|
06 Sep 01 - 11:04 AM (#543402) Subject: The Happy Man From: The_one_and_only_Dai Lyric is here. Can someone please score or MIDI this fine tune please? |
|
06 Sep 01 - 11:10 AM (#543411) Subject: RE: Tune Req: The Happy Man From: Malcolm Douglas Available in ABC format in this thread: Tune Add: Please Post Tunes Here I The DT file gives no information as to source, so the info Snuffy gave with the tune could do with being added to it. |
|
04 Jun 06 - 12:41 AM (#1752543) Subject: Tune Add: THE HAPPY MAN From: Joe Offer For the record, here's that tune that Snuffy posted. It's Roud #1230, published by Williams, Folk Songs of the Upper Thames (1923). Anybody have background information on the song? Know of any other printed sources? No listing in the Traditional Ballad Index, and only the Williams book listed at folktrax.org. Anybody have the Williams book, so we can compare it with the DT lyrics? First line is:
1452 THE HAPPY MAN X: 101 T:The Happy Man M:3/4 L:1/8 Q:132 S:Adderbury Morris Dance A:Adderbury, Oxfordshire N:filename [HAPPYMAN K:G D2| G2G2A2|B4A2|B2B2^c2|d4d2| B2B2B2|A2A2d2|B2B2B2|A2A2d>d|d2e2^c2|d4|| dc| B2A2G2|d4GF|(E2c2)A2|(G2F2)DD| G3AB2|A4cB|A3GF2|G4dc| B2A2G2|d4(GF)|E2c2A2|(G2F2)DD| G3ABc|A4cB|A3GF2|G4|| To play or display ABC tunes, try concertina.net |
|
04 Jun 06 - 08:55 AM (#1752671) Subject: Lyr Add: THE HAPPY MAN From: GUEST,RTim The Happy Man is a Morris Stick Dance and Song collected in Adderbury, Oxfordshire by Janet Blunt in 1916 (I think) from Mr. William "Binx" Walton, who said he learnt it from Soloman Lines son (Soloman was known locally as "The Happy Man"), who was an old man when Binx was young. It is one of the Adderbury Dances that is either sung while dancing, or sung with stick clashing the chorus. They used to do this at feasts or when they wanted a rest from dancing. The version in William's Folk Song of the Upper Thames is different to the Adderbury version. THE HAPPY MAN. How happy's that man That's free from all care Who loves to make merry (Rep.) With a drap of good beer. Chorus With his pipe & his friends Puffing hours away Singing song after song Till he hails a new day. He can laugh dance & sing And smoke without fear Be as happy as a king Till he hails a new year. How happy's that man, That's free from all strife He envies no other (Rep.) But travels through life. Our seamen of old They fear not their foes The throw away discord They throw away discord And to mirth they're inclined. Used in Adderbury as a song and Morris stick dance Collected by Janet Blunt from William Walton Who learnt when young from Solomon Lines's son. |
|
04 Jun 06 - 09:39 AM (#1752682) Subject: RE: Origins: The Happy Man From: GUEST,RTim If you go to The Adderbury Morris web page, particularly - http://www.kickback.btinternet.co.uk/Adderbury.Morris/Tunes/Atunes.html And select "The Happy Man" you will get an MP3 version of the song sung by Stephen Wass one of the current musicians. It has also been recorded by Fairport Convention on their CD - XXXV, which includes Chris Leslie - who has been a musician and dancer for the side since the revival in 1975. Chris has also recorded it on his CD - Dancing Days. Tim Radford |
|
04 Jun 06 - 01:44 PM (#1752809) Subject: RE: Origins: The Happy Man From: Malcolm Douglas The unattributed DT text (link above) is the Adderbury one, with a few small variations of wording (presumably typed from memory?). The Adderbury set doesn't appear in Roud at present. The text noted by Alfred Williams is also in the DT, at HOW HAPPY IS THE MAN!. It is accurate apart from three typos, and properly attributed, but I may as well add that James Midwinter lived at Aldsworth, Gloucestershire, and that the song appears on page 43 of Folk-Songs of the Upper Thames (London: Duckworth & Co, 1923). For the record, the errors are: verse 2 line one: omit "the" verse 3 line 4: "trumpets" should be "trumpet" verse 4 line 2: insert "we'll" between "mirth" and "incline". There is also an unpublished text (no tune) in the Hammond MS collection. It was noted from William Miller at Wootton Fitzpaine, Dorset, in April 1906 (MS ref D367). |
|
05 Jun 06 - 01:33 AM (#1753131) Subject: DT Corr: How Happy Is the Man! From: Joe Offer For the record, here's a corrected version, including the suggestions form Malcolm. HOW HAPPY IS THE MAN! How happy is the man that is free from all care, That loves to make merry o'er a pot of strong beer; With his pipe and his friend passing hours away Singing song after song, till he hail the new day! How happy this isle, that is doubly blest With meat that's delightful and drink of the best! We live free from control, and are blest with great store, For we have what we want. What can mortals have more? Our soldiers are bold, they fear not the foe; Our sailors are valiant, which our enemies know; They are feared in each clime, they're the dread of each shore When the trumpet shall sound and the loud cannons roar. But since we enjoy such blessings divine, We'll throw off all discord and to mirth we'll incline; We'll drink and we'll sing, passing hours away And sing song after song, till we hail the new say. (c) Heirs of Alfred Williams, collected circa 1914-16 Singer, James Midwinter, Aldsworth, Gloucestershire published in "Folk-Songs of the Upper Thames" (London: Duckworth & Co, 1923). There is another version on "Morris On" by John Kirkpatrick et al @drink filename[ HOWHAPP DMcG oct00 |
|
05 Jun 06 - 09:37 AM (#1753267) Subject: RE: Origins: The Happy Man From: GUEST,RTim The version listed by Joe is NOT that featured on "Morris On", as stated at the end as performed by Kirkpatrick et al. That version is the Adderbury one performed by The Adderbury Village Morris Men AND the LP band, etc.. Tim Radford |
|
05 Jun 06 - 07:25 PM (#1753629) Subject: RE: Origins: The Happy Man From: Malcolm Douglas Alfred Williams didn't note a tune for the text he published. We have no way of knowing what melody James Midwinter used. There's no particular reason to think that it (or the Dorset example) was sung to the Adderbury tune or anything like it. Change "version" to "another version" (with a link) and all will be well. The DT files will also need linking and amending, of course. |
|
05 Jun 06 - 08:52 PM (#1753691) Subject: RE: Origins: The Happy Man From: Joe Offer I think I have it right now - please check the (now corrected) text I posted above. -Joe- |
|
06 Jun 06 - 11:04 AM (#1754134) Subject: RE: Origins: The Happy Man From: GUEST,Desdemona A brilliant song, and a great stick dance; it appeared on "Son of Morris On', which is back in print again. ~D |
|
29 Oct 12 - 02:35 PM (#3427862) Subject: RE: Tune Req: The Happy Man From: GUEST It is on the soundtrack for Way of the Morris |