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Canow Kernow

Canow Kernow

Inglis Gundry (editor),
Canow Kernow.
Songs and Dances From Cornwall.
Redruth: Truran Publications, 1966

The Songs

The songs are referenced by page numbers.

  1. Joan Sanderson, or The Cushion Dance
    an old round dance, from a collection called The Dancing Master. Davies Gilbert: Some Ancient Christmas Carols, 2nd ed. 1823
  2. The Three Sisters (Roud 161; Child 1)
    from Davies Gilbert: Some Ancient Christmas Carols, 2nd ed. 1823
  3. The Three Knights (Roud 26; Child 11)
    from Davies Gilbert: Some Ancient Christmas Carols, 2nd ed. 1823
  4. The Husbandman and the Serving Man (Roud 873)
    an ancient dialogue, from Davies Gilbert: Some Ancient Christmas Carols, 2nd ed. 1823
  5. The Helston Furry Dance, or Flora
    a) as published by Davies Gilbert in 1823 under the title The Helston Foray,
    b) as given by Baring-Gould (Songs of the West), “sent by J. Matthews, S. Austell, as taken down by him at Helston, 1888”,
    c) an impression of the dance as it is performed to-day,
    d) as sung outside Helston, by the Skinners Bottom Glee Singers, Redruth. Recorded by Peter Kennedy for the BBC, Nov. 1956
  6. Bodmin Riding March
    as remembered by W.J.P. Burton, from Old Cornwall, October 1927
  7. The Hal-an-Tow (Roud 1520)
    a) as sung at Helston, 1962, communicated by R.E. Cleak and R.G. Jenkin,
    b) a children’s version of verse 3, recorded some years ago by the BBC,
    c) The Hal-an-tow, or Furry-day Song Tune, as published by William Sandys: Specimens of Cornish Provincial Dialect, 1846
  8. The Padstow May Day Song (Roud 305)
    a) as taken down in 1860 at Padstow by B.H. Watts; reprinted from Baring-Gould’s papers,
    b) as taken down by Baring-Gould himself, “from the man who dances the Hobby Horse”
    c) as published in the Journal of the Royal Institute of Cornwall, 1912-13,
    d) as noted by Cecil J. Sharp, 1 May 1914, “sung by the Villagers of Padstow”
    e) Mr Tonkin’s version as sung 1 May 1928, from Dunstan’s Cornish Song Book,
    f) as collected by Inglis Cundry at Padstow, 1 May 1962,
    g) an impression of the two songs as performed at Padstow, 1 May 1962 (Blue Ribbon version)
  9. Carol for Twelfth Day (Roud 3312)
    from a MS of Cornish Carols compiled for Davies Gilbert by John Hutchens about 1826
  10. The Siege of St Malo (Roud 3309)
    taken down by Baring-Gould and H. Fleetwood Shephard from J. Peake, Liskeard, May 1981
  11. Sweet Nightingale (Roud 371)
    melody given to Baring-Gould by E.F. Stevens, St Ives; words from Bell’s Ancient Poems, 1957
  12. The Egloshayle Ringers (Roud 1163)
    as collected by Baring-Gould “from John Martyn, shoemaker, Milton Abbott, who learnt it from his wife’s uncle, who died in 1868 and was a ringer of St Kew”
  13. The Streams of Lovely Nancy (Roud 688; Henry H520)
    melody from James Oliver of Launceston, by F.W. Bussell, May 1889; words from a broadside version by Keys of Devonport, as quoted in Baring-Gould’s papers
  14. The Herring’s Head (Roud 128; TYG 31)
    taken down by Baring-Gould and H. Fleetwood Shephard, June 1890, from J. Olver, tanner of Launceston, “who learned it in 1810 from Jan and Tom Hire, two old men of Liskeard”
  15. Harvest Song (Roud 310)
    taken down by Baring-Gould and H. Fleetwood Shephard from John Rickards, June 1889
  16. The Oxen Ploughing (Roud 686)
    taken down by Baring-Gould and F.W. Bussell from Joseph Dyer, Mawgan in Pyder
  17. Toby (Roud 3310)
    in the Baring-Gould Collection, from Matthew Ford, cobbler, Menheniot, April 1891
  18. Where Are You Going? (Roud 298)
    taken down by Baring-Gould and H. Fleetwood Shephard from James Olver, tanner of Launceston
  19. One Evening So Clear (Roud 3311)
    melody taken down by H. Fleetwood Shephard from J. Peake, Liskeard 1891, who learned it “from a W. Cornish miner in 1840”; words taken down by Baring-Gould from Will Huggins, stonemason, of Lydford, November 1888
  20. The Highwayman (Roud 490; Laws L12; G/D 2:260; Henry H691)
    taken down by Baring-Gould Bussell from Sam Gilbert, landlord of the Falcon, Mawgan in Pyder, 6 July 1891
  21. Limadie (Roud 193)
    song from Mawgan, found in the papers of the late Grand Bard, Morton Nance, at Truro Museum
  22. Rogue’s March
    by Peter B. of Camborne, c. 1819
  23. The Trees They Are So High (Roud 31; Laws O35)
    as recollected by W.E. Nance, Penarth, from the crooning of “old women knitting or mending nets” at Padstow
  24. I Love My Love (Roud 578)
    tune noted by E. Quintrell from J. Boaden (who learnt it from Mr Curry of Helston) at Cury Cross Lanes, May 1905 (J.F.S.S. No. 7, p. 93). Words forgotten, but believed by Miss L.E. Broadwood to have been those given here, which come from an old garland in the British Museum
  25. O, What Is That Upon Thy Head? (Roud 3308)
    noted (first verse only) at Nancledra, c. 1852, by Joseph White and communicated to Dr. George Gardiner. January 1905 (J.F.S.S. No. 7, p. 94)
  26. Huntsman’s Song (Roud 190)
    melody noted by Stanley Parson from Mr Burns (aged 61) at Launceston, April 1905 (J.F.S.S. No. 7, p. 103)
  27. Times Are Hard (Roud 2697)
    noted by H.E. Piggott from Mrs. Paul at Penponds, Camborne August 1915 (J.F.S.S. No. 24, p. 321)
  28. Dilly Song (Roud 133)
    as sung by H.E. Piggott and Evelyn Redman, 1941. Recorded by the BBC. Collected by H.E. Piggott from James Alexander Osborne at Treliske, near Truro, about 1910.
  29. The Twelve Days of Christmas (Roud 68; G/D 3:637)
    noted by Cecil Sharp from Mrs. Hezeltine (ages 73) at Camborne, 2 May 1913 (J.F.S.S. No. 20, p. 279)
  30. The Banks of the Newfoundland (Roud 1812; Laws K25)
    noted by J.E. Thomas from John Farr, Gwithian, 6 December 1926 (J.F.S.S. No. 32, p. 99)
  31. Lowlands Away (Roud 681; Henry H469)
    noted by J.E. Thomas from John Farr, Gwithian, 7 February 1927 (J.F.S.S. No. 32, p. 97)
  32. Sally Brown (Roud 2628)
    noted by J.E. Thomas from John Farr (aged 76), Gwithian, 6 December 1926 (J.F.S.S. No. 32, p. 97)
  33. Mister Stormalong (Roud 216)
    noted by J.E. Thomas from John Farr, Gwithian, 25 January 1926 (J.F.S.S. No. 32, p. 98)
  34. Heave Away, My Johnny (Roud 616)
    melody and first verse noted by J.E. Thomas from John Farr, Gwithian, 10 January 1926 (J.F.S.S. No. 32, p. 98)
  35. Smuggler’s Song (Roud 3305)
    Ralph Dunstan collected this “Smuggler’s Song or Shanty” from Capt. T. Collett of Polglaze, Perrancoombe, 25 December 1929, who learnt it from “Capp’n Jack”, a bargee working from Devoran, in 1964, who was then about 70.
  36. Seventeen Come Sunday (Roud 277; Laws O17)
    collected by W.D. Watson, Redruth. Cornish translation by E.G. Retallack Hooper and the editor
  37. The Green Cockade (Roud 191; TYG 2)
    collected by James Thomas and Tom Miners from an old lady in Troon, Camborne, 1924. Cornish translation by Talek (E.G.R. Hooper)
  38. Crowdy Crawn:
    A Cornish Ox-Driver’s Song from Dunstan’s Cornish Song Book /
    Children’s Snail-Race Song as recalled by W.D. Watson (Old Cornwall, 1957) /
    A Cradle Song /
    Harvey Darvey a Children’s Singing game, as remembered by R.J. Noall /
    The Pasty-Seller’s Song as recalled by M.H.N. Cuthbert Atchley (Old Cornwall, summer 1936)
  39. A Stratton Carol of the Months (Roud 1954)
    communicated by Ethel Jewell from Grace English, who remembered it sung by Lizzie Kempthorne (Old Cornwall, winter 1936)
  40. Three-Handed Reel
    communicated by W. Arthur Pascoe (Old Cornwall, April 1929)
  41. The Frog and the Mouse (Roud 16; G/D 8:1669)
    (as remembered by Mrs K. Richards, St. Ives (the tune in the treble) and by H. Rowe, Falmouth (the tune in the bass) (Old Cornwall, summer 1939)
  42. Crantock Games (Roud 3318)
    communicated by A.O. Crowle (Old Cornwall, winter 1939)
  43. Cornish Girls (Roud 3319)
    communicated by W. Arthur Pascoe who remembered it “commonly sung in the village inn at St. Neot 70 years ago by the patrons, mostly miners and farm labourers.”
  44. Drinking Song (Roud 1252)
    as remembered by W. Arthur Pascoe (first verse only). The second verse, from a stanza in Bottrell, was added by the Editor
  45. Chase the Buffalo (Roud 1026; G/D 6:1103)
    as remembered by W. Arthur Pascoe
  46. The Old Grey Duck (Roud 3302)
    as sung at Pendeen, November 1956; recorded by Peter Kennedy
  47. The Sailor’s Alphabet (Roud 21100)
    sung by Billy Barber at Cadgwith, 1956; recorded by Peter Kennedy for the BBC
  48. Going Up Camborne Hill, Coming Down (Roud 3102)
    as sung by Skinners Bottom Glee Singers, Redruth, 1956; recorded by Peter Kennedy
  49. Miner’s Song (Roud 3317)
    as sung by Skinners Bottom Glee Singers, Redruth, 1956; recorded by Peter Kennedy
  50. Trelawney (Roud 3315)
    words from Dixon’s Ancient Poems, Ballads, etc. 1846
  51. Wheal Rodney (Roud 3316)
    to the same tune as above
  52. Wassail Song (Roud 209)
    sung by Joe Thomas, Constantine, Helston, 22 November 1956; recorded by Peter Kennedy for the BBC
  53. The Tree on the Hill (Roud 129; G/D 8:1668)
    sung by J. Casley, Morvah, 19 November 1956; recorded by Peter Kennedy for the BBC
  54. Joe Muggins (Roud 847)
    sung by Bill Cameron (Senr.), St. Mary;s, Scilly, 26 November 1956; recorded by Peter Kennedy for the BBC
  55. The Fox (Roud 131; G/D 3:499; Henry H38)
    sung by Cyril Biddick with accordion, at Boscastle, 1956; recorded by Peter Kennedy
  56. The Robber’s Retreat (The Cadgwith Anthem) (Roud 3314)
    sung by a group of local fishermen at Cagdwith, 1956; recorded by Peter Kennedy
  57. Go Your Ways, Green Leaves
  58. Carol for Candlemas (Roud 23783)