JIM JARRATT 2000

SONG OF THE DALE is an orchestral expression of the imagery and atmosphere I have aquired over twenty years visiting, exploring and singing in upper Wharfedale, North Yorkshire. It incorporates most of the traditional music from the area especially that played by the late Jacky Beresford of Buckden and his successors Tim and Rosie Boothman of Linton. It is in three movements - LANGSTROTHDALE CHASE - CLEAR THE ROAD - GALA DAY., and expresses a sequence of events roughly parallelling the poem reproduced above.

(If that's not it, I have no other offerings)

~Masato

WILLIE HAS GONE TO THE WAR
(Stephen Foster, 1863)

The bluebird is singing his lay,
To all the sweet flow'rs of the dale,
The wild bee is reaming at play,
And soft is the sigh of the gale;
I stray by the brookside alone,
Where oft we have wander'd before,
And weep for my lov'd one, my own,
My Willie has gone to the war!

CHO.: Willie has gone to the war, Willie, Willie, my lov'd one, my own;
Willie has gone to the war, Willie, Willie my lov'd one is gone!

'Twas here, where the lily bells grow,
I last saw his noble young face,
And now while he's gone to the foe,
Oh! dearly I love the old place;
The whispering waters repeat
The name that I love o'er and o'er,
And daisies that nod at my feet,
Say Willie has gone to the war! CHO.

The leaves of the forest will fade,
The roses will wither and die,
But spring to our home in the glade
On fairy like pinions will fly;
And still I will hopefully wait
The day when these battles are o'er,
And pine like a bird for its mate,
Till Willie comes home from the war! CHO.

THE TOUR OF THE DALES

Now the world 'as strange places that never was known,
And you're now in the strangest and you now will be shown,
Oh, the names all been given to women and men,
And where they've all come from and 'ow and just when.

Tally-o! Tally-o!
Foddy-idden, ry-fidden, trol-fol-da-rol-idden ry-do.

Now the foremost and first is 'igh Greenfield 'otel;
There you'll find Yethro and Inyun as well.
And Yethro is known for the pigeons 'e's shot
And Inyun is known for the photos 'e's got.

Now Beggarman's comes next in the valley so low;
There you'll find Foster and Beresford also.
And Foster's a man that is out for the grouse
And Beresford sings a good song in Lodge's 'ouse.

Now old Teesdale comes next at the foot o' Stygill;
There you'll find Peacock, Roland Ottey and Will.
And Peacock is known for the good lambs 'e's raised
And Ottey's an 'oss judge, which all men can praise.

Now Nethergill comes next but there's no one lives there;
Only Frank minds the stock with the greatest of care.
While Slabgill is funny and cannot be dull,
For that's where the bold kingfisher tried to kill t'bull.

Tarn 'ouses comes next, it's upon yon 'illside;
There's Sandra (?) and Ellen and they both there reside.
Oh, beautiful Wharfedale so sweet and so fair!
Well, there's nowhere in England with thee can compare.

Now Raisgill comes next, it's just over yon green;
It's there Captain Goodbottle can often be seen.
And Ottey, 'e's gone over there to reside
And 'e's taken 'is good wife to live by 'is side.

Grace Parsons comes next and she keeps the George Inn;
There's many a good Dalesman 'as tasted 'er gin.
And the parson lives out t'back but 'e's very good
And there's Larriott and Nixon live snug under t'wood.

Ben Loftus loves ?? in the White Lion Inn;
With 'is grand trottin' 'osses the prizes 'e'd win.
While Robinson is out on the land near and far,
It's there you'll find Nickill and Lambert and Sarr.

So now I'll return you to Artisher 'all,
Wi' the flowers and the pear trees and the grand waterfalls.
Look in at the school and you'll find Mr Sims;
'E's teaching bad poetry, recitations and 'ymns.

[The Watersons sing "The Tour of the Dales" on the "Yorkshire Garland" LP, and it's also on their "Early Days."]