Recordings & Info 8E. The Spanish Lady
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CONTENTS:
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Traditional Ballad Index: Wheel of Fortune (Dublin City, Spanish Lady)
DESCRIPTION: The young man comes to the young woman and asks her to wed. He offers her gold, silver, and land. She tells him she is not interested in these; "all I want is a (good young/handsome) man." That being offered, the two agree to marry
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1883 (Jackson/Burne)
KEYWORDS: courting marriage money virtue playparty
FOUND IN: Britain(England(South,West),Scotland(Aber)) US(Ap,MA,MW,SE,So,SW) Canada(Ont) Ireland
REFERENCES (37 citations):
GreigDuncan4 746, "The Spanish Lady" (9 texts, 8 tunes)
GreigDuncan8 1588, "There's a Lady Over Yonder" (1 fragment, 1 tune)
Stewart-Queen, p. 28, "Owre yon Hill" (1 text, 1 tune)
Williams-Thames, pp. 196-197, "March Away" (1 text) (also Wiltshire-WSRO Wt 458)
Wiltshire-WSRO Ox 225, "Yonder Sits a Pretty Little Creature" (1 text)
Belden, pp. 506-507, "Madam, I Have Gold and Silver" (1 text)
Eddy 98, "Spanish Lady" (1 text); Eddy 131, "The Quaker's Wooing" (1 text, 1 tune); possibly Eddy 132, "The Sober Quaker" (1 text, 1 tune)
Gardner/Chickering 173, "The Wooing" (2 texts, the "A" text being "The Courting Case" and "B" being probably this piece)
Flanders/Brown, pp. 154-155, "Yonder Hill There Is a Widow" (1 text, 1 tune)
Reeves-Sharp 69, "Ripest Apples" (1 text)
SharpAp 205, "Come My Little Roving Sailor" (3 texts, 3 tunes)
Sharp/Karpeles-80E 55, "Come, My Little Roving Sailor" (1 text, 1 tune)
Sandburg, p. 71, "The Quaker's Wooing" (1 text, 1 tune); also Sandburg, p. 144, "Kind Miss" (1 text, 1 tune, primarily this piece but with one verse of "The Drowsy Sleeper")
Botkin-AmFolklr, pp. 804-805, "There She Stands, a Lovely Creature" (1 text, 1 tune)
SHenry H532, p. 367, "Tarry Trousers" (1 text, 1 tune -- a curious version in which, after all the business about riches and a good young man, the girl finally sends the lad off by saying she has a sailor love)
OLochlainn-More 79A, "The Tarry Trousers" (1 text, 1 tune)
BrownIII 12, "Madam, I Have Gold and Silver" (1 text, starting with this song but ending with a "Ripest of Apples" verse and ending with a Riley stanza)
BrownSchinhanV 12, "Madam, I have Gold and Silver" (1 tune plus a text excerpt)
Hudson 37, pp. 151-152, "Annie Girl" (1 text, which conflates 2 verses of "The Drowsy Sleeper" [Laws M4], 2 or 3 of "Wheel of Fortune (Dublin City, Spanish Lady)" or "No, John, No: or similar, and 3 verses probably of "Pretty Fair Maid (The Maiden in the Garden; The Broken Token)" [Laws N42])
JHCox 158, "The Spanish Lady" (1 text)
Boswell/Wolfe 45, pp. 79-80, "The Spanish Lady" (1 text, 1 tune, with perhaps half the song being floating material; much of it looks more like "The Barnyard of Delgaty" or something similar than like "Wheel of Fortune")
SHenry H641, p. 383, "Ripest of Apples" (1 text, 1 tune, a tiny fragment of two verses, one of which often occurs with this song while the other is associated primarily with "Carrickfergus." The tune is not "Carrickfergus")
Creighton/Senior, pp. 199-200, "Quaker's Courtship" (1 fragment, 1 tune, which might be either this or "The Quaker's Courtship")
Huntington-Whalemen, pp. 194-195, "Song on Courtship" (1 text, 1 tune)
Silber-FSWB, p. 149, "Wheel Of Fortune" (1 text)
Opie-Game 36, "Lady on the Mountain"; Opie-Game 87, "Spanish Lady" (7 texts, 3 tunes)
Baring-Gould-MotherGoose #290, pp. 168-169, "(Madam, I have come to court you)" (a short text, which might well be "The Quaker's Wooing" with beginning and end lost, but as it stands, it has no Quakers and must be filed here)
Newell, #6, "There She Stands, a Lovely Creature" (1 text, 1 tune)
DT, WHEELFOR* DUBLNCTY* DUBLNCT2 SPALDTIN (VANDY2) (DUBLNCI2)
ADDITIONAL: Frank Harte _Songs of Dublin_, second edition, Ossian, 1993, pp. 48-49, "The Spanish Lady" (1 text, 1 tune)
Ray B. Browne, "Southern California Jump-Rope Rhymes: A Study in Variants" in Western Folklore, Vol. XIV, No. 1 (Jan 1955 (available online by JSTOR)), #22 p. 14 ("On a hillside stands a lady") (1 text)
Georgina Frederica Jackson, Charlotte Sophia Burne, editor, _Shropshire Folk-lore: A Sheaf of Gleanings_ (London, Trubner & Co, 1883, digitized by Google), pp. 509-510, ("Here stands a lady on a mountain"); pp. 551-552, "The Disdainful Lady" ("Yonder stands a comely creature") (2 texts)
Katharine (Tynan) Hinkson, "The Girls' Room" in Christabel R. Coleridge and Arthur Innes, editors, The Monthly Packet (London, 1897 ("Digitized by Google")), Vol. XCIII, p. 345, ("There stands a lady on the mountain")
G.F. Northall, English Folk-Rhymes (London, 1892 ("Digitized by Google")), p. 376, ("Here stands a lady on a mountain") (1 text)
F.W. Waugh, "Canadian Folk-Lore from Ontario" in The Journal of American Folklore, Vol. XXXI, No. 119 (Jan 1918 (available online by JSTOR)), #630 pp. 48-49 ("Here stands a lovely creature"),("Here sits a Spanish lady") (2 texts)
Marie Campbell, "Survivals of Old Folk Drama in the Kentucky Mountains" in The Journal of American Folklore, Vol. LI, No. 199 (Jan-Mar 1938 (available online by JSTOR)), pp. 18-22, "A Plough Monday Play"), especially pp. 21-22, "For Gold and Silver" ("'Kind miss, kind miss, go ask your mother")
J Woodfall Ebsworth, The Roxburghe Ballads, (Hertford, 1896 ("Digitized by Google")), Vol. VIII Part 2, pp. 851-852,"The Handsom' Woman" ("Yonder stan's a hansum woman, who she is I dunnot knaw")
Roud #542
RECORDINGS:
Seamus Ennis, "Dublin City" (on FSB2, FSB2CD)
Hector MacIsaac and Emma MacIsaac, "Galway City" (on NFHMacIsaac02)
BROADSIDES:
Murray, Mu23-y1:104, "The Wheel of Fortune," James Lindsay (Glasgow), 19C [an incredible mixture, with the "Wheel of Fortune" verse, though the rest seems an amalgam of thyme songs -- here spelled "time"]; also Mu23-y1:105, "The Wheel of Fortune," James Lindsay (Glasgow), 19C [even more mixture, with the "Wheel of Fortune" verse, a thyme stanza, a bit of "Fair and Tender Ladies," a "Queen of Heart" verse, and more]
CROSS-REFERENCES:
cf. "The Keys of Canterbury"
cf. "No, John, No"
cf. "Madam, Madam, You Came Courting" (theme)
cf. "The Quaker's Courtship" (theme)
cf. "Killy's Den" (tune, per GreigDuncan4)
cf. "The Twelfth of May" (floating lyrics)
cf. "The Ripest Apple" (floating lyrics)
cf. "Now All You Lads" (lyrics)
ALTERNATE TITLES:
Chester City
All I Want is a Handsome Man
As I Walked Up Through London City
Edinburgh City
Tinkle, Tinkle, Tra-La-La!
NOTES: Although several versions listed here mention Quakers in their titles (e.g. Eddy's text, also that printed by Sandburg), their texts make no mention of the Quaker, and so I list them here.
This obviously began life as a ballad, but was collected in New York as a playparty, and Belden also found it as a singing game. - RBW
Opie-Game 36 has three texts of the "Yonder stands ... who she is I do not know" version.
Opie-Game 87: "This song about an exile in disgrace was probably at the height of its popularity in Edwardian days." The "plot" in this case is that the singer, walking down the street, meets a Spanish or German lady with a baby in her arms. - BS
The text in the Silber-FSWB version is extremely fragmentary, and contains almost nothing of the plot described above. All that happens is that the man and woman meet; she washes her feet and dries them, then he laments young girls' deceiving ways and sings about numbers. - PJS
What Paul describes is fairly typical. The description above is of the fullest texts, but this ballad seems to be unusually good at losing pieces of itself. Often it descends into a purely lyrical piece -- and sometimes it seems to "re-ascend" by taking on a new ending of abandonment.
The existence of the numbers chorus ("Twenty, eighteen, sixteen, fourteen...") seems to be characteristic of a particular, very widespread, sub-version.
It appears likely that we can positively date this song to at least 1822, when John Randolph of Virginia asked a niece if she had heard a ballad with the verse
What care I for your golden treasures?
What care I for your house and land?
What care I for your costly pleasures?
So as I get but a handsome man.
For some reason, scholars have claimed this verse is from "Lord Randal." But it certainly appears to belong here. - RBW
The Ebsworth text is the oldest I have seen -- certainly older than Jackson/Burne -- but Ebsworth does not date it, possibly because it was just a side note to another ballad. The end of the Ebsworth text, following an editorial comment that "woman has the last word as usual," is
He took a pail, and I took a pail, and a-milking he went wi' me;
I said nout, and he said nout; but, ma faith! I think he'll ha' me."
"This is the finale," Ebsworth continues, "Robert Roberts, of Boston, is a safe authority to follow on old books and Lincolnshire customs: he writes, 'To take her pail and go with a girl to milking, is considered almost equal to a proposal of marriage.' This throws light on the popular song '"Where are you going to, my pretty maid?" "I'm going a milking, sir," she said. "May I go with you, my pretty maid?"' and her comprehensive reply, '"Yes, if you please, kind sir," she said.' When he adds, 'Then I cannot marry you!' she knows it breaks the implied contract."'"
The Jackson/Burne text ends
'But fare you well, my dearest creature,
Since I have no more to say.'
'O turn again, young man! I'll have you!'
But his answer was, 'Nay, nay!'
The Campbell text is very close to Sandburg's "Kind Miss," which is also from Kentucky. These texts have an unusual twist to their "Drowsy Sleeper" verse: in printed texts of Laws M4, and one of its sources, "I Will Put My Ship In Order," the lines following "... ask your mother If you my bride shall ever be" are "If she says 'No,' come back and tell me, And I'll no longer trouble thee"; in these two texts the lines are "If she says 'yes,' come back and tell me, If she says 'no,' we'll run away." [These lines are also in Hudson 37 -- another "Drowsy Sleeper"-"Wheel of Fortune" hybrid -- and two closely related recordings of Laws M4: Harry and Jeannie West, More Southern Mountain Folk Songs, Stinson SLP 74, Katy Dear"; Blue Sky Boys, "Katie Dear" (Bluebird B-7661, 1938) and Homer and Walter Callahan, "Katie Dear (Silver Dagger)" (Banner 33103/Melotone M-13071/Oriole 8353/Perfect 13017/Romeo 5353, c. 1934; Conqueror 9145, 1938; on GoingDown), identical texts.]
The Campbell text provides a rationale for this break: "Kind Miss" is a wooing song in a mummers' play. The form of the wooing song usually has a reasonable bid by the male to start an engagement, followed by rejection by the woman and, occasionally, a final acceptance. The "I'll no longer trouble thee" line would end the song prematurely, while the "we'll run away" line leads to the normal wooing song form. Of course, the "Drowsy Sleeper" verse insertion is not necessary for "Wheel of Fortune" to be used as a wooing song, but once the verse was inserted, its form was likely changed to suit its new function. For more on "wooing songs" in mummers' plays, see "Sweet Moll."
The Williams-Thames chorus -- "March away, march away, Trumpets sound and cymbals play. March away, march away, To the merry little fife and drum." -- is from the chorus of "The Merry Little Soldier" (see The Universal Songster or Museum of Mirth (London, 1834 ("Digitized by Google")), Vol I, p. 109, "The Merry Little Soldier" ("I'm a merry little soldier") (1 text)). - BS
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Spanish Lady
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
"Spanish Lady" is a traditional Irish folk song, also found in England. The Bodleian Library has several broadsides of an English ballad with this name, one dating from the 17th century.[1] Fragmentary or related versions from the US date from 1883. It is #542[2] in the Roud Folk Song Index. It should not be confused with "Spanish Ladies" or "Lady of Spain," both of which are entirely different songs.
Lyrics
The lyrics vary, depending on the provenance of the song, but all songs detail the singer observing the titular "Spanish Lady" as she goes through various activities. There are several Dublin versions, one of them usually called the Wheel of Fortune. Other Irish versions relate to Galway (called Galway City) and Belfast. An English version refers to Chester.[3]
Variations
There are other variations of the song, with some involving duels. The Irish singer Christy Moore recalls [4] encountering the song in his youth and including it in his earliest repertoire. However, the version he encountered and used is quite different from the more widely known version made popular by artists such as The Dubliners.
Covers
It has been covered by many artists, including Frank Harte (who sang two Dublin versions as well as an English one), The Dubliners, Gaelic Storm, Michael Grosvenor Myer (YouTube channel), Celtic Woman, Celtic Thunder (Emmet Cahill), The Saw Doctors and Ronnie Drew and Dustin the Turkey (whose version went No. 1 on the Irish Singles Chart in 1994).
References
1. Shepard, Leslie. 1962 The broadside ballad : a study in origins and meaning
2. Vaughan Williams Memorial Library
3. Ballad Index
4. Moore, Christy (2000) One Voice - My Life in Song. London: Hodder and Stoughton; p. 166
[Tocher: Tales, Songs, Tradition - Issue 43 - Page 35
https://books.google.com/books?id=NYLkAAAAMAAJ
1991 - Snippet view - More editions
As I went up through London city,
Half past twelve o'clock at night,
'Twas there I spied a Spanish lady
Dressing hersel in the candlelight.
She had a basin full of water
And a white towel in her hand;
She was the nicest Spanish lady
Ever yet
Entertaining the Islanders - Page 189
https://books.google.com/books?id=iFpEAAAAIAAJ
Maxwell Struthers Burt - 1934 - Snippet view - More editions
"As I came up through Dublin city
At the hour of twelve in the night,
What should I see but a Spanish lady
Washing her feet by the candlelight.
First she washed them, then she dried them,
Over a fire of amber coals,
In all my life I never did see
A
Dublin - Page 30
https://books.google.com/books?isbn=0192141244
Benedict Kiely - 1983 - Snippet view
As I walked down through Dublin City
At the hour of twelve in the night,
Who should I spy but a Spanish lady,
Washing her feet by candlelight?
First she dipped them, and then she dried them,
Over a fire of ambery coal.
Never in all my life did I
Folk Songs of Middle Tennessee: The George Boswell Collection
https://books.google.com/books?isbn=0870499580
Charles K. Wolfe - 1997 - Music
45 The Spanish Lady While most of this strange song seems British in origin, the ...
I went down to Carbon City,
Twelve or one o'clock at night,
There I saw a Spanish lady,
Dressing by the candlelight.
Chorus: Larry a-ma-1owdin, liden, looden,
Larry a-ma-1owdin liden lay.
2. With a vessel of cold water
And a mirror in her hand,
With her hair down over her shoulders,
Like an angel she did stand.
Spanish Lady (The Fables) MIDI, videos
See also: Galway City (Ryan's Fancy)
And also: Galway City (Chris Hennessy)
#1139: YouTube video by TheNewfoundlandMusic
©2016 ~ Used with permission ~
midi file alt: midi file
As I rolled out for Donnelaith city
At the hour of twelve at night,
Who should I see but a Spanish lady
Combing her hair by candlelight;
First she tossed it then she brushed it
On her lap with a silver comb,
In all my life I ne'er did see
A maid so sweet since I did roam.
Ratty and ah too dum too dum too dum,
Ratty and ah too dum too dum day;
Ratty and ah too dum too dum too dum,
Ratty and ah too dum too dum day.
Lassie, I have gold and silver,
Your kind favour for to win.
What would you give me the greatest pleasure,
If you never did call again.
What would I do if I went a rovin',
Rovin' out in the morning dew?
What would I do if I went a rovin'?
Rovin' out with a lad like you?
Ratty and ah too dum too dum too dum,
Ratty and ah too dum too dum day;
Ratty and ah too dum too dum too dum,
Ratty and ah too dum too dum day.
Did you ever see the grass in the morning,
All bedecked with jewels rare?
Did you ever see a handsome damsel,
Diamonds sparkling in her hair?
Did you ever see a copper kettle,
Mended with an old tin can?
Did you ever see a handsome damsel,
Married off to an ugly man?
Ratty and ah too dum too dum too dum,
Ratty and ah too dum too dum day;
Ratty and ah too dum too dum too dum,
Ratty and ah too dum too dum day.
I traveled north and traveled south
And across the ocean wide,
I'll ne'er forget the Spanish lady,
Oft I wished her for me bride.
Old age has its hand upon me,
Cold as fire of ashy coals;
In all my life I ne'er did see,
A maid so sweet about the soul.
Ratty and ah too dum too dum too dum,
Ratty and ah too dum too dum day;
Ratty and ah too dum too dum too dum,
Ratty and ah too dum too dum day.
Ratty and ah too dum too dum too dum,
Ratty and ah too dum too dum day;
Ratty and ah too dum too dum too dum,
Ratty and ah too dum too dum day.
Ratty and ah too dum too dum too dum,
Ratty and ah too dum too dum day;
Ratty and ah too dum too dum too dum,
Ratty and ah too dum too dum day.
####.... Author unknown. Variant of a traditional Irish ballad ....####
This variant arranged and recorded by The Fables (Tear The House Down / The Fables, trk#16, 1998, First City Productions/Actual Music, St John's, NL).
See more songs by The Fables.
A variant was also arranged and recorded by Johnny McEvoy (20 Collected Irish Ballads, Dolphin, 2008).
See more songs by Johnny McEvoy.
The variant in the video below features a 1966 performance by Al O'Donnell for German television.
-----------------
Frank Harte sings the two versions of the Spanish Lady however this is the version that he gave Triona and Maighread Ni Dhomhnaill. As far as I know they have credited Frank with the song in the notes and Donal Lunny with the arrangement.
SPANISH LADY.
As I was a walking through Dublin city about the hour of twelve of the night,
It was there I saw a Spanish Lady washing her feet by candlelight.
First she washed them and then she dried them, over a fire of ambry coals,
And in all my life I never did see such a maid about the soles.
Chorus:
She had 20, 18, 16, 14, 12, 10, 8, 6, 4, 2, none,
She had 19,17, 15, 13, 11, 9, 7, 5, 3 and one.
I stopped to look but the watchman passed. Said he, “Young fellow, now the night is late.
Along with you home or I will wrestle you straightway through the Bridewell gate.”
I got a look from the Spanish Lady, hot as a fire of ambry coals,
And in all my life I never did see such a maid so neat about the soles.
Chorus:
As I walked back through Dublin City as the dawn of day was o'er,
Who should I see but the Spanish lady when I was weary and footsore.
She had a heart so full of loving and her love she longed to share.
In all my life I never did meet with a maid that had so much to spare.
Chorus:
I have wandered north and I've wandered south by Stoneybatter and Patrick's Close,
And up and around by the Gloucester Diamond back by Napper Tandy's house.
But old age has laid her hand upon me cold as a fire of ashy coals,
And gone is the lovely Spanish Lady neat and sweet about the soles.
Chorus:
Round and around goes the wheel of fortune. Where it rests now wearies me.
Oh, fair young maids are so deceiving, sad experience teaches me.
Chorus:
__________
Spanish Lady- Tommy Makem and the Clancy Brothers
[instrumental]
As I came into Dublin city,
At the hour of twelve at night,
Who should I spy but a Spanish lady,
Washing her feet by candlelight.
First she washed them, then she dried them
Over a fire of ambery[] coal,
In all my life I ne'er did see
A maid so sweet about the soul
CHORUS:
Whack fol the toora, toora laddy
Whack fol the foora loora lay (2x)
As I came back through Dublin city
At the hour of half past eight
Who should I spy but the Spanish lady
Brushing her hair in the broad daylight.
First she brushed it, then she tossed it,
On her lap was a silver comb
In all my life I ne'er did see
A maid so sweet since I did roam.
CHORUS
As [yet again] I came back through Dublin city
As the sun began to set
Who should I spy but the Spanish lady
Catching a moth in a golden net.
When she saw me then she fled me
Lifting her petticoat o'er her knee
In all my life I ne'er did see
A maid so fair as the Spanish lady.
CHORUS
I've wandered north and I've wandered south
Through Stonybatter and Patrick's Close
Up and around the Gloucester Diamond
Back by Napper Tandy's house.
But old age has laid her hand on me [slow]
Cold as a fire of ashy coal
But where is the lovely Spanish lady
Neat and sweet about the sole.
CHORUS
-----------------------
Seamus Ennis sings:
As I walked through Dublin City at the hour of twelve at night,
Who should I see but a maiden beauty, combing her hair with a four-pronged pike?
Chorus (after each verse):
Turry-idle-ido-dido-dido,
Turry-idle-ido-dido-day.
As I walked again through Dublin, on the same or another night,
Who should I see but the same fair maiden, counting her cash by the candlelight?
------------------
I learned a version of Spanish Lady in Australia, as a ballad, rather than with the usual more up-beat melody. My Irish friends at the time said (somewhat disparagingly) that the melody was created by an older Australian singer.
The song has basically the same lyrics as the two versions above combined, but with the "Whack for the..." chorus and an additional stanza inserted before the "I've wandered North..." stanza.
As I went back through Dublin City as the sun was about to set,
Who should I see but the Spanish lady chasing a moth with a golden net.
When she saw me then she fled me, lifting her petticoats over her knees.
In all my life I ne'er did see, a maid so shy as the Spanish lady.
I was also told by multiple sources that:
- Yeats wrote these last two stanzas.
- A "Spanish Lady" was an Irish term for a whore.
You can find multiple versions of Spanish Lady lyrics if you do a Yahoo search on "song lyrics Spanish Lady.”
------------------------
Dublin (Galway) City- Clancy Brothers do a different song to the same tune, not called Spanish Lady but that song is mentioned in the liner notes:
(He:) As I walked out through Dublin City at the hour of 12 at night,
Whom should I spy but a handsome lassie, combing her hair by candlelight?
Lassie, I have come a-courting, your kind favors for to win,
And if you'd but smile upon me, next Sunday night I'll call again.
Cho: A raddy up a toorum, toorum, toorum, raddy up a toorum dey (bis)
(She:) So to me you came a-courting, my kind favors for to win,
But 'twould give me the greatest pleasure if you never did call again.
What would I do, when I go walking, walking out in the morning dew?
What would I do when I go walking, walking out with a lad like you? Cho.
(He:) Lassie, I have gold and silver. Lassie, I have houses and land.
Lassie, I have ships on the ocean. They'll be all at your command.
(She:) What do I want with your gold and silver? What do I want with your houses and land?
What do I want with your ships on the ocean? All I want is a handsome man. Cho.
(He:) Did you ever see the grass in the morning, all bedecked with jewels rare?
Did you ever see a handsome lassie, diamonds sparkling in her hair?
(She:) Did you ever see a copper kettle, mended with an old tin can?
Did you ever see a handsome lassie married off to an ugly man?
----------------
Ettrick Valley (Highway/Lady) - Uncle Jaques, Mudcat
He:) As I gang doon the Etrick Highway at the hour o' 12 at night;
What should I spy but a handsome las-sie, combin' her hair by candlelight.
First she combed it, then she brushed it;
Tied it up wi' a velvet band;
Ne'er hae I seen such a handsome lassie
all up an' doon ov'r all Scotland!
Chorus:
Fallah-tallah rhu-dhumma, rhu-dhum, rhu-u-dhum;
Fallah-tallah rhu-dhumma, rhu-dhum-day!
(2X)
Lassie, I hae come a-courting, your kind favors for to win;
And if you'd but smile upon me, next Sunday night I'll call again.
(She:) So to me you came a-courting, my kind favors for to win;
But 'twould give me the greatest pleasure if you never would call again!
What would I do, when I go walking, walking out in the Ettrick view;
What would I do when I go walking, walkin' oot wi' a laddie like you?
- Cho. -
(He:) Lassie, I hae gold and silver, lassie I hae houses and land
Lassie, I hae ships on the ocean, they'll a' be at you'r command.
(She:) What do I care for your gold and silver,
what do I care for your houses and land?
What do I care for your ships on the ocean?;
When all I want is a handsome man!
- Cho. -
(He:) Did you ever see the grass in the morning, all bedecked with jewels rare?
Did you ever see a handsome lassie, diamonds sparkling in her hair?
(She:) Did you ever see a copper kettle, mended up wi' an old tin can?
Did you ever see a handsome lassie married up tae an UU-gly man?
- Cho. X 2 -
-----------------------------
ETTRICK LADY
(Trad. Arr. Scocha [Iain Scott and David Chapman])
As Aa gae doon the Ettrick Valley
At the oor o' twelve at night,
Who did Aa see but a handsome lassie
Combing her hair by candlelight.
Lassie Aa hev come a courtin.
Ee'll find favours for tae win,
And if ee'll but smile upon me
Next Sunday night Aa'll call again.
So tae me ee turn yer courtin
Ma fine favours for tae win,
But it wid gi'e me the greatest pleasure
If ee never did ca' again.
What wud Aa dae when Aa go oot walkin
Walkin oot for the Ettrick view?
What wud Aa dae when Aa go oot walkin
Walkin oot wi a laddie like you?
Lassie, Aa hev gold and silver.
Lassie, Aa hev hooses and land.
Lassie, Aa hev ships in the ocean.
They'll be all at your command.
What dae Aa care for yer ships in the ocean?
What dae Aa care for yer hooses and land?
What dae Aa care for yer gold and silver,
When all Aa want is a handsome man?
Did ee ever see the grass in the morning,
Aw bedecked wi jewels rare?
Did ee ever see a handsome lassie,
Diamonds sparklin in her hair?
Did ee ever see a copper kettle
Mended wi an auld tin can?
Did ee ever see a handsome lassie
Married off tae an ugly man?
--------------------------
Frank Harte sings the two versions of the Spanish Lady however this is the version that he gave Triona and Maighread Ni Dhomhnaill. As far as I know they have credited Frank with the song in the notes and Donal Lunny with the arrangement.
SPANISH LADY.
As I was a walking through Dublin city about the hour of twelve of the night,
It was there I saw a Spanish Lady washing her feet by candlelight.
First she washed them and then she dried them, over a fire of ambry coals,
And in all my life I never did see such a maid about the soles.
Chorus:
She had 20, 18, 16, 14, 12, 10, 8, 6, 4, 2, none,
She had 19,17, 15, 13, 11, 9, 7, 5, 3 and one.
I stopped to look but the watchman passed. Said he, “Young fellow, now the night is late.
Along with you home or I will wrestle you straightway through the Bridewell gate.”
I got a look from the Spanish Lady, hot as a fire of ambry coals,
And in all my life I never did see such a maid so neat about the soles.
Chorus:
As I walked back through Dublin City as the dawn of day was o'er,
Who should I see but the Spanish lady when I was weary and footsore.
She had a heart so full of loving and her love she longed to share.
In all my life I never did meet with a maid that had so much to spare.
Chorus:
I have wandered north and I've wandered south by Stoneybatter and Patrick's Close,
And up and around by the Gloucester Diamond back by Napper Tandy's house.
But old age has laid her hand upon me cold as a fire of ashy coals,
And gone is the lovely Spanish Lady neat and sweet about the soles.
Chorus:
Round and around goes the wheel of fortune. Where it rests now wearies me.
Oh, fair young maids are so deceiving, sad experience teaches me.
Chorus:
------------------
Folk song collected by H.E.D. Hammond from George Moore of Hazelbury Bryan, Dorset.
As I was walking Portsmouth City
There I met a saucy strump;
Up against a wall I pushed her,
Then I found that she was drunk.
Twenty, eighteen, sixteen, fourteen,
Twelve, ten, eight, six, four, two, none;
Nineteen, seventeen, fifteen, thirteen,
Eleven, nine, seven, five, three and one.
Going on I met some other
And I told to her my case.
She said "You need go no further,"
Up she took me to her place.
When I woke up in the morning,
Oh! What a terrible sight of woes!
She had only gone and left me,
Gubbered off with all my clothes!
The backwards counting, according to the note, is supposed to be a test for drunkenness. More likely, I think, an inducement to drunkenness, i.e. anyone getting it wrong would have to down a pint before continuing the song.
As I went back through Dublin City as the sun was about to set,
Who should I see but the Spanish lady chasing a moth with a golden net.
When she saw me then she fled me, lifting her petticoats over her knees.
In all my life I ne'er did see, a maid so shy as the Spanish lady.
I was also told by multiple sources that:
- Yeats wrote these last two stanzas.
- A "Spanish Lady" was an Irish term for a whore.
You can find multiple versions of Spanish Lady lyrics if you do a Yahoo search on "song lyrics Spanish Lady.”
---------------
SPANISH LADY (2)
As I went down to Dublin city,
At the hour of twelve at night,
Who should I see but a Spanish lady,
Washing her feet by candlelight.
First she washed them, then she dried them
Over a fire of amber coal,
In all my life I ne'er did see
A maid so sweet about the soul
CHORUS:
Whack fol the toora, toora laddy
Whack fol the foora loora lay
As I came back through Dublin city
At the hour of half past eight
Who should I spy but the Spanish lady
Brushing her hair in the broad daylight.
First she tossed it, then she brushed it,
On her lap was a silver comb
In all my life I ne'er did see
A maid so fair since I did roam.
CHORUS
As I went back through Dublin city
As the sun began to set
Who should I spy but the Spanish lady
Catching a moth in a golden net.
When she saw me then she fled me
Lifting her petticoat over her knee
In all my life I ne'er did see
A maid so shy as the Spanish lady.
CHORUS
I've wandered north and I've wandered south
Through Stonybatter and Patrick's Close
Up and around the Gloucester Diamond
And back by Napper Tandy's house.
Old age has laid her hand on me
Cold as a fire of ashy coals
In all my life I ne'er did see
A maid so sweet as the Spanish lady.
CHORUS
--------------------
GALWAY CITY
As I roved out thro' Galway City,
At the hour of twelve at night,
Who should I see but a handsome damsel,
Combing her hair by candlelight.
"Lassie, I have come a-courtin',
Your kind favours for to win;
And if you'll but smile upon me,
Next Sunday night I'll call again."
Chorus:
Raddy a the toodum, toodum, toodum,
Raddy a the toodum, toodum day.[twice]
"So to me you come a-courting,
My kind favours for to win;
But 'twould give me the greatest pleasure
If you never did call again.
What would I do when I go walking,
Walking out in the morning dew?
What would I do when I go walking,
Walking out with a lad like you?"
Chorus.
"Lassie, I have gold and silver,
Lassie, I have houses and lands;
Lassie, I have ships on the ocean;
They'll be all at your command."
What do I care for your ships on the ocean?
What do I care for your houses and lands?
What do I care for your gold and silver?
All I want is a handsome man."
Chorus.
Did ever you see the grass in the morning
All bedecked with jewels rare?
Did ever you see a handsome lassie,
Diamonds sparkling in her hair?
Did ever you see a copper kettle
Mended with an ould tin can?
Did ever you see a handsome damsel
Married up to an ugly man?
Chorus.
[learned from David Browne of Vancouver, 1970]
[related to "Dublin City".]
--------------
The Spanish Lady, Frank Harte (from Martin Ryan)
As I was a-walking through Dublin City,
In the dark hour late at night
Who should I see but a fair pretty maiden,
Washing her feet by candlelight
First she washed them and then she dried them,
Over her shoulder she pegged the towel
In all my life I never did see, a maid so neat about the sole
And as I came back through Dublin City
As the break of day was o'er
Who should I see but the Spanish Lady
When I was weary and footsore
She had a heart so full of loving
And her love she longed to share
In all me life I never did meet
A maid that had so much to share
I've wandered North and I've wandered South now
From Stoneybatter to Patrick's Close
Up and around by the Gloucester Diamond
Back by Napper Tandy's house
Old age has laid her hands upon me
Cold as a fire of ashy coals
And gone is the lovely Spanish Lady
Neat and sweet about the soles
Round and around goes the wheel of fortune
Where it rests now wearies me
Fair young women are so deceiving
Sad experience teaches me
She had twenty eighteen sixteen fourteen
Twelve ten eight six four two none
She had nineteen seventeen fifteen thirteen
Eleven nine seven five three and one!
--------------
DUBLIN CITY- Printed in Songs of Dublin by Frank Harte (1998)
As I went out through Dublin City
At the hour of twelve o'clock at night
Who should I see but a Spanish lady
Washing her feet by candle light
First she washed them and then she dried them
Over a fire of ambry coals
In all my life I never did see
A maid so sweet about the soles
Whack fol the toor a loor a laddy
Whack fol the toor a loor a lay
Whack fol the toor a loor a laddy
Whack fol the toor a loor a lay
I stopped to look but the watchman passed
Says he, "Young fellow, the night is late
Along with you home or I will wrestle you
Straight away through the Bridewell gate"
I threw a look to the Spanish lady
Hot as the fire of ambry coals
In all my life I never did see
A maid so sweet about the soles
As I walked back through Dublin City
As the dawn of day was o'er
Who should I see but the Spanish lady
When I was weary and footsore
She had a heart so filled with loving
And her love she longed to share
In all my life I never did see
A maid who had so much to spare
Now she's no mot for a puddle swaddy
With her ivory comb and her mantle so fine
But she'd make a wife for the Provost Marshall
Drunk on brandy and claret wine
I got a look from the Spanish lady
Hot as a fire of ambry coals
In all my life I never did meet
A maid so sweet about the soles
I've wandered north and I've wandered south
By Stoney Batter and Patrick's Close
Up and around by the Gloucester Diamond
And back by Napper Tandy's house
Old age has laid her hands upon me
Cold as a fire of ashy coals
But where is the lonely Spanish lady
Neat and sweet about the soles?
As I was leaving Dublin City
On that morning sad of heart
Lonely was I for the Spanish lady
Now that forever we must part
But still I always will remember
All the hours we did enjoy
But then she left me sad at parting
Gone forever was my joy
--------------------
"Maighread & Triona Ni Dhomhnaill & Donal Lunny / Spanish Lady"
please kindly help me to check if there is any wrong:)]
Spanish Lady
As I was a-walking through Dublin City,
about the hour of twelve at night
It was there i saw a fair pretty female,
Washing her feet by candlelight.
First she washed them and then she dried them,
Over a fire of amber coal
And in all my life I never did see a maid so neat about the sole
She had twenty eighteen sixteen fourteen
Twelve ten eight six four two none
She had nineteen seventeen fifteen thirteen
Eleven nine seven five three and one!
I stopped to look but the watchman passed
Says he, "Young fellow, the night is late
And along with you home or I will wrestle you
Straight away through the Bridewell gate
I got a look from the Spanish lady
Hot as the fire of ambry coals
And in all my life I never did see
A maid so sweet about the soles
She had twenty eighteen sixteen fourteen
Twelve ten eight six four two none
She had nineteen seventeen fifteen thirteen
Eleven nine seven five three and one!
And as I came back through Dublin City
As the down of day was o'er
Who should I spy but the Spanish Lady
When I was weary and footsore
She had a heart so full of loving
And her love she longed to share
And in all me life I never did meet
A maid that had so much to share
She had twenty eighteen sixteen fourteen
Twelve ten eight six four two none
She had nineteen seventeen fifteen thirteen
Eleven nine seven five three and one!
I've wandered North and I've wandered South
From Stoneybatter to Patrick's Close
Up and around by the Gloucester Diamond
Back by Napper Tandy's house
Old age has laid her hands upon me
Cold as a fire of ashy coals
And gone is the lovely Spanish Lady
Neat and sweet about the soles
Round and around goes the wheel of fortune
Where it rests now wearies me
For fair young women are so deceiving
Sad experience teaches me.
She had twenty eighteen sixteen fourteen
Twelve ten eight six four two none
She had nineteen seventeen fifteen thirteen
Eleven nine seven five three and one!
--------------------
https://www.itma.ie/digital-library/sound/spanish_lady_frank_harte
ITMA Reference: 1156-ITMA-MP3
Creator: Frank Harte
Contributor: Góilín Singers Club
Date: 12 June 1998
Location: The Trinity Inn
Subject: Ireland: Singing in English
Language: English
Collection: Brian Doyle Collection
---------------------------
ITMA Reference: 1175-ITMA-MP3
Creator: Aidan Holmes
Contributor: Góilín Singers Club
Date: 13 May 2005
Location: Tom Maye's Pub
----------------------
https://www.itma.ie/digital-library/sound/cid-230911
Spanish Lady ; Ballynure Ballad
James McCafferty ; Herbert Hughes
The Spanish lady, song
ITMA Reference: 1281-SE
Creator: Hughes, Herbert, piano ; McCafferty, James, baritone, singing in English
Subject: Ireland: Singing in English
Publisher: UK ; London : His Master's Voice = HMV, 1930
Type: Sound
Format: MP3
Extent: 1 computer file (MP3 file) : digital, stereo
Copyright: Public domain
----------------------
https://www.itma.ie/digital-library/sound/spanish_lady_aidan_holmes
Subject: Ireland: Singing in English
Language: English
Collection: Brian Doyle Collection
--------------------
But the way I know it (from Gordon Bok) is:
As I was a-walking through Dublin City
About the hour of twelve at night
It was there I saw a fair, pretty maiden
Washing her feet by candle light
Oh, but tides do be running the whole world over
Why, tis only last June month, I mind that we
Were thinking the call in the breast of the lover
So everlasting as the sea
But there's the same little fishes that swims and spin
And the same old moon on the cold wet sand
And I no more to she, nor she to me
Than the cool wind passing over my hand
---
WHEEL OF FORTUNE or DUBLIN CITY
sung by Gordon Bok
As I was a-walking through Dublin City
About the hour of twelve at night
It was there I saw a fair, pretty maiden
Washing her feet by candle light
First she washed them and then she dried them
And around her shoulder she pegged the towel
And in all my life I ne'er did see
Such a fine lass in all the world
She had twenty, eighteen, sixteen, fourteen
Twelve, ten , eight, six, four, two, none
Nineteen, seventeen, fifteen, thirteen
Eleven, nine, seven, five, three, and one
Round and round the wheel of fortune
Where it stops wearies me
Fair maids they are so deceiving
Sad experience teaches me
Oh, but tides do be running the whole world over
Why, tis only last June month, I mind that we
Were thinking the call in the breast of the lover
So everlasting as the sea
But there's the same little fishes that swims and spin
And the same old moon on the cold wet sand
And I no more to she, nor she to me
Than the cool wind passing over my hand
--------------------
Mudcat CD series
Galway City (trad.) - Uisce Beatha IAPM
7. Galway City (trad.)
UB Ed (Uisce Beatha) uiscebeatha.com.
Uisce Beatha , both merry & sad are: Jim Guy - guitar; Judith Guy - recorder; Dan Guy - bodhran; Sajji Hussain - bass;
Henry Robb - violin; Ed Tatum - guitar http:// http://www.uiscebeatha.com/u-members.html
We play this as the second song of a "roving trilogy". As the first song has the young man getting the best of his roving ("As I Roved Out"),
we thought some turnabout would be "correct" as our young rover is spurned by the fine Spanish Lady. But be careful with that attitude
to the extreme, lest you wind up an "Old Maid in the Garrett!" The recording was made directly from the sound board at
Rare Olde Times in Richmond, VA. Uncut, unedited (as should be fairly obvious by our technical proficiency).
As I roved out thro' Galway City, at the hour of twelve at night,
Who should I see but a handsome damsel, combing her hair by candlelight.
"Lassie, I have come a-courtin', your kind favours for to win;
And if you'll but smile upon me, next Sunday night I'll call again."
Chorus: Raddy a the toodum, toodum, toodum, / Raddy a the toodum, toodum day. [2 x]
"So to me you come a-courting, my kind favours for to win;
But 'twould give me the greatest pleasure if you never did call again.
What would I do when I go walking, walking out in the morning dew?
What would I do when I go walking, walking out with a lad like you?" (Cho.)
"Lassie, I have gold and silver. Lassie, I have houses and lands.
Lassie, I have ships on the ocean; they'll be all at your command."
"What do I care for your ships on the ocean? What do I care for your houses & lands?
What do I care for your gold and silver? All I want is a handsome man." (Cho.)
Did ever you see the grass in the morning all bedecked with jewels rare?
Did ever you see a handsome lassie, diamonds sparkling in her hair?
Did ever you see a copper kettle mended with an ould tin can?
Did ever you see a handsome damsel married up to an ugly man? (Cho.)
Judgment: A Play in Two Acts
By Joseph Campbell, 1912 (Mearing Stones, 1911 Donegal)
The Stranger breaks into a verse of a song.
As I walked down thro' Dublin City
At the hour of twelve in the night,
Who should I see but a Spanish lady
Washing her feet by candlelight.
First she washed them, and then she dried them
Over a fire of amber coal:
Never in all my life did I see
A maid
John (endeavouring to talk the song down). When'll the coffin be here, Owen? Stranger. Can't you listen? It's a good song.
Never in all my fife did I see
A maid so neat about the sole!
Spanish Lady
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
For the cactus, see Opuntia triacantha.
Not to be confused with Lady of Spain or Spanish Ladies.
"The Spanish Lady" redirects here. It is not to be confused with the unfinished Elgar opera.
"Spanish Lady" is a traditional Irish folk song, also found in England. The Bodleian Library has several broadsides of an English ballad with this name, one dating from the 17th century.[1] Fragmentary or related versions from the US date from 1883. It is #542[2] in the Roud Folk Song Index. It should not be confused with "Spanish Ladies" or "Lady of Spain," both of which are entirely different songs.
Lyrics
The lyrics vary, depending on the provenance of the song, but all songs detail the singer observing the titular "Spanish Lady" as she goes through various activities. There are several Dublin versions, one of them usually called the Wheel of Fortune. Other Irish versions relate to Galway (called Galway City) and Belfast. An English version refers to Chester.[3]
Variations
There are other variations of the song, with some involving duels. The Irish singer Christy Moore recalls [4] encountering the song in his youth and including it in his earliest repertoire. However, the version he encountered and used is quite different from the more widely known version made popular by artists such as The Dubliners.
Covers
It has been covered by many artists, including Frank Harte (who sang two Dublin versions as well as an English one), The Dubliners, Gaelic Storm, Michael Grosvenor Myer (YouTube channel), Celtic Woman, Celtic Thunder (Emmet Cahill), The Saw Doctors and Ronnie Drew and Dustin the Turkey (whose version went No. 1 on the Irish Singles Chart in 1994).
References
Shepard, Leslie. 1962 The broadside ballad : a study in origins and meaning
Vaughan Williams Memorial Library
Ballad Index
Moore, Christy (2000) One Voice - My Life in Song. London: Hodder and Stoughton; p. 166
External links
Spanish Lady on IrishSongs.com
--------------
Hidden Dublin: Deadbeats, Dossers and Decent Skins - Page 24
https://books.google.com/books?isbn=1856355918
Frank Hopkins - 2008 - Preview - More editions
Today most people are familiar with Tandy's name courtesy of the song 'Wearing of the Green' while his house is mentioned in the old Dublin ballad 'The Spanish Lady'. James Napper Tandy was born in the Cornmarket area of Dublin in 1740
--------
Tocher: Tales, Songs, Tradition - Issue 43 - Page 37
https://books.google.com/books?id=NYLkAAAAMAAJ
1991 - Snippet view - More editions
This is of course a version of 'Oh No, John, No', rather than of the Dublin song, 'The Spanish Lady'. The line 'My husband is a Spanish captain" is common in English versions of 'Oh No, John', but there is also the line "If your answer should be
Soodlum's Irish Ballad Book
https://books.google.com/books?isbn=1783235276
Oak Publications - 1982 - Preview
I listened awhile to the song she was humming, Glory—o, Glory—o, to the Bold Fenian Men. 'Tis sixteen long years ... As I came down through Dublin ... Who should I spy but the Spanish Lady Brushing her hair in the broad daylight. First she
Gather Round Me: The Best of Irish Popular Poetry - Page 154
https://books.google.com/books?isbn=080706873X
Christopher Cahill - 2005 - Preview - More editions
Les Silhouettes: Oscar Fingal O'Flahertie Wills Wilde, a native of Dublin, is known for his comic plays, his witticisms, and his ... This song is from his most popular play, The School ... The Spanish Lady: This song has fully passed into the
Spanish Lady
As I went down to Dublin city,
at the hour of twelve at night,
Who should I see but a Spanish lady,
washing her feet by candlelight.
First she washed them,
then she dried them over a fire of amber coal,
In all my life I ne'er did see
a maid so sweet about the soul
CHORUS:
Whack fol the toora, toora laddy
Whack fol the foora loora lay
As I came back through Dublin city
at the hour of half past eight
Who should I spy but the Spanish lady
brushing her hair in the broad daylight.
First she tossed it, then she brushed it,
on her lap was a silver comb
In all my life I ne'er did see
a maid so fair since I did roam. CHORUS
As I went back through Dublin city
as the sun began to set
Who should I spy but the Spanish lady
catching a moth in a golden net.
When she saw me then she fled me
lifting her petticoat over her knee
In all my life I ne'er did see
a maid so shy as the Spanish lady. CHORUS
I've wandered north and I've wandered south
through Stonybatter and Patrick's Close
Up and around the Gloucester Diamond
and back by Napper Tandy's house.
Old age has laid her hand on me
cold as a fire of ashy coals
In all my life I ne'er did see
a maid so sweet as the Spanish lady. CHORUS
--------------
Spanish Lady - sung by Mary Cruickshank; Greig 1910
As I went up thro' Edinburgh city, half-past twelve o'clock at night,
There I spied a Spanish lady dressing herself with candle light.
She had a basin full of water and a towel into her hand.
Five gold rings on every finger, like an angel she did stand.
Oh she was a charming creature, what she is I do not know.
But I'll go court her for her beauty, whether she be high or low.
“Madam, I am come to court you, if your favour I could gain.
If you gently entertain me maybe I'll come back again.”
“Sit ye doon, ye're harty welcome, whether ye come back or no.
All I want is a handsome young man whether he be high or low.”
“Madam, ye talk much of beauty, that's a flower will soon decay.
The fairest flower in all the summer, when winter comes it doth fade away.”
Sitting Out the Winter in the Orkney Islands: Folksong Acquisition ...
https://books.google.com/books?id=9EUeAQAAMAAJ
Nancy Cassell McEntire - 1990 - Snippet view
1 Walking up Edinburgh City, At the back of twelve o'clock at night; There I spied a Spanish lady, Dressing herself with candle light. 2 "Madam I have come to court you, What you are I do not know; Madam I have come to court you, If your
The Spanish Lady
As I went up through Edinburgh city
Being at twelve o'clock at night
There I spied a Spanish lady
Dressing herself with the candle light.
"Madam, I am come to court you,
In hopes your favour for to gain.
If you kindly entertain me,
Maybe I'll come back again."
"Sit ye down, ye're hearty welcome,
Sit ye down, ye're hearty so,
Sit ye down, ye're hearty welcome,
Whether ye come back or no."
"Madam, I've got gold and silver,
Madam, I've got house and lan',
Madam, I've got men and maidens,
All shall be at your comman'."
"What care I for gold or silver?
What care I for house or lan'?
What care I for men or maidens?
All I want is a handsome man."
"Madam, you deal much in beauty,
That's a flower will soon decay,
The fairest flower in all your garden,
When winter comes, will fade away."
"Ripest apples soonest rotten,
Hottest love is soonest cold,
Young men's vows, they're soon forgotten,
Pray, young man, don't be so bold.
"First comes lilies, then comes roses,
First comes April, next comes May.
After one there comes another,
All to pass the time away."
-------------
Between The Two Lights
Titled "The Spanish Lady"
As I was walking
through Dublin City
About the hour of twelve at night
It was there I saw a fair pretty female
Washing her feet by candlelight
First she washed them, then she dried them
Over a fire of ambery coals
And in all my life I never did see
A maid so neat about the
soles
CHORUS:
She had twenty eighteen sixteen fourteen
Twelve ten eight six four two none
She had nineteen seventeen fifteen thirteen
Eleven nine seven five three and one
I stopped to look but the watchman passed
Says he, "Young fellow, now the night is
late
And along with you home or I will wrestle you
Straight away to the Bridewell gate
I got a look from the Spanish lady
Hot as a fire of ambery coals
And in all my life I never did see
A maid so neat about the soles
CHORUS:
As I walked back through Du
blin City
As the dawn of day was o'er
Oh whom should I spy but the Spanish lady
When I was weary and footsore
She had a heart so filled with loving
And her love she longed to share
And in all my life I never did meet
A maid who had so much to spare
CHORUS
:
I have wandered north and I've wandered south
By Stoneybatter and Patrick's Close
And up and around by the Gloucester Diamond
Back by Napper Tandy's house
Old age has laid her hand upon me
Cold as a fire of ashey coals
And gone is the lovely Spanish lad
y
Neat and sweet about the soles
'Round and around goes the wheel of fortune
Where it rests now wearies me
Oh fair young maids are so deceiving
Sad experience teaches me
CHORUS:
VERSION 3: as sung by Gordon Bok
Titled: "WHEEL OF FORTUNE" or "DUBLIN CITY
"
As I was a-walking through Dublin City
About the hour of twelve at night
It was there I saw a fair, pretty maiden
Washing her feet by candle light
First she washed them and then she dried them
And around her shoulder she pegged the towel
And in all my
life I ne'er did see
Such a fine lass in all the world
She had twenty, eighteen, sixteen, fourteen
Twelve, ten , eight, six, four, two, none
Nineteen, seventeen, fifteen, thirteen
Eleven, nine, seven, five, three, and one
Round and round the wheel of fortune
Where it stops wearies me
Fair maids they are so deceiving
Sad experience teaches me
Oh, but tides do be running the whole world over
Why, tis only last June month, I mind that we
Were thinking the call in the breast of the lover
So everlasting as the sea
But there's the same little fishes that swims and spin
And the same old moon on the cold wet sand
And I no more to she, nor she to me
Than the cool wind passing over my hand.
----------------------
Spanish Lady- Tommy Makem and the Clancy Brothers from "Irish Pub Songs."
[instrumental, fiddle]
As I came into Dublin city,
At the hour of twelve at night,
Who should I spy but a Spanish lady,
Washing her feet by candlelight.
First she washed them, then she dried them
Over a fire of ambery coal,
In all my life I ne'er did see
A maid so sweet about the sole.
CHORUS:
Whack fol the toora, toora laddy
Whack fol the foora loora lay (2x)
As I came back through Dublin city
At the hour of half past eight
Who should I spy but the Spanish lady
Brushing her hair in the broad daylight.
First she brushed it, then she tossed it,
On her lap was a silver comb
In all my life I ne'er did see
A maid so sweet since I did roam.
CHORUS
As [yet again] I came back through Dublin city
As the sun began to set
Who should I spy but the Spanish lady
Catching a moth in a golden net.
When she saw me then she fled me
Lifting her petticoat o'er her knee
In all my life I ne'er did see
A maid so fair as the Spanish lady.
CHORUS
I've wandered north and I've wandered south
Through Stonybatter and Patrick's Close
Up and around the Gloucester Diamond
Back by Napper Tandy's house.
But old age has laid her hand on me [tempo slows]
Cold as a fire of ashy coal
But where is the lovely Spanish lady
Neat and sweet about the sole.
CHORUS 2X [original tempo]
* * * *
A second version, "Galway City" with stanzas of "Madam" was recorded by the Clancy Brothers with Tommy Makem in New York in 1965 and appears on their 1966, "Isn't It Grand Boys" album. Tommy Makem got it from: "Sean O'Boyle, the well-known folk collector and Gaelic scholar" [born June 14, 1946 in Armagh, Ireland].
Galway City- Clancy Brothers from Sean O'Boyle of Armahg
(He:) As I walked out through Galway City
At the hour of twelve at night,
Whom should I spy but a handsome damsel,
Combing her hair by candlelight.
Lassie, I have come a-courting,
Your kind favors for to win,
And if you'd but smile upon me,
Next Sunday night I'll call again.
Chorus: Raddy at a toodum, toodum, toodum,
Raddy at a toodum, toodum day.
Raddy at a toodum, toodum, toodum,
Raddy at a toodum, toodum day.
(She:) So to me you came a-courting,
My kind favors for to win,
But 'twould give me the greatest pleasure
If you never did call again.
What would I do, when I go walking,
Walking out in the morning dew?
What would I do when I go walking,
Walking out with a lad like you?
Chorus.
(He:) Lassie, I have gold and silver,
Lassie, I have houses and land.
Lassie, I have ships on the ocean,
They'll be all at your command.
(She:) What do I care with your ships on the ocean?
What do I care with your houses and land?
What do I care with your gold and silver?
All's I want is a handsome man.
Chorus
(He:) Did you ever see the grass in the morning,
All bedecked with jewels rare?
Did you ever see a handsome lassie,
Diamonds sparkling in her hair?
(She:) Did you ever see a copper kettle,
Mended with an old tin can?
Did you ever see a handsome lassie
Married off to an ugly man?
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A second version can be heard here:
http://www.dublincity.ie/songs-murder-madams-and-mayhem/madam-im-darling They've changed the city to Dublin City.
Madam, I'm a Darling." Performed by Anne and Niamh Buckley
As I rode out through Dublin city
It being the dark hour twelve at night
Who should I see but a fair young maiden
Washing her clothes in the pale moon light
Chorus (after each verse):
Madam, I'm a darling, a di ro, a dither o
Madam, I'm a darling, a di ro dae
First she washed them, then she squeezed them
And then she hung them out to dry
Then she folded up her arms
Saying what a nice, young girl am I.
Going to the well for a pale of water
Fetching it home for to make some tae [tea]
She fell over, I fell under
All the game was above her knee
Madam, I will tie your garter
I will tie it above your knee
And if you like I'll tie it up further
Madam, I'm a darling, a di ro de
Madam, I'm a darling, a di ro de
Have you ever heard of cups and saucers
Rattlin' around in an auld tin can?
Have you ever heard of a fair, young maiden
Married to an ugly, gray old man?
And blue it is a lovely colour
Until it gets the second dip
Well that's the way with the old man courting
You never know till he gets those fits
Madam, you have gold and silver
And madam, you have tracks of land
Madam you have ships on the ocean
All you need is a fine, young man.
There is an additional stanza associated with Spanish Lady/Madam that begins: "And blue it is a lovely colour" See a similar stanza in the several of versions of the "Madam" family ("Madam, Madam, You Came Courting" sung by William Gilkie, Sambro, NS, September, 1950). The "Madam, I will tie your garter" stanza is common to the "Oh No John" songs.
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Tinkle, Tinkle, Tra-La-La!
1.
As I was walking down the street
A Spanish lady I did meet;
Patent slippers on her feet,
And the baby in her arms.
Tinkle, tinkle, tra-la-la, tra-la-la, tra-la-la,
Tinkle, tinkle, tra-la-la, and the baby in her arms.
2.
As I went walking down the street,
A Spanish lady I did meet,
With silver slippers on her feet
And a gold ring on her finger.
With a ringle-tingle, fa, la, la, fa, la, la, fa, la,
la,
With a ringle-tingle, fa, la, la, the merry men o'
warship.
Oh, I can chaw tabacca,
And I can smoke a pipe,
And I can kiss a bonnie lass
At twelve o'clock at night.
With a ringle-tingle, fa, la, la, etc.
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(1) Rodger Lang Strang (1948), 28. Played in a circle.
A big girl goes in the centre. When the fourth line is
reached, she takes a small one, putting her arms under
her oxters, and sweels her round."
(2) Ibid., "another version". With st. 2 cf. "I can
chew tobacco".
Opies Singing Game (1985), 343 (no. 87, "Spanish Lady").
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Folk song collected by H.E.D. Hammond from George Moore of Hazelbury Bryan, Dorset.
As I was walking Portsmouth City
There I met a saucy strump;
Up against a wall I pushed her,
Then I found that she was drunk.
Twenty, eighteen, sixteen, fourteen,
Twelve, ten, eight, six, four, two, none;
Nineteen, seventeen, fifteen, thirteen,
Eleven, nine, seven, five, three and one.
Going on I met some other
And I told to her my case.
She said "You need go no further,"
Up she took me to her place.
When I woke up in the morning,
Oh! What a terrible sight of woes!
She had only gone and left me,
Gubbered off with all my clothes!
The backwards counting, according to the note, is supposed to be a test for drunkenness. More likely, I think, an inducement to drunkenness, i.e. anyone getting it wrong would have to down a pint before continuing the song.