Lyr Req: Dancers of Stanton Drew (Holland, Parker)

07 Mar 99 - 06:04 PM (#61782)
Subject: Stanton Drew,need words
From: [e-mail]

I'd like to get the words to a song about Stanton Drew, the stone circle in England. The chorus goes "and they danced ,danced,danced around, danced,danced to the fiddler's sound". I'm not sure if its trad and I've not heard it for years!

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09 Mar 99 - 03:38 AM (#62045)
Subject: RE: Stanton Drew,need words
From: [e-mail]

But for several domestic disasters, I would have posted the words weeks ago. If you have a little patience, I'll do it still. I've got a version by the Yetties. - Susanne

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11 Mar 99 - 04:54 PM (#62475)
Subject: RE: Stanton Drew,need words
From: [e-mail]

Correcting my address,which I inadvertantly miss-typed! Glad to hear that someone can help. Looking forward in anticipation!

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16 Mar 99 - 04:07 AM (#63365)
Subject: Lyr Add: THE DANCERS OF STANTON DREW^^
From: [e-mail]

Finally made it, and even found a website to go to!

http:\\www.stonepages.com\dmeozzi\England\Inglese\StantonDrew.html

Chorus:
They danced, danced danced around
They danced to the fiddler's sound

Midsummer Day it fell on a Saturday
Sue and William went to be wed
They had music played by a fiddler
Let's go dancing William he said

Midnight struck and then said the fiddler
Dancing on Sunday wouldn't be right
Sue gave a laugh, Don't care if to hell I go
I'll find another fidder tonight

Off went the fiddler, left them a-grumbling
Then another fiddler came along the way
You'd like to dance and I'd like to play for you
Tunes he played both merry and gay

Stop, cried the dancers, No, cried the fiddler
He kept on in spite of all their moans
They couldn't stop their jerking and stumbling
Then in a flash he turned them into stone

Stanton Drew in the County of Somerset
That's where the Devil played at Sue's request
They paid the price for dancing on a Sunday
Ever as stones they stand at rest

I don't think the song is traditional. The tune is far too sweet and the words are far too logical! :-) It comes from a 1978 Yetties album, 'Dorset Style'. The Yetties credit it to Parker / Holland - whoever they may be. Hope it's what you were after! Susanne

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17 Mar 99 - 05:26 PM (#63825)
Subject: RE: Stanton Drew,need words
From: [e-mail]

Thanks a lot Susanne, though I have to say the words are not as impressive as the tune I remember. I've always remembered tunes better than words! I heard the song in 1972, sung by a lovely performer called Maddie ? in Edinburgh. I've not heard it since and thought I might resurrect it! Anyone else have words or information about the song?

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10 Feb 00 - 05:05 PM (#176333)
Subject: RE: Stanton Drew,need words
From: Snuffy

I have the version posted by skw on a 1976 album called "The Cambridge Crofters" by (surprise, surprise) The Cambridge Crofters. The song is there called Stanton Drew (The Dancers of Stanton Drew). The sleeve notes say:

There are three circles at Stanton Drew in North East Somerset called 'The Fiddler and the Dancers'. This stimulated Muriel Holland to write words and Jim Parker music for The Dancers of Stanton Drew.

I have made a midi of the tune they use and sent it to Alan of Oz, so hopefully it should appear there in the near future.

Wassail

V

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11 Feb 00 - 09:33 PM (#176935)
Subject: RE: Stanton Drew,need words
From: Alan of Australia

G'day,
Thanks to Snuffy the tune can be found here at the Mudcat MIDI site.

Cheers,
Alan

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