Turn to Me

Foreword

Here are the lyrics for all the songs I recorded on my first album, Turn to Me. Very few of the songs are exactly how I originally found them - verses have been added or taken away, tunes have been subtly and not so subtly altered, and in two songs the lyrics are my own, set to traditional tunes.

I hope you feel, as I do, that the changes enhance the songs; maybe they’ll stay with the songs as they’re sung and added to / altered by others as part of the ongoing tradition.

Best wishes
Bill

Track 1: Mist covered Mountains of Home
Trad arr. Bill Jones

There will I see the place of my birth
And they’ll give me a welcome, the warmest on earth
So loving and kind, full of music and mirth
In the sweet sounding language of home
chorus.
Ho-ro, soon shall I see them
Ho-ro, see them oh see them
Ho-ro, soon shall I see them
The Mist Covered Mountains of Home
There I’ll converse with my warm hearted mother
And play a few tunes with my white headed father
Light is my heart as I turn my steps nearer
The Mist Covered Mountains of Home
chorus
There I shall gaze on the mountains again
And the fields and the woods, and the burns in the glen
And away ‘mongst the corries, beyond human ken
In the haunts of the deer I shall roam
chorus
Hail to the mountains with summits of blue
And the glens, with their meadows of sunlight and dew
To the women and men, ever faithful and true
Ever ready to welcome you home
chorus
chorus

Tune learnt in 1992 from Gaelic version recorded by The Rankin Family on their album “North Country”. English translation supplied by Brian Jary in 1998.

Track 2: The Handsome Cabin Boy
Trad arr B Jones

It’s of a lass from Staffordshire, as you may understand
Outlawed by king and country into some foreign land
She dressed herself in sailor’s clothes or so it does appear
And she hired with a captain to serve him for a year
Her cheeks they were like roses and her hair fell in a curl
The sailors often smiled and said he looked just like a girl
When eating at the captain’s table her colour did destroy
And the waist did swell of pretty Nell the handsome cabin boy
‘Twas in the bay of Biscay her governed ship did plough
One the night among the sailors was a fearful flying row
They tumbled from their hammocks for their sleep it did destroy
And they swore about the groaning of the handsome cabin boy
“Oh doctor, dear oh doctor” the cabin boy did cry
My time has come I am undone and I will surely die
The doctor come a running and a smiling at their fun
To think a sailor lad should have a daughter or a son
The sailors when they saw the babe they did all stand and stare
The child belonged to none of them they solemnly did swear
The captains wife she says to him “my dear I wish you joy
‘Tis either you or me’s betrayed the handsome cabin boy”

Learnt from the B-side of a Kate Bush single around 1992. I altered the tune in 1999 to make it more angular.

Track 3: The Fisherboy
Trad arr B Jones

Was down in the lowlands a poor did wander
Down in the lowlands a poor boy did roam
By his friends he was neglected, he looked so dejected
Cried the poor little fisherboy so far away from home
Crying where is my cottage, oh where is my father
Alas they’re all gone which caused me to roam
My mother died on her pillow while my father was out on the billow
Cried the poor little fisherboy so far away from home
Bitter was the night and loud roared the thunder
The lightening did strike while the ship was overcome
The boat soon I clasped and reached my native shore
In the deep I left my father so far away from home
I waited on the beach while around me dashed the water
I waited on the beach but alas no father came
So now I am a stranger exposed to every danger
Cried the poor little fisherboy so far away from home
A lady when she heard him quick opened up her windows
And into the house she bid for him to come
The tears fell from her eyes as she listened to the cries
Of the poor little fisherboy so far away from home
She begged of her father to find him employment
She begged of her father no more to let him roam
Her father said “don’t grieve me the boy will never leave me
Poor boy I will relieve thee so far away from home”
Many years the little boy laboured to please his noble master
Many years the little boy laboured in time became a man
And now he tells each stranger the heartbreak and the danger
Of the poor little fisherboy so far away from home

Learnt in 1999 from a library book called “Songs from Northumberland”. My tune is more offbeat than original, and the 3rd line of the tune is written by me.

Track 4: Táimse im Chodladh
Tune trad, Words & arr B Jones

I am sleeping, do not wake me
I hear you calling
Come back again, I’ll show you how
I am sleeping, do not wake me
The day is dawning
Come back again, don’t wake me now
Just look high and low, and search round the town
For the wildflower where we met the first time
If you pull the petals all the spell may be broken
Come back again, don’t wake me now
I am sleeping, do not wake me
The day is dawning
Come back again, I’ll show you how
I am sleeping, do not wake me
No need for mourning
Come back again, don’t wake me now
And when you return, don’t knock on the door
Just climb the old way and lie down next to me
If you kiss my lips the spell may be broken
Come back again, don’t wake me now
So he came in and he found her
And he read the letter
Come back again, don’t wake me now
So he went into the town
And he found the flower
Just in the place she had told him how
And when he returned, didn’t knock on the door
He just climbed the old way and lay down next to her
When he kissed her lips the spell it was broken
He lay with her and she’s waking now.

Tune learnt in 1996 from the playing of a brilliant Irish fiddler called Matt Crannich. I wrote the words for verses 1 & 2 in 1997 and verse 3 in 1999.

Track 6: A Brisk Young Sailor
Trad arr B Jones

A brisk young sailor courted me
He robbed me of my liberty
My liberty and my right good will
I must confess I love him still
There is an ale house in the town
Where my love goes and sits him down
And he pulls a strange girl all on his knee
Now isn’t that a grief to me
A grief to me and I’ll tell you why
Because she has more gold than I
But the gold it’ll waste and the beauty will pass
And he’ll come to a poor girl like me at last
Oh when I wore my apron low
My love he followed through mist and snow
But when I wore it right up to my chin
My love walked past and never came in
I wish my baby it was born
Sat smiling on its nurse’s knee
And I lay sleeping all in my grave
With the green grass growing over me
I wish, I wish but it’s all in vain
I wish I was a maid again
But a maid again I never will be
‘Til an apple grows on an orange tree

Learnt in 1999 at Sandra’s house from a recording of a singer called Linda Adams

Track 7: Blood and Gold & The Universal Soldier
(1) Blood and Gold words by Andy Irvine & Jane Cassidy, tune traditional Bulgarian, arr B Jones

On rides the captain and three hundred soldier lads
Out of the warring mist and through the silence go
Whistling gaily rides the captain at the head
Behind him sadly weeping soldier laddies go
For when you took my gold and swore to follow me
You stole away my life and my liberty
No more you’ll work the soil, no more you’ll till the land
No more to the dance you’ll go and take girls by the hand
Oh mothers weep for your sons
They have gone to kill and die
He’ll weep and die by the keen edge of the sword
All alone by the muddy Danube shore
He gave the order for the drummers to beat their drums
That mothers all might know the life a soldier leads
Unfurl your ragged banner and raise your pale young face
You’ll all go in the fire there’ll be no hiding place
Mothers hear the drumbeat in the village square
That drum’s for me to go for a soldier there
Oh mothers, sisters, wives
Marked as Cain we die alone
Marked as Cain we die alone

I learnt this song in 1999 from the singing of Werca’s Folk, Sandra Kerr’s Morpeth based women’s choir

(2) The Universal Soldier words by Buffy Ste Marie, tune trad, arr B Jones

He’s five foot two and he’s six foot four
He fights with missiles and spears
He’s 31 and he’s only 17
He’s been a soldier for a thousand years, my friends
He’s been a soldier for a thousand years
He’s a Hindu, a Catholic and an atheist
A Buddhist and a Baptist and a Jew
He knows he shouldn’t kill but he always will
Kill you for me and me for you, my friends
Kill you for me and me for you
He fights for Russia and he fights for Japan
He fights for the US of A
He fights for Canada and he fights for France
And he thinks he’ll end all war this way, my friends
He thinks he’ll end all war this way
He fights for democracy and he fights for the reds
He fights for the good of all
He’s the one who will decide who’s to live and who’s to die
But he never sees the writing on the wall, my friends
He never sees the writing on the wall
He’s the universal soldier and he is to blame
His orders aren’t from some distant shore
They come from him and from me and you
This is not the way to put an end to war, my friends
This is not the way to put an end to war

Learnt in 1999 from the Digital Song Tradition (Digitrad) database, on the Mudcat Café website. I wanted a song to go with Blood and Gold, so I did a search for songs using the keyword “war” and this was the one I liked best. The tune is similar to the original but is actually the tune of a trad song called “The Birmingham Boys”.

Track 8: Long John Moore
Trad arr B Jones

Now Long John's from the mountain gone, he's to London town.
And the king's daughter in fair London, she fell in love with him
Now Long John was a giant born, he was fourteen feet in height
And the king's daughter, she wept for him as she lay alone at night
And when the king he heard of this, an angry man was he
Says “this mighty man shall stretch the rope that hangs on the gallows tree”
So he sent young men and cunning men and around him they did creep
They fed him drops of laudanum and they laid him fast asleep
And when he’s awoken from his sleep, a sorry man was he
With his jaws and hands in iron bands and his feet in fetters three
So he's bribed him a servant, Long John, he's given him meat and fee
To run to his uncle, Old John, to come and rescue he
And the first mile well the little boy walked and he ran from dusk til dawn
He climbed up Eagle Mountain and he spied two giants tall
“Oh rise up , rise up Old John and Jackie North, come see
For Long John he’s in prison strong and hanged he must be”
So they went over hill & they went over dale & they went over mountain high
They come down to London town at the dawning of the day
They cried upon yon city gates “come open at my call”
And they up with their feet and they kicked a hole straight into London wall
And they trampled down by Drury Lane, the crowd before them ran
And there they spied them Long John stood under the gallows bin
They said "Is it for murder, is it for rape, is it for robbery?
For it it's any heinous crime we'll stand and watch you die"
He said "Not for murder, not for rape, and not for robbery
But it's all for the love of a lady fair they’re here to see me die"
So they took him from the gallows bin, before the king went they
Their armour bright cast such a light it fair dazzled his eye
"Good day to you" cries Jackie North, "Good day to you" cries he
We've come down for your daughter's wedding down from the mountains high”
They've taken the lady by the hand, set her prison free
And the drums did beat and the fifes did play they spent the night in glee
And then Long John and Old John and Jackie North all three
One new bride and the serving boy ran back to the mountains high

I learnt this in 1999 from a Martin Carthy CD, where the song has a two line verse. I then extended the tune and fiddled with the words to give four line verses. There are several further verses that I have not included in this version.

Track 9: Young Waters
Trad arr B Jones

All about you when the winds do blow and the round tabors begin
All them that’s come to our king’s court, many’s the well favoured man
The Queen looked over the castle wall, the servants they looked down
And there she spied young Waters come a riding to the town
His footmen they did run before and his horsemen rode behind
On mantle of the burning gold did keep them from the wind
Golden harnessed his horse before and silver shod behind
The horse young Waters rode upon was swifter than the wind
Then up spoke the wily King, and unto the Queen said he
“Oh, tell me whose is the fairest face rides in the company”
“Well I’ve seen lords, and I’ve seen lairds and knights of fine degree
But young Waters is the fairest face that ever my eyes do see”
Then up spoke the jealous King, and an angry man was he
“Oh, if I had have been twice as fair you might have accepted me”
“You’re neither lord nor laird she said but the King who wears the crown
And there’s not a knight in all of Scotland but to thee must lie down”
But for all that she could do or say appeased he would not be
And for the words that the Queen had spoke young Waters he must die
And they’ve taken young Waters and put fetters on his feet
And they’ve taken young Waters and thrown him in dungeon deep
Oft have I ridden through Stirling town in the wind both and the wet
But I’ve never ridden through Stirling town with fetters on my feet
Oft have I ridden through Stirling town in the wind both and the rain
But I’ve never ridden through Stirling town never to return again
Oh they’ve taken to their heading hill his horse both and his saddle
And they’ve taken to their heading hill his young son in his cradle
And they’ve taken to their heading hill his lady fair to see
And for the words that the Queen had spoke young Waters he did die.

Learnt in 1996 as part of my music degree at City University, London, from lecturer of “British and European Folk Music” module, Steve Stanton.

Track 11: The Wee Croppy Tailor
Trad arr B Jones

Oh in London’s fair city a great dame dwells
For fame birth and breeding none can her excel
She’s a blacksmith’s daughter the truth for to tell
And her husband he must be a trooper
There’s an elegant tailor lives next door by
And on this fair damsel he soon cast an eye
And he swore by his soul that with her he would lie
For he didn’t give a damn for the trooper
Well the tailor he went to this lady’s one night
He called her his dear his joy and his delight
“Ten guineas I’ll give for my lodgings tonight
For I know that your husband’s on duty”
“Oh yes Mr tailor well you’re very right
When you say that my husbands on duty tonight
But if he comes home he’ll give you such a fright
That’ll put you in mind of the trooper”
When the bargain was struck and all things said and done
They both went to bed and the spree it begun
When the spree it was over they both fell asleep
And they minded no more of the trooper
Now the trooper came home in the middle of the night
He knocked on the door and he gave them a fright
“Oh hide me oh hide me” the wee tailor cried
“For I hear the bold knocks of the trooper”
“There’s an old useless cupboard that stands by the door
And in it you’ll be safe snug and secure
I’ll trip down the stairs and I’ll open the door
And I’ll let in my husband the trooper”
With kindness and compliments, oh to be sure
She tripped downstairs and she opened the door
“For your compliments, well love I don’t give a damn
Come light me a fire” says the trooper
“Oh husband oh husband there’s no fire stuff
Just get into bed and you’ll be warm enough”
“There’s an old useless cupboard that stands by the door
Let’s burn it this night” says the trooper
“Oh husband dear husband grant me one desire
That old useless cupboard’s too good for the fire
And in it I rear a game cock I admire”
“What game cock is this?” says the trooper
Well the trooper went forward and he opened the door
And he found the wee tailor safe snug and secure
And he hauled him right onto the bare wooden floor
“Is this your game cock?” says the trooper
“Oh yes Mr tailor you’re a very sly fox
When did you become one of my wife’s game cocks?
And for that very reason I’ll give you a knock
That’ll put you in mind of the trooper”
He caught hold of the tailor right by the two ears
And he clean cut them off with his own little shears
And for that night’s diversions he paid mighty dear
And away went the wee croppy tailor

Learnt in 1999 from a book at Sandra Kerr’s house called “Songs from Ulster” - the tune and words have been kept close to the original.

Track 12: Turn to Me
Tune Trad, Words & arr. B Jones

Your love is leaving in search of a living
Leaving Newcastle to make a new start
The work’s all dried up and he needs to support himself
You love it here and it’s breaking your heart
ch. Cool is the light as it shines on the moor
Dark is the night as we walk Marsden shore
The narrow back lane where you held me and whispered
Hor ro ro Mairi, turn ye to me
Soldier’s wives move ‘cross countries and borderlines
Dropping all else for the love of their men
Their children uprooted soon blossom and flourish
It’s hard work, you know you can’t do it again

chorus
So you sit down and talk it out, nearily clearily
Can’t lose your home nor the love you hold dear
You speak, then he speaks, not hearing each other
And then stumble home, blinded by fear
chorus
It rains in the night and it drums on the windowsills
Gales through the trees and you’re all on your own
It’s clear now you’ll move with him, go with him, stay with him
This is the place that you’ll always call home.
chorus
Turn ye to me

The tune comes from a traditional Hebridean song, and I learnt it from a children’s songbook in 1997. These words are my own (apart from the last line of the chorus, which is from the original). The original song was also sung in the ‘70s by The Corries.

Track 13: A Jug of This
Trad arr. B Jones

Ye mariners all as you pass by
Come in and drink if you are dry
Just call your drinks and think not amiss
And stick your nose in a jug of this
Ye tipplers all if you’ve half a crown
You’re welcome all for to sit down
Just call your drinks and think not amiss
And stick your nose in a jug of this
My father told me when I was small
Now you drink this son or not at all
He held me up my hand in his
And let me taste a jug of this
When I am old and can scarcely grow
With a long grey beard and a head that’s bald
Crown my desire and fulfil my wish
A pretty young girl and a jug of this
When I am in my grave and dead
And all my sorrows are past and fled
Transform me then into a fish
And let me swim in a jug of this

Learnt in 1998 from The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem songbook, published by Oak Publications. Third verse added by me.