The title Come All Ye Fair And Tender Maidens (or Ladies) has only been regularly used since the 1960s. Prior to that the song was more commonly known as Little Sparrow. Little Sparrow is thought to be an old song, possibly derived from the Scottish ballads Waly Waly (or O Waly Waly) or Jamie Douglas. Though contemporary versions of Waly Waly are not similar to this song. There is also a related song Sweet Willie.
Joan probably heard it off the first US recording by Peggy Seeger in 1956, off a solo album titled, “Peggy Seeger” or perhaps it heard it on Herta Marshall’s “Folk songs for American Women” in 1957or even Alan Lomax’s “Folksongs of North America”. This is amazing song, because it is the only one I have found where there are 3 thorough discographies, the following being the largest:
On the album “Ballad Roots of Californian Folk”, they concur:
‘Various arrangements exist for this Celtic ballad dating back to the 17th Century, many of which are claimed by songwriters such as A.P. Carter (patriarch of the Carter Family), Bill Hansen (the writer of "Goober Peas"), Clark Gene (no, not the Gene Clark of the Byrds), Jim Ed Brown, and Dave Guard (from the early Kingston Trio). A version with slightly different lyrics, "Let No Man Steal Your Thyme", was covered by Pentangle on its first album, and by June Tabor and others. Cecil Sharp — the English folksong collector who gathered songs in the Appalachian mountains during the period 1916-1918, referred to this song as #118. The title "Come All Ye Fair And Tender Maidens (or Ladies)" has only been regularly used since the 1960s; it was more commonly known as "Little Sparrow".’
I read through that list and so many of the early folk singers are among the names. Of the later ones, I didn't remember Ian and Sylvia had sung it but I remembered PP&M.
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Where did Joanie hear it first?
The title Come All Ye Fair And Tender Maidens (or Ladies) has only been regularly used since the 1960s. Prior to that the song was more commonly known as Little Sparrow. Little Sparrow is thought to be an old song, possibly derived from the Scottish ballads Waly Waly (or O Waly Waly) or Jamie Douglas. Though contemporary versions of Waly Waly are not similar to this song. There is also a related song Sweet Willie.
Joan probably heard it off the first US recording by Peggy Seeger in 1956, off a solo album titled, “Peggy Seeger” or perhaps it heard it on Herta Marshall’s “Folk songs for American Women” in 1957or even Alan Lomax’s “Folksongs of North America”. This is amazing song, because it is the only one I have found where there are 3 thorough discographies, the following being the largest:
http://www.ibiblio.org/folkindex/c09.htm#Comalyef1
On the album “Ballad Roots of Californian Folk”, they concur:
‘Various arrangements exist for this Celtic ballad dating back to the 17th Century, many of which are claimed by songwriters such as A.P. Carter (patriarch of the Carter Family), Bill Hansen (the writer of "Goober Peas"), Clark Gene (no, not the Gene Clark of the Byrds), Jim Ed Brown, and Dave Guard (from the early Kingston Trio). A version with slightly different lyrics, "Let No Man Steal Your Thyme", was covered by Pentangle on its first album, and by June Tabor and others. Cecil Sharp — the English folksong collector who gathered songs in the Appalachian mountains during the period 1916-1918, referred to this song as #118. The title "Come All Ye Fair And Tender Maidens (or Ladies)" has only been regularly used since the 1960s; it was more commonly known as "Little Sparrow".’
Thank you again, sblake
I read through that list and so many of the early folk singers are among the names. Of the later ones, I didn't remember Ian and Sylvia had sung it but I remembered PP&M.
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