"Down by Blackwaterside" (also known as "Blackwaterside", "Blackwater Side" and "Black Waterside", is a traditional folk song, provenance and author unknown, although it is likely to have originated near the River Blackwater, Northern Ireland.
The song tells the story of a woman who has her heart broken "down by Blackwaterside" when a suitor breaks his promise of marriage, which he made to trick her into having sex with him. Her suitor mocks her for believing that he would marry her and tells her to go back to her father. He tells her she has only herself to blame for having sex before marriage. She realises he will never return and berates herself for believing his lies.
In 1969 Led Zeppelin recorded "Black Mountain Side" for their debut-album, which is an instrumental version of "Black Water Side". In fact Jimmy Page took the guitar arrangement from Bert Jansch's version of that song, recorded for Jansch's 1966 album Jack Orion.
Bert Jansch on his turn had learned "Black Water Side" from Anne Briggs, who recorded her version in 1971. The linernotes suggest that Anne Briggs got her version from a 1952 BBC Archive recording by Mary Doran (probably through the intervention of A.L. (Bert) Lloyd).
But from opinions expressed elsewhere it seems most likely that she learned it from Isla Cameron's 1959 recording.
And Isla Cameron on her turn had learned the song, either directly (from a 1952 BBC Archive recording by Winnie Ryan) or via the intermediary services of the singer A. L. Lloyd.
Also see: Down By Blackwaterside and: Blackwater Side
A broadside from the 19th century with much of the same lyrics (especially verses 3, 4 and 5) is Roud # 564 in the Bodleian Libraries "The Distress'd Maid", dated between 1813 and 1838
See: Ballads Online
This version was also contained on page 242 of the Forget-Me-Not-songster, published in 1840 in New York by Nafish & Cornish
But even before that (ca 1670) a broadside, dealing with the same themes of seduction and abandonment, was published in London: "The forsaken damsel; or The deluded maid"
Containing a few of the same verses (see verses 10 till 15) and floating lyrics.
SEE: Ballads Online and Dungheap No.19
So in 1959 Isla Cameron recorded the familiar version of this traditional as "Blackwaterside" (see later on in this post)
But already in 1951, under the supervision of Alan Lomax, Isla Cameron had recorded a variation of this traditional, with much of the same lyrics, but not the familiar tune.
(o) Isla Cameron (1951) (as "As He Walked Down by the River")
Recorded February 11, 1951 in London, England
Recordist: Alan Lomax
Between 1951 and 1953 Alan Lomax was in Dublin, Ireland, where he recorded a woman called I. Gledhill. These recordings are identified only as "scraps—Dublin" on the tape box. It is unclear who or what "I. Gledhill" refers to. (PS I think I. Gledhill might in fact be Isla Cameron)
(c) I. Gledhill (1951/1953) (as "As He Walked by the River")
As I said above in 1959 Isla Cameron recorded another variation of this traditional, which she might have learned from Winnie Ryan, who recorded a version in Belfast in 1952.
Winnie Ryan was part of a group of tinkers from County Waterford, that were recorded in Belfast by Peter Kennedy. On the same day 2 other members of that group of tinkers were also recorded singing a version of the same traditional: Paddy Doran and his wife Mary Doran.
(c) Mary Doran (1952) (as "Blackwater Side")
Recorded by Peter Kennedy on July 24th, 1952 in Liam Andrew's house at Springfield Road, Belfast.
The original tape for this recording session does not appear to be in Peter Kennedy's collection. However, a dub was made onto 78rpm disk by the BBC at the time.
This undigitised disk can be found in the British Library catalogue BBC #18551
It was finally released on a cassette, first published in 1975 by Peter Kennedy.
In the linernotes it says Mary aged 21 at the time, learned it from her elder sister (aged 24)
Lyrics Mary Doran version:
Listen here:
On the same day Peter Kennedy also recorded Mary Doran's husband Paddy singing a version of this traditional
(c) Paddy Doran (1952) (as "The Blackwater Side")
Recorded on July 24th, 1952.
Paddy Doran is Mary's husband
The original tape for this recording session does not appear to be in Peter Kennedy's collection.
However, a dub was made onto 78rpm disk by the BBC at the time.
This undigitised disk can be found in the British Library catalogue BBC #18579
This was also released on a cassette, first published in 1982 by Peter Kennedy.
Lyrics Paddy Doran version:
Oh as I roved out one morning fair
down by Blackwaterside
I be gazing all around me
when an Irish young girl I spied
Oh for red and rosy it was her cheeks,
golden yellow was her hair
As I clasped her by the lilly white hand,
And I said my young sweetheart fair
Oh, and that's not the promise you made to me
down by blackwaterside
Oh, the promise you made it is now I will break
I was brute and so lying untrue (?)
Oh, the promise I made it is now I will break
I was brute and so lying untrue (?)
Was there ever a poor misfortunate girl
was as easily led as you
There were many a good man's daughter
round along from town to town
There were many a good man's daughter
With her hair all hanging down
They'll go rocking the cradle the whole night long
singing la lo my baby bye
When your fishes fly, love and seas run dry
I'll return and marry you
Listen here:
Or here:
(c) Winnie Ryan (1952) (as "Down by Blackwaterside")
Recorded in 1952 in Belfast under the supervision of Peter Kennedy.
(Probably on the same day, July 24th, 1952 as Mary and Paddy Doran's version).
Winnie was only 19 years old then, from Co Waterford
Also released on a cassette, first published in 1975 by Peter Kennedy
Some sources state that there is supposed to be a BBC recording of Winnie Ryan from 1947.
She would have been 14 years old then ?!
Unnamed tinker (Winnie Ryan), rec Puck Fair, Killorglin, Co Kerry 11/8/47: RPL 13383 (part only)
See title "Blackwaterside" on next link: https://folktrax-archive.org
Here below a link to a photograph of travellers' encampment at Dan O'Neill's loanen on the outskirts of Belfast, Northern Ireland, near Black Mountain, taken on either 24 July 1952 or 1 August 1952 on the occasion of a BBC recording session. Individual performers cannot be identified, but probably include Lal Smith, Mary Doran and Winnie Ryan
----> Wanted a soundfile of Winnie Ryan's "Down By Blackwaterside" <-------
Around the same time in 1952 Peter Kennedy recorded Paddy Tunney singing a few songs, but apparently didn't record a version of "Blackwater Side" back then.
But in 1966 (probably close before Bert Jansch) in London, Paddy recorded a version under the supervision of Bill Leader, the same producer who supervised the Bert Jansch version.
In the liner-notes of Paddy's album it says:
Blackwater Side
"Another tale of unrequited love, set to a beautiful air which Paddy decorates in characteristic fashion. The first verse is evidently modelled on The Irish Girl (cf. Joyce, Old Irish Folk Music and Song, and Colm O Lochlainn, More Irish Street Ballads), but there the resemblance ends. Paddy learned the song from the singing of a ‘traveller’, Paddy Doran, who says that the River Blackwater referred to in the song is in County Wexford. The tune is Doh mode hexatonic"
(c) Paddy Tunney (1966) (as "Blackwater Side")
Lyrics Paddy Tunney version
As I roved out one bright summers morn
down by Blackwaterside
I be gazing on the flowers that did bloom all around
when a pretty young Irish girl I spied
Oh twas red and rosy was her cheeks,
golden yellow was her hair
As I clasped her by the lilly white hand,
And I said my young sweetheart fair
There be many a good man's daughter
Going round from town to town
There be many a good man's daughter
With her hair all hanging down
She'll be rocking the cradle the whole day long
singing lo la lo la lo
Was there ever a poor misfortunate girl
as easily led as you
Oh, that wasn't the promise you made to me
down by blackwaterside
that wasn't the promise you made to me
when you asked me to be your bride
That wasn't the promise you made to me
when you swore you'd be loyal and true
When the fishes fly and seas run dry
I'll return and marry you
Listen here:
As I just said, Paddy Tunney learned the song from Paddy Doran.
Paddy Doran's version was recorded by Peter Kennedy in 1952, who then also recorded a version by Mary Doran and a version by Winnie Ryan.
And as I said above, it was apparently Winnie Ryan's set which Isla Cameron learned.
Likely, Liam Clancy learned it from Isla Cameron.
Cameron and Clancy both seem to have made changes to Winnie Ryan's melody, which resulted in the form that we're now familiar with.
Here's Isla Cameron, which was recorded in the summer of 1959 in England.
(c) Isla Cameron (1959) (as "Black Waterside")
Released 1959 in England on the Jupiter Recordings label
Lyrics Isla Cameron version
One morning fair I took the air
Down by Blackwater side.
'Twas in gazing all around me
'Twas the Irish lad I spied.
All in the fore part of the night
We roll in sport and play,
Then that young man arose and gathered his clothes,
Saying, “Fare thee well today.”
That's not the promise you made to me
When you lay upon my breast,
Sure you make me believe with your lying tongue
That the sun is rose in the west.
Go home to your father's garden,
Go home and cry your fill.
And think of your own misfortune
That you brought with your wanton will.
There's not a girl in this wide world
So easily led as I,
Sure them fishes will fly and seas will run dry,
Sure she's then that you marry I.
One morning fair to will the air
Down by Blackwater side.
'Twas in gazing all around me
'Twas the Irish lad I spied.
Listen here:
The same recording was released in 1962 in the US.
Listen here:
Next a version by Anne Briggs. Many sources say Briggs got her's from the 1952 Mary Doran version. The lyrics have similarities, but the vocal line is more likely in line with Isla Cameron's 1959 version.
In the liner notes for Anne Briggs’s self-titled 1971 LP, A.L. Lloyd explained:
"Some English singers know this as "The False Young Man". It’s one of those pieces whose verses have floated in from half-a-dozen other songs. A form of it was published late in the nineteenth century by the London broadside printer Henry Such of Southwark. Anne’s version is the one popularised from a BBC Archive recording of an Irish traveller, Mary Doran. Anne says her accompaniment is based on Stan Ellison’s version".
(c) Anne Briggs (1971) (as "Blackwater Side")
Lyrics Anne Briggs version:
One morning fair to take the air
Down by Blackwater side.
'Twas in gazing all, all around me
'Twas the Irish lad I spied.
All through the first part of the night
Well, we lay in sport and play,
Then this young man he arose and he gathered his clothes,
He said, “Fare thee well today.”
Well, that's not the promise that you gave to me
When first you lay on my bed,
You could make me believe with your lying tongue
That the sun rose in the west.
Then go home, go home, to your father's garden,
You go home and weep your fill.
And you think of your own misfortune
That you brought with your wanton will.
For there's not a girl in this whole wide world
As easily led as I,
Sure it's fishes they'll fly and the seas run dry,
'Tis then you'll marry I.
Listen here:
As I said above Bert Jansch invented a very complex and distinct fingerpicking guitar arrangement to this traditional.
Here's a link with a transcription of Jansch's arrangement
Acoustic Classic: Play Bert Jansch’s Arrangement of the Trad Tune ‘Blackwaterside’ | Acoustic Guitar
(c) Bert Jansch (1966) (as "Black Water Side")
Recorded early summer 1966 in London
Produced by Bill Leader
Lyrics Bert Jansch version
One morning fair I took the air
Down by Blackwater side.
'Twas in gazing all, all around me
The Irish lad I spied.
All through the fore part of the night
We lay in sport and play,
Till this young man arose and gathered his clothes,
Saying, “Fare thee well today.”
That's not the promise that you gave to me
When first you lay upon my breast,
You could make me believe with your lying tongue
That the sun rose in the west.
Well then go home to your father's garden,
Go home and weep your fill.
And think of your own misfortune
That you brought with your wanton will.
One morning fair I took the air
Down by Blackwater side.
'Twas in gazing all, all around me
The Irish lad I spied.
Listen here:
Jimmy Page came along and nicked Bert Jansch's guitar arrangement and claimed it as his own.
(c) Led Zeppelin (1969) (as "Black Mountain Side")
Listen here:
(c) Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem (1967) (as "Blackwater's Side")
Recorded in March 1967 live at Carnegie Hall, New, York,
Listen here:
(c) Sandy Denny (1971) (as "Blackwaterside")
Recorded in March 1971 at Sound Technique recording studio in London
Released in September 1971 on the album: "The North Star Grassman and the Ravens"
Listen here:
(c) Jean Redpath (1975) (as "Blackwaterside")
Listen here:
(c) The Peak Folk (1976) (as "Blackwaterside")
Listen here:
In 1977 Mandy Morton, leadsinger of the Spriguns wrote a rocking arrangement of "Blackwaterside"
(c) Spriguns (1977) (as "Blackwaterside")
Listen here:
In 1977 Bert Jansch's old Pentangle-mate John Renbourn and his group also recorded a version of "Black Waterside".
(c) John Renbourn Group (1977) (as "Black Waterside")
Listen here:
In 1993 Anne Briggs, accompanied by Bert Jansch, sang Blackwaterside in the BBC Scotland documentary about Bert Jansch, Acoustic Routes.
It wasn't included in the 1993 soundtrack album but in the 2013 reissue.
(c) Bert Jansch & Anne Briggs (1993) (as "Blackwater Side")
Listen here:
On July 20, 1983 Linda Thompson recorded a version in the Lake District by Granada TV for Music On The Move, July 20, 1983. Finally released in 1996.
(c) Linda Thompson (1996) (as "Blackwaterside")
Listen to a sample here: https://rovimusic.rovicorp.com/playback.mp3
A "folk-rocking" version was recorded by the Oysterband.
(c) Oysterband (2002) (as "Blackwaterside")
Listen here:
(c) The Memory Band (2006) (as "Blackwaterside")
Listen here:
(c) Bonny Light Horseman (2020) (as "Blackwaterside")
Listen here:
There is another broadside titled the "The Blackwater Side" from the 19th century, with floating lyrics.
Here too we're dealing with the same themes of seduction and abandonment
It is Roud # 2696 in the Bodleian Libraries, dated between 1863 and 1885
See: The Blackwater side
Also see Roud 312
Also see Henry 811 and Sam Henry's Songs of the People
More versions with floating lyrics
See Roud 564
More variants with floating lyrics were collected around that time in the West Country of England and Ireland.
Variants include: "(A)broad As I Was Walking", "I am too Young", "The Squire and the (Fair) Maid" and "Down by the Greenwood Side".
"Abroad As I Was Walking" collected in Hampshire in 1909 by George B. Gardiner.
"The Irish Girl" collected in Hampshire in 1909 by George B. Gardiner.
"Down by the Riverside" collected in Hampshire in 1909 by George B. Gardiner.
Also see: I Am Too Young (Cecil Sharp Manuscript Collection (at Clare College, Cambridge) CJS2/9/1203)
"The Squire And The Fair Maid" collected by Sabine Baring-Gould in 1888 and 1890
Also see: page 12 (=334) till 21 (=343) of the next link --> Cockburn-1979-V2.pdf
Not to be confused with Michael (Mickey) Cronin's "Down by Blackwaterside", which is another song.
(c) Mickey Cronin (1951) (as "Down by Blackwaterside")
Recorded by Alan Lomax on May 21, 1951 in Dublin, Ireland.
Geen opmerkingen:
Een reactie posten