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Riddle Song, The/I Gave My Love A Cherry/I Will Give My Love an Apple
Traditional Old-Time Ballad and Bluegrass Song- Widely Known
ARTIST: Richard Matteson
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CFMi4aAxXOI
Sheet Music:
TAB:
CATEGORY: Traditional and Public Domain Bluerass Songs;
DATE: 1800s; Recorded 1931 by Buster Carter and Preston Young; 1936 by the Monroe Brothers
RECORDING INFO: The Riddle Song [Sh 144/Ch 46/Ch 1]
Rt - Captain Wedderburn's Courtship ; I Will Give My Love an Apple ; Peri Meri Dixi
Rm - Across the Blue Mountain/Mountains
Pb - Cherry in Manhatten
Snyder, Jerry (arr.) / Golden Guitar Folk Sing Book, Hansen, Fol (1972), p 69 (I Gave My Love A Cherry)
Leisy, James / Songs for Pickin' and Singin', Gold Medal Books, sof (1962), p 61
Friedman, Albert B. (ed.) / Viking Book of Folk Ballads of the English-S, Viking, sof (1963), p139 [1930s] (I Gave My Love A Cherry)
Lynn, Frank (ed.) / Songs for Swinging Housemothers, Fearon, Sof (1963/1961), p150b
Best, Dick & Beth (eds.) / New Song Fest Deluxe, Hansen, Sof (1971/1948), p 44
Tobitt, Janet E. (ed.) / Ditty Bag, Tobitt, Sof (1946/1939), p152
Winds of the People, Sing Out, Sof (1982), p 37 (I Gave My Love A Cherry)
Lomax, Alan / Folksongs of North America, Doubleday Dolphin, Sof (1975/1960), p 27/# 11 (I'll Give My Love an Apple)
Wells, Evelyn Kendrick (ed.) / The Ballad Tree, Ronald, Bk (1950), p175
Blood, Peter; and Annie Patterson (eds.) / Rise Up Singing, Sing Out, Sof (1992/1989), p135
Boni, Margaret Bradford (ed.) / Fireside Book of Folk Songs, Simon & Schuster, Bk (1947), p 25
Scofield, Twilo (ed.) / An American Sampler, Cuthroat, Sof (1981), p 40
Mursell, James, et.al.(eds.) / Music Now and Long Ago, Silver Burdette, Bk (1956), p100
Shelton, Robert (ed.) / Josh White Song Book, Quadrangle, Sof (1963), p145
Leisy, James F. (ed.) / Folk Song Abecedary, Bonanza, Bk (1966), p279
Herder, Ronald (ed.) / 500 Best-Loved Song Lyrics, Dover dn500/500, Sof (1998), p150b (I Gave My Love A Cherry)
Archer, Frances; and Beverly Gile. Child's Garden of Verses, Disneyland DQ 1241, LP (1963/1957), trk# B.03
Baez, Joan. Joan Baez in San Francisco, Fantasy 5015, LP (1964), trk# 10 (I Gave My Love A Cherry)
Baez, Joan. Very Early Joan, Vanguard VSD 79446/7, LP (1982), trk# B.06 [1961-63]
Barker, Horton. Chase, Richard (ed.) / American Folk Tales and Songs, Dover, sof (1971/1956), p156 [1930-40's]
Creech, Wilma. Niles, John Jacob / Ballad Book of John Jacob Niles, Bramhall House, Bk (1961), p 5/N 1B [1933]
Dick & Dee Dee. Turn Around, Warner W 1538, LP (1964), trk# B.03
Dunagan, Margaret. Sharp & Karpeles / English Folk Songs from the Southern Appalachians II, Oxford, Bk (1932/1917), p191/# 144C [1917/10/12]
Farina, Richard. Dick Farina & Eric Von Schmidt, Folklore F-Leut/7, LP (1963), trk# B.05
Gibbons, Denis. Hootenanny Folk Concert, Strand SLS 1106, LP (196?), trk# B.02
Hart, Tim; and Friends. Favourite Nursery Rhymes and Other Childrens Songs, EMI HR 8173, Cas (1989/1983), trk# B.09
Hill, Hank; and the Tennessee Folk Trio. Folk Song Hall of Fame, Palace M-716, LP (1960), trk# 8
Ives, Burl. Wayfaring Stranger, Columbia CS 9041, LP (1964/1955), trk# A.05b
Ives, Burl. Ives, Burl / Burl Ives Song Book, Ballantine Books, Bk (1963/1953), p 38
Ives, Burl. Lollipop Tree, Harmony HS 14551, LP (197?), trk# B.02
Kincaid, Bradley. Bradley Kincaid, Volume 1, Old Homestead OHCS 314, LP (1984/1963), trk# B.02 [1963/07ca] (I Gave My Love A Cherry)
Lakesiders. Lakesiders of Lake Oswego, Oregon, Lakesider --, LP (196?), trk# B.06
Langstaff, John. Water Is Wide. American and British Ballads and Folksongs, Revels 2202, CD (2002), trk# 6 [1959]
Limeliters. Through Children's Eyes, RCA (Victor) LSP-2512, LP (1962), trk# B.04
Luxon, Benjamin; and Bill Crofut. Simple Gifts. British and American Folk Songs, Stolat SZM 0124, LP (1981), trk# B.05b (I Gave My Love A Cherry)
MacArthur, Margaret. MacArthur, Margaret / How to Play the MacArthur Harp, Front Hall FHRBP 1005, Cas (1986), trk# p22
Marshals, Margaret. Shay, Frank (ed.) / My Pious Friends and Drunken Companions and More ..., Dover, Sof (1961/1927), p194 (I'll Give My Love a Cherry)
Mayhan, Judy. Folk Songs of Old Eire, Tradition TR 2075, LP (1962), trk# 5 (I Gave My Love A Cherry)
Okun, Milt. America's Best Loved Folk Songs, Baton BL 1293, LP (1957), trk# B.06
Pace, Eliza. Sharp & Karpeles / English Folk Songs from the Southern Appalachians II, Oxford, Bk (1932/1917), p190/# 144B [1917/10/09]
Priddy, Nancy. Wolfe, Charles K.(ed.) / Folk Songs of Middle Tennessee. George Boswell, Univ. Tennesse, Sof (1997), p 30/# 16 [1950/06/27] (I Gave My Love A Cherry)
Raunch Hands. Against the World, Columbia Special Prod. CSRP 586, LP (1960), trk# A.04a (I Gave My Love A Cherry)
Ritchie, Jean; and Oscar Brand. Courting and Riddle Songs, Washington WLP 706, LP (196?), trk# B.04
Ritchie, Edna. Edna Ritchie, Viper Kentucky, Folk Legacy FSA 003, LP (1962), trk# A.03
Ritchie, Edna. Joyful Singing. Campfire Girls Edition, CSS, poc (1947ca), p47
Ritchie, Frank. Courtin' in Ireland, Request RLP 8060, LP (197?), trk# B.04 (I Gave My Love A Cherry)
Ritchie, Jean. None But One, Sire SA 75230, LP (1977), trk# 8
Seeger, Peggy. Cold Snap, Folkways FW 8765, LP (1978), trk# A.01
Seeger, Pete. Folksingers Guitar Guide, Folkways FI 8354, LP (196?), trk# A.02
Seeger, Pete. Seeger, Pete / American Favorite Ballads, Oak, Fol (1961), p72
Simmons Family. Simmons, Tommy (ed.) / Simmons Family, Simmons, Sof (1974), p36
Smith, Dennis. Fowke, Edith and Richard Johnston / Folk Songs of Canada, Waterloo Music, Bk (1954), p136 (I'll Give My Love an Apple)
Stanley, Peter & Christopher. I Went Downtown to Get My Purse, Talkeetna 25009, CD (1999), 12 (I Gave My Love A Cherry)
Stanley, Peter; and Victoria Young. Coming Home, Talkeetna 25006, CD (1999), trk# 14 [1983ca] (I Gave My Love A Cherry)
Stracke, Win. Folk Songs for the Young, Golden Records, LP (1962), trk# B.04
White, Josh. Josh White, Decca DL 8665, LP (1958/1945), trk# A.01 (I Gave My Love A Cherry)
Wilson, Mrs.. Sharp, Cecil & Maude Karpeles (eds.) / Eighty English Folk Songs from th, MIT Press, Sof (1968), p 80 [1917ca]
Wilson, Mrs.. Sharp & Karpeles / English Folk Songs from the Southern Appalachians II, Oxford, Bk (1932/1917), p190/# 144A [1917/05/02]
Wilson, Mrs.. Clayre, Alasdair (ed.) / 100 Folk Songs and New Songs, Wolfe, Sof (1968), p117 [1917]
RECORDING INFO: I Will Give My Love an Apple [Ch 46]
Rt - Riddle Song
Scott, John Anthony (ed.) / Ballad of America, Grosset & Dunlap, Bk (1967), p 9
Gooding, Cynthia. Queen of Hearts, Elektra EKl 131, LP (1953), trk# B.05
Jones, Clark. Early American Folk Music & Songs, Folkways FTS 31091, LP (1982), trk# 3
Langstaff, John. Seeds of Love, Minstrel JD-208, LP (1987), trk# A.03
Luxon, Benjamin; and Bill Crofut. Simple Gifts. British and American Folk Songs, Stolat SZM 0124, LP (1981), trk# B.05a
Ritchie, Jean; and Oscar Brand. Courting and Riddle Songs, Washington WLP 706, LP (196?), trk# A.03
Runge, John. English Folk Songs - Old and Older, Washington VM 735, LP (195?), trk# B.08
Summers, Andrew Rowan. Andrew Rowan Summers, Folkways FA 2348, LP (1957), trk# A.
RECORDING INFO: Captain Wedderburn's Courtship [Ch 46]
Rt - Riddle Song ; Trooper Lad ; Mr. Woodbury's Courtship
At - You Lie Next the Wall
Friedman, Albert B. (ed.) / Viking Book of Folk Ballads of the English-S, Viking, sof (1963), p137 [1820ca]
Clancy, Willie. Minstrel from Clare, Topic 12T 175, LP (1967), trk# B.06 (Song of the Riddles)
Edwards, George. Cazden, Norman (ed.) / Merry Ditties, Bonanza Books, Bk (1958), p 20 (Captain's Walker Courtship)
Edwards, George. Cazden, Norman, et.al. / Folk Songs of the Catskills, SUNY Press, sof (1982), p470/#124 [1940s] (Rich Man's Daughter)
Ennis, Seamus. Folk Songs of Britain, Vol 4. The Child Ballads, I, Caedmon TC 1145, LP (1961), trk# B.01 [1950s]
Hartlan, Richard. Creighton, Helen / Songs and Ballads from Nova Scotia, Dover, sof (1996/1933), p 6/# 3 [1927-32]
Holcomb, W. H.. Moore, Ethel & Chauncey O.(ed.) / Ballads and Folk Songs of the Southwes, Univ. of Okla, Bk (1964), p 37/# 13B [1940s] (Six Questions)
Marsten, Annie V.. Abrahams, Roger; & George Foss / Anglo-American Folksong Style, Prentice-Hall, Sof (1968), 3-8 [1929]
McAlindon, Hughie. Diamond Green and Other Traditional Ballads, Outlet Archive OAS 3019, LP (1979), trk# A.06 (You Lie Next the Wall)
McPherson, James. Moore, Ethel & Chauncey O.(ed.) / Ballads and Folk Songs of the Southwes, Univ. of Okla, Bk (1964), p 36/# 13A [1937] (Old Man's Courtship)
Okun, Milt. Merry Ditties, Riverside RLP 12-603, LP (1955), trk# B.03 (Captain's Walker Courtship)
Paton, Sandy. Many Sides of Sandy Paton, Elektra EKL 148, LP (1959), trk# A.01
Redpath, Jean. Jean Redpath, Philo 2015, CD/ (1987), trk# 5
Richter, Albert E.. Korson, George (ed.) / Pennsylvania Songs and Legends, Univ. of Penna., Bk (1949), p 35 [1946] (Gentle Young Lady)
Unidentified Youth. Scarborough, Dorothy (ed.) / A Song Catcher in the Southern Mountains, AMS, Bk (1966/1937), p230 [1930ca]
OTHER NAMES:
SOURCES: Folk Index; Meade
NOTES: Key D; "The Riddle Song" or "I Gave My Love a Cherry" is a traditional English folksong that dates back to 1430 and was carried by settlers to the American Appalachians. It descends from a 15th-century English song in which a maiden says she is advised to unite with her lover. It is related to Child Ballad no. 1, or "Riddles Wisely Expounded" and Child Ballad no. 46. Burl Ives recorded it on February 11, 1941 for his debut album, Okeh Presents the Wayfaring Stranger. Since then, it has been recorded by many artists, including Pete Seeger, Joan Baez, Doc Watson, Sam Cooke, and Carly Simon.
The melody is similar to "The Twelfth of Never" is a popular song recorded by Johnny Mathis and later by artists including Cliff Richard and Donny Osmond.
The song was featured in the famous toga party scene in the movie National Lampoon's Animal House, where actor John Belushi's character Bluto comes across a folk singer (portrayed by singer-songwriter Stephen Bishop, who is credited as "Charming Guy With Guitar") performing the song for a group of college girls. Bluto abruptly takes the singer's acoustic guitar out of his hands and smashes it violently, then hands a splintered piece of it back, saying "Sorry."
BALLAD INDEX: I Gave My Love a Cherry
DESCRIPTION: The singer gave his love "a cherry without a stone... a chicken without a bone," etc. He is asked how these things are possible. The reply: "A cherry when it's blooming, it has no stone," etc.
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: c. 1430 (British Museum -- Sloane MS. 2593, "I have a yong suster")
KEYWORDS: riddle nonballad love gift
FOUND IN: Britain(England(South),Scotland) Canada(Mar) US(Ap,MW,NE,SE,So)
REFERENCES (29 citations):
Bronson (46), 18 versions given as an appendix to "Captain Wedderburn's Courtship"
Randolph 123, "The Four Brothers" (1 text)
BrownII 12, "Captain Wedderburn's Courtship" (1 text plus mention of another, but it is nothing but riddles and not to be connected with Child #46)
Scarborough-SongCatcher, pp. 230-231, "Captain Wedderburn's Courtship" (1 text with no listed local title; it is nothing but riddles and not to be connected with Child #46)
Eddy 8, "Captain Wedderburn's Courtship" (1 text, 1 tune, with little except the riddles and no sign that it was ever part of the longer ballad) {Bronson's #15}
Flanders-Ancient1, pp. 299-315, "Captain Wedderburn's Courtship" (3 texts plus two fragments, 5 tunes; the "I" and II" texts and tunes are "I Gave My Love a Cherry")
Gardner/Chickering 188, "Gifts From Over the Sea" (1 text plus mention of 1 more, 1 tune) {Bronson's #13}
SharpAp 144, "The Riddle Song" (3 texts, 3 tunes) {Bronson's #7, #6, #5}
MHenry-Appalachians, p. 25, "I Gave My Love a Cherry" (1 text)
Creighton/Senior, pp. 162-163, "I'll Give My Love an Apple" (1 text plus 1 fragment, 2 tunes) {Bronson's #2a,2b}
Linscott, pp. 267-269, "Perrie, Merrie, Dixi, Domini" (1 text, 1 tune)
Friedman, p. 137, "Captain Wedderburn's Courtship" (2 texts, but only the second belongs with this song)
Fowke/Johnston, pp. 136-137, "I'll Give My Love an Apple" (1 text, 1 tune)
Niles 1, "Riddles Wisely Expounded" (3 texts, 3 tunes, of which the second, "The Riddle Song," and the third, "Piri-miri-dictum Domini," go with this piece)
Scott-BoA, pp. 9-10, "I Will Give My Love an Apple" (1 text, 1 tune)
Lomax-FSNA 11, "I'll Give My Love an Apple" (1 text, 1 tune)
Sharp/Karpeles-80E 59, "The Riddle Song" (1 text, 1 tune) {Bronson's #7}
Opie-Oxford2 478, "I have four sisters beyond the sea" (3 texts)
Baring-Gould-MotherGoose #270, pp. 162-163, "(My true love lives far from me)"
Montgomerie-ScottishNR 189, "(I had three little sisters across the sea)" (1 text)
Arnett, p. 41, "The Riddle Song" (1 text, 1 tune)
Chase, pp. 156-157, "The Riddle Song" (1 text, 1 tune)
Stevick-100MEL 56, "(I Have a Yong Suster)" (1 text)
Abrahams/Foss, pp. 55-56, "Peri Meri Dixie Dominie" (1 text, 1 tune)
PSeeger-AFB, p. 72, "Riddle Song" (1 text, 1 tune)
Silber-FSWB, p. 408, "Riddle Song" (1 text)
DT, RIDDLSNG RDDLSNG3* (GONORUSH*) PERIMERI*
ADDITIONAL: Walter de la Mare, _Come Hither_, revised edition, 1928; #65, "I Have a Young Sister" (1 text); notes to #258 ("I have three presents from over the sea") (1 excerpt)
Brown/Robbins, _Index of Middle English Verse_, #1303
Roud #36
RECORDINGS:
Pete Seeger, "The Riddle Song" (on PeteSeeger18)
Tony Wales, "Piri-iri-igdum" (on TWales1)
CROSS-REFERENCES:
cf. "Captain Wedderburn's Courtship" [Child 46]
cf. "Riddles Wisely Expounded" [Child 1]
ALTERNATE TITLES:
I Have a Young Sister
Notes: Certain scholars have seen this as a worn-down form of "Captain Wedderburn's Courtship" [Child 46]. Since, however, it goes back at least to 1430, the dependency is if anything in the other direction. But there is no real reason to believe they are related in any but a casual way; riddle songs were popular for a long time. Still, because many scholars list versions of this song under "Captain Wedderburn," one should check both songs for complete references
"Go No More A-Rushing" (DT GONORUSH) appears to be an Elizabethan prologue tacked on to the old song.
In modern English and in far eastern folklore, cherries are associated with sex. Whether that has any significance here I do not know. - RBW
RIDDLE SONG- Richard Matteson
I gave my love a cherry, that had no stone
I gave my love a chicken, that had no bone
I gave my love a ring, that had no end
I gave my love a baby, with no cryin'
How can there be a cherry, that has no stone
How can there be a chicken, that has no bone
How can there be a ring, that has no end
How can there be a baby, with no cryin'
A cherry when it's bloomin', it has no stone
A chicken when it's hatchin', it has no bone
A ring when it's rollin', it has no end
A baby when it's sleepin, there's no cryin'
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