RUE - (Humphreys/Trad - re-written Bliss)

There are two ways of treating trad songs - the archeologist’s approach and the reconstructer's approach. The wonderful Mary Humphreys found parts of various songs that seemed to fit together (as parts of an excavated Roman helmet might do), and she and Anahata presented these on their album Sharp Practice as the lovely “No My Love, Not I (When Fishes Fly).” (see below for the lyric).

Mary explains: "I extended/amended and rearranged the constituent parts (two highly amended verses from Lucy White, a verse from Peacock's Newfoundland collection* and part of a verse from Mrs Overd, plus bits from the Newfoundland Sailor broadside with the sexes reversed - and the rest is pure Humphreys). Cecil Sharp's tune from Lucy White has only been ever-so-slightly fiddled with, so I have declared it as Trad."

TB heard “No My Love, Not I" at Mary and Anahata's Floating Verses workshop in Chippenham 2005, and was captivated by the tune and the story (and Mary's singing)! But as a writer and reconstructer, he noticed a few edges that he felt didn’t fit quite tightly enough together for safe use in battle, and couldn't resist the urge to tinker!

One line he originally considered changing was 'when fishes fly and swallows die,' which jarred at first because the one's impossible and the other's a given - so they contradict each other. But Tom Napper pointed out that in the Olden Days people didn't undertand migration, and so concluded that swallows must be immortal. (The Blackbird and the Song Thrush were codes for male and female genitalia).

Also, having just heard that a friend’s 16-year-old lad had got his 15-year-old girlfriend 'into trouble', and was mortified about it, he found himself having more sympathy for the villain of the song than the original (and its ilk) would allow. (Not every male was a complete b*st*rd back then - surely?)

And so, without really meaning to, he found himself writing this slightly different version.

(In ancient times, rue was used as an abortifact).

With many thanks to Mary and Anahata. Their version is superior in all ways to mine. Blame the lifelong habits of the songwiter! TB

As I walked out one morning, all early in the day

I spied a fair young maid a-walking, gathering sweet may

I begged of her to bed with me, to marry if she do

There's a herb in my father's garden - and some they call it rue

When fishes fly and swallows die - young men will prove true

There's a herb in my father's garden - and some do call it rue

We walked and we talked together, till at length we did agree

To lay upon a bank of ivy, neath a shady tree

The song thrush and the blackbird, in and out the bush they flew

There's a herb in my father's garden - and some do call it rue

When twenty weeks are over, and her stays no longer tie

She writes to me a letter, but to my shame I reply

My family would have none of me, if I should marry you

There's a herb in my father's garden - and some do call it rue

So maybe she went begging with our baby on her hip

Or maybe to the old wise woman, medic for to sip

If I could have my time again, there’s much that I’d not do

There's a herb in my father's garden - and some do call it rue

Recorded on Mixed Moss

NO MY LOVE, NOT I (when Fishes Fly)

As I roved out one morning it was in the month of May

Oh there I spied a fair young maid a-gathering of sweet may

I asked of her to bed with me - I'd marry her by and by

But the answer that she gave me was: O no my love,not I

When fishes fly and swallows die - young men will prove true

There's a herb in my father's garden and some do call it rue

So we walked and we talked together til at length we did agree

To sit down on a mossy bank beneath the shady trees

The blackbirds and the sweet song thrush flew in and out the bush

and the song they sang in chorus was O no my love,not I.

Now twenty weeks being over,she grew thick around the waist

This poor girl she grew pale and wan, her stays they would not lace

Her gown it would not pin my boys her apron strings won't tie

and she rued the day she said to him No my love,not I

So she wrote a letter to her true love to come immediately.

The answer he that sent to her was No my love not I

Supposing I should come to you, on me they'd put the blame

My parents would be angry and friends would me disdain

And all the very best thing I can advise you for to do

Go take your baby on your back - begging you should go

and when that you grow weary you can sit you down and cry

and think on the day you said to me: No my love, not I.

* Kenneth Peacock was also the source for Lady in The East, which TB learned from Newfoundland's Christina Smith and Jean Hewson, who, incidentally, also sing Pride of the Season (which has a very similar story to this) - as, indeed, does Mary - also on the CD Sharp Pracitce!