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20 Apr 04 - 05:15 AM (#1165856) Subject: Folklore: Another question on Folk songs From: Georgiansilver In some Folk songs, Where the person used is female and has lost her true love..over the sea...Why is she always looking for a "Handsome Boatman" to ferry her over...wouldn't a plain or ugly one do?? |
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20 Apr 04 - 05:17 AM (#1165857) Subject: RE: Folklore: Another question on Folk songs From: GUEST,Martin Ryan Sometimes, of course, she settles for a "handy" one! Regards |
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20 Apr 04 - 05:37 AM (#1165869) Subject: RE: Folklore: Another question on Folk songs From: Rasener It could be the size of his oar, that is the deciding factor. Hey ho and off we go :-) |
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20 Apr 04 - 05:47 AM (#1165878) Subject: RE: Folklore: Another question on Folk songs From: Kevin Sheils That's a load of rowlocks, Villan! |
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20 Apr 04 - 06:01 AM (#1165889) Subject: RE: Folklore: Another question on Folk songs From: Hrothgar As in "Handsome is as handsome does." |
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20 Apr 04 - 07:41 AM (#1165958) Subject: RE: Folklore: Another question on Folk songs From: masato sakurai "Handsome" seems to be a commonplace epithet, bearing little literal meaning. Incidentally, no "handsome boatman" appears in the Child ballds, which I have checked at A Concordance to the Child Ballads. |
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20 Apr 04 - 08:07 AM (#1165974) Subject: RE: Folklore: Another question on Folk songs From: McGrath of Harlow Handsome means the same as handy. Means he knows how to use his hands... |
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20 Apr 04 - 09:36 AM (#1166069) Subject: RE: Folklore: Another question on Folk songs From: Rasener A right tosser then !!!!!!!!!!!! :-) |
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20 Apr 04 - 09:39 AM (#1166072) Subject: RE: Folklore: Another question on Folk songs From: Big Jim from Jackson Handsom is one of those words that has changed its meaning over the years. Nice and villian are other examples. Neither means today what it ment in times long gone. |
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20 Apr 04 - 10:03 AM (#1166094) Subject: RE: Folklore: Another question on Folk songs From: Rasener And Villan means beeing an Aston Villa supporter:-) |
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20 Apr 04 - 12:56 PM (#1166273) Subject: RE: Folklore: Another question on Folk songs From: Betsy I wonder ( and may be miles off with my guess ) there used to be a hansom cab - which was a cariage for hire - could it be some sort of aquatic equivalent - which has lost it's original meaning /intention . It's a long long shot - J. A. Hansom an Inventor ( of the Cab amongst other things ) and Architect was born in York, and was apprenticed first in that town and then in Halifax - couldn't be that he designed some sort of ferryboat ??? After writing this,I don't think so either, but in a different time and place it might ahave made a good bluff. |
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20 Apr 04 - 01:07 PM (#1166286) Subject: RE: Folklore: Another question on Folk songs From: Q (Frank Staplin) Handsome- Easy to handle or manipulate, the first meaning. Women (wo-people?) have been looking for easily manipulable mates ever since Eve. |
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20 Apr 04 - 01:09 PM (#1166289) Subject: RE: Folklore: Another question on Folk songs From: Bill D The boatman is handsome The knight is handmore... ...but the rich merchant is by far the handmost. |
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20 Apr 04 - 02:15 PM (#1166344) Subject: RE: Folklore: Another question on Folk songs From: HuwG In the 18th / 19th centuries, "handsomely" in nautical terms meant, "slowly and steadily", at least in terms of heaving ropes. (I presume that things were heaved handsomely to prevent strains and ruptures among the heavers, or far worse, breakages due to sudden load on the ropes or fouled tackle becoming stuck through over-enthusuastic pulling.) |
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20 Apr 04 - 02:20 PM (#1166351) Subject: RE: Folklore: Another question on Folk songs From: Rasener Its all about sex then! :-) |
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20 Apr 04 - 04:23 PM (#1166432) Subject: RE: Folklore: Another question on Folk songs From: Art Thieme They have sex in a cab---a han(d)som cab. This is a ferry boat so these cabs are the normal load on board. What better place to do it and to have privacy. Art Thieme |
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20 Apr 04 - 04:27 PM (#1166438) Subject: RE: Folklore: Another question on Folk songs From: radriano Could be that "handsome" is meant in the maritime sense: From "Dictionary of Sea Terms" 1841/1851 by R.H. Dana, Jr: HANDSOMELY Slowly, carefully. Used for an order, as "Lower handsomely!" |
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20 Apr 04 - 04:51 PM (#1166453) Subject: RE: Folklore: Another question on Folk songs From: Once Famous Sometimes women are referred to as handsome. As in "she's a handsome woman." However, handsome women usually look pretty butch to me. |
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20 Apr 04 - 05:01 PM (#1166463) Subject: RE: Folklore: Another question on Folk songs From: Betsy Maybe the young lady who told her Cockney father she was pregnant by a ferryboatman, to which the father replied "That's handsome - just Facking Handsome !!!! |
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20 Apr 04 - 06:30 PM (#1166558) Subject: RE: Folklore: Another question on Folk songs From: McGrath of Harlow A handsome income; and a nice point. |
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20 Apr 04 - 06:59 PM (#1166584) Subject: RE: Folklore: Another question on Folk songs From: Georgiansilver All a man needs eh?? |