Lyr Req: Rosemary Lane (from Annie Dearman)

24 Jun 06 - 01:48 PM (#1768160)
Subject: Lyr Req: Annie Dearman's Rosemary Lane
From: Roberto

Please, help me complete and correct this song, from a very beautiful cd, BLACK CROW WHITE CROW (EFDSS).

Rosemary lane, sung by Annie Dearman

The main problems, in the 4th stanza.

When I was in service in Rosemary Lane
I kept the good will of my master and dame
But a sailor came on, with me wanted to lie
And thus it began all my misery

Chorus:
And it's home, back home, home I would be
Home far away in my North Country
Where the oak and the ash and the fine rowan tree
Are all growing green in my North Country

The sailor was drowsy and hung down his head
He asked for a candle to light him to bed
I led him there too, like another might do
He said – Pretty maid, would you come to bed too?

A foolish young maiden, I thought it no harm
For to lie in his bed and to keep his back warm
But what happened there, I'll never declare
But I wished that short night lasted seven long years

So early next morning this sailor arose
And into me apron three guineas he throws
Saying – Take all my store, I ... more
... thousand ... over the floor

And if it's a girl, she shall wait upon me
And if it's a boy, he will sail the salt sea
With his fine little shoes and his jacket of blue
He'll climb the top rigging like his dad used to do

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24 Jun 06 - 02:09 PM (#1768170)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Annie Dearman's Rosemary Lane
From: The Borchester Echo

I know two alternate versions for the 4th stanza:

Saying, 'This will I give, and much more will I do
If you'll be my Polly wherever I go'

or:

Saying 'Take this, my dear, and more you shall have.
I'll be a friend to you as long as I live'

which proves only that you shouldn't believe them whatever they say.

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24 Jun 06 - 02:12 PM (#1768171)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Annie Dearman's Rosemary Lane
From: Roberto

I forgot to write that the notes on the booklet say the text is derived from a set in the Baring Gould manuscripts, while the chorus from Oak and the Ash was added by Vic Gammon.

Thank you, Countess Richard, but the lines you report are different from the ones sung in this recording.

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24 Jun 06 - 02:34 PM (#1768177)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Annie Dearman's Rosemary Lane
From: The Borchester Echo

Yeah, but it matters not what words they use but that they don't mean it . . .

This version (Oxford Book Of Sea Songs) is the one I like best cos it tells it like it was/is"

When I was a servant in Rosemary Lane
I gained the goodwill of my master and dame
Till at length a young sailor came there for to lie,
Which was the beginning of my misery.

He called for a candle to light him to bed,
He called for a napkin to tie round his head;
To tie round his head as he used for to do
And he vowed and he swore I should come to bed too.

In the middle of the night this young man grew bold
And into my lap he threw handfuls of gold,
Saying, 'Take this, my dear, and more you shall have.
I'll be a friend to you as long as I live.'

So we tumbled and tossed by the light of the moon
We rose the next morning all in the same tune
The very next morning this young man arose
And dress himself out in his tarpaulin clothes.

Alas then I cried, oh I am undone
He has left me with child of a daughter or son
And if 'tis a girl she shall stay home with me,
And if 'tis a boy he shall plough on the sea.

With his long-quartered shoes, check shirt and blue jacket,
On the quarterdeck he shall stand like a bold British tar;
So I'll dry up my milk as you shall plainly see,
And pass for a maid in my own country.

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25 Jun 06 - 02:54 AM (#1768510)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Annie Dearman's Rosemary Lane
From: Dave Hanson

Annie Dearman is one of the residents at Ripponden Folk Club, you may be able to get in touch with her through Pete Coe at Ryburn 3 step.

eric

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25 Jun 06 - 03:26 AM (#1768520)
Subject: Lyr Add: ROSEMARY LANE
From: Georgiansilver

Such memories for me. I sung this song many times in the seventies but cannot remember who wrote it or whose version I sung...but I can remember exactly the words so I might just start singing it again.
These are the lyrics I used.

When I was in service in Rosemary Lane,
I won the goodwill of my master and the dame.
Till a sailor came there one night for to lay,
And that was the beginning of my misery.

He called for a candle to light him to bed,
Likewise a silk handkerchief to tie up his head.
To tie up his head as a sailor will do,
And I said "My pretty Polly will you come too"?

Now this maid being young and foolish,she did think it no harm,
For to lie into bed to keep herself warm.
And what was done there I will never disclose,
But I wish that short night had been seven long years.

Now if 'tis a boy he will fight for the king,
And if 'tis a girl she will wear a gold ring.
She will wear a gold ring and a dress all aflame,
In memory of my service in Rosemary Lane.

I sung this to the tune of "She moved through the Fair"

Best wishes, Mike.

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28 Jun 06 - 11:27 PM (#1771709)
Subject: Lyr Add: THE LASS THAT LOVED A SAILOR
From: Jim Dixon

Bodleian Library Broadside Ballads has 3 versions of this song.

1. At Johnson Ballads 624 there is a song called THE SERVANT OF ROSEMARY LANE, printed in London "between 1790 and 1840." The lyrics are practically identical to the lyrics posted by Countess Richard above.

2. At Harding B 11(4221), there is another version of THE SERVANT OF ROSEMARY LANE, printed in London "between 1819 and 1844." It is also nearly the same, but has these differences:

After verse 2:

I crept into bed for to keep myself warm.
He vowed and he swore he would do me no harm
What he did to me I ne'er will declare,
But I wish that short night and been seven long years.

And in the next verse:

And in my smock tail he threw handfuls of gold....

3. Finally, Harding B 26(347), printed in Belfast "between 1846 and 1852" has this:

THE LASS THAT LOVED A SAILOR

When I was a servant in Rosemary Lane
I was well beloved by a master of fame,
Till at length a bold sea captain came to our house from sea,
And that was the commencement of my sad misery.

He called for a candle to light him to bed,
And likewise a napkin to tie on his head,
And likewise a napkin as he always used to do.
He says, "My pretty fair maid, will you come to bed too?"

This maid being young and innocent, she thought it no harm.
She jumped into bed to keep his back warm.
In the middle of the night, he grew rather bold,
And into my lap slipped three handfuls of gold.

Early next morning, this young maid arose,
And down to her mother she quickly goes.
She said, "Begone, you saucy jade! As you disobeyed me,
You may go to the sea captain. You'll not stay with me."

"Hold your tongue, dear mother. I'm not a pin the worse.
I've gold in my pocket and silver in my purse.
I have gold in my pocket to pay the nurse's fee,
And I'll pass for a maid in some strange country."

With his trousers and blue jacket and his hat all trimmed with gold,
He will march along the deck like a jolly seaman bold.
With his handkerchief all lace, and his hat all trimmed with gold,
He will march along the deck like his father a seaman bold.

He will march on the deck, like his father a seaman bold,
And meet some other fair maid to whom he will give gold.
If it be a girl, it will stay at home with me,
And if it be a boy, he will plough the raging sea.

God bless the seas that my love he does sail on,
And likewise the small boat that carries him along,
And the ash, and the oak, and the bonnie willow tree;
But now I am a maid at my own liberty.

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