Recordings & Info 7G. Early, Early by the Break of Day
7G. Early, Early by the Break of Day
Traditional Ballad Index:
Died for Love (III) (Early, Early)
DESCRIPTION: The singer hears a girl sighing, "The lad I love is gone far away." "He's gone and left me now in grief and woe, And where to find him I do not know. I'll search these green fields and valleys low." She wishes she had wings to hunt Willie
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1925 (Sam Henry collection)
KEYWORDS: love separation floatingverses
FOUND IN: Ireland
REFERENCES (1 citation):
SHenry H89, p. 287, "Early, Early" (1 text, 1 tune)
Roud #3817
RECORDINGS:
Robert Cinnamond, "Early, Early, by the Break of Day" (on IRRCinnamond03)
NOTES: This is one of those songs where you simply cannot tell if it's the remnant of something else (it reminds me of Jean Redpath's "When I Look tae Yon High Hills") or a collection of floating lines or just a short piece on a commonplace theme. - RBW
Early Early By the Break of Day
Roud Folksong Index (S174224)
First Line: It was early, early by the break of day
Source: BBC recording 24841
Performer: Cinnamond, Robert
Date: 1955 (Aug)
Place: N. Ireland
Collector: O Boyle, Sean
Roud No: 495
Ulster Folklife - Volumes 29-33 - Page 2
https://books.google.com/books?id=d0wd6Uy8cOUC
1987 - Snippet view - More editions
sold wholesale by Alex. Mayne, High-treet, Bellast: A NEW SONG CALLED WILLIAM & NANCY.
It's early early by the break of day,
Down by the green fields I chanced to stray.
I heard a fair maid both sigh and say
The lad I love is gone far away,
I heard a fair maid both sigh and say
The in love is gone far away,
He is gone and left me in grief and woe,
And where to find him I do not know;
I'll search those green fields and valleys low,
If the hills were covered with frost and snow
What voice! what voice! is that I hear
2 It's like the voice of my Willy dear
Sam Henry's Songs of the People - Page 287
https://books.google.com/books?isbn=0820336254
Gale Huntington, Lani Herrmann - 2010
Early Early, sung by Maria Doherty of Clooney Magilligan on July 25, 1925 - It was known as Ellen Lowry's song becasue Ellen Lowry was teh only one who sang it. Maria Doherty brought the song from Dungiven a district which she was a native,
Key F.
Oh, it's early, early by the break of day,
Down by yon green fields I chanced to stray,
I heard a fair maid to sigh and say,
'The lad I love is gone far away.
'He's gone and left me now in grief and woe,
And where to find him I do not know
I'll search those green fields and valleys low,
Should the hills be clad, ay, with frost and snow.
'What voice , what voice now is yon I hear?
It's like the voice of my Willie dear.
Oh, had I the wings, love, I'd feel no fear,
But fly forever till I knew thee near.'
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Died for Love (III) (Early, Early)
The words as sung here are strikingly close to a mid-19th century broadside titled 'A New Song called William and Nancy or The Two Hearts', published by E. Hodges of Grafton Street, London, c. 1855-1861. It appears in the Bodleian Library broadsides collection, shelfmark Firth b.25(433). Geordie Robertson sings verses 1 and 2, followed by 2 lines of verse 4 plus 2 lines of verse 8, and verse 7 to finish, as printed on the broadside.
There are many versions of 'William and Nancy' songs, this reflects these names' currency amongst broadsheet writers. The version here is quite unusual compared to most broadsheets about 'William and Nancy', and the striking similarity between the broadsheet and Geordie Robertson's text suggests a printed source at some point.
Robert Cinnamond, "Early, Early, by the Break of Day" (on IRRCinnamond03)
Robert came from Ballinderry, Co.Antrim, and learnt his songs from his parents, from Lough Neagh, from fishermen, travelling basket-makers and others.
The Two Hearts
Early, early by the break of day,
Doon by yon green field I chanced to stray
I spied a fair maid
http://www.tobarandualchais.co.uk/en/fullrecord/68916/4;jsessionid=7DAE68F22D086847272CD371D6F14E40
Title - William and Nancy
Alternate Title - The Two Hearts
Contributors - Geordie Robertson
Reporters - Hamish Henderson
A new song called William and Nancy or The Two Hearts
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Early Early By the Break of Day [see Died for Love III ballad index]
Roud Folksong Index (S204144)
First Line: It was early early by the break of day
Source: Folktracks 90-159 (`The Rambling Boy')
Performer: Cinnamond, Robert
Date: 1955
Place: N. Ireland : Co. Antrim : Ballinderry
Collector: O Boyle, Sean
Roud No: 495