52 Folk Songs: Orange

by Phil Edwards

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  • Digital Album

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    Includes album-only bonus tracks Four Angels (Kipling / Simpson) and Jusqu'a la ceinture (Graeme Allwright, after Pete Seeger), as well as PDF file containing full lyrics, notes and artwork.

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1.
02:38
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2.
05:13
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3.
02:51
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4.
01:59
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5.
04:42
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6.
05:59
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7.
03:09
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8.
01:48
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9.
02:14
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10.
03:26
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11.
06:07
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12.
03:13
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13.
03:38
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14.
02:11
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15.
02:45
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16.
03:16
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credits

released 11 June 2012
Phil Edwards: vocals, English concertina, flute, recorder, drums, C whistle (track 1), zither (track 2), percussion (tracks 6 and 16), drones (track 12).

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tags: english traditional folk traditional Manchester

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Track Name: Puck's song
See you the ferny ride that steals
Into the oak-woods far?
O that was whence they hewed the keels
That rolled to Trafalgar.

And mark you where the ivy clings
To Bayham's mouldering walls?
O there we cast the stout railings
That stand around St. Paul's.

See you the dimpled track that runs
All hollow through the wheat?
O that was where they hauled the guns
That smote King Philip's fleet.

Out of the Weald, the secret Weald,
Men sent in ancient years,
The horse-shoes red at Flodden Field,
The arrows at Poitiers.

See you our little mill that clacks,
So busy by the brook?
She has ground her corn and paid her tax
Ever since Domesday Book.

See you our stilly woods of oak,
And the dread ditch beside?
O that was where the Saxons broke
On the day that Harold died.

See you the windy levels spread
About the gates of Rye?
O that was where the Northmen fled,
When Alfred's ships came by.

See you our pastures wide and lone,
Where the red oxen browse?
O there was a city thronged and known,
Ere London boasted a house.

And see you, after rain, the trace
Of mound and ditch and wall?
O that was a Legion's camping-place,
When Caesar sailed from Gaul.

And see you marks that show and fade,
Like shadows on the Downs?
O they are the lines the Flint Men made,
To guard their wondrous towns.

Trackway and camp and city lost,
Salt marsh where now is corn -
Old wars, old peace, old arts that cease,
And so was England born.

It is not any common earth,
Water, wood or air,
But Merlin's Isle of Gramarye,
Where you and I will fare.
Track Name: Sir Richard's song
I followed my Duke ere I was a lover,
To take from England fief and fee;
But now this game is the other way over -
Now England has taken me!

I had my horse, my shield and banner,
And a young man's heart, so whole and free;
But now I sing in another manner -
Now England has taken me!

As for my Father in his tower,
Awaiting news of my ship at sea,
He will remember his own hour -
Tell him England has taken me!

As for my Mother in her bower,
That rules my Father so cunningly,
She will remember a maiden's power -
Tell her England has taken me!

As for my Brother in Rouen City,
A naughty, nimble page is he,
But he will come to suffer and pity -
Tell him England has taken me!

As for my little Sister waiting
In the pleasant orchards of Normandy,
Tell her youth is the time for mating -
Tell her England has taken me!

As for my comrades in camp and highway
That lift their eyebrows scornfully,
Tell them their way is not my way -
Tell them England has taken me!

You Kings and Princes and Barons famed,
You Knights and Captains in your degree;
Hear me a little before I am blamed -
Seeing England has taken me!

Howe’er so great man's strength be reckoned,
There are two things he cannot flee.
Love is the first, and Death is the second -
And Love in England has taken me!
Track Name: Frankie's Trade
Old Horn to All Atlantic said:
(O hey O! To me O!)
"Now where did Frankie learn his trade?
For he ran me down with a three-reef mains'l."
(All round the Horn!)

Atlantic answered: "Not from me !
You'd better ask the cold North Sea,
For he ran me down under all plain canvas."
(All round the Horn!)

The North Sea answered: - "He's my man,
For he came to me when he began
Frankie Drake in an open coaster.
(All round the Sands!)

"I caught him young and I used him sore,
So you never shall startle Frankie more,
Without capsizing Earth and her waters.
(All round the Sands!)

"I did not favour him at all.
I made him pull and I made him haul
And stand his trick with the common sailors.
(All round the Sands!)

"I froze him stiff and I fogged him blind,
And kicked him home with his road to find
By what he could see in a three-day snow-storm.
(All round the Sands!)

"I learned him his trade o' winter nights,
'Twixt Mardyk Fort and Dunkirk lights,
On a five-knot tide with the forts a-firing.
(All round the Sands!)

"Before his beard began to shoot,
I showed him the length of the Spaniard's foot -
I reckon he clapped the boot on it later.
(All round the Sands!)

"If there's a risk which you can make
That's worse than he was used to take
Nigh every week in the way of his business;
(All round the Sands!)

"If there's a trick that you can try,
Which he hasn't met in time gone by,
Not once or twice, but ten times over.
(All round the Sands!)

"If you can teach him aught that's new,
(A-hay O! To me O!)
I'll give you Bruges and Niewport too,
And the ten tall churches that stand between 'em !"
(All round the Sands!)

So storm along my gallant Captains!
(All round the Horn!)
Track Name: Anchor song
Heh! Walk her round. Heave, ah heave her short again!
Over, snatch her over, there, and hold her on the pawl.
Loose all sail, and brace your yards aback and full—
Ready jib to pay her off and heave short all!

Well, ah fare you well; we can stay no more with you, my love—
Down, set down your liquor and your girl from off your knee;
For the wind has come to say:
“You must take me while you may,
If you'd go to Mother Carey,
(Walk her down to Mother Carey!)
If you're bound to Mother Carey where she feeds her chicks at sea!”

Heh! Walk her round. Break, ah break it out of that!
Break our starboard bower out, apeak, awash, and clear.
Port - port she casts, with the harbour-roil beneath her foot,
And that's the last of bottom we shall see this year!

Well, ah fare you well, for we've got to take her out again -
Take her out in ballast, riding light and cargo-free.
And it's time to clear and quit
When the hawser grips the bitt,
So we'll pay you with the foresheet and a promise from the sea!

Heh! Tally on! Aft and walk away with her!
Handsome to the cathead, now; O tally on the fall!
Stop, seize and fish, and easy on the davit-guy.
Up, well up the fluke of her, and inboard haul!

Well, ah fare you well, for the Channel wind's took hold of us,
Choking down our voices as we snatch the gaskets free.
And it's blowing up for night,
And she's dropping Light on Light,
And she's snorting under bonnets for a breath of open sea.

Wheel, full and by; but she'll smell her road alone to-night.
Sick she is and harbour-sick - sick to clear the land!
Roll down to Brest with the old Red Ensign over us
Carry on and thrash her out with all she'll stand!

Well, ah fare you well, and it's Ushant gives the door to us,
Whirling like a windmill on the dirty scud to lee:
Till the last flicker goes
From the tumbling water-rows,
And we're off to Mother Carey
(Walk her down to Mother Carey!)
Oh, we're bound for Mother Carey where she feeds her chicks at sea!
Track Name: Follow me 'ome
THERE was no one like ’im, ’Orse or Foot,
Nor any o’ the Guns I knew;
An’ because it was so, why, o’ course ’e went an’ died,
Which is just what the best men do.

- So it’s knock out your pipes an’ follow me!
An’ it’s finish up your swipes an’ follow me!
Oh, ’ark to the big drum callin’,
Follow me, follow me ’ome!

’Is mare she neighs the ’ole day long,
She paws the ’ole night through,
An’ she won’t take ’er feed ’cause o’ waitin’ for ’is step,
Which is just what a beast would do.

’Is girl she goes with a bombardier
Before ’er month is through;
An’ the banns are up in church, for she’s got the beggar hooked,
Which is just what a girl would do.

We fought ’bout a dog, a month ago it were,
No more than a round or two;
But I strook ’im cruel ’ard, an’ I wish I ’adn’t now,
Which is just what a man can’t do.

’E was all that I ’ad in the way of a friend,
An’ I’ve ’ad to find one new;
But I’d give my pay an’ stripe for to get the beggar back,
Which it’s just too late to do.

So it’s knock out your pipes an’ follow me!
An’ it’s finish off your swipes an’ follow me!
Oh, ’ark to the fifes a-crawlin’!
Follow me, follow me ’ome!

And it's
Take ’im away! ’E’s gone where all the best men go.
Take ’im away! An’ the gun-wheels turnin’ slow.
Take ’im away! There’s more from the place ’e come.
Take ’im away, with the limber an’ the drum.

For it’s “Three rounds blank” an’ follow me,
An’ it’s “Thirteen rank” an’ follow me;
Oh, passin’ the love o’ women,
Follow me, follow me ’ome!

Follow me, follow me ’ome!
Track Name: Ford o' Kabul River
Kabul town's by Kabul river -
Blow the bugle, draw the sword -
There I lef' my mate for ever,
Wet an' drippin' by the ford.
Ford, ford, ford o' Kabul river,
Ford o' Kabul river in the dark !
There's the river up and brimmin',
An' there's 'arf a squadron swimmin'
'Cross the ford o' Kabul river in the dark.

Kabul town's a blasted place -
Blow the bugle, draw the sword -
'Strewth I sha'n't forget 'is face
Wet an' drippin' by the ford !
Ford, ford, ford o' Kabul river,
Ford o' Kabul river in the dark !
Keep the crossing-stakes beside you,
An' they will surely guide you
'Cross the ford o' Kabul river in the dark.

Kabul town is sun and dust -
Blow the bugle, draw the sword -
I'd ha' sooner drownded fust
'Stead of 'im beside the ford.
Ford, ford, ford o' Kabul river,
Ford o' Kabul river in the dark !
You can 'ear the 'orses threshin',
You can 'ear the men a-splashin',
'Cross the ford o' Kabul river in the dark.

Kabul town was ours to take -
Blow the bugle, draw the sword -
I'd ha' left it for 'is sake -
'Im that left me by the ford.
Ford, ford, ford o' Kabul river,
Ford o' Kabul river in the dark !
It's none so bloomin' dry there;
Ain't you never comin' nigh there,
'Cross the ford o' Kabul river in the dark ?

Kabul town'll go to hell -
Blow the bugle, draw the sword -
'Fore I see him 'live an' well -
'Im the best beside the ford.
Ford, ford, ford o' Kabul river,
Ford o' Kabul river in the dark !
Gawd 'elp 'em if they blunder,
For their boots'll pull 'em under,
By the ford o' Kabul river in the dark.

Turn your 'orse from Kabul town -
Blow the bugle, draw the sword -
'Im an' 'arf my troop is down,
Down an' drownded by the ford.
Ford, ford, ford o' Kabul river,
Ford o' Kabul river in the dark !
There's the river low an' fallin',
But it ain't no use o' callin'
'Cross the ford o' Kabul river in the dark.
Track Name: Poor honest men
Your jar of Virginny
Will cost you a guinea,
Which you reckon too much by five shillings or ten;
But light your churchwarden
And judge it according,
When I've told you the troubles of poor honest men.

From the Capes of the Delaware,
As you are well aware,
We sail with tobacco for England but then,
Our own British cruisers,
They watch us come through, sirs,
And they press half a score of us poor honest men!

Or if by quick sailing
(Thick weather prevailing)
We leave them behind (as we do now and then)
We are sure of a gun from
Each frigate we run from,
Which is often destruction to poor honest men!

Broadsides the Atlantic
We tumble short-handed,
With shot-holes to plug and new canvas to bend;
And off the Azores,
Dutch, Dons and Monsieurs
Are waiting to terrify poor honest men.

Napoleon's embargo
Is laid on all cargo
Which comfort or aid to King George may intend;
And since roll, twist and leaf
Of all comforts is chief,
They try for to steal it from poor honest men!

With no heart for fight,
We take refuge in flight,
But fire as we run, our retreat to defend;
Until our stern-chasers
Cut up her fore-braces,
And she flies off the wind from us poor honest men!

'Twixt the Forties and Fifties,
South-eastward the drift is,
And so, when we think we are making Land's End
Alas, it is Ushant
With half the King's Navy
Blockading French ports against poor honest men!

But they may not quit station
(Which is our salvation)
So swiftly we stand to the Nor'ard again;
And finding the tail of
A homeward-bound convoy,
We slip past the Scillies like poor honest men.

'Twixt the Lizard and Dover,
We hand our stuff over,
Though I may not inform how we do it, nor when.
But a light on each quarter,
Low down on the water,
Is well understanded by poor honest men.

Even then we have dangers,
From meddlesome strangers,
Who spy on our business and are not content
To take a smooth answer,
Except with a handspike...
And they say they are murdered by poor honest men!

To be drowned or be shot
Is our natural lot,
Why should we, moreover, be hanged in the end---
After all our great pains
For to dangle in chains
As though we were smugglers, not poor honest men?
Track Name: Big steamers
"O where are you going to, all you Big Steamers,
With England's own coal, up and down the salt seas? "
"We are going to fetch you your bread and your butter,
Your beef, pork, and mutton, eggs, apples, and cheese."

"And where will you fetch it from, all you Big Steamers,
And where shall I write you when you are away? "
"We fetch it from Melbourne, Quebec and Vancouver.
Address us at Hobart, Hong Kong and Bombay."

"But if anything happened to all you Big Steamers,
And suppose you were wrecked up and down the salt sea?"
"Why, then you'd have no coffee or bacon for breakfast,
And you'd have no muffins or toast for your tea."

"Then I'll pray for fine weather for all you Big Steamers
For little blue billows and breezes so soft."
"Oh, billows and breezes don't bother Big Steamers:
We're iron below and steel-rigging aloft."

"Then I'll build a new lighthouse for all you Big Steamers,
With plenty wise pilots to pilot you through."
"Oh, the Channel's as bright as a ball-room already,
And pilots are thicker than pilchards at Looe."

"Then what can I do for you, all you Big Steamers,
Oh, what can I do for your comfort and good?"
"Send out your big warships to watch your big waters,
That no one may stop us from bringing you food."

For the bread that you eat and the biscuits you nibble,
The sweets that you suck and the joints that you carve,
They are brought to you daily by all us Big Steamers
And if any one hinders our coming you'll starve!"
Track Name: Roll down to Rio
I've never sailed the Amazon,
I've never reached Brazil.
But the Don and the Magdalena,
They can go there when they will.

Yes, weekly from Southampton
Great steamers white and gold
Go rolling down to Rio
(Roll down, roll down to Rio!)
And I'd like to roll to Rio
Some day before I'm old.

I've never seen a jaguar
Nor yet an armadil
A-dilloing in his armour
And I s'pose I never will.

Unless I go to Rio
Those wonders to behold
And I'd like to roll to Rio
(Roll really down to Rio!)
I'd like to roll to Rio
Some day before I'm old.
Track Name: Queen Jane
Queen Jane was in labour for six weeks and more
Till her women grew weary and fain would give o’er

“O women! O women! Good wives if ye be
O send for King Henry and bring him to me”

King Henry was sent for, and he came with all speed
In a gown of red velvet from the heel to the head

King Henry was sent for, to her bedside he came
“Dear lady! Fair lady! your eyes look dim”

“King Henry! King Henry! if kind you will be
Send for a good doctor and let him come to me”

The doctor was sent for and to her he came
“Dear lady! Fair lady! your labour's vain”

"Dear Doctor! Dear Doctor! do one thing for me
Open up my right side and save my baby”

"O no," said King Henry, "That never can be.
"If I lose the flower of England I shall lose the tree.”

The doctor gave a caudle - the death sleep slept she
Then her right side was opened and the babe was set free

The baby was christened with joy and much mirth
But poor Queen Jane's body lay cold in the earth
Track Name: Earl Richard
The lady stood at her bower door,
At her bower door she stood
She heard the sound of a bridle rein;
And she hoped that it might be for good.

She thought it was her father dear,
Come riding over the land
But it was her true love Earl Richard,
Came riding to her right hand.

“Come down, come down, young Earl Richard,
You're welcome home to me,
To my cosy bed and the charcoal red
And the candles that burns so free.”

“O I can't come down and I won't come down
Nor come into your arms at all
For a finer girl than ten of you
Is a-waiting beneath the town wall.”

“Well, a finer girl than ten of me
I wonder now how that might be?
For a finer girl than ten of me
I'm sure that you never did see.”

Then he has leaned him across his saddle
For a kiss before they did part,
And she has taken a keen, long knife
And she's stabbed him to the heart.

Saying, “Lie there, lie there, young Earl Richard,
Until the flesh rots from your bones
And that finer girl than ten of me
Can weary waiting alone.”

But as she walked up on the high highway
She's spied a little bird up in the tree,
Saying, “O how could you kill that fine young man
As he was a-kissing of thee?”

“Come down, come down, you pretty little bird
And sit upon my right knee,
And your cage shall be made of the glittering gold
And the spokes of the best ivory.”

“I can't come down and I won't come down
To sit upon your right knee,
For as you did use that fine young man
I know that you would use me.”

“Then I wish I had my bended bow
And my arrow close to my knee.
I would fire a dart that would pierce your heart
As you sit there a-piping on the tree.”

“Ah, but you've not got your bended bow
And nor your arrows close to your knee.
So I'll fly away to that young man's home
And tell them what I did see.”

So she's gone back to her own house
And she's crossed the threshold with a moan,
And she has taken young Earl Richard
And she's laid him upon a stone.

Then she called to the servant girl
And unto her did say:
“There is a fine and a young man in my room
But it's time that he was away.”

So one has taken him by the shoulders,
And the other one took him by the feet
And they've thrown his body in the River Clyde
That runs so clear and so sweet.

And the deepest spot in Clyde’s water
It’s there they’ve thrown Earl Richard in
And they laid a turf on his breast-bone
To hold his body down.

But they had not crossed a rig of land,
A rig but barely one,
Before they saw Earl Richard’s father
Come riding all along.

“O where have you been, my gay lady?
And where have you been so late?
For I've come a-seeking for my eldest son
Who used to visit your gate.”

And there came a-seeking for young Earl Richard
Many lords and many knights.
And there came a-weeping for young Earl Richard
Full many's the lady bright.

And the lady turned around and about
And she swore by the sun and the moon
Saying, “I never saw your son Earl Richard
Since yesterday morning at noon.”

“I fear, I fear the Clyde’s waters
That run so swift and so deep
I fear, I fear your son has drowned
And under Clyde’s waters he does sleep.”

“So, who will dive from either bank
For gold and for fee?”
And the young men dived from either bank
But his body they could not see.

Then up and spoke that pretty little bird
A-sitting up high in the tree,
Saying, “O cease your diving, you divers bold,
For I'd have you to listen to me.”

“And I'd have you to cease your day diving
And dive all into the night.
For under the water where his body lies
The candles they burn so bright.”

So the divers ceased their day diving
And they dived late into the night.
And under the water where his body lay,
The candles they burned so bright.

And they have raised Earl Richard up
From out the deepest part,
And they've seen the wound deep into his chest
And the turf all across his heart.

And when his father did see this dreadful wound
He made such a mournful sound,
Saying, “Oh, who has killed my eldest son
Who held my hawk and hound?”

Then up and spoke the pretty little bird,
Saying, “What needs all this din?
For it was his true love took his life
And then threw his body in.”

“O blame not me,” the lady said,
“For it was the servant girl.”
So they built a fire of the oak and ash
And they put that servant girl in.

But the fire wouldn't take upon her cheek
And the fire wouldn't take upon her chin,
Nor would it take upon her hair
For she was free from the sin.

And when the servant girl touched the clay cold corpse,
A drop it never bled.
But when the lady laid a hand upon it
The ground was soon covered with red.

So they've taken out the servant girl
And they've put the lady in.
And the fire it reached a ruddy red,
And all because of her sin.

And the fire took fast upon her cheek,
And the fire took fast upon her chin,
And it sang in the points of her yellow hair,
And it was because of her sin.
Track Name: Rounding the Horn
The gallant frigate Amphitrite she lay in Plymouth Sound,
Blue Peter at her foremast head, for she was outward bound;
We were waiting there for orders to send us far from home;
Our orders came for Rio, and then around Cape Horn.

When we arrived in Rio we prepared for heavy gales;
We set up all the rigging, boys, and bent on all new sails.
From ship to ship they cheered us as we did sail along,
And they wished us pleasant weather in the rounding of Cape Horn.

In beating off Magellan Strait it blew exceeding hard;
Whilst shortening sail two gallant tars they fell from the topsail yard.
By angry seas the ropes we threw from their poor hands was torn
We were forced to leave them to the sharks that prowl around Cape Horn.

When we got round the Horn, my boys, we had such glorious days
And very soon our killick dropped in Valparaiso Bay.
Them pretty girls came down in flocks, I solemnly declare
They are far above the Plymouth girls with their long and curling hair.

They love a jolly sailor when he spends his money free,
They'll laugh and sing and merry be, and have a jovial spree.
And when your money it is all gone they won't on you impose,
They are not like them Plymouth girls that'll pawn and sell your clothes.

Farewell to Valparaiso and farewell for a while,
Likewise to all them Spanish girls all along the coast of Chile;
If ever l live to be paid off l'll sit and I'll sing this song
And God bless all those Spanish girls that we left around Cape Horn.
Track Name: Roll down
Sweet ladies of Plymouth, we're saying goodbye
Roll down!
But we'll rock you and roll you again by and by
Walk her round, my brave boys and roll down!
And we will roll down,
Walk her round, my brave boys and roll down!

Now the anchor's aweigh and the sails are unfurled
And we're bound for to take her half-way round the world

In the wide Bay of Biscay the seas will run high
And the poor sickly transports they'll wish they could die

When the wild coast of Africa it do appear
The poor nervous transports they'll tremble with fear

When the Cape of Good Hope it is rounded at last
The poor lonesome transports they'll long for the past

When the great southern whales on our quarter do spout
The poor simple transports they'll goggle and shout

And when we arrive off Australia's strand
The poor weary transports they'll long for the land

And when we set sail for old England's shore
The poor stranded transports we'll see them no more

Then sweet ladies of Plymouth we'll pay all your rent
And go roving no more till our money's all spent
Track Name: Dogger Bank
Sailing over the Dogger Bank wasn't it a treat.
The wind was blowing 'bout east-north-east, we had to give her the sheet.
You should have seen us rally, the wind a-blowing free
On passage from the Dogger Bank to great Grimsby.

So watch us, twig us, we're the proper ju-bi-ju
Give her the sheets and let her rip, we're the boys to see her through.
You should have seen us rally, the wind a-blowing free
On passage from the Dogger Bank to great Grimsby.

Our captain he's a Shanghai rooster, he likes a drop of good ale.
Our second edition's a Ribstone Pippin, been known in many a jail,
Our third man he's a bush ranger, our deckie's from the Dials
But don't even look at the dirty old cook, it drives the bugger wild

We're the boys to make the noise when we come home from sea,
We get right drunk, we roll on the floor, we have a jubilee.
We get right drunk and full of beer we roll all over the floor,
And when the rent it is all spent, we'll go to sea for more.

So watch her, twig her, as down the street she came,
With high heeled shoes and painted toes, oh Jilly is on the game.
She is one of them flash girls, can't she cut a shine,
She can do a double shuffle on the knickerbocker line.
Track Name: Come down you bunch of roses
You bonny bunch of roses-O
- Come down you bunch of roses, come down
Now's the time to haul and go
- Come down you bunch of roses, come down
Oh you pinks and posies!
- Come down you bunch of roses, come down

Our boots and shoes are all in pawn
It's flaming draughty around Cape Horn

It's round Cape Horn that you must go
Because that's the place where the whale-fish blow

You've had your advance and now you must go
Go round Cape Horn in the frost and snow

My dear old mother said to me
Son, when are you coming home from sea?

It's one more pull and that will do
For we're the boys to kick her through
Oh you pinks and posies!
- Come down you bunch of roses, come down
Track Name: The trees they do grow high
The trees they do grow high and the leaves they do grow green,
The day is past and gone, my love, that you and I have seen.
It's a cold winter's night, my love, when you and I must lie alone.
The bonny lad is young but he's growing.

“Oh father, dearest father, you've done to me great wrong,
You married me a boy and I fear he is too young.”
“Oh daughter, dearest daughter, an if you stay at home and wait along of me,
A lady you shall be while he's growing.”

“We'll send the boy to school for another year or so
And then perhaps in time, my love, a man he may grow.
I will buy you a bunch of white ribbons to tie about his bonny, bonny waist
To let the ladies know that he's married.”

At the age of sixteen, oh, he was a married man,
And at the age of seventeen she brought to him a son.
At the age of eighteen, my love, the grass upon his grave grew green and long
For death had put to an end to his growing.

I made my love a shroud of the holland oh so fine
And every stitch she put in it, the tears came trinkling down.
Oh once I had a sweetheart but now I have got never a one,
So fare you well my own true love forever.

Now he is dead and buried and in the churchyard laid
The green grass it grows over him so very, very thick
Oh once I had a sweetheart but now I have got never a one,
So fare you well my own true love forever.