Origins: William Taylor

Subject: William Taylor...
From: Laurel Grace
Date: 04 Dec 98 - 08:02 PM

I was wondering if anyone could post the entire lyrics to the Celtic song "William Taylor"? I have the 1st 2 verses. This would be much appreciated.

Laurel

Subject: RE: William Taylor...
From: Bruce O.
Date: 04 Dec 98 - 09:29 PM

It's in English not Gaelic. It's Laws' N11, and as "Billy Taylor" in DT.

Subject: RE: William Taylor...
From: Ewan McV
Date: 05 Dec 98 - 06:14 AM

More good lyrics and good tunes exist for this song than most I've met. Hope you find the one you want!

Subject: RE: William Taylor...
From: Big Mick
Date: 05 Dec 98 - 09:46 AM

Which Gaelic????

Slan go foill,

Mick

Subject: Lyr Add: WILLIAM TAYLOR
From: Philippa
Date: 05 Dec 98 - 10:03 AM

There’s several songs featuring Willy Taylor. Here's one:

William Taylor was a brisk young sailor,
He who courted a lady fair;
Bells were ringing, sailors singing,
As to church they did repair.

Thirty couple at the wedding;
All were dress'd in rich array;
'Stead of William being married,
He was press'd and sent away.

She dress'd up in man's apparel,
Man's apparel she put on;
And she follow'd her true lover;
For to find him she is gone.

Then the Captain stepp'd up to her,
Asking her: What's brought you here?
I am come to seek my true love,
Whom I lately loved so dear.

If you've come to see your true love,
Tell me what his name may be.
O, his name is William Taylor,
From the Irish ranks came he.

You rise early tomorrow morning,
You rise at the break of day;
There you'll see your true love William
Walking with a lady gay.

She rose early the very next morning,
She rose up at the break of day;
There she saw her true love William;
Walking with a lady gay.

Sword and pistol she then order'd
To be brought at her command;
And she shot her true love William,
With the bride on his right arm.

If young folks in Wells or London
Were served the same as she served he,
Then young girls would all be undone,
Very scarce young men would be!

From One Hundred English Folksongs (For Medium Voice) Edited by Cecil J. Sharp, Dover
Publications, Inc., New York 1916, 1944, 1975.

HTML line breaks added. --JoeClone, 9-Mar-02.

Subject: Lyr Add: (partial) WILLIE TAYLOR
From: Liam's Brother
Date: 05 Dec 98 - 10:28 AM

Hi Laurel Grace!

You always have to be careful when you ask for THE words to a folk song. The nature of folk song is that there is never A set of words. Here a case in point...

Willie Taylor, a brisk young sailor full of love and youthful air,
At length his mind he did discover to a charming lady fair.

Then to the church for to get married, dressed they were in rich array,
But instead of getting married, pressed he was and sent to sea.

Now she has a mind to follow after, first to England and France and Spain,
Should she live on bread and water until she returns again.

Now in shipboard she has entered under the name of Richard Kerr,
With her lily white fingers small and slender all now smeared by pitch and tar...

If this is your Willie Taylor, let me know and I'll put down the rest.

All the best.

Subject: RE: William Taylor...
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 05 Dec 98 - 11:49 AM

Dan- Even if it isn't the version she's seeking, post the rest anyway.

Subject: Lyr Add: WILLIE TAYLOR
From: Liam's Brother
Date: 06 Dec 98 - 02:14 PM

Willie Taylor, a brisk young sailor
Full of love and youthful air
At length his mind he did discover
To a charming lady fair.

CH: Fol da deedle, lairo, lairo, lairo
Fol da deedle, lairo, lairo, lee
Fol da deedle, lairo, lairo, lairo
Fol da deedle, lairo, lairo, lee.

Then to the church for to get married
Dressed they were in rich array
But instead of getting married
Pressed he was and sent to sea.

Now she has a mind to follow after
First to England and France and Spain
Should she live on bread and water
Until she returns again.

Now in shipboard she has entered
Under the name of Richard Kerr
With her lily white fingers small and slender
All now smeared by pitch and tar.

There was a scrimmage upon shipboard
She was there among the rest
Her silver buckles they flew open
And they spied she was a lady dressed.

"Lady, lady," says the captain
"What misfortune brought you here?"
"Indeed, kind sir, it was my lover
Pressed he was and sent to sea.

"If Willie Taylor be your lover
He is a boy I know right well
And he has got married to a rich lady
In the Isle of Man where they do dwell."

She rung her hands and tore her hair
And overboard herself would throw
Saying, my curse light upon you, Taylor
You are the cause of all my woe."

"Lady, lady," says the captain,
"Of your weeping now refrain
You shall be a captain's lady
And Willie Taylor your servant's name.

"If you rise early in the morning
And walk down the silvery sand
You shall see your Willie Taylor
Walking his lady on the strand."

She rose early in the morning
Early by the break of day
And there she spied her Willie Taylor
Walking with his lady gay.

Then she called for sword and pistol
Both of these at her command
She fired and shot false Willie Taylor
And left the new bride on the strand.

For you, Dick Greenhaus... from the Sam Henry collection. Sorry, I was double-parked next to an ambulance yesterday.

All the best,
Dan

HTML line breaks added, in place of ‘/’. --JoeClone, 9-Mar-02.

Subject: RE: William Taylor...
From: Jon W.
Date: 07 Dec 98 - 10:38 AM

And there's this version in the DT already.

Subject: RE: William Taylor...
From: Laurel
Date: 14 Dec 98 - 06:02 PM

Thanks.

Subject: RE: William Taylor...
From: Bobby Bob, Ellan Vannin
Date: 15 Dec 98 - 07:15 PM

I've stuck this in a thread before, but the female vocalists in the The Mollag Band (an excellent group of musicians and singers in Ellan Vannin) had a streamlined version which sums up the whole thing very pithily -

Willy was a stupid bastard, Not a brain-cell in his head. Left his true love for another. She came back and shot him dead.

l've also previously mentioned that several versions link the song with the Isle of Man (Ellan Vannin). Either Willy and his lover came from the Island, or the Commander was so impressed with the true love's firm action that he makes her the captain or commander of a vessel either for or from the Isle of Man.

Shoh slaynt,

Bobby Bob

Subject: Lyr Add: WILLIAM TAYLOR
From: Wolfgang
Date: 18 Feb 00 - 04:35 AM

Martin Carthy sings a fairly different version of this song on his LP Shearwater. Different enough for posting. Since there are no notes on the record, I do not know where Martin Carthy found this version.

Wolfgang

WILLIAM TAYLOR

I'll sing you a song of two young lovers
all from Lichfield town they came,
oh, the young man's name was William Taylor,
Sarah (Sally?) Gray was the maiden's name.

William Taylor he has enlisted,
for a soldier he has gone,
and he's gone and he's left his own true lover
for to sigh and for to moan.

Sally's parents they abused her,
filled her heart with much grief and woe,
and for to seek young William Taylor
for a soldier she would go.

She dressed herself in men's apparel,
men's apparel she put on,
and for to seek young William Taylor
for a soldier she has gone.

One day as she was exercising,
exercising one, two three, all with the rest,
oh, a silver chain fell down from her waistcoat
and exposed a lily-white breast.

She sergeant he stepped up to her,
he asked her: „Young Lady, what brings you here?"
„Oh, I come in search of William Taylor,
who was pressed from me last year."

„Oh, if you come in search of William Taylor,
William Taylor, he's not here.
For I do hear that he's been married
to some lovely lady fair.

„And if you rise early in the morning,
early at the break of day,
oh, it's there you see your William Taylor
walking out with the ladies gay."

So she rose early in the morning,
early at the break of the very next day,
and it's there she's seen her William Taylor
walking out with the ladies gay.

She has called for a brace of pistols,
a brace of pistols was brought all there to her hand,
and she's shot William Taylor
with his bride at his right hand.

Subject: RE: William Taylor...
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 18 Feb 00 - 02:31 PM

There were sleevenotes with the original (vinyl, 1972) release of Shearwater, though for some unknown reason they are replaced in the CD insert (1991) with a piece about Carthy by Maggie Holland and John Tobler.  About his version of William Taylor, Carthy has this to say:

"Of all the traditional singers I have listened to, I think my favourite is still Joseph Taylor of Saxby-all-Saints, Lincs.  A few years ago, Patrick O'Shaughnessy of the Lincolnshire Association gave me a copy of a tape of his singing, and it has proved the steadiest source of inspiration.  The song William Taylor comes originally from him, although with thinking about it and singing it to myself, a few little variations in the melody have come in.  Some sets of the song have the last verse:

If all young men in Wells and London
Used young girls like he used she
Then all young girls would never marry
Very scarce young men would be."

Malcolm

Subject: RE: William Taylor...
From: Wolfgang
Date: 20 Feb 00 - 10:26 AM

Malcolm, thanks for that lovely surprise of adding Martin Carthy's notes. I have a vinyl without notes, must be a different issue. It's a pity for Carthy's notes are nearly always informative.

Wolfgang

Subject: Lyr Add: WILLIAM TAYLOR
From: Alice
Date: 28 Jul 01 - 10:57 PM

Patrick Street recorded this with the title William Taylor. Here are the lyrics as I transcribed them from listening to the CD.

WILLIAM TAYLOR

William Taylor was a brisk young sailor
Full of heart and full of play,
Until his mind he did uncover
To a youthful lady gay.
Four and twenty British sailors
Met him on the King's highway,
As he went for to be married
Pressed he was and sent away.

cho.
Fall dereedle dum, a dare eye dither oh
Fall dereedle dum, dum a dare eye day.
Fall dereedle dum, a dare eye dither oh
Fall dereedle dum, dum a dare eye day.

Sailor's clothing she put on
And she went on board a man of war
Her pretty little fingers long and slender
They were smeared with pitch and tar.
In that ship there was a battle
She amongst the rest did fight
The wind blew off her silver buttons
Breasts were bared all snowy white.

cho.

When the captain did discover
He says, "Fair maid what brought you here?"
"Sir, I'm seeking William Taylor,
Pressed he was by you last year."
"If you rise up in the morning,
Early at the break of day,
There you'll spy young William Taylor
Walking with his lady gay."

cho.

She rose early in the morning,
Early at the break day,
There she spied young William Taylor
Walking with his lady gay.
She procured a pair of pistols,
On the ground where she did stand
There she shot poor William Taylor
And the lady at his right hand.

cho.

Performed by Patrick Street, on a Green Linnet recording with Kevin Burke, Jackie Daly, Andy Irvine, Arty McGlynn, and Edna Walsh.

Alice

Subject: RE: William Taylor...
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 28 Jul 01 - 11:01 PM

Could you give us the tune they used?

Subject: RE: William Taylor...
From: Alice
Date: 29 Jul 01 - 10:47 AM

Go to www.cdnow.com and search for Patrick Street. There is an audio file of William Taylor on his CDs called "Compendium Best of Patrick Street" and "Vol 2. Patrick Street". Try the "Best of" first - there are three types of audio files there and only windows media on the Vol 2 track.

Alice

Subject: RE: William Taylor...
From: Alice
Date: 29 Jul 01 - 10:54 AM

Correction on keyboards - ENDA Walsh, not Edna - just noticed my typo. Here is a page from CD now that describes the changing performers that have made up the band Patrick Street:

---------------

Patrick Street is comprised of some of Ireland's most accomplished musicians. Formed in Dublin in 1986, the current group includes fiddler Kevin Burke (the Bothy Band), bouzouki player and vocalist Andy Irvine (Sweeney's Men, Planxty), button accordionist Jackie Daly (DeDanaan) and guitarist Ged Foley (the Battlefield Band, The House Band). Previous members include guitarists Arty McGlynn (Van Morrison, Planxty) and Gerry O'Beirne and Uillean pipe and keyboard player Declan Masterson. Patrick Street's self-titled debut album was produced by multi-instrumentalist Donal Lunny (Planxty, the Bothy Band, Moving Hearts). Burke, Irvine, Daly and O'Beirne first came together to tour the United States as "Legends Of Irish Music". The enthusiastic reception that they received encouraged them to make the band more permanent. Taking the name "Patrick Street", the four musicians recorded four albums and toured the United States five times between 1987 and 1993. In the Fall of 1994, O'Beirne was replaced by Foley and Patrick Street joined with French Canadian band, La Boutine Sorriente, for a tour of New England. While much of Patrick Street's repertoire is traditional Irish music, the group has recorded original tunes by Irvine, Daly and O'Beirne, as well as tunes by Si Kahn, Woody Guthrie, Andy Mitchell, Dave Richardson and Colum Sands. The core quartet of Patrick Street has been augmented by additional musicians on several albums. Donal Lunny played keyboard and bodhran on the group's first album. Enda Walsh played keyboards on their second effort, No. 2 Patrick Street. Patrick Street's third album, 3 Irish Times 3, featured the group's largest arrangements with the addition of Declan Masterson (Uillean pipes, low whistle, keyboards) and Bill Whelan (keyboards). The producer of Patrick Street's 1993 recording, All In Good Time, Whelan played keyboards and sang background vocals on the album. ~ Craig Harris, All Music Guide

---------

Alice

Subject: RE: William Taylor...
From: GeorgeH
Date: 30 Jul 01 - 06:40 AM

It's another of those songs where June Tabor sings my favourite version . . I thought I'd posted the words to her version here sometime (but it might have been over on Usenet!).

She use to swear she sung the song for the delight of the lines:

She rose and shot her false willie
and the bride at his right hand

(note to USians - willie is also a familiar term for the male sex organ . . . )

G.

Subject: RE: William Taylor...
From: The Shambles
Date: 30 Jul 01 - 02:28 PM

I have always liked the "brisk young sailor", line but I am not too sure what one is? Did he just move fast?

Subject: RE: William Taylor...
From: Alice
Date: 30 Jul 01 - 09:07 PM

Maybe he was fast at putting the moves on the ladies?

Subject: RE: William Taylor...
From: Den
Date: 30 Jul 01 - 10:06 PM

Alice, Enda would not be happy, as he is a very (as I remember him) Male, talented keyboard player. He was working with the "Homestead" boys (recording studio)last I heard up in "Ahoghill". Now try and pronounce that one. Den

Subject: RE: William Taylor...
From: Alice
Date: 30 Jul 01 - 10:28 PM

I'll write it a hundred times Enda, Enda, Enda,.... so I won't slip up again on that one again.

Subject: RE: William Taylor...
From: Phil Cooper
Date: 31 Jul 01 - 03:33 PM

There's also a William Taylor song Dave Burland sang, not related to the about mentioned song. Last verse goes something like: William Taylor was hanged on the gallows so high/his body was quartered/and a grave was denied/you who go poaching with dog, gun and snare/Of the fate of young Taylor, I'd have you beware.

Subject: RE: William Taylor...
From: pavane
Date: 01 Aug 01 - 03:05 AM

This image may be of interest, as it contains no less that three versions of the song, the oldest of which, judging from the use of the 'long S' character, is called 'The Female Lieutenant, or The Faithless Lover Rewarded' WIlliam Taylor

Subject: RE: William Taylor...
From: pavane
Date: 01 Aug 01 - 03:14 AM

Just looking again at the Bodley collection, all of the apparently oldest versions of Billy Taylor/William Taylor (including one dated 1804) say the lady is made the commander of a ship called 'Thunder Bomb'. I wonder if this was a real and traceable ship?

Subject: RE: William Taylor...
From: GUEST,chrisj
Date: 01 Aug 01 - 03:56 AM

The Mudcat at its best! This is a glorious thread, full of information, asides, tangents, non sequiters, etc, but always coming back to the topic again. More power to your collective elbow!!!

Subject: RE: William Taylor...
From: The Shambles
Date: 01 Aug 01 - 02:14 PM

Thunder Bomb.

Interesting. Is this the vessel I wonder? What think you?

Subject: RE: William Taylor...
From: Alice
Date: 01 Aug 01 - 03:33 PM

Wow. That is interesting. The version Patrick Street did refers to a 'man of war' and the early one Pavane linked to says the 'Thunder Bomb'. Interesting bit you turned up on that page about the Thunder Bomb, Shambles.

Alice

Subject: RE: William Taylor...
From: pavane
Date: 01 Aug 01 - 06:43 PM

Brilliant

Subject: RE: William Taylor...
From: GUEST,Roberto
Date: 02 Aug 01 - 05:47 AM

In a previous thread I had asked if someone could give the text of Robin Williamson's version of William Taylor, but could not get it. I try again now. I mean the version Robin Williamson sings in Job of Journeyman. Thank you. Roberto Campo

Subject: RE: William Taylor...
From: pavane
Date: 06 Aug 01 - 04:01 AM

The folks at the Thunder Bomb site were well pleased to find a traditional song which mentioned 'their' ship by name!

Subject: Lyr Add: WILLY TAYLOR
From: Fiolar
Date: 07 Aug 01 - 07:44 AM

Here is a version sung a group called "The Voice Squad." It seems slightly different to the others posted.

WILLY TAYLOR

Willy Taylor and his youthful lover,
Full of mirth and loyalty;
They were going to the church to be married,
He was pressed and sent to sea.

Chorus:
Dally, Dilly Dum, Dilly Dum Dum Dum Dum
Dally, Dilly Dum, Dilly Dum Dum Day.

She dressed herself up like a sailor.
On her breast she wore a star.
Her beautiful fingers long and slender,
She gave them just a smear of tar.

Chorus

On the ship there being a skirmish,
She being one amongst the rest.
Silver button flew off her jacket,
There appeared her snow white breast.

Chorus

Says the captain to this fair maid
"What misfortune has took you here?"
"I'm in search of my true lover,
Whom you pressed on the other year."

Chorus

"If you're in search of your true lover,
Pray come tell to me his name."
"Willy Taylor they do call him,
But FitzGerald is his name."

Chorus

"Let you get up tomorrow morning,
Early at the break of day.
There you'll find your Willy Taylor,
Walking along with his lady gay."

Chorus

She got up the very next morning,
Early at the break of day.
There she spied her Willy Taylor,
Walking along with his lady gay.

Chorus

She drew out a brace of pistols,
That she had at her command;
There she shot her Willy Taylor,
With his bride at his right hand.

Chorus

When the captain came to hear it,
Of the deed that she had done.
He made her a ship's commander,
Over a vessel for the Isle of Man.

Chorus

Subject: RE: William Taylor...
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 07 Aug 01 - 11:02 AM

Do you happen to know what their source was for that set?

Subject: RE: William Taylor...
From: Fiolar
Date: 07 Aug 01 - 12:35 PM

Sorry. It's the only recording I have by this group.

Subject: RE: William Taylor...
From: IanC
Date: 07 Aug 01 - 12:46 PM

Malcolm

This is what it says on "The Voice Squad" CD here.

Willie Taylor

Is this an early example of a women's liberation song? Of English origin, it owes its widespread distribution in the Irish tradition to the ballad-mongers. The source for this version was a remarkable singer called Pa Cassidy, form the village of Louth, in the county of Louth, whom I first recorded in 1971. He was 90 years young when this song was collected from him by Paddy Carolan and Liz McArdle, of Drogheda.

Cheers!
Ian

Subject: RE: William Taylor...
From: Fiolar
Date: 07 Aug 01 - 01:26 PM

Try the site
www.taramusic.com
click on artists and follow the links to Phil Callery.

Subject: RE: William Taylor...
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 07 Aug 01 - 01:56 PM

Thanks, Ian!  It's good to have Fiolar's contribution set in the context of its traditional source.  Now, does anybody fancy posting the tune used?

Subject: Lyr Add: BOLD WILLIAM TAYLOR
From: Stewie
Date: 07 Aug 01 - 08:43 PM

The Dransfields did a version of this song on 'Lord of All I Behold', one of those great albums still in the clutches of the dreaded Bulmer. It is similar to the Carthy version posted above by Wolfgang, but I reckon the numerous minor textual variations and different ending warrant its posting. Unfortunately, no source is given.

BOLD WILLIAM TAYLOR

I'll tell you a story about two lovers
O from Lichfield town they came
The young man's name was William Taylor
Sally Gray was the maiden's name

William Taylor he is listed
For a soldier he is gone
He has left his own true lover
For to sigh and for to mourn

Sally's parents they did despise
Filled her heart with grief and woe
And then at last she vowed and promised
For a soldier she would go

So she dressed herself in man's apparel
Man's apparel she put on
Then off to seek Bold William Taylor
For to seek him she has gone

One day as she was exercising
Exercising, one, two, three
A silver chain pulled down her waiscoat
And exposed her lilywhite breast

So the sergeant-major he stepped up to her
Asking what brought her here
I've come to seek my own true lover
Who has proved to me severe

Well, if you've come to seek your own true lover
I pray you tell to me his name
His name it is Bold William Taylor
And from Lichfield town he came

Well, if his name be William Taylor
William Taylor he is not here
He's lately married a rich young lady
Worth ten thousand pounds a year

If you rise early in the morning
Just before the break of day
It's there you'll spy Bold William Taylor
Walking out with his lady gay

So she rose early in the morning
Just before the break of day
And there she spied Bold William Taylor
Walking out with his lady gay

So then she's called for a sword and pistol
That was brought at her command
She fired and shot Bold William Taylor
With his bride at his right hand

Well then the captain he stepped up to her
Pleased well at what she had done
He took her and made her a bold commander
Of a ship and all the men

Source: Robin and Barry Dransfield 'Lord of All I Behold' Trailer LER 2026 (1971).

--Stewie.