Flash Gals and Airy Too- C. Hughes (Dor) c.1962 REC MacColl
[From: Travellers' Songs from England and Scotland by Ewan Maccoll, Peggy Seeger, 1971. See also: Sheep-Crook and Black Dog; Musical Traditions Records MTCD365. Liner notes follow.
R. Matteson 2018]
A very popular song with 334 instances in Roud, from all over the British Isles, USA, Canada and Australia. It appears with numerous titles, among the most appealing of which is Flash Gals and Airy, Too - also used by Win Ryan. Obviously it has remained a favourite with country singers, and particularly Travellers, into the present era, since there are 78 sound recordings. Mrs Hughes’ musical skills are evident where she’s moulded an otherwise fairly rhythmic tune to fit her uneven text, particularly in the second verse - brilliant!
Other versions available on CD: Mary Delaney (MTCD325-6); Bob Hart (MTCD301-2); Walter Pardon (MTCD305-6); Bill Smith (MTCD351); Sarah Makem (MTCD353-5); Annie Jane Kelly (MTCD353-5); Joe Heaney (TSCD651 and TSCD518D);
Stanley Robertson (Elphinstone Institute EICD 003); Jumbo Brightwell (VT154CD); Jean Orchard (VT151CD); Fred Jordan (VTD148CD); Seamus Ennis (Saydisc CD-SDL 411)
'Flash Gals and Airy Too', sung by Caroline Hughes of Dorset about 1962; sung rather fast.
Oh yes, as I was a-walking, oh my love,
Oh, so earlye in the morning;
Oh, I met with a fair and a purty girl,
She said, “Morning, darling, do you love my- Roo dum day?”
Fol the diddle die doe,
Flash gals and airy too.
Oh, she got her horse and saddle ready,
Down through the copses she did ride;
Oh, she met her true love down on his walk
He said, “Hello, darling, do you love me?” “Yes my dear[1],
Fol the diddle die doe,
Flash gals and airy too.
“Oh, will you have a man, my fair purty maid,
Yes, will you have a man, my honey?”
Oh, she answered me quite civilty:
“Yes, I’m seventeen come Sunday, with my - Roo dum day”
Fol the diddle die doe,
Flash gals and airy too.
1. record transcription has "I loves you; but don’t you tell my daddy now.”
The "Yes my dear" is spoken.