Between the Lines - Issue Two
The Drunkard's Child
This song is another to come from the field recordings of Carrie
Milliner (nee Bobbin b.1926) of Eden, N.S.W. Bob Bolton helped us
find a broadsheet version, which is stored in the Bodleian Library at
Oxford University, which dates back to between 1833 and 1841. Interestingly,
Carrie's version omits several verses but none of the story, and the verses
she sings are very close to the printed source. This is Carrie's distilled
version - I think it's a beauty.
I was taking my walk, on a cold winters morn
Through the fields and the lanes, I wandered my way,
‘Till I came to an hollow, all rusty and wild,
I heard a voice crying, “I’m a poor drunkard’s child.”
“My clothes are all ragged, all tattered and torn,
I’m despised and dejected, forsaken and forlorn,
And on me they frown, and seem so unkind,
There’s no sympathy for a poor drunkard’s child.”
“My poor mother she died, in the workhouse hard by,
And she left me an orphan, to weep and to sigh.
Broken hearted she died, looked up to heaven and smiled,
Saying ‘Jesus protect you, my poor Drunkard’s child’”
“But it’s to conclude and to finish my song
I hope what I have depended on, you will not think me wrong;
For I’m just and orphan, I will not turn out wild,
But I’ll show a good example, though a poor drunkard’s child.”
The Dark Eyed Gypsies
The wonderful Val Turton of Binalong, N.S.W. sang this version of the "The Dark Eyed Gypsies" for Rob Willis, who passed the recording on to me - the song is one of my favourites. There seems to have been versions of this song all over the English-speaking world. In particular I enjoy the commitment of the young lady concerned - "I'll eat of the grass and drink of the snow…"
There lived three gypsies in the east,
They sang so light and so gaily-o,
They sang so sweet and so very, very sweet
That they charmed the heart of a lady-o.
Now Charlie he came home one night,
Inquiring for his lady-o,
She’s gone, she’s gone said the old servant man.
She’s following the dark eyed gypsies-o.
Then saddle me my milk white steed,
And go fetch me my pony-o,
I’ll ride until I seek my bride
Who is following the dark eyed gypsies-o.
Now Charlie rode through the length of the night,
Until next morning early-o,
It was there he met with his only wedded wife,
While she was following the dark eyed gypsies-o.
What do you care for your house and your land,
And what do you care for your money-o?
And what do you care for your only wedded lord,
While you’re following the dark eyed gypsies-o?
Now what do I care for my house and my land,
And what do I care for my money-o?
I’ll eat of the grass and I’ll drink of the snow,
While I’m following the dark eyed gypsies-o.
Last night you slept on a goose feather bed,
…………………………………………..*
But tonight you sleep on the cold cold ground,
while you’re following the dark eyed gypsies-o.
* For this missing line I sing "Between your husband and baby-o"
Parodies
On a lighter note, here are a couple of parodies. Make of these what you
will.
Show Me the Way to Go Home
Show me the way to go home, said the girl on Bondi beach
I lost my swimmers about and hour ago and they’ve gone right out of reach
All I’ve got on now, is sand and sea and foam
So give me a sheet of the Sunday Sun and show me the way to go home.
Mademoiselle
Mademoiselle she bought a cow, parle vous
Mademoiselle she bought a cow, parle vous
Mademoiselle she bought a cow, but how to milk it she didn’t know how
Inky-pinky parle vous
She pulled its tail instead of its tits, parle vous
She pulled its tail instead of its tits, parle vous
She pulled its tail instead of its tits, and all she got was a bucket of -
Inky-pinky parle vous!
Daisy
Daisy, Daisy, give me your answer do,
I’m half crazy all for the love of you
It won’t be a stylish marriage, I can’t afford a carriage,
But you’ll look sweet beneath the sheets of a featherbed built for two.
Daisy, Daisy, the coppers are after you
If they catch you, do you know what they’re going to do?
They’ll tie you with ropes and wire, behind the black Mariah
So ring your bell and pedal like hell on a bicycle built for two.
Michael, Michael, I couldn't marry you,
I can't cycle, it leaves me all black and blue.
If you can't afford a carriage you can stick your flamin' marriage,
'Cause I'll be damned if I'll be crammed on a bicycle built for two.