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23 Jun 04 - 10:12 AM (#1212862) Subject: courting too slow From: GUEST,lindsay Anyone got a copy of the words for the above. Heard a superb version by Johns Bowden and Spiers. CD Bellow. Thanks. |
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23 Jun 04 - 10:55 AM (#1212899) Subject: RE: courting too slow From: mack/misophist Is this the same as On Top of Old Smokey? "I lost my true lover, for courting too slow"? |
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23 Jun 04 - 10:59 AM (#1212905) Subject: RE: courting too slow From: Q (Frank Staplin) Not enough info. Three songs are brought up if you put those three words in Lyrics and Knowledge Search. |
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23 Jun 04 - 11:08 AM (#1212912) Subject: RE: courting too slow From: Q (Frank Staplin) The song lyrics are on the Spiers and Boden website (scroll down). A version of the Portmore song? www.squeezy.fsnet.co.uk/spiers_boden/bellow.html |
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23 Jun 04 - 11:26 AM (#1212924) Subject: Lyr Add: COURTING TOO SLOW From: The Borchester Echo COURTING TOO SLOW It was on one Monday morning and oh and it was soon I bought my pretty Betty a pair of new shoon A pair of new shoes and slippers also But I lost my pretty Betty by courting too slow I lost my pretty Betty by courting too slow. I bought my pretty Betty a garland of green And ribbons that you wear so fair to be seen And rings for her fingers all made of glittering gold But I lost my pretty Betty by not being bold I lost my pretty Betty by not being bold. It was on one Tuesday evening and oh and it was late I fain would have kissed her but I was too straight I was thinking how to gain her consent to be true But I lost my pretty Betty by courting too slow I lost my pretty Betty by courting too slow. For in there come a sailor all in his tarry trews He went into the chamber where my true love was He kissed her and he clapped her he flattered her so He fair won the day by my courting too slow He fair won the day by my courting too slow. So come all you bold fellows and pray take my advice And when you go a-courting now don't you be too nice But you kiss all them pretty girls and you let them for to know That you don't mean to lose them by courting too slow That you don't mean to lose them by courting too slow. (Words: traditional. Jon Boden uses a tune written by Peter Bellamy) |
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23 Jun 04 - 11:41 AM (#1212939) Subject: RE: courting too slow From: Malcolm Douglas Laws P5, and number 1918 in the Roud Folk Song Index, where most of the examples listed (under various titles) are American. The text here seems to be from Logan's Pedlar's Pack (Edinburgh, 1869), judging by the first line. The song appeared on broadsides, and some -rather shorter than the above- can be seen at Bodleian Library Broadside Ballads: Courting too slow |
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23 Jun 04 - 11:50 AM (#1212946) Subject: RE: courting too slow From: masato sakurai a.k.a. WILLIAM AND NANCY (in the DT). |
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24 Jun 04 - 06:04 PM (#1213784) Subject: RE: courting too slow From: MoorleyMan I've been curious about this one for some time. Spiers and Boden claim they got it from the Bellamy recording, but there are some significant differences in the words between the two. It's not easy to decipher all the words in the Bellamy recording though - for instance, "straight" (verse 3) which sounds like "blate" as Bellamy sings it.... did anyone have better success transcribing the Bellamy by any chance? |
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24 Jun 04 - 06:38 PM (#1213807) Subject: RE: courting too slow From: Malcolm Douglas If it is indeed from Logan, then it may be a Scottish variant; in which case, "blate" ("bashful, timidly awkward") may very well be right. |
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25 Jun 04 - 01:09 PM (#1214304) Subject: RE: lyr req: Courting Too Slow From: Joe Offer The Traditional Ballad Index lists several other versions: William and Nancy (II) (Courting Too Slow) [Laws P5]DESCRIPTION: William loves Nancy, but sails away before he has married her. Eventually he learns that she has married another. He sickens with grief. Nancy comes to comfort him. Both eventually die of griefAUTHOR: unknown EARLIEST DATE: 1869 (Logan) KEYWORDS: courting sailor disease marriage infidelity death FOUND IN: US(Ap,SE,So) Britain Canada(Newf) REFERENCES (6 citations): Laws P5, "William and Nancy II (Courting Too Slow)" Belden, pp. 196-197 "Courting Too Slow" (1 text) BrownII 130, "Sweet William and Nancy" (1 text, mixed with "Green Grows the Laurel" and other material) Greenleaf/Mansfield 33, "Nancy from London" (2 texts, 2 tunes) Logan, pp. 364-365, "Courting Too Slow" (perhaps a comic rewrite of the original version?) DT 493, WMNANCY Roud #1918 CROSS-REFERENCES: cf. "My Bonny Brown Jane" (lyrics) ALTERNATE TITLES: Lovely Nancy from England File: LP05 Go to the Ballad Search form The Ballad Index Copyright 2004 by Robert B. Waltz and David G. Engle. Looks like I should split off the "Lovely Nancy" threads from this thread group. |
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27 Jun 04 - 11:59 AM (#1215010) Subject: Lyr Add: COURTING TOO SLOW (from Bodleian) From: Jim Dixon Bodleian Library Broadside Ballads Firth c.18(196). COURTING TOO SLOW It's early one morning I tripp'd o'er yon sands. I met my love Betsy. I took her by the hand. Her looks they were surly. She bid me begone. She was engaged with another young man. I panted. I trembled. I walked by her side. I oftentimes asked her if she'd be my bride, But her looks they were surly. She bid me begone. She said that I dallied about her too long. Then a house for pretty Betsy I soon did prepare, And flourish'd* well with housekeeping care, And fine promises to her I did show. She told me I lost her by courting too slow. I stopp'd at her door till the clock had struck two. She oftentimes told me those hours I'd rue. I cast my eyes down in yon valleys below, Where I lost my poor Betsy by courting too slow. All young men that a-courting does go, I'd have you take warning and not court too slow. You may kiss them and court them and call them also, And still you may lose them by courting too slow. ["flourish'd" sic; = "furnished"?] |
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27 Jun 04 - 01:59 PM (#1215044) Subject: Lyr Add: AT THE FOOT OF YONDERS MOUNTAIN From: Q (Frank Staplin) Ollie Gilbert sang a version (Max Hunter Folk Song Collection) that doesn't seem to be mentioned in Mudcat, possibly because of the title which is almost the same as one of the Pretty Saro group (not the same song as "At the Foot of Yonder Mountain," in the DT). Lyr. Add: AT THE FOOT OF YONDERS MOUNTAIN At the foot of yonders mountain Where there runs a clear stream I once courted a pretty girl An' Polly was 'er name When I first saw Polly I could not obtain I then taken a wild fly An' sailed o'er the main. Where the small birds were singing An' makin' sad mourn I then thought of Polly As I sailed all alone. I wrote her a letter To keep 'er on my mind She wrote me an answer By bein' so kind. She wrote, she'd lawfuly married When this letter did go Saying, now I've lost pretty Polly By courtin' too slow. This young man was taken On his death bed to die He sent for this young girl That once could'a been his bride. N' as she came near 'im An' approached his bedside Saying, here is the girl That once could'a been my bride. But now she's married an' left me And I'll die for her sake He threw his arms round her She felt his heart break. O Willie, you're dead An' I hope you'll find rest Polly, she fainted And died on his breast. Ollie Gilbert, Arkansas, sung 1969. With Real Audio, in Max Hunter Folk Song Collection. Yonders Mountain |
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03 Dec 10 - 08:52 PM (#3045945) Subject: Lyr. Add: Young-Man's Complaint From: Q (Frank Staplin) Lyr. Add: The Young-Mans Complaint for The Loss of His Mistris New tune: I Have Lost My Dear Mistress Come hearken Apollo my pitiful groan, Of all loyal lovers that is left here alone; I'le fight for my true love though Mars be my foe, For I've lost my dear Mistris by being too Slow. 2 Now lovers are often tormented in mind, When as their own sweet-hearts proves to them unkind Though many that hears me the ..... would forgoe I have lost my dear Mistris by being too Slow. 3 I would I had ne'r seen her, that I had ne'r been, That I for her love now sorrow have seen; But my heart it with sorrow my senses or'e gro (?) That I've lost my dear Mistris by being too Slow. 4 When as we were children we loved most dear, But now of that love I am never the near; My heart is so sad and oppressed with woe, That I've lost my dear Mistris by being too slow. 5 When unto years eider our Youth did it spring, Then to Complimenting I stright did begin: Yet faithfulness daunted and shamed me so, That I lost my dear Mistris by being too Slow. 6 Quoth I my dear honey though I cannot wooe, (?) Yet slight me not for it for loving of you: Entirely I love thee, the truth it is so, Then do not refuse me by being too Slow. 7 At fairs and at markets you know it right well, That I in your company still did excel: Neither car'd I for Money nor time it is so, Then let me not loose you by being too Slow. 8 But she gave me denial and bid me be gone, For all I lamented and to her made moan, Saying I would not have you any more to do so, For you have lost me plainly by being too Slow. Undoubtedly I have made errors in transcribing the old lettering. The last line of each verse is in more modern lettering and seems to have been added later. Several of these old songs about being too slow; not necessarily related. Coles, F. (London), and others, between 1674-1679. Bodleian Collection, Don. b.13(109). The Maidens Answer is on the same sheet. |
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04 Dec 10 - 09:45 AM (#3046192) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Courting Too Slow From: Jim Dixon Q: I'll bet you found that song while searching for I LOST MY LOVE AND I CARE NOT, didn't you? So did I. I even started to transcribe it, but I gave up when I realized it didn't really have a whole lot in common with COURTING TOO SLOW except for the similarity of that one phrase. Actually the first thing that came to mind was ON TOP OF OLD SMOKY which has the line "I lost my true lover from courting too slow." I'm still mystified by my (our?) failure to find a credible origin for I LOST MY LOVE AND I CARE NOT. |