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What's this song? Not 'The Rainbow'
| Tradsinger | 14 Oct 14 - 04:02 AM | |
| Phil Edwards | 14 Oct 14 - 04:36 AM | |
| Jim Carroll | 14 Oct 14 - 04:46 AM | |
| Tradsinger | 14 Oct 14 - 07:00 AM | |
| GUEST,henryp | 14 Oct 14 - 07:42 AM | |
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What's this song? Not 'The Rainbow'
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Subject: What's this song? Not 'The Rainbow' From: Tradsinger Date: 14 Oct 14 - 04:02 AM James Madison Carpenter collected the following set of words in Gloucestershire in 1934, and called it "(Captain Ward and) the Rainbow." However, it seems to be an entirely different song. What is it? Answers, please. Tradsinger 1. As we were sailing down by the Spanish shore, The drums they did beat and the cannons they did roar. It was of a lofty admiral come sailing down the main, Which caused us to hoist up our topsails again. 2. Now, me lads, be ready. Now, me lads, be true. Before the French army will immediately pursue So if we overtake them, out on the ocean wide, Without a great protection, we will give them a broadside. Broadside to broadside then at it we went. To sink each other's vessels it was our full intent. 3. The very next broadside our captain got slain. Up stepped his damsel in his place to remain. 'O quarters! O quarters!' the French dogs they cried. 'No quarters! No quarters!' this young damsel replied. 4. 'These are the best of quarters that we can afford. You must fight, sink or swim, me boys, or jump overboard.' The battle it lasted three hours or more. Till we scarcely had a man that our gallant ship could steer. We scarcely had a man that could fire off a gun Till the blood through our scupper hole like water did run. 5. Now, the battle over, we will take a glass of win. You may drink to your true love, and I will drink to mine. So it's health to the damsel that fought along the main In that gallant ship royal they call 'Rainbow' by name. |
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Subject: RE: What's this song? Not 'The Rainbow' From: Phil Edwards Date: 14 Oct 14 - 04:36 AM Is it a variant of the Dolphin? |
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Subject: RE: What's this song? Not 'The Rainbow' From: Jim Carroll Date: 14 Oct 14 - 04:46 AM It's not 'Captain Ward and the Rainbow' but it is 'The Rainbow' There's a beautiful version of it sung by George Wray on 'Unto Brigg Fair' the album of Lincolnshire singers recorded by Percy Grainger in 1908 Jim Carrroll |
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Subject: RE: What's this song? Not 'The Rainbow' From: Tradsinger Date: 14 Oct 14 - 07:00 AM Thank you, Jim. Yes, that's nailed it. Roud 492. Result. Tradsinger. |
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Subject: RE: What's this song? Not 'The Rainbow' From: GUEST,henryp Date: 14 Oct 14 - 07:42 AM From Heartoutbursts John Roberts & Tony Barrand English Folksongs collected by Percy Grainger The Rainbow Also known as The Female Captain or The Female Warrior, this tale of a heroic woman taking command of a beleaguered warship came to Grainger at Brigg in 1906, from George Orton of Barrow-on-Humber. Oh, as we were a-sailing down by the Spanish shore, Where the guns did rattle and the loud cannons did roar, There we spied a lofty army, come bearing over the main, Which caused us to hoist up our topmost sail again. Oh, our captain says, "Be ready," oh, he says, "My boys, stand true, To face the Spanish army we lately did pursue To face the Spanish army come bearing down so wide, And without a good protection, boys, we'll take the first broadside." Well, it was broadside to broadside these vessels o'er they went, A-sinking one another, it was their full intent, At the very second broadside, our captain he got slain, And a damsel jumped in his place to give command again. Well we fought for nearly four hours, for full four hours and more, Till there was scarce a man on board our gallant ship could steer, Till there was scarce a man on board could fire off a gun, And the blood from our decks like the river it did run. Oh for quarters, for quarters the Spanish lads did cry, "You've had the best of quarters," this damsel did reply, "You have had the best of quarters that e'er I can afford, You must fight, sink, or swim, my boys, or jump overboard." Oh, now the war is over and we'll take a glass of wine. You can drink to your true love, and I will drink to mine. Here's a health unto that damsel who fought all on the main, She has a lofty, gallant ship, the Rainbow by name. |
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