from the China clay industry were always called the Cornish mountains