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Mad Man's Morris

04 Jul 01 - 08:14 AM (#498175)
Subject: Mad Man's Morris
From: pavane

I have come across a reference (printed c1680) to a song called 'The distracted damsel or the mad maids Morris', to the tune of: She lay all naked in her bed or, the Mad man morris.

I have seen the song and tune for She lay all naked in her bed in the DT, but wondered if anyone knows more about the Morris connection? Mad Man Morris, or even Mad Maid's Morris, seems quite an interesting (appropriate?) thought. (By the way, I AM a hankie waver myself)

04 Jul 01 - 08:16 AM (#498176)
Subject: RE: Mad Man's Morris
From: pavane

Forgot to add that the reference was in the the Bodleian Ballad collection

04 Jul 01 - 08:29 AM (#498181)
Subject: RE: Mad Man's Morris
From: IanC

Pavane

BruceO has a number of references to Mad Man's Morris as a tune to a number of songs, including Mad Maid's Morris.

There is a direct reference to it here. I've included the text below.

The Jovial may-pole dances, or The Merry Morris, and The Mad Man's Morris

This is a ballad from 1690 in the British Library collection. The frontispeice is an illustration of couples dancing around a may pole, to bagpipes. Another Ballad in the same colletion is called the Mad Man's Morris. In both cases, it would appear that the word Morris is used not only because it is a dance, but because it describes the nature of the ballands, i.e. to emphasise the joviality of the first, and the wildness of the second. There is no mention of Morris in the peices themselves, merely in the titles.

The Jovial may-pole dancers, or The Merry Morris,

The Mad Man's Morris

Anonymous, 1690, in The British Library Collection of Ballads, C.22.f.6(128)

04 Jul 01 - 08:31 AM (#498184)
Subject: RE: Mad Man's Morris
From: pavane

That's what I call service! Thanks

04 Jul 01 - 08:32 AM (#498186)
Subject: RE: Mad Man's Morris
From: IanC

Sorry, submitted before I was finished.

I've got access to the BL, so if you want a copy (and are prepared to wait some time till I get round to being there again) let me know and I'll try & get it photocopied.

Cheers!
Ian

04 Jul 01 - 08:44 AM (#498192)
Subject: RE: Mad Man's Morris
From: pavane

Thanks for the offer, but I don't really need it. I was just interested in the title.