When Cockle Shells (as I Roved Out)- Seamus Ennis (Dub) 1947 REC
[Seamus Ennis recorded "When cockle shells make silver bells" AFS 09961A (AFS Number) in 1947. Paul Clayton recorded a cover of it in 1957. Peter Kennedy got the stanzas from Ennis in the early 1950s (c.1951) and published it, "As I Roved Out"-- the same title of the Lomax recording. I'm using Ennis' original title from 1947. After stanza 4 the stanzas have been taken from "Trooper and the Maid," Child 299. Here's the Kennedy text as found also in the 1947 recording.
I assume the title was changed to "As I Roved Out" to coincide with the radio series hosted by Ennis and Kennedy titled "As I Roved Out" broadcast in the early 1950s.
R. Matteson 2018]
"When cockle shells make silver bells" (As I Roved Out)- sung by Seamus Ennis of Dublin as recorded on AFS 09961A, 1947. Stanzas follow the form of stanza 1 with chorus.
1 As I roved out one bright May morning
One May morning early,
As I roved out one bright May morning
One May morning early
I met a maid upon the way
She was her mama's darling
CHORUS: With me roo-rum-re. Fal-the-diddle-ra,
Star-vee-upple, al-the-di-dee, do
2. Her shoes were black and her stockin's white
And her hair shines like the silver
She has two nice bright sparkling eyes
And her hair hangs o'er her shoulder.
3 "What age are you, my pretty fair maid?
What age are you, my darling?"
She answered me quite modestly,
"I'm sixteen years next Monday morning."
4 "And will you come to my Mama's house?
The moon shines bright and clearly
O, open the door, and let me in
And Dada will not hear us."
5 She took me by the lily-white hand
And led me to the table,
There's plenty of wine for soldiers here
As far as they can take it[1].
6. She took my horse by the bridle rein
And led him to the stable
There's plenty of hay for a soldier's horse
As far as they are able.
7. And she went up and dressed the bed
And dressed it soft and easy
And I went up to tuck her in
Crying: "Lassie, are you comfortable?"
8. I slept in the house till the break of day
And in the morning early
I got up and put on my shoes
Crying: "Lassie, I must leave you!"
9 "And when till you return again,
Or when till we get married?"
"When cockle shells make silver bells
That's the time we'll marry."
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1. As far as they are "able," to rhyme?
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Here's my transcription of the 1951 Lomax recording of Ennis titled, As I Roved Out. Lomax met Seamus Ennis and family in Dublin in early 1951 so I'm dating this 1951. The last stanza is associated with Trooper and the Maid.
As I Roved Out- sung by Seamus Ennis, Dublin c. 1951; recorded by Alan Lomax
As I roved out one bright May morning,
On a May morning early,
As I roved out one bright May morning,
On a May morning early,
I met a maid upon the way,
She was her mama's darling.
Chorus: With me rule-rum-rah, fa-la-diddle-da,
Shall be diddle all the day-dee-do.
Her shoes were black and her stockings white,
And her hair shines like the silver;
Her shoes were black and her stockings white,
And her hair shines like the silver;
She has two nice bright sparking eyes,
And her hair hangs o'er her shoulders.
Chorus
"What age are you, my pretty fair maid?
What age are you, my darling?
"What age are you, my pretty fair maid?
What age are you, my darling?
She answered me quite modestly,
"I'm sixteen years next Monday morning."
Chorus
"Will you come to my Mama's house,
The moon shines bright and clearly?
Will you come to my Mama's house,
The moon shines bright and clearly?
Oh, open the door and let me in,
And Dada will not hear us."
Chorus
"When will you return again,
Or when will we get married?
When will you return again,
Or when will we get married?"
"When cockle shells make silver bells
That's the time we'll marry."
Chorus