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25 Feb 98 - 08:27 AM (#22190) Subject: Better things to twiddle--feminist(?) sailor song From: becca I am looking for lyrics and music to a song about what women do while their sailors are away. They don't twiddle their thumbs--they have better things to twiddle... Thanks! |
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25 Feb 98 - 10:18 AM (#22192) Subject: RE: Better things to twiddle--women's sailor song From: Bruce O. You can see what they twiddled in the songs below. A married seaman was a cuckold, and there are a few ballads on the subject. A version of "Tit for Tat" is in DT, and other copies noted below. See under links at the top right of the forum home page the 17th century ballad index (near bottom of listings). There look for: ZN2325 and sequel ZN330; ZN118 (Tit for Tat); ZN519, ZN1589; ZN1803; ZN1813, ZN2422, ZN609, ZN674, ZN1299, ZN1824, ZN1894, ZN2863, and ZN3047. Tunes for several are in C. M. Simpson's 'The British Broadside Ballad and Its Music'. I think I sent tune "Tit for Tat" to this forum a long time ago (last summer?) |
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26 Feb 98 - 03:00 PM (#22357) Subject: RE: Better things to twiddle--women's sailor song From: Tim O'Kane Becca, If none of Bruce's links pan out, let me know. I know just the song you're talking about, but don't have it written down. We call it "The Twiddle Song." |
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27 Feb 98 - 01:19 PM (#22419) Subject: RE: Better things to twiddle--women's sailor song From: Check out "'Round Cape Horn" |
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04 Mar 98 - 01:49 PM (#22956) Subject: Lyr Add: STILL HER ANSWER TO ME WAS NO From: Moira Cameron How about this one: STILL HER ANSWER TO ME WAS NO
Traditional;
Fair maid walking in her garden
Madam, in your face is beauty,
My husband is a Spanish captain;
Madam, shall I tie your garter,
Madam and I, we slept together; |
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04 Mar 98 - 01:57 PM (#22957) Subject: RE: Better things to twiddle--women's sailor song From: Bruce O. That last is in Cecil Sharp's '100 English Folksongs', which I finally bought yesterday (and its in several other places, usually called "The Spanish Merchant's Daughter"). It's based on a song "Consent at Last" in 'Pills to Purge Melancholy'. There's a much more straightforward (bawdy) version in one of the Ashmole MSS in the Bodleian Library, Oxford, c 1635-40, but the sheet is so badly waterstained I couldn't read much of it. |
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04 Mar 98 - 02:17 PM (#22960) Subject: Lyr Add: CONSENT AT LAST (from D'Urfey) From: Bruce O. I don't think this is really a twiddle song, but I already had a short file on it, so here we go. 'The Spanish Merchant's Daughter' with its double negative question and answer to make a positive, is moderately well known as a folksong, but less well known are its roots. A broadside ballad of c 1672-84, 'The Dumb Lady, Or, No no not I I'le answer,' (ZN2693) uses the same theme, but there is an older version yet. Unfortunately, a manuscript version of about 1635-40, in Bodleian MS Ashmole 38 (a collection of single sheets from various sources bound together), is so badly water-stained that most of it is unreadable. The first of seven verses goes:
Lady why doth love torment you
A slightly altered text appears in 'Pills to Purge Melancholy', III, p. 82, 1719, with a tune, and it goes as follows:
CONSENT AT LAST.
Ladys, why doth Love torment you?
Beauty in a perfect Measure,
If I grieve, and you can ease me,
If I am your faithful Servant,
If I should then crave a Favour,
All Amazing Beauty's Wonder,
Once more fairest, let me try ye [MS: Once more only let me love you]
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07 Mar 00 - 09:00 AM (#191073) Subject: RE: Better things to twiddle--women's sailor song From: harpgirl ...and this one! |
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08 May 02 - 04:24 PM (#706928) Subject: Lyr Add: TWIDDLES (Janie Meneely) From: katlaughing Just heard this song, the one becca was looking, for, I think, on Hober Radio. Called "Twiddles," performed by Clishmaclaver who are Jennifer Cully and Brooke Parkhurst on a CD entitled "Roots Entwined." GREAT song...there are other things to twiddle when your man has sailed away! Here are the lyrics, slightly different than what I just heard: Twiddles Janie Meneely When the boats all get to sailing and the men are off and gone What about the women who are up and left alone? Do you think they sit and twiddle thumbs until their men come home? Oh there's other things to twiddle when a girl's left on her own. Oh, it's twiddley ai dee ai dee o, twiddley ai dee ay Well it's lots of times a man will leave you broken with dismay Oh, it's twiddley ai dee ai dee o, twiddley ai dee ay There's others willin' to twiddle when your man is gone away I remember Nelly, she was young and she was gay. She won the heart of Captain Dan but then he sailed away. He left her high and dry with just a kiss upon the chin But as his ship went sailing out another ship sailed in. And then there was Lucinda Brown as fair as any maid. Her true love he went a voyaging, a sailor man by trade. "Keep the fire burning, love," those were the words he spoke. So she found herself another man to keep the fire stoked. When Lucinda.s man came back and knocked upon her door She was as glad to see him as she'd ever been before. He left her sleeping in her bed but Lucy didn't care 'Course the poor guy in the closet sure could use a little air. Oh you hear a lot of stories 'bout the sailors and their sport. About how every sailor has a girl in every port. But if you'd added two and two you'd figure out right quick That it's just because the lassies have a lad on every ship. Oh, it's twiddley ai dee ai dee o, twiddley ai dee ay Well it's lots of times a man will leave you broken with dismay Oh, it's twiddley ai dee ai dee o, twiddley ai dee ay There's others willin' to twiddle when your man is gone away Oh, it's twiddley ai dee ai dee o, twiddley ai dee ay Well it's lots of times a man will leave you broken with dismay Oh, it's twiddley ai dee ai dee o, twiddley ai dee ay There's other Willie's willin' to twiddle when your Willie's gone away.
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08 May 02 - 04:45 PM (#706944) Subject: RE: Better things to twiddle--women's sailor song From: Charley Noble Oh, thank you, Kat! What a catch! |
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08 May 02 - 04:52 PM (#706949) Subject: RE: Better things to twiddle--women's sailor song From: katlaughing Welcome, Charley! Isn't it great?! Tks! Lyrics were found at this site Williamm Pint and Felicia Dale's "White Horses" lyrics |
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08 May 02 - 06:30 PM (#707002) Subject: RE: Better things to twiddle--women's sailor song From: Gareth And at the risk of being cynical there is always that scouse favorite JOHNNY TODD The tune ? Ah well any Uk Catter over 40 must remember the ' Z Cars ' Theme music. Gareth |
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08 May 02 - 07:38 PM (#707037) Subject: RE: Better things to twiddle--women's sailor song From: CapriUni And then, if the woman is really independant, she won't need a man to twiddle! ;-) :::Ducking and Running::: |
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08 May 02 - 09:54 PM (#707105) Subject: RE: Better things to twiddle--women's sailor song From: Celtic Soul Kat, you beat me to the punch! Good job... We sing this one...it's a lot of fun!! Janie has been very gracious in allowing us to not only record this one, but take liberty with her lyrics. After hearing 10,000 songs about how some sailor lad leaves his girl on the shore only to find yet another lass in the next port, this is a nice turn-about. Kudos to Janie! |
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08 May 02 - 11:31 PM (#707157) Subject: RE: Better things to twiddle--women's sailor song From: Nancy King Just for the record, Janie Meneely recorded this song with her group "Crab Alley" some years ago. I don't even know if the group still exists (another of the members was Jeff Holland, from Annapolis, I believe). Worse, I can't seem to locate my copy of their tape! Janie's a great person and I'd love to see her again -- got to know her when the Boarding Party and Crab Alley did a series of gigs together in Annapolis and on the Eastern Shore 10 or 12 years ago. Janie's written several songs, but this one's my favorite! Cheers, Nancy |
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08 May 02 - 11:55 PM (#707173) Subject: RE: Better things to twiddle--women's sailor song From: katlaughing Thanks for that info, Nancy. Is this the cassette that has that song on it? Thanks, too, to Celtic Soul. CapriUni...my first thought, exactly...then I thought of Betty Dobson and her book/video(?) "Sex for One!" **bg** |
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09 May 02 - 08:35 AM (#707319) Subject: RE: Better things to twiddle--women's sailor song From: Charley Noble Any clues to the tune? Is it based on a traditional one? Charley Noble, Roll & Go |
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09 May 02 - 08:41 AM (#707322) Subject: RE: Better things to twiddle--women's sailor song From: Celtic Soul No, Charley, the tune is original. I could hum it for you, but it will take someone much more familiar than I with writing music to get it to you here... Any takers?? |
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09 May 02 - 09:14 AM (#707337) Subject: RE: Better things to twiddle--women's sailor song From: katlaughing I looked for an audio file online and couldn't find anything but that cassette for sale. Celtic Soul, do you have any way of recording it to your computer? It's a great tune. |
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09 May 02 - 10:37 AM (#707377) Subject: RE: Better things to twiddle--women's sailor song From: Naemanson Now, if you want to write something I would direct you to the chapter on Nantucket in The Heart Of The Ocean. There is a description of the women's standing in a community where their men were gone for years at a time. they became the legal and social center of the families. It was the women who ran the household and ran the business of the family. When the men came home for the few months between voyages they would essentially follow the women around as they went about the errands that kept house and home together. And the women apparently turned to opium and physical means to cope with the loneliness. In one house, hidden in the chimney, was found an opium bottle and a six inch plaster dildo. |
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09 May 02 - 10:42 AM (#707383) Subject: RE: Better things to twiddle--women's sailor song From: katlaughing Plaster??? Oh..how scratchy and crumbling when wet!*bg* Did no one have a lathe for wood turning or a big vegetable garden? |
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09 May 02 - 10:53 AM (#707390) Subject: RE: Better things to twiddle--women's sailor song From: MMario scrimshaw! |
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09 May 02 - 10:59 AM (#707397) Subject: RE: Better things to twiddle--women's sailor song From: Nancy King Kat, that very well might be the cassette in question, but I'm not sure because I can't find mine! Don't know if Crab Alley made more than one. I just might have to buy it, but I think I'll search a bit more first. Thanks for the link--and for posting the lyrics! Cheers, Nancy |
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09 May 02 - 11:02 AM (#707400) Subject: RE: Better things to twiddle--women's sailor song From: Nancy King LOL! Kat, that reminds me of that old bunch of jokes about why a cucumber is better than a man... |
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09 May 02 - 11:08 AM (#707409) Subject: RE: Better things to twiddle--women's sailor song From: Naemanson Someone has a song about why cucumbers are better than men. It's very funny. At least, the women I know think it's funny. I don't understand it myself.... |
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09 May 02 - 11:30 AM (#707421) Subject: Lyr Add: CUCUMBER SONG From: katlaughing Betty Dobson even recommends a peeled carrot for tightening the pelvic floor muscles! Would it be this one, Naes? A selection from the World's Largest Hardcopy Hash Songbook Global Trash Hash Hymnal Cucumber Song (To: Botany Bay) A restless young lady from Phuket, Developed a wonderful trend, To purchase cucumbers for pleasure, 'Cause she found they were better than men. Chorus So line up for your cucumbers, ladies, They're selling for two bucks apiece, Your frustrated days are all over, 'Cause cucumbers never get pissed. In Asia they're eaten with chilies, In Britain they're put between bread, But in Phuket we use them as teddies, 'Cause we know that they'll never want head. They'll never leave stains on the mattress, They're happy to live in the fridge, The loo seat is never left standing, And I've never seen cucumber kids. So watch out you mighty marauders, You're not quite as great as you think, There's no guarantee it will work again, And we can't trade you in when it shrinks. |
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09 May 02 - 12:18 PM (#707439) Subject: RE: Better things to twiddle--women's sailor song From: Naemanson That's it! Now, would someone explain to me why it's considered funny? [BG] |
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09 May 02 - 12:31 PM (#707449) Subject: RE: Better things to twiddle--women's sailor song From: MMario it's the whole damn seat business - they will NEVER forgive us for that. |
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09 May 02 - 12:44 PM (#707459) Subject: RE: Better things to twiddle--women's sailor song From: Abuwood Thank you Katlaughing, we sang that one with the shellbacks at Upton ( Edna's song) but I missed rehearsal and didn't know the words! Got them now - cheers |
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09 May 02 - 07:16 PM (#707723) Subject: RE: Better things to twiddle--women's sailor song From: Snuffy Lest there be any confusion, it was the Twiddle song, not the cucumber song, that the Shellbacks sang at Upton festival last weekend - or did I miss something, Ali? WassaiL! V |
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09 May 02 - 07:34 PM (#707735) Subject: RE: Better things to twiddle--women's sailor song From: Celtic Soul Kat, I could send along an MP3 of our version of it...that would get the tune across. The words are a little altered though. Where would I send it though?
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06 May 03 - 09:44 AM (#946938) Subject: Lyr Req: When the ships.....men are often gone From: Sorcha Transferred from another thread. I had no luck. Wild_Child requests: When the ships ..... to sailing and the men are often gone What about the women who were often left alone ...........until the men come home ......girl..on her on Chorus: ......... .....will be broken with dismay .........(the same as the first one) .....and your man has gone away |
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06 May 03 - 09:50 AM (#946943) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: When the ships.....men are often gone From: MMario sorcha - try here The google description seems to fit - but I'm blocked. http://members.aol.com/Pintndale/horseslyrics.htm |
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06 May 03 - 09:53 AM (#946945) Subject: Lyr Add: TWIDDLES (Janie Meneely) From: Sorcha I'll be damned! Wonder why it didn't turn up for me? TWIDDLES (Janie Meneely) When the boats all get to sailing and the men are off and gone What about the women who are up and left alone? Do you think they sit and twiddle thumbs until their men come home? Oh there's other things to twiddle when a girl's left on her own. Oh, it's twiddley ai dee ai dee o, twiddley ai dee ay Well it's lots of times a man will leave you broken with dismay Oh, it's twiddley ai dee ai dee o, twiddley ai dee ay There's others willin' to twiddle when your man is gone away I remember Nelly, she was young and she was gay. She won the heart of Captain Dan but then he sailed away. He left her high and dry with just a kiss upon the chin But as his ship went sailing out another ship sailed in. And then there was Lucinda Brown as fair as any maid. Her true love he went a voyaging, a sailor man by trade. "Keep the fire burning, love," those were the words he spoke. So she found herself another man to keep the fire stoked. When Lucinda.s man came back and knocked upon her door She was as glad to see him as she'd ever been before. He left her sleeping in her bed but Lucy didn't care 'Course the poor guy in the closet sure could use a little air. Oh you hear a lot of stories 'bout the sailors and their sport. About how every sailor has a girl in every port. But if you'd added two and two you'd figure out right quick That it's just because the lassies have a lad on every ship. Oh, it's twiddley ai dee ai dee o, twiddley ai dee ay Well it's lots of times a man will leave you broken with dismay Oh, it's twiddley ai dee ai dee o, twiddley ai dee ay There's others willin' to twiddle when your man is gone away Oh, it's twiddley ai dee ai dee o, twiddley ai dee ay Well it's lots of times a man will leave you broken with dismay Oh, it's twiddley ai dee ai dee o, twiddley ai dee ay There's other Willie's willin' to twiddle when your Willie's gone away |
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06 May 03 - 09:56 AM (#946949) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: When the ships.....men are often gone From: MMario *grin* You should hear Celtic Soul and her crew do this (If I'm not mistaken...) |
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06 May 03 - 05:40 PM (#947279) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: When the ships.....men are often gone From: Charley Noble Damn! If she'd only mentioned "twiddle" I would have nailed that one too. Charley Noble |
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06 May 03 - 07:09 PM (#947356) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: When the ships.....men are often gone From: MMario I found it with "broken with dismay" |
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07 May 03 - 02:11 AM (#947577) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: When the ships.....men are often gone From: Ooljana THANK YOU SO MUCH! =) |
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05 Feb 04 - 12:43 PM (#1110064) Subject: RE: Better things to twiddle--women's sailor song From: GUEST,Tree Celtic, I'd be very interested in an MP3 of that song....Pweese??? If anyone knows how to get ahold of Celtic, please forward this along. Send to: oakwoman@gate.net Thanks to all!! |
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05 Feb 04 - 12:52 PM (#1110075) Subject: RE: Better things to twiddle--women's sailor song From: GUEST,MMario CelticSoul can be heard singing "Twiddles" on Love at Fyrst Nyte from the Pyrates Royale |
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05 Feb 04 - 10:39 PM (#1110430) Subject: RE: Better things to twiddle--women's sailor song From: GUEST,Tree Life is indeed...lovely :-) It just so happens that the Pyrates will be at our local Ren Fest this coming weekend....I've seen then a few times at the Maryland festival and they are a wonderful group! Thank you, Mario! Incase anyone from the Pyrates happens to read this..."The Florida Girls" are waiting to be welcoming! Tree, the red-headed Florida Wench |
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05 Feb 04 - 11:33 PM (#1110453) Subject: Lyr Add: THREE DRUNKEN MAIDENS From: Shanghaiceltic If the men are away, the girls will play; Try this; THREE DRUNKEN MAIDENS (I do not have the origin) There were three drunken maidens came down from the Isle of Wight They started to drink on a Monday never stopped till Saturday night. On Saturday night they came my lads but still they wouldn't get out, And the three drunken maidens did push the jug about. Then in came dancing Sally, her cheeks a rosy bloom Shove o'er you jolly sisters and give young Sal some room And I will be your equal before the evenings out And the three drunken maidens did push the jug about. They had woodcock and pheasant, partridge and hare And every sort of dainty, no shortage there was there They'd forty gallons of beer me lads but still they wouldn't get out And the three drunken maidens did push the jug about. Then in came the landlord, he was looking for his pay Forty pounds of beer me lads these girls were forced to pay They had ten pounds apiece me lads but still they wouldn't get out And the three drunken maidens did push the jug about. Where are your fancy hats and your mantles rich and fine They've been swallowed up me lads with tankards of fine wine And where are your fancy men, young maidens frisk and gay You left them in the ale house and it's there you'll have to pay. You could also look at Sally Free and easy by Cyril Tawney. It is in the DT files. |
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05 Feb 04 - 11:53 PM (#1110466) Subject: RE: Better things to twiddle--women's sailor song From: Joe Offer I'm a liberated, enlightened man and all - but songs like these make me downright nervous. -Joe Offer, [grinning uneasily]- |
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06 Feb 04 - 08:35 AM (#1110672) Subject: RE: Better things to twiddle--women's sailor song From: Snuffy Shanghaiceltic, look here for loads of information on the origins of Four Drunken Maidens. Also if you type "Drunken Maidens" in the Lyrics and Knowledge Search box you will find several discussions of the song. But they don't seem to have been cross-linked yet. |
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09 Oct 10 - 06:56 PM (#3003475) Subject: RE: Lyr/Tune Req: Twiddles (Janie Meneely) From: Genie It was great hearing you and Paul ("Calico Jack") at Getaway this year. I didn't realize I was in the presence of such greatness (i.e., the woman who wrote "Twiddles")! Nice to know that! |
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09 Oct 10 - 09:07 PM (#3003539) Subject: RE: Lyr/Tune Req: Twiddles (Janie Meneely) From: Charley Noble It was nice to meet Janie and Paul at this year's Getaway. I had met them at a Mystic Sea Music Festival but we hardly had a chance to chat. Cheerily, Charley noble |
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09 Oct 10 - 09:43 PM (#3003552) Subject: RE: Lyr/Tune Req: Twiddles (Janie Meneely) From: Leadfingers Twiddles looks like fun - Can anyone sen me an MP3 ? Or should I buy the CD for one bloody song >> |
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10 Oct 10 - 12:21 AM (#3003591) Subject: RE: Lyr/Tune Req: Twiddles (Janie Meneely) From: dick greenhaus ROUND CAPE HORN D A7 D Around Cape Horn the young men go A7 D When the young men go away A7 D Then the young girls dress up neat D G They go a-cruisin' down the street A7 REFRAIN: Right fol day, fol-de-diddle day A7 D Right fol right-o, fol-de-diddle day Far from the fields are the young men gone Far from home and all forlorn Wish to God they'd never been born For to go out cruisin' round Cape Horn ... And when those young men do come home This is the story that they hear "Welcome home, you need not fear No one has courted me, my dear." ... Bright false smiles they like for to wear Bright false bows in long false hair White satin shoe with a silver bow Take those young men all in tow ... @sailor From Gale Huntington, Songs the Whalemen Sang filename[ CAPEHORN TUNE FILE: CAPEHORN |