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28 Sep 03 - 05:20 PM (#1025954) Subject: Lyr Req: Bankers boy ?? From: GUEST,Sally I'm trying to find the lyrics to a song that includes the words in the chorus : "bankers boy" and something about having lace around his hat and a good head of hair. Nothing was coming up in the Digitrad search. Can anyone help please ? |
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28 Sep 03 - 05:29 PM (#1025960) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bankers boy ?? From: Noreen Young Banker in the DT. |
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28 Sep 03 - 05:58 PM (#1025976) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bankers boy ?? From: GUEST,Sally Thanks everso, that looks to be the one. Sally |
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28 Sep 03 - 06:00 PM (#1025977) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bankers boy ?? From: Noreen Wish all requests were that easily solved... You're welcome, Sally. :0) |
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14 Jan 04 - 07:40 AM (#1092584) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bankers boy ?? From: GUEST,Robin Madge I have heard the theory that the "Banker" refers to sailors who sailed on ships from Dorset to work the Grand Banks off Newfoundland, and I think that this fits with the origin of the words. |
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14 Jan 04 - 08:18 AM (#1092606) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bankers boy ?? From: Malcolm Douglas That may well be so; though of course there were other banks nearer home for the fishing, too. The song was issued on broadsides, and the few versions found in oral currency didn't depart very much from the printed text.A couple of copies can be seen at Bodleian Library Broadside Ballads; they are both from Northern printers, though, so whether or not there might have been a Dorset connection we can't really tell. Doubtless the term wasn't uncommon. A new song called The banking boy The song is number 3321 in the Roud Folk Song Index. The set in the DT was taken from a Watersons record; they combined a tune noted in Yorkshire with a text from Lincolnshire, it seems. |
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14 Jan 04 - 06:55 PM (#1092889) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bankers boy ?? From: Gareth I suspect Malcolm D is correct, taking into accout the dates and source. However, to throw a stone into the pool of debate the phrase "Banker/Banksman" also relates to the coal mining industry. The charge hand at the top of the shaft was the Banksman/Banker. More in use in the North East of the Uk rather than the South West. Any thoughts on this ? Gareth |
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14 Jan 04 - 08:01 PM (#1092955) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bankers boy ?? From: Snuffy A couple more pebbles for the pool, Gareth I've heard (from an unremembered and probably unreliable source) that a banker maintained the dykes along the rivers of Eastern England, such as flow into the Humber or the Wash. But from my personal experience a banker was a steam engine that pushed trains up Shap Bank, and my uncle and a great-uncle used to drive them. |
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15 Jan 04 - 07:07 PM (#1093688) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bankers boy ?? From: Gareth Snuffy - Concur with your comments on Dyke maintainance crews, if I remember correctly, "Banker/Banksman" was also used on the Romney Marsh and the North Kent Flats, Whitstable, Faversham and the Medway and Swale. ( Sorry your post triggered thismemory) Very Vauge memories suggest that there was a pub on the Essex Marshes named the "Banksman" - Can anybody confirm ? Or "And the Bank engine was pushing behind, And the driver was John Axon" Gareth |
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15 Jan 04 - 10:05 PM (#1093801) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bankers boy ?? From: McGrath of Harlow And there was I thinking it might be a variant on "To be a Farmer's Boy" The mobile phone's harsh ringing toes Were blaring out once more, When wet and cold there came a boy Up to a banker's door. 'Can you tell,' said he,'if any there be My talents to employ, For to cheat at large,load on each charge, And be a banker's boy, boy, And be a banker's boy?... |
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17 Jan 04 - 12:01 PM (#1094882) Subject: Lyr Add: THE BANKING BOY (from Bodleian) From: Jim Dixon This version has some significant differences from the version in the DT, which comes from the Watersons. Transcribed from the broadside image at Bodleian Library Broadside Ballads, Firth b.25(304). A NEW SONG CALLED THE BANKING BOY As I walked out one morning fair, To view the fields and take the air, O there a young banker I spied all alone, For his true love he was making a moan. He says, pretty maid, will you come on deck, With a chain of gold all round your neck; For what you say may prove true, But his* answer it was I'll have none of you. Young banker he turned for to go away, She called after him and to him did say; Oh stay, oh stay, and I will prove true, But his answer it was I will have none of you. She thought that she heard some gang's man say, Pack up your clothes and go away; And it pricked her to the heart, To think that the banker and her should part. Young banker he had a handsome face, And all around his hat wore a band of lace Beside such a handsome head of hair, For the young banker I will go there. Now the pretty maid all her senses are lost, Ever since that in love she had been crossed, But now she sighs and laments, and does say, I have rued the day I said nay, nay, nay. [*In my opinion, both versions are marred by misuse of pronouns, causing speeches to be attributed to the wrong person. In verse 2, line 4, above, I have transcribed it exactly as I found it, but the story would make more sense with "her" instead of "his." In the DT, the error is in verse 4, line 4—(Note the verses are in a different order.)—but I don't know whether the error was introduced by the transcriber, or the Watersons, or their source.] |
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15 Feb 11 - 05:57 PM (#3096013) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bankers boy? / Young Banker / Banking Boy From: Artful Codger Featured today in Jon Boden's Folk Song a Day blog. Like Jim Dixon and Jon (or whoever writes the FSAD blog entries), I think "his" in the second verse should be "her". Although it could mean "his" in the sense of "the answer he got", there should be referential consistency with "his answer" in the next verse (the answer he gave). And although I like the use of the fifth verse ("Young banker he had a handsome face") as a sort of chorus, à la Watersons, it gets repetitious and is a bit of a spoiler in the early verses (as well as making little sense). So I only insert it after the second verse (with a last line of "So quickly turned the heart of this maiden fair") and after the last verse (unaltered), as well as singing it in its usual place. Less amenable as a sing-along, but it serves the continuity better. |
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15 Feb 11 - 06:09 PM (#3096019) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bankers boy? / Young Banker / Banking Boy From: RunrigFan I found this http://www.britishmusicsociety.com/pdfs/moeran_songs.pdf A variation of this Lyrics As I walked out one bright May morning For to view the fields and to take the air, There I espied a fair young damsel, She appeared to me like some angel bright. I said 'My dear, where are you going, What is the cause of all your grief? I'll make you as happy as any lady, If you'll once more grant me relief.' 'Stand off, stand off, you are deceitful, Stand off you are a deceitful man. 'Tis you that have caused my poor heart to wander, And to give me comfort is all in vain.' Then I'll go down to some lonely waters, Go down where no one they shall me find, Where the pretty little small birds do change their voices, And every moment blows blustering wild. (The first 2 lines is close to the one in the DT) |
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15 Feb 11 - 06:35 PM (#3096035) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bankers boy? / Young Banker / Banking Boy From: Richard Mellish Oh come on, RunrigFan! Three quite different songs, with hardly anything in common except the narrator walking out on a (May or other) morning, which is also the opening of umpteen other songs. Richard (still in cantankerous old curmudgeon mode after a previous posting this evening) |
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15 Feb 11 - 06:59 PM (#3096051) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bankers boy? / Young Banker / Banking Boy From: RunrigFan The 3 lines are similar As I walked out one morning fair, To view the fields and take the air, O there a young banker I spied all alone, As I walked out one bright May morning For to view the fields and to take the air, There I espied a fair young damsel, Quite similar I think |
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15 Feb 11 - 07:14 PM (#3096062) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bankers boy? / Young Banker / Banking Boy From: Steve Gardham Runrig Fan. This song is usually called 'The Banks of Sweet Primroses'. I have a Catnach broadside with it on, the first one I ever bought. In an earlier version he is a farmer. Banker is a 19th century adaptation and I favour the navvy theory. The 'going on deck' is a corruption. On 18th century garlands the title is:- Dialogue Between a Brisk Young Farmer and a Handsome Young Woman. As I walk'd forth one morning fair To view the Fields and take the air I saw a young Farmer all alone -- to his Sweetheart was making Moan. He said, my Dear beauty bright On you I've fix'd my whole Delight What you say farmer it may be true But my Answer is I'll have none of you. My dearest Love I will you deck With a Chain of Gold about your Neck But she took huff and away she flew And her Answer was I'll have none of you. Now this young Farmer no more could say So took his leave to march away, O stay young Farmer I will love But his answer was I'll have none of you. He said my Dear I'll tell you plain My Suit and Proffer you do disdain. When your love I crav'd you did me deny, Do you think I'll marry you; No not I. Now this Maid has her senses lost For she has oftentimes in love been cross'd And now she lives in Torment and Woe, And rues the Time she e'er did so. |
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15 Feb 11 - 07:17 PM (#3096064) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bankers boy? / Young Banker / Banking Boy From: Steve Gardham BTW, also check out 'Farmer's Courtship' on Bodleian Harding B6 (24). |
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15 Feb 11 - 07:19 PM (#3096068) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bankers boy? / Young Banker / Banking Boy From: Noreen But a very common scene-setting ploy in many a traditional song, I'm afraid, RF, so not enough to make them variations on the same song. The one you typed out above is more commonly known as 'banks of sweet primroses' and is another lovely song. I found the link you included very interesting, some nice, different versions there. Thanks! |
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15 Feb 11 - 07:25 PM (#3096073) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bankers boy? / Young Banker / Banking Boy From: Noreen Ah... Steve, are you saying there is a connection between 'The Banks of Sweet Primroses' and 'Young Banker' ? |
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15 Feb 11 - 07:31 PM (#3096078) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bankers boy? / Young Banker / Banking Boy From: Steve Gardham Absolutely not. I should have separated my 2 responses more clearly. |
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15 Feb 11 - 09:04 PM (#3096121) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bankers boy? / Young Banker / Banking Boy From: Noreen :) |