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16 Apr 03 - 09:29 PM (#935122) Subject: Lyr Req: Blackbirds and Thrushes From: Bearheart Tried the Dt/Forum.No luck. several references but no words. Niamh Parsons did it recently, but I think Maddy Prior and Tim Hart also did a version on Folksongs of England (not sure which vol.). No longer have access to that album... Thanks Bekki |
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16 Apr 03 - 09:48 PM (#935130) Subject: Lyr Add: BLACKBIRDS AND THRUSHES From: George Seto - af221@chebucto.ns.ca From Lesley Nelson's Contemplator site: http://www.contemplator.com/folk/blackbrd.html BLACKBIRDS AND THRUSHES
As I was a-walking for my recreation,
The blackbirds and thrushes sang in the green bushes;
Her cheeks blushed like roses, her arms full of posies,
When Jimmy returned with his heart full of burning, |
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16 Apr 03 - 10:10 PM (#935144) Subject: Lyr Add: BLACKBIRDS AND THRUSHES From: Stewie The better-known song of this title goes as follows - I am surprised it is not in the DT already: BLACKBIRDS AND THRUSHES If all the young ladies were blackbirds and thrushes If all the young ladies were blackbirds and thrushes Then all the young would go beating the bushes Rye fol de dol diddle dol diddle dol day If all the young ladies were ducks on the water (x2) Then all the young men would go swimming in after Rye fol de dol diddle dol diddle dol day If all the young ladies were rushes a-growing (x2) Then all the young men would get scythes and go mowing Rye fol de dol diddle dol diddle dol day If the ladies were all trout and salmon so lovely (x2) Then divil the man would go fishing on Friday Rye fol de dol diddle dol diddle dol day If all the young ladies were hares on the mountain (x2) Then men with their hounds would be out without counting Rye fol de dol diddle dol diddle dol day Source: transcription in booklet accompanying Niamh Parsons 'Blackbirds and Thrushes' Green Linnet GLCD 1197. --Stewie. |
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16 Apr 03 - 10:35 PM (#935153) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Blackbirds and Thrushes From: Stewie Archie Fisher has a different lyric on his 'Will Ye Gang Love' album, closer to 'Hares on the Mountain' which may be found in the DT. Also see Randolph/Legman 'Blow the Candle Out'. #236 'Roll Your Leg Over' gives dozens of offerings like: If all the young ladies were bells in the tower And I were a sexton, I'd bang on the hour See also Utah Phillips' use of the idea in his 'Rock, Salt and Nails' which is in the DT. --Stewie. |
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17 Apr 03 - 02:54 AM (#935232) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Blackbirds and Thrushes From: JudeL there's another verse I've heard something about : "and if all the young ladies were singing this song, It'd be 5 times as dirty and 10 times as long" (I think I probably have the numbers wrong, but you get the gist) |
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17 Apr 03 - 03:08 AM (#935236) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Blackbirds and Thrushes From: Stewie Jude, Legman gives the following (collected from a skier): If all the young ladies were far better skiers And better beer-drinkers and less constant pee-ers If all the young ladies were singin' this song It would be twice as dirty and ten times as long --Stewie. |
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17 Apr 03 - 04:04 AM (#935258) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Blackbirds and Thrushes From: GUEST,rob wright Taggart and Wright do an excellent version of it. Thats two women with a bit of attitude putting a different slant on the song. Visit their website www.sky-web.net/taggartandwright/ for information where you can see them. Hecklers beware their Roadie is a World Champion Powerlifter (twice). |
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17 Apr 03 - 11:28 AM (#935476) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Blackbirds and Thrushes From: Malcolm Douglas Number 329 in the Roud Folk Song Index. Sometimes considered to be an offshoot of The Two Magicians (Child 44), but this is doubtful. See also: Sally My Dear. DT. No source is named for the text; the tune was noted by Cecil Sharp. More verses to Sally, My Dear. Discussion with two further, unprovenanced texts. Hares on the Mountain. DT. Source not identified; appears to be the set noted by Cecil Sharp from Louie Hooper and Lucy White, Hambridge, Somerset, 1903, with an additional verse tacked on at the end from somewhere or other. Did Niamh Parsons mention where she got her set? The text George found at Lesley Nelson's site (see above) is not related to this one. |
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17 Apr 03 - 11:50 AM (#935495) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Blackbirds and Thrushes From: Bearheart Thanks everybody. Stewie's version was the one I was looking for. None of my usual sources on line had it. I think the Maddy Prior/ Tim Hart version was called Hares on the Mountain, though it's been so long I can't remember details. Surprised that the DT version didn't come up when I checked but I will compare it to the Parsons one. Bekki |
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31 Aug 07 - 02:16 PM (#2137827) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Blackbirds and Thrushes From: Rog Peek I'm not sure if this is the same song, perhaps someone could enlighten me. These verses I remember from Brunel University folk club in 1966/67, where it was a favourite. The folk club was held in the refectory at the Acton site, the last year at this site before the move to new buildings in Uxbridge. If all the young ladies were ducks on the water If all the young ladies were ducks on the water The men would turn drakes and follow them after Sing, wak fol the day, wak fol the day, wak fol the day. If all the young ladies were bricks in a pile If all the young ladies were bricks in a pile The men would turn masons and lay them in style Sing, wak fol the day, wak fol the day, wak fol the day. If all the young ladies were bells in a tower If all the young ladies were bells in a tower The men would turn sexton and bang them each hour Sing, wak fol the day, wak fol the day, wak fol the day. Rog |
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31 Aug 07 - 02:31 PM (#2137833) Subject: Lyr Add: HARES ON THE MOUNTAIN / BLACKBIRDS AND... From: Roberto Six recordings of Hares On The Mountain / Blackbirds and Thrushes / O Sally My Dear Blackbirds and Thrushes Dickie Lashbrook, on Songs of Seduction, A ribald collection of love songs, ballads and melodies recorded at pubs, firesides and campfires, Folk Songs of England, Ireland, Scotland & Wales, The Alan Lomax Collection, Rounder 11661-1778-2, recorded between 1950 and 1956. If maidens could sing like blackbirds and thrushes If maidens could sing like blackbirds and thrushes How many young men would hide in the bushes Sing: Fal-de-ral, tal-de-ral, fal-ral-lal-day If maidens could run like hares on the commons If maidens could run like hares on the commons How many young men would take horse and ride hunting Sing: Fal-de-ral, tal-de-ral, fal-ral-lal-day If maidens could swim like fish in the water If maidens could swim like fish in the water How many young men would undress and dive after Sing: Fal-de-ral, tal-de-ral, fal-ral-lal-day *** O Sally My Dear Ewan MacColl, on Ewan MacColl – Isla Cameron, English and Scottish Love Songs, Riverside RLP 12-656. Found by Sharp, at Bridgewater, Somerset. O Sally, my dear, but I wish I could woo you O Sally, my dear, but I wish I could woo you Then try if you can but don't let dan-do-you Sing fal-the-diddle-i-do, Sing whack fol-the-diddle-day O Sally, my dear, but your mouth I could kiss it O Sally, my dear, but your mouth I could kiss it Then try if you can, love, but try not to miss it Sing fal-the-diddle-i-do, Sing whack fol-the-diddle-day O Sally, my dear, but I wish I could bed you O Sally, my dear, but I wish I could bed you Then try if you can but don't say I misled you Sing fal-the-diddle-i-do, Sing whack fol-the-diddle-day If lasses were blackbirds and lasses were thrushes If lasses were blackbirds and lasses were thrushes How all the young men would go beat in their bushes Sing fal-the-diddle-i-do, Sing whack fol-the-diddle-day If lasses were hares and they ran on the mountain If lasses were hares and they ran on the mountain How all the young men they would soon ride a-huntin' Sing fal-the-diddle-i-do, Sing whack fol-the-diddle-day If lasses were ducks and they swam in the water If lasses were ducks and they swam in the water How all the young men would strip and swim after Sing fal-the-diddle-i-do, Sing whack fol-the-diddle-day If lasses were lambs and they lay on the common If lasses were lambs and they lay on the common How all the young men they would lie longside o' them Sing fal-the-diddle-i-do, Sing whack fol-the-diddle-day *** Hares on the Mountain Shirley Collins, Sweet England, Topic TSCD815, first released in 1959. From Cecil Sharp's Folksongs from Somerset. If all you young men were hares on the mountain How many young girls would take guns and go hunting? With a right-fol-de dee kel-al de day right fol-i-dee If the young men could sing like blackbirds and thrushes How many young girls would go beating the bushes? With a right-fol-de dee kel-al de day right fol-i-dee If all you young men were rushes a-growin' How many young girls would take scythes and go mowing? With a right-fol-de dee kel-al de day right fol-i-dee If all you young men were ducks in the water How many young girls would undress and dive after? With a right-fol-de dee kel-al de day right fol-i-dee But the young men are given to frisking and fooling I'll leave them alone and attend to my schooling With a right-fol-de dee kel-al de day right fol-i-dee *** Hares on the Mountain Shirley Collins, on Shirley Collins and Davy Graham, Folk Roots, New Routes, Topic TSCD819, first released in 1964. O Sally my dear, it's you I'd be kissin' O Sally my dear, it's you I'd be kissin' She smiled and replied: You don't know what you're missin'! O Sally my dear, I wish I could bed you O Sally my dear, I wish I could bed you She smiled and replied: Then you'd say I misled you! If all you young men were hares on the mountain If all you young men were hares on the mountain How many young girls would take guns and go hunting? If the young men could sing like blackbirds and thrushes If the young men could sing like blackbirds and thrushes How many young girls would go beating the bushes? If all you young men were fish in the water If all you young men were fish in the water How many young girls would undress and dive after? But the young men are given to frisking and fooling O, the young men are given to frisking and fooling So I'll leave them alone and attend to my schooling *** Hares on the Mountain Frankie Armstrong, Till the grass o'ergrew the corn, Fellside FECD116, 1996. Sharp noted it in 1904 from Mrs Lock of Muchelney Ham, Somerset. Frankie has added a couple of standard verses to the existing three. If all those young men were rushes a-growin' Then all those pretty maidens would get scythes, go mowing Sing wack fol-de-dee fol-ol-de-day wack-fol-li-dee If all those young men were hares on the mountain Then all those pretty maidens would get guns, go hunting Sing wack fol-de-dee fol-ol-de-day wack-fol-li-dee If all those young men were duck in the water Then all those pretty maidens would soon follow after Sing wack fol-de-dee fol-ol-de-day wack-fol-li-dee If all those young men were fish in the brooks-O Then all those pretty maidens would be off with their hooks-O Sing wack fol-de-dee fol-ol-de-day wack-fol-li-dee If all those young men were blackbirds and thrushes Then all those pretty maidens would soon beat the bushes Sing wack fol-de-dee fol-ol-de-day wack-fol-li-dee Sing wack fol-de-dee fol-ol-de-day wack-fol-li-dee *** Hares on the Mountain Steeleye Span, Parcel of Rogues, Shanachie 79045, 1987, first released Chrysalis CHR 1046 (LP, UK, April 1973) Young women, they run like hares on the mountain Young women, they run like hares on the mountain And if I was a young man, I'd soon go a-hunting To me right fol-de diddle de-ro Right fol-de diddle-day Young women, they sing like birds in the bushes Young women, they sing like birds in the bushes If I was a young man I'd go beat them bushes To me right fol-de diddle de-ro Right fol-de diddle-day Young women, they swim like ducks in the water Young women, they swim like ducks in the water If I was a young man I'd soon go swim after To me right fol-de diddle de-ro Right fol-de diddle-day Young women, they run like hares on the mountain Young women, they run like hares on the mountain And if I was a young man, I'd soon go a-hunting To me right fol-de diddle de-ro Right fol-de diddle-day |
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31 Aug 07 - 03:51 PM (#2137879) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Blackbirds and Thrushes From: dick greenhaus My favorite last verse is: Oh,Sally my dear, 'tis the season for mating (2X) She laughed and replied Why then are you waiting |
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31 Aug 07 - 06:13 PM (#2137979) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Blackbirds and Thrushes From: Genie On my Robin Hall and Jimmie MacGregor album, they sing the "trout and salmon" verse to "Hares On The Mountain" this way: If the girls were all trout and salmon so lightly (x2), Then divil a man would eat meat on a Friday. Sing wack-falla-diddle-i-doh, sing wack-falla-day. |
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02 Sep 07 - 07:30 PM (#2139240) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Blackbirds and Thrushes From: Lighter Those lines about "fooling/schooling" were written by Cecil Sharp so kids wouldn't get the wrong idea! |
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21 May 10 - 05:53 PM (#2911588) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Blackbirds and Thrushes From: GUEST,Richard Here's a version I heard sung live (once) and loved it so much I remembered the first verse (but not the second): If all the young ladies were blackbirds and thrushes, Sing clearly, sing clearly, oh fly not from me; Not a thrush would I part with for ten golden guineas, Nor barter a blackbird for a pearl of the sea. I would love them so dearly, So late and so early, And ah, they'd sing clearly At dawn, eve and day. Would love to hear from anyone who knows this version, to get the complete lyrics. (rfdarsie@gmail.com) |
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22 May 10 - 08:54 AM (#2911918) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Blackbirds and Thrushes From: GUEST,leeneia From the song 'Pleasant and Delightful' ...when the blackbirds and thrushes sang on every green tree. And the larks they sang melodious at the dawning of the day. |
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22 May 10 - 06:12 PM (#2912179) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Blackbirds and Thrushes From: Joe_F The same birds are found in Utah Phillips's "Rocksalt and Nails". |
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26 Oct 20 - 06:02 PM (#4076957) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Blackbirds and Thrushes From: Felipa do you hear a similarity between the tunes of (some versions of) "Hares on the Mountain" and "The Bold Fenian Men"? |
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27 Oct 20 - 11:43 AM (#4077012) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Blackbirds and Thrushes From: GUEST,Martin Ryan Absolutely! Regards |
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27 Oct 20 - 11:47 AM (#4077013) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Blackbirds and Thrushes From: Steve Gardham Yes there is. Fenian Men could be a minor variant of the HotM tune. If I remember rightly the songs 'Knife in the Window' and HotM are actually 2 separate songs that got spliced together in Somerset some time in the 19th century. |
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27 Oct 20 - 01:00 PM (#4077018) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Blackbirds and Thrushes From: leeneia Here's a Youtube video where Archie Fisher sings a tender song which is said to be trad. Scot. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gMoTIBOinmw I can understand the words; you probably can too. |
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28 Oct 20 - 05:21 AM (#4077076) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Blackbirds and Thrushes From: GUEST,Niamh Parsons Yeah I got my version from Seamus Ennis (indirectly) - he had a lot more verses which I didn't see, which were not really suitable for me to sing anyway. |
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28 Oct 20 - 06:55 AM (#4077082) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Blackbirds and Thrushes From: Brian Peters Steve wrote: 'Fenian Men could be a minor variant of the HotM tune. If I remember rightly the songs 'Knife in the Window' and HotM are actually 2 separate songs that got spliced together in Somerset some time in the 19th century.' As luck would have it, I've just done a study of this song, and the answers to both of these questions are in the version Sharp collected from John Barnett in Bridgewater in 1906, which has the minor tune that sounds like 'Bold Fenian Men' and contains five stanzas of 'Knife in he Window' plus three of HotM (blackbirds, hares, ducks). Roud catalogues both songs under #329, and Sharp's titles in his MS indicate that he thought they were one and the same song: there are other versions in Sharp and Hammond that begin with a 'Sally, my dear' verse and then proceed into 'Hares'. In the US there are versions of 'Knife' and 'Hares' that share the 'Lay your leg over me' chorus. There's a US version from the Max Hunter archive online here, with an interesting variant on the 'hare' verse: If all the young ladies were little white rabbits I'd be a hare an' teach them bad habits Roll your leg over, roll your leg over Roll your leg over the man in th moon |
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11 Nov 20 - 10:51 PM (#4079294) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Blackbirds and Thrushes From: Joe Offer needs cleanup |
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12 Nov 20 - 06:54 AM (#4079340) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Blackbirds and Thrushes From: Lighter Brian, the "rabbits" stanza with the "roll your leg over" chorus was popularized in the U.S. by Oscar Brand on one his Bawdy Songs LPs in the mid '50s. These seem to have become de rigeur at a great many college fraternities for the next decade, and Brand's laundered, improved versions are still "all over the Internet." |
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12 Nov 20 - 06:58 AM (#4079341) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Blackbirds and Thrushes From: Reinhard Cleanup, Joe? Remove all the innuendo from the song? ;-) |
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12 Nov 20 - 08:01 AM (#4079344) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Blackbirds and Thrushes From: Brian Peters 'Brian, the "rabbits" stanza with the "roll your leg over" chorus was popularized in the U.S. by Oscar Brand on one his Bawdy Songs LPs in the mid '50s.' Ah yes, thanks - I've just listened to the Hunter recording and compared with Brand's. Same song. |