American Songs & Ballads- Love Themes
A. Love Themes Contents:
37. Banks of Brandy wine 90
38. Eliza 91
39. Lilly Dale 92
40. Sparking Sunday Night 93
41. The Quaker's Wooing 94
42. I've Been Roaming 96
A. Love Themes
IT IS curious that the manuscript has three times as many British as American love songs, even if Child ballads are omitted
from consideration. Perhaps the American songs of this type were more easily remembered and therefore did not need to
be written down. At any rate, the American texts furnish a satisfactory variety of subjects and treatment.
"Banks of Brandywine" is the story of a Returned Lover and Test, a traditional theme already noted among the British songs.
"Eliza" is important as an early "popular" number of about the year 1800. "Lilly Dale" (1852 in date of publication) is a piece of sentimental pathos by H. S. Thompson, better known to us now as the author and composer of "Annie Lisle" whose tune was adapted for the alma mater song of Cornell ("Far above Cayuga's Waters") and of several other colleges and universities
including Syracuse. "Sparking Sunday Night" was a popular song in 1855; IX - later found its way into college songbooks.
"The Quaker's Wooing" is a satire with varied uses; it has even been found as a children's dialogue game. "I've Been Roaming" is a romantic song with lyrical feeling and verse better than the average of its day.
37. Banks of Brandywine
Like "George Reily" and "The Dark-eyed Sailor," "Banks of Brandywine" tells the story of a sailor's trial of his sweetheart and of her faithfulness. The version in Gardner and Chickering corresponds to the Douglass one except for minor variations, and the Kennedy one is word for word the same. The lyrical second stanza is not found in Mackenzie. The song has appeared in many songsters.
Banks of Brandywine
1 . One morning very early in the pleasant month of may
As I walked forth to take the air all nature being gay
The moon had not yet veil'd her face but through the trees did
shine
As I wandered for amusement on the banks of brandywine
2. By many rough and craggy rocks and bushes of small growth
By many lofty ancient trees the leaves were putting forth
I wandered up along those banks where murmuring streams do
join
Where pleasant music caught my ear on the banks of Brandy-
wine
3. At such an early hour I was surprised to see
A lovely maid with downcast eyes upon those banks so gay
I modestly saluted her she knew not my design
And requested her sweet company on the banks of brandywine
4. She said young man be civil my company forsake
For in my real opinion I thing you are a rake
My loves a valiant sailor he's now gone to the main
While comfortless I wander on the banks of brandywine
5. My dear why do you thus give up to melancholy cries
I pray leave off your weeping and dry those lovely eyes
For sailors in each port my dear they do a mistress find
He will have you still to wander on the Banks of Brandywine
6. Oh leave me sir do leave me why do you me torment
My henry wont deceive me therefore I am content
Why do you thus torment me and cruelly combine
To fill my mind with horror on the Banks of Brandywine
American Songs and Ballads 91
7. I wish not to afflict your mind but rather for to ease
Such dreadful apprehensions they soon your mind will seize
Your love my dear in wedlock bands another one is joined
She swooned into my arms on the banks of Brandywine
8. The lofty hills and craggy rocks reechoed back her straines
The pleasant groves and rural shades were witness to her pains
How often has hee promiced me in hymen's chains to join
Now I'm a maid forsaken on the Banks of Brandywine
9. Oh no my dear that ne'er shall be behold your henry now
I'll clasp you to my bosom love I've not forgot my vow
I'ts now I know you're true my dear in humens chains we'll join
And hail the happv morn we met on the banks of Brandywine
38. Eliza
According to Sonneck, this popular song was printed about 1 800,
appearing both as a separate sheet and in A Collection of New and
Favorite Songs.
[Eliza]
1 . From the [ e ] Eliza I must go
And leave my native shore
The cruel fates between us throw
A boundless Ocean's roar
2. But boundless oceans roaring wide
Between my love and me
They never can divide
My heart & soul from thee
3. Farewell farewell, Eliza dear
The maid that I adore
A boding voice is in mine ear
We part to meet no more.
4. But the last throb that leaves my heart
While death stands victor by
That throb Eliza is thy part
And mine that talest [latest] sigh.
92 A Pioneer Songster
39. Lilly Dale
H. S. Thompson wrote and composed this song in 1852. Since the
song was popular enough to have dances adapted from it and a
songster named for it, it is not strange that the Douglass version has
only minor variations from the original as reprinted in Brow?!.
Lilly Dale
1 . Twas a calm still night
And the moons pale light
Shone soft oer hill and dale
Where friends mute with grief
Stood around the death bed
Of my poor lilly Dale
chorus Oh lilly dear lilly sweet lilly dale
Now the wild rose blossoms
Oer her little green grave
Neath the trees in the flowery vale
2. Her cheeks that once glowed
With the rose tint of health
By the hand of disease had turned pale
And the death damp was on
The pure white brow
Of my poor lost Lilly Dale
chorus Oh lilly &c
3. I go she said
To the land of rest
And ere my strength shall fail
I'll tell you where
Near my own dear home
You must lay poor Lilly Dale
Oh Lilly &c
4. Neath the chestnut tree
Where the wild flowers grow
And the stream riples forth thro the vale
Where the wild birds warble
Their songs in spring
There lay poor Lilly Dale
Oh Lilly &c
American Songs and Ballads 93
40. Sparking Sunday Night
The chorus has been dropped from the Douglass version of this
popular song, though the stanzas correspond closely to the version
in DeMarsan. The American College Songster (Ann Arbor, Mich.,
1876) lists this among Harvard college songs with the notation that
it was sung to the air, "Riding on a Rail." The same tune is men-
tioned in Carmina Collegensia (Boston, 1868) in which version
"pouting" replaces the Douglass word "parting" of stanza 4, line 4.
Additions to stanza 6 from Carmina are made below in brackets. The
word "pouting" appears also in the version in Pioneer Songs (com-
piled and published by Daughters of Utah Pioneers, 1940), and in that
volume a tune is given. Ozark's song by the same name is entirely dif-
ferent, as is also the one called "Sparking on Sunday Night" in that
same collection. Sigmund Spaeth in A History of Popular Music in
America (New York, 1948) mentions the confusion of identity, say-
ing that though two editions appeared in 1855, authorship of one
song was credited to S. Markstern and the other, later, to Mrs. S. M.
Grannis.
Sparking Sunday Night
1 . Sitting in the corner
On a Sunday eve
With a taper finger
Resting on your sleeve
Starlight eyes casting
On your face their light
Bless me this is pleasant
Sparking Sunday night
2. How your heart is thumping
Gainst your Sunday vest
How wickedly tis working
On this day of rest
Hours seem but minuets
As they take their flight
Bless me aint it pleasant
Sparking Sunday night
3. Dad and Mom are sleeping
Oon their peaceful bed
94 A Fioneer Songster
Dreaming of the things
The folks in meting said
Love ye one another
Ministers recite
Bless me dont we do it
Sparking Sunday night
4. One arm with gentle presure
Lingers round her waist
You squeeze her dimpled hand
Her parting lips you taste
She freely slaps your face
But more in love than spite
Oh thunder aim it pleasant
Sparking Sunday night
5. But hark the clock is striking
It is two o clock I snum
As sure as Im a sinner
The time to go has come
You ask with spiteful accent
If that old clock is right
And wonder if it ever
Sparked on a Sunday night
6. One Two Three sweet kisses
Four five Six you hook
B[ut] thinking that you rob her
Give back those you took
Then as home you hurry
From the fairones sight
[Don't] you wish each day was
[Only] Sunday night
41. The Quaker's Wooing
This humorous account of an unsuccessful courtship is widely known and, according to Newell, was often sung as a children's
game, two children taking the parts of the lady and the Quaker. There is much variation in the wording and in the stanzaic order as well as in the nonsense refrain. Various reasons are suggested in different versions for the lady's brusque denial of her suitor. For instance, in the first stanza of the versions in Eddy and Sandburg the Quaker begins his courtship by explaining that he has been forsaken by his true love; in Gardner and Chickering (B) he says that his father sent him. Thompson, in a New York version, has a final stanza in which the suitor shows a little more spirit:
Yes, my dear Miss, there's no doubt of it —
As good fish in the sea as ever caught out of it.
Douglass is a little longer than any other version examined except Gardner and Chickering (C), which also has 10 stanzas. Douglass line 2 is made clearer by comparison with the corresponding line in Mackenzie: "Not for pleasure nor for sporting."
Tunes may be found in Newell and in Mackenzie.
The Quaker's Wooing
1. he) Madan I have com a courting
Hum hum hi ho hum
More for pleasure than for sporting
Hum hum hi ho hum
2. she) I'll go away tis my desire
Fal liddle li dum diddle lalla da
For you may sit and count the fire
Fal liddle li dun diddle lalla da
3. He) Ive a ring worth forty shillings
Hum hum hi ho hum
Thou shalt have it if thou art willing
Hum hum hi ho hum
4. She) What care I for gold or money
Fal liddle li dum diddle lalla da
111 have a man that will call me honey
Fal liddle li dum diddle lalla da
5. He) Madam I know thou art tall and slender
Hum hum hi ho hum
And i know thy heart is tender
Hum hum hi ho hum
6. She) Yes I know you are fatterer
Fall liddle li dum diddle lalla da
But I never will marry a quaker
Fal liddle li dum diddle lalla da
7. He) Must I give up my religion
Oh dear oh dear me
Must I be a Presbyterian
Oh dear oh dear me
8. She) Cheer up cheer up my loveing brother
Fal liddle li dum diddle lalla da
If you cant catch one fish catch another
Fal liddle li dum diddle lalla da
9. He) Must I leave without a token
Oh dear oh dear me
Must I leave with my heart broken
Oh dear oh dear me
10. She) Run right home and tell your daddy
Fal liddle li dum diddle lalla da
That I never will you mary
Fal liddle li dum diddle lalla da
42. I've Been Roaming
This little lyric was written by George Sloane. Bantock prints
it to music composed by Charles Edward Horn ( 1786— 1849). In that
form stanza 1 becomes also a refrain. Kenedy and Forget-Me-Not
repeat stanza 1 as stanza 3, but Douglass has dropped even that repe-
tition.
I've Been Roaming
1. I've been roaming ive been roaming
Whhere the meadow dew is sweet
And I'm comeing and I'm coming
With its pearls upon my feet
2. I've been roaming I've been roaming
O'er the rose and lily fair
And I'm comin and I'm comin
With their blossoms in my hair
3. I've been roaming ive been roaming
Where the honey suckle creeps
And I'm coming and I'm comein
With its kisses on my lips
4. I've been roaming ive been roaming
Over hill and over plain
And I'm comin and I'm comin
To my bower back again