Banks of the Sweet Primroses

Leggi in italiano

It is the 50-60 years of folk revival when the first recordings of “The Banks of Sweet Primroses” begin to circulate; the Fairport Convention record the ballad on several occasions, as well as the folk revival of the years 70 re-proposes it with the names of great interpreters; the textual variations are minimal, the melody is substantially the same.

THE INCOSTANT LOVER

“The Banks of Sweet Primroses” is widespread in the English countryside of the South collected by the Copper family, printed in the nineteenth century as a broadside ballad.
Our beautiful gallant meets a maiden for the countryside and jumped on her; unfortunately he had not noticed that the girl was of his knowledge and that therefore she knowing already the boy: even on a desert island she would prefer the company of the birds rather than him.
The versions are sometimes only four stanzas but the last stanza handed down in the Copper family is comforting: the young man will surely find another girl who will be well disposed towards him!

June Tabor from At the Wood’s Heart 2005 (I, III, IV, V, VI)

Luke Kelly (I, III, IV, V)

Josienne Clarke & Ben Walker from digital download album “fRoots 53” 2015 (I, III, IV, V, VI)

I
As I roved out one midsummer (1)’s morning
To view the fields and to take the air
‘Twas down by the banks of the sweet primroses (2)
There I beheld a most lovely fair
II
Three long steps I stepped up to her,
Not knowing her as she passed me by,
I stepped up to her thinking for to view her,
She appeared to me like some virtuous bride.
III
Says I: “Fair maid, where can you be a going
And what’s the occasion of all your grief?
I will make you as happy as any lady
If you will grant me once more a leave. (3)”
IV
Stand up, stand up, you false deceiver
You are a false deceitful man, ‘tis plain
‘Tis you that is causing my poor heart to wander
And to give me comfort ‘tis all in vain
V
Now I’ll go down to some lonesome valley
Where no man on earth shall e’er me find
Where the pretty small birds do change their voices
And every moment blows blusterous winds (4)
VI
Come all young men (5) that go a-courting,
Pray pay attention to what I say.
There is many a dark and a cloudy morning
Turns out to be a sun-shiny day.

NOTES
1) Midsummer is the day of the summer solstice, equivalent to the day of St. John
2) the primrose which blooms in summer is a variety of primrose called common cowslip (scientific name primula veris), The common name cowslip may derive from the old English for cow dung, probably because the plant was often found growing amongst the manure in cow pastures.
3) Luke Kelly’s line” If you will grant me one small relief” , the sentences clearly allude to a second chance request to flirt
4) Luke Kelly ‘s line “And ev’ry moment blows blustrous wild”, it is probably a mistake in the oral transmission blustrous = blusterous windy stormy, wild=wind
5) in other versions a sentence for young girls: even if today they cry tomorrow they will find a man to marry!

LINK
https://mainlynorfolk.info/copperfamily/songs/banksofthesweetprimroses.html
http://www.mustrad.org.uk/songbook/s_prim.htm
https://afolksongaweek.wordpress.com/2012/08/26/week-53-banks-of-the-sweet-primroses/
http://www.joe-offer.com/folkinfo/songs/451.html

http://www.fairylandtrust.org/how-to-see-fairies-part-one/

 

/ 5
Grazie per aver votato!

Pubblicato da Cattia Salto

Amministratore e folklorista di Terre Celtiche Blog. Ha iniziato a divulgare i suoi studi e ricerche sulla musica, le danze e le tradizioni d'Europa nel web, dapprima in maniera sporadica e poi sempre più sistematicamente sul finire del anni 90

Lascia un commento

Il tuo indirizzo email non sarà pubblicato. I campi obbligatori sono contrassegnati *

Questo sito usa Akismet per ridurre lo spam. Scopri come i tuoi dati vengono elaborati.