| Author | Topic: Add: The Oak and the Ash | |
| dmcg | Posted - 16 Oct 02 - 07:05 pm | |
Oak and the Ash,The A North Countrie lass up to London did pass Although with her nature it did not agree, Which made her repent and so often lament Still wishing again in the North for to be O the oak, and the ash, and the bonny rowan tree Do flourish at home in the North Countrie Fain would I be in the North Countrie Where the lads and the lasses are making of hay; There should I see what is pleasant to me A mischief on them that enticed me away O the oak, and the ash, and the bonny rowan tree Do flourish most bravely in our countrie. Since I came forth of the pleasant North There's nothing delightful I see doth abound; They never can be half so merry as we When we are a-dancing of Sellinger's Round. O the oak, and the ash, and the bonny rowan tree Do flourish at home in our own countrie. But still I percieve I a husband might have If I to the city my mind could but frame; But I'll have a lad that is North Countrie bred Or else I'll not marry, in the mind that I am. O the oak, and the ash, and the bonny rowan tree Do flourish most bravely in our countrie. Source: North Countrie Folk Songs for Schools, Whittaker, Pub Curwen, 1921 Database entry is here | ||
| dmcg | Posted - 16 Oct 02 - 07:12 pm | |
I learned this in primary school before I had any concept of 'a folk song', and loved it then! I think the version I learned had better poetry than the above version, though: there is a pleasing robustness to this verse. No doubt if I pleased, I could marry with ease For where bonny lasses are, lovers will come But the lad that I wed must be North Country bred And must carry me back to my North Country home | ||
| Jon Freeman | Posted - 16 Oct 02 - 09:28 pm | |
I love this song and particularly, the tune. I first heard my mother sing it and she probably got it from my grandmother. My grandmother died when I was about 7 but I believe she was quite fond of singing - there are times I do wonder what material she might have had stored away. Back to the song. The version I use is in the "News Chronicle Song Book". It has the verse you quoted. Jon | ||
| Ed | Posted - 17 Oct 02 - 08:39 am | |
On the Watersons CD 'Early Days' A L Lloyd notes: The North Country Maid This familiar song can be found in a black-letter copy also in the Roxburgh collection. There, it's titled: The Northern Lasse's Lamentation; or, the Unhappy Maid's Misfortune, and it's prefaced by a few melancholy lines: Since she did from her friends depart No earthly thing can cheer her heart But still she doth her case lament Being always fill'd with discontent, Resolving to do nought but mourn Till to the North she doth return. J. Collingwood Bruce and John Stokoe printed a set of the song in their Northumbrian Minstrelsey of 1880, noting how: 'Sir Walter Scott, in his novel Rob Roy, makes the narrator of the tale (Francis Osbaldiston) in recounting recollections of his childhood, tell how his Northumbrian nurse (old Mabel) amused him by singing the ditties of her native countie, and specially names O! the Oak and the Ash and the bonny Ivy Tree as a Northumbrian ballad.' The stately tune started life as a dance tune, found in many places and under many titles but especially in Sir James Hawkin's Transcripts of music for the virginals, and the Dancing Master, of 1650, under the title Goddesses. The refrain in all its home-sick nostalgia may be encountered, oddly enough, in the robust and unbuttoned sailors' song, Home, Dearie Home, or Rosemary Lane.' The words to the Waterson's version can be found here | ||
| Makirika (guest) |
Posted - 13 Sep 09 - 02:41 pm | |
I have a copy of the book 'Folk Tales of the North Country', published 1953, in which the lyrics follow: A North Countrie lass up to London did pass Although with her nature it did not agree, Which made her repent and so often lament, Still wishing again in the North for to be. O the oak and the ash and the bonny rowan tree Do flourish at home in the North Countrie. Since I came forth of the pleasant North, There's nothing delightful I see doth abound. They never can be half so merry as wel, When we are a-dancing of Sellinger's Round. O the oak and the ash and the bonny rowan tree Do flourish at home in the North Countrie. The ewes and the lambs, with their kids and the dams, To see in the countrie how fine they do play; The bells they do ring, and the birds they do sing, And the fields and the gardens so pleasant and gay. O the oak and the ash and the bonny rowan tree They flourish at home in my own countrie. Then farewell my daddy, and farewell my mammy, Until I do see you I nothing but mourn. Rememb'ring my brothers, my sisters, and others, In less than a year I hope to return; Then the oak and the ash and the bonny rowan tree, I shall see them at home in my own countrie. | ||