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Bobby Shaftoe (Three British Versions)
Traditional Polka, Reel or Sword Dance- English, New England; England, Northumberland.
ARTIST: Compliation; British versions
Listen: Bobby Shaftoe
CATEGORY: Fiddle and Instrumental Tunes DATE: 1600’s
RECORDING INFO: Front Hall 003(1974), cut#A.08, Dudley Laufman- "Swinging on a Gate." Front Hall 010, Fennigs All Stars(1977), cut# 11a - "The Hammered Dulcimer Strikes Again.". Frodsham, Lance. Lance Frodsham, Dulcimer., Kicking Mule KM 227, LP (1983), cut#B.03a
OTHER NAMES: “Chickalaleo;” The 'B' part of the tune is the same as "Lady's Breast Knot," "Bonny Breast Knot," and, in America, "Jaybird," "Skip to My Lou," and "Daddy Shot a Bear."
SOURCES: Kuntz: A Fiddler's Companion; Dudley Laufman (N.H.) [Brody]. Brody (Fiddler's Fakebook), 1983; pg. 50. Bruce & Stokoe (Northumbrian Minstrelsy), 1882; pg. 115. Karpeles & Schofield (A Selection of 100 English Folk Dance Airs), 1951; pg. 32. Kennedy (Fiddlers Tune Book), Vol. 1, 1951; No. 52, pg. 26. Miller & Perron (101 Polkas), 1978; No. 100. Peacock (Peacock's Tunes), c. 1805/1980; No. 44, pg. 20. Raven (English Country Dance Tunes), 1984; pg. 161, pg. 87.
NOTES: "C Major (Karpeles, Peacock): D Major (Brody, Raven): G Major (Miller & Perron {polka}, Raven {sword dance version}): B Flat Major (Stokoe). Standard. AB (Raven & Karpeles {sword dance versions}, Bruce & Stokoe): AAB (Brody): AABB (Miller & Perron): AABBCCDD (Raven): AABBCCDDEEFFGG (Peacock). "Bobby Shaftoe" is better known to recent generations as a nursery rhyme and jump-rope song. There is a morris dance {called "Castlering"} from Lichfield, England, which is performed to an altered version of this tune (tune and dance printed in Raven, pg. 87). The sword dance version is from the village of Askham Richard, England (Karpeles)."(Kuntz, Fiddler's Companion, http://www.ceolas.org/tunes/fc).
BOBBY SHAFTOE- THREE VERSIONS:
Bobby Shaftoe's gaen to sea,
Siller buckles on his knee;
He'll come back and marry me,
Bonny Boddy Shaftoe.
Bobby Shaftoe's bright and fair,
Combing down his yellow hair;
He's me awn for ever mair,
Bonny Bobby Shaftoe. (Northumbrian, Stokoe & Bruce)
Bobby Shaftoe's gone to sea,
Silver buckles at his knee:
He'll come back and marry me,
Bonny Bobby Shaftoe!
Bobby Shaftoe's tall and slim,
Always dressed so neat and trim;
The ladies they all look at him,
Bonny Bobby Shaftoe!
Bobby Shaftoe's gone to sea,
Silver buckles at his knee:
He'll come back and marry me,
Bonny Bobby Shaftoe! (English, Time Hart)
Bobby Shaftoe's gone to sea,
With silver buckles on his knee;
He'll come back and marry me,
Bonny Bobby Shaftoe.
Bobby Shaftoe's bright and fair,
Combing down his yellow hair,
He's ma' ain for ever mair,
Bonny Bobby Shaftoe.
Bobby Shaftoe's getten a bairn,
For to dandle in his airm;
In his airm, and on his knee,
Bobby Shaftoe loves me. (Scottish)
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