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Tune Req: My Love She's But a Lassie Yet

31 Aug 01 - 05:20 PM (#539239)
Subject: Fiddlers Only-She's but a Lassie Yet
From: Charley Noble

On another thread we're trying to track down the proper name for a tune I'm using for a nautical drinking song. I heard the A-Part long ago in Maine and was told by a member of my old contradance band that the tune was "She's but a Lassie Yet" but I'm not sure. The B-Part seems similar to the B-Part of "Soldier's Joy." If you copy and paste the below into Word/Times Font/12, the chords should be in the proper places. Any clue?

MERCHANT'S ISLAND
(Words by Charlie Ipcar © 1999 As sung by Roll & Go. Tune: She's but a Lassie yet Key: F(5/C))

G—C-G--------D-------G
Oh, the wind blew up 'bout nor'nor'east,
---------C-G--D7
Blew right up on Monty's beach;
---G------D7---------G-------D7
The men got drunk and the women too –
--------------------------G
'Round the pub the rum jug flew!

Chorus:

G
We're kicking up Bob's a-dying,
-------------------D7
Kicking up Bob's a-dying;
------G-----------------C
We're kicking up Bob's a-dying –
D7-----------------G
Down on Merchant's Island!


31 Aug 01 - 05:43 PM (#539264)
Subject: RE: Tune Req: Fiddlers Only-She's but a Lassie Ye
From: GUEST

On JCs Tunefinder (Mudcat's Links) search for "My love she's but a lassie yet" and (earlier title) "Miss Farquharson's Reel". There are multiple versions of each available.


31 Aug 01 - 06:03 PM (#539290)
Subject: RE: Tune Req: Fiddlers Only-She's but a Lassie Ye
From: Jon Freeman

Charley, I haven't got Times (I take it is different to Times New Roman) and I'm not convinced I have the chords lined up correctly but even having said that, I can't see those chords being My Love She's Not A Lassie Yet - least not the version I know.

Re the lining up, post between <pre;> and </pre> tags, typing it so it lines up here (and ending each line with the <br>) and we should all be sure to see it ok.

Re the tune, anyway of providing an ABC or a MIDI or perhaps a link to a clip of the recording?

Jon

(who's not a fiddler - left hand knows roughly where it's going but my bowing is awful - sort of like a hack saw I guess!)


31 Aug 01 - 07:51 PM (#539356)
Subject: RE: Tune Req: Fiddlers Only-She's but a Lassie Ye
From: Murray MacLeod

I can see the B part chords corresponding to the B part of "My Love She's but a Lassie Yet". As Jon says, the A part chords don't seem to fit the tune as I know it, either.

There are few songs which I actively hate but this is one of them. It always brings back memories of over-dramatic be-tartaned tenors duetting with equally OTT sopranos.

Murray


31 Aug 01 - 08:00 PM (#539359)
Subject: RE: Tune Req: Fiddlers Only-She's but a Lassie Ye
From: Charley Noble

Ah, Murray, it's a lovely tune for us banjo players, and maybe I shouldn't have trusted our fiddleplayer to name it. I'm having trouble finding the link "Guest" suggested:

"On JCs Tunefinder (Mudcat's Links) search for "My love she's but a lassie yet" and (earlier title) "Miss Farquharson's Reel". There are multiple versions of each available."

Is this a Mudcat link or on some other website that only fiddlers are familar with?

I could do the chords in () if it really would help, and I'm the one who wants help.;-)


31 Aug 01 - 08:25 PM (#539372)
Subject: RE: Tune Req: Fiddlers Only-She's but a Lassie Ye
From: Jeri

Charley, you click on links in the banner at the top and look for "JC's ABC Tune Finder." This is a bit misleading - it finds much more than just the ABCs. (Click on "M" for midi, or the right-most "G" for a gif of the music.)
My Love Is But a Lassie Yet
And
Miss Farquharson's Reel


01 Sep 01 - 02:07 AM (#539497)
Subject: RE: Tune Req: Fiddlers Only-She's but a Lassie Ye
From: GUEST,Boab

Hey Murray! Daur ye dae doon Rab Burns?? I tend to agree with you about titivated italian-trained tenors and their pairtners trying to sing Scots songs in an Oxford accent, but don't hammer the song lyrics because of abysmal interpretation. I could check Serge Hovey's research to see if the "popular" melody is the one chosen by Burns ---but I hae-nae got time right now. The song lyrics, by the way, are actually describing the raither nippy taste of immature whisky. Boab


01 Sep 01 - 09:41 AM (#539601)
Subject: RE: Tune Req: Fiddlers Only-She's but a Lassie Ye
From: Charley Noble

Thanks, Jeri, for the primer on playing the tunes; click on that "m" thing! OK, the tune is definitely a varient of "My Love Is But a Lassie Yet" although I have apparently mixed up which is the A-Part and which is the B-Part. Of course, I think it makes more sense designating the parts the way I do, similar to "Soldier's Joy" but now I know.

Thanks very much for sorting this out.


01 Sep 01 - 11:35 AM (#539644)
Subject: RE: Tune Req: Fiddlers Only-She's but a Lassie Ye
From: JohnInKansas


I had not come across "Miss Farquharson's Reel." I'm very happy to add it as another version of "My Love Is But A Lassie Yet."

Several of my sources show "My Love Is But A Lassie Yet" as variants/alternate titles for "Chinquapin" and/or "Chinkypin." Both "The Craig Duncan Master Fiddle Solo Collection" and "The Phillips Collection of Traditonal American Fiddle Tunes, Volume I" (both Mel Bay) show the tune this way.

John


01 Sep 01 - 03:29 PM (#539767)
Subject: RE: Tune Req: Fiddlers Only-She's but a Lassie Ye
From: Charley Noble

It really was a favorite tune of my old Maine contradance band the "Sea Slugs." I've glad to learn it has been circulating around. We renamed it "Merchant's Island" of course.


01 Sep 01 - 03:59 PM (#539784)
Subject: RE: Tune Req: Fiddlers Only-She's but a Lassie Ye
From: Jeri

Funny, when I first heard the midi, I instantly recognised the tune - could have picked my fiddle up and played it, even though I don't think I ever have before. (I probably know it from contradancing.) I didn't recognise the "Miss F" or "My Lassie" names, but "Chinquapin" rings a bell.