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Pleasant and Delightful
Pleasant and Delightful / A Sailor and His True Love
[
Roud 660
; Master title: Pleasant and Delightful
; Laws O30
; TYG 51
; Ballad Index LO30
, DTplesde
; Wiltshire
956
; DT PLESDELT
; Mudcat 87850
, 111698
; trad.]
Velvet Brightwall sang Pleasant and Delightful at The Eel’s Foot in a recording made by A.L. Lloyd that was broadcast on the BBC on 21 July 1939 in a programme titled “Saturday Night at the Eel’s Foot”. This programme’s recordings were included in 2000 on the Veteran anthology of traditional singing and music from The Eel’s Foot, Good Order! Ladies and Gentlemen Please.
William Miller sang Happy and Delightful in a recording made at the Sutton Windmill by E.J. Moeran that was broadcast on the BBC Third Programme East Anglia Sings in late 1947. This programme was reissued in 2012 on the Snatch’d From Oblivion CD East Anglia Sings.
Arthur Smith sang The Sailor and His True Love at The Ship Inn, Blaxhall, on 10 October 1953. This Peter Kennedy recording was included in 2014 on the Topic anthology The Barley Mow (The Voice of the People Volume 26).
Harry Cox sang Charming and Delightful to Peter Kennedy in London in December 1953. This recording was included in 2000 on Cox’s Rounder anthology What Will Become of England?.
Sam Larner sang Happy and Delightful in a recording by Ewan MacColl and Peggy Seeger made in 1958-60. This was published in 1961 on his Folkways Records album Now Is the Time for Fishing (re-released in 2000 on CD on the Topic label). and was included in 2014 on Larner’s Musical Traditions anthology Cruising Round Yarmouth.
George Townshend of Lewes, Sussex, sang Pleasant and Delightful in 1960 to Ken Stubbs and in ca. 1961 to Brian Matthews. Both recordings were included in 2012 on his Musical Traditions anthology Come, Hand to Me the Glass. Brian Matthews and Rod Stradling commented in the accompanying booklet:
This song may be of quite recent origin, since almost half of the known examples are sound recordings, and there’s only one broadside printing. On the other hand, there’s an older and widely printed broadside Jimmy and his True Love, which might well be an earlier version—or it may just be a song with universal appeal and a good chorus that people still enjoy singing. Of the 40 or so instances in Roud, most are from the south west of England or East Anglia—though Gavin Greig collected a dozen examples in Scotland in the early years of last century. No other Sussex version has been collected.
Jumbo Brightwell sang Pleasant and Delightful in a recording made by Neil Lanham at the Crown Inn in Snape, Suffolk, in the 1960s. It was included in c.2000 on the Helios Bumpstead anthology Songs From the Singing Tradition of Snape Crown (Voice of Suffolk Vol. 9).
Louis Killen sang Pleasant and Delightful in a midnight folk concert in London in May 1963 that was recorded by Decca for the LP Hootenanny in London. He recorded it again in 1968 for his 1973 LP Sea Chanteys and he and Sally Killen sang Pleasant and Delightful in 1975 on their LP Bright Shining Morning. Louis Killen noted:
When I was nine years of age my older brothers used to sing the first chorus of this song in three part harmony. Where they got it from I do not know, nor do they remember, but they would sing it “ad nauseam”, me too! It was another sixteen years before I found the rest of the words and tune, sung by Sam Larner of Winterton, Norfolk. Not long after I’d learned it, my friend Paul Carter, now of Bristol, presented me with this tune, to the same set of words, but much sweeter to harmonise.
In 2001, Louis Killen sang this song live at the 22nd Annual Sea Music Festival at Mystic Seaport. And this video shows him in 2008 at the 50th anniversary of The Bridge Folk Club, Newcastle, where he—along with Ray Fisher and Colin Ross—was awarded Gold Badges by the EFDSS for their contribution to Folk Music. This concert was also released on the CD 50 Years of Folk Music in Newcastle.
Charlie Bate of Padstow sang How Pleasant and Delightful in a concert presented by the EFDSS at the Royal Festival Hall, London on 4 June 1965, which was published in the same year on the album Folksound of Britain.
Bob Davenport and the Rakes sang The Soldier and His True Love in 1965 on their eponymous Columbia album Bob Davenport and the Rakes.
Shirley Collins’ sang Pleasant and Delightful as part of her and her sister Dolly’s Song Story which was one half of both of their albums Anthems in Eden (1969) and Amaranth (1976).
The Holme Valley Beagles sang the Castle Hill Anthem at The Stanhope Arms, Dunford Bridge, Yorkshire, on 17 November 1972. This recording was included in 1975 on their Leader album A Fine Hunting Day. The album’s booklet notes:
This highly condensed version of Pleasant and Delightful or The Sailor and His True Love manages to keep the bare outline of the song’s story, but only just. In fact, the variation in the last line of the second verse even gives the old tale a new twist; not even sailors are normally as blatant about their two-timing as this one.
The song is almost always sung in chorus, as here, though Frank Hinchliffe and Arthur Howard sometimes sing it together; when they do, they add a third verse, the one beginning: “Then a ring from her finger she instantly drew”.
Castle Hill is a notable landmark, about two miles south of Huddersfield, which looks out over the Holme Valley and is visible from miles around. On the top is a tower built in 1898/9 to celebrate Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee. No-one in the hunt can explain how or when Castle Hill came to be incorporated into the song’s title.
Bob Scarce sang The Larks They Sang Melodious on 16 November 1973 at The Ship Inn in Blaxhall. This recording was published in the following year as the title track of the Transatlantic album of a “sing-song in a Suffolk pub”, The Larks They Sang Melodious.
Cyril Poacher sang A Sailor and His True Love in a recording made in 1974 by Tony Engle and Keith Summers in the singer’s home, Grove Farm, Blaxhall, Suffolk. It was published in 1975 on his Topic LP of of traditional songs from Suffolk, The Broomfield Wager. and in 1998 on the Topic anthology My Ship Shall Sail the Ocean (The Voice of the People Volume 2). A later recording made by Ginette Dunn in 1975 was included in 2004 on his posthumous Musical Traditions CD Plenty of Thyme. Rod Stradling noted:
Yet another song that Cyril had from Bob Scarce of Blaxhall. A Sailor and His True Love or Pleasant and Delightful as it is often called, is another song that has proved especially popular with East Anglian singers. It was a favourite of the late Sam Larner of Winterton in Norfolk and most of the collected texts are similar to the one used by Henry Parker Such under the title The Blackbirds and Thrushes, though for some reason few traditional singers seem to use Such’s final verse. The song is often called The Larks They Sang Melodious in this area of East Anglia, because the refrain from the first verse is used as a chorus throughout, whereas the refrain is often different for each verse in other parts of the country.
Geoff Ling from Blaxhall sang The Larks They Sang Melodious in a recording made by John Howson on the ca. 1987 Veteran Tape Songs Sung in Suffolk 2 (VT102) and in 2000 on the Veteran anthology CD Songs Sung in Suffolk. John Howson noted:
This is another of Blaxhall Ship’s anthems, and Bob Scarce was first to be recorded singing it there. This song is often known as Pleasant and Delightful and has become a ‘folk-song revival’ standard. It is probably of nineteenth century origins and although there seem to be no broadside examples, it has been collected all over the country. One of the most well-known recordings is by Sam Larner, on the Folkways album Now Is the Time for Fishing. Now on Topic TSCD511 and I have recorded it in Cornwall from Tommy Morrisey and Charlie Pitman (VTC9CD).
Tommy Morrissey and Charlie Pitman of Padstow, Cornwall, sang Pleasant and Delightful on 21 February 1991 to John Howson. This recording was included on the Veteran Tapes cassette Pass Around the Grog (VT122) and in 2004 on the Veteran anthology CD Old Uncle Tom Cobleigh and All. John Howson noted:
The theme of the sailor returning from sea with a ring or other token to enable him to be recognised on his return is a popular one. This song dates back to the early part of the 17th century when it was issued as The Sailor and His True Love by Jennings of Water Lane, off Fleet Street, London. In the Hammond and Gardiner Manuscripts it appears under the same name and was collected from Mrs Barlett, Halstock, Leigh, Dorset in 1906. Although it has been a popular song in the West Country the song was also well known in East Anglia where it became an anthem in both the East Suffolk singing pubs, the Blaxhall Ship and the Eel’s Foot at Eastbridge.
Coope Boyes & Simpson sang Pleasant and Delightful in 1998 on their No Masters CD Hindsight. They noted:
We were once asked (we thought) to join in the chorus for this on a stage with 50 or so Celtic singers and musicians at a festival in Denmark. This was the culmination of an anarchic afternoon in which everyone joined in with everyone else’s performances. When it was time for the song, we were led to a single mic in the middle of the stage and in front of 3000 people the MC announced that Coope Boyes & Simpson would now lead everyone in Pleasant and Delightful. Having not sung it together before there was a sharp intake of breath but, with some very creative sign language we got through it with barely a slip. Having survived that, when it came to recording the album it just had to go on.
Ian Giles sang How Pleasant and Delightful on the 1999 Gift of Music album Folk Music of England.
Dianne Dugaw sang The Larks They Sang Melodious on her 2001 album of fighting and sailing women in song, Dangerous Examples.
Tom and Barbara Brown sang Pleasant and Delightful on their 2002 WildGoose CD Prevailing Winds and on their 2007 WildGoose compilation West Country Night Out. They noted:
Known in different variants throughout England, this song is something of an anthem in the West Country—known also as William & Nancy’s Parting and The Hartland Anthem. Our version came from Charlie Bate of Padstow. It’s a version built for harmony and quite distinct from the more melodic versions from the Eastern counties of England.
Show of Hands sang Pleasant and Delightful live at the Great Hall, Exeter University on 3 December 2009:
Jon Boden sang this song with the title The Larks They Sang Melodious as the midsummer’s day (24 June) 2010 entry to start his project A Folk Song a Day.
Chris Joynes sang It Was Pleasant and Delightful on the 2015 Earth Records anthology of Shirley Collins songs, Shirley Inspired ….
Hannah Sanders sang Pleasant and Delightful in 2015 on her CD Charms Against Sorrow.
Ken Wilson sang Pleasant and Delightful on his 2018 CD Portraits. He noted:
This is one of my all time favourite songs. No ‘pops or squeaky bits’ here—thank you!
The Alt sang The Blackbird and the Thrush on their 2022 album Day Is Come.
Lyrics
Velvet Brightwall sings Pleasant and Delightful
How pleasant and delightful it were mid summer’s morn,
All the fields and the meadows they were covered with corn,
The blackbirds and thrushes sang on every green tree,
And the larks they sang melodious at the dawning of the day.
And the larks they sang melodious (×3) at the dawn of the day.
Said the sailor and his true love as were walking one day,
Said the sailor to his truelove, “I am bound far away,
I am bound to the Indias where the cannons they roar,
I must go and leave my Nancy, she is the girl I adore.
I must go and leave my Nancy (×3), she’s the girl I adore.”
Then the ring from her finger she instantly drew,
Saying, “Take this dearest William and my heart shall go too.”
And while I embraced her, tears from her eyes fell,
Saying, “May I go along with you?”, “Oh no my love, farewell.”
Saying, “May I go along with you?” (×3), “Oh no my love, farewell.”
“Fare you well my lovely Nancy, I no longer can stay,
For a topsails they were hoisted, our anchor’s aweigh.
Our ship lies awaiting for the next flowing tide,
And if ever I return again, I will make you my bride.
And if ever I return again (×3), I’ll make you my bride.”
Arthur Smith sings The Sailor and His True Love
As a sailor and his truelove was walking one day,
Through the fields and the meadows were scattered with hay,
When the blackbirds and the thrushes sung on every green tree,
And the larks they sang melodious at the dawning of the day.
And the larks they sang melodious (×3) at the dawning of the day.
As the sailor and his truelove was walking next day,
Said the sailor to his truelove, “I’m bound far away.
I’m bound for the Indias, where the loud cannons roar.
I must go and leave you, Nancy, you’re the girl that I adore.
I must go and leave you, Nancy, (×3) you’re the girl that I adore.”
Now, the ring from her finger she instantly drew,
Saying, “Take this, dearest William, my heart shall come, too.”
And whilst I [he] embraced her, tears from her eyes fell.
“Oh, may I go along with you?” “Oh, no, my love, farewell.”
“Oh, may I go along with you?” (×3) “Oh, no, my love, farewell.”
“Oh, Nancy, dearest Nancy, no longer I can stay.
Our topsail is hoisted and our anchor’s aweigh,
And the ship she lies waiting for the next flowing tide.
And, if ever I return again, I’ll make you my bride.
And, if ever I return again, (×3) I’ll make you my bride.”
(spoken) That’s all I know.
Sam Larner sings Happy and Delightful
O, I was happy and delightful on one midsummer’s morn.
When the green fields and meadows they were buried with corn;
And the blackbird and thrushes sang on every green tree,
And the larks they sang melodious at the dawn of the day,
And the larks they sang melodious (×3) at the dawn of the day,
Said the sailor to his true love, “I’m bound far away.
I am bound to the East Indies Where the loud cannons roar.
I am bound to the East Indies Where the loud cannons roar,
And I’m going to leave my Nancy, she’s the girl I adore.
And I’m going to leave my Nancy, (×3) she’s the girl I adore.”
Said the sailor to his true love, “I can no longer stay,
For our tops’ls they are hoisted and our anchor is weighed.
Our big ship lays waiting for the next flowing tide,
And if ever I return again I will make you my bride.
And if ever I return again (×3) I will make you my bride.”
Now a ring from her finger she instantly drew.
Saying, “Take this, dearest William And my heart will ho, too.”
And whilst I was embracing her, tears from her eyes fell,
Saying, “May I go along with you?” “O, no, my love, farewell.”
Saying, “May I go along with you?” (×3) “O, no, my love, farewell.”
George Townshend sings Pleasant and Delightful
It was pleasant and delightful one midsummer’s morn,
When the fields and the valleys were covered in corn,
And the blackbirds and the thrushes sings on every green tree,
And the larks they sang melodious (×3) at the dawn of the day.
Said the sailor to his true love, “I am bound far away,
I am bound for the East Indies, I no longer here can stay.
I am bound for the East Indies, where our cannons roar.
I am going to leave my Nancy (×3), she’s the girl I adore.“
A ring from his finger he then instantly drew,
Saying, “Take this, dearest Nancy, and my heart shall go, too.”
And while he embraced her tears from her eyes fell,
Saying, “May I go along with you?” (×3) “Oh no, me love, farewell.”
Said the sailor to his true love, “I no longer here can stay,
For her topsails are hoisted and the anchor is weighed.
Our ships she lays waiting for the next flowing tide.
And if ever I return again (×3) I will make you my bride.”
Louis Killen sings Pleasant and Delightful
It was pleasant and delightful on a midsummer’s morn
And the green fields and the meadows were all covered in corn;
And the blackbirds and thrushes sang on every green spray
And the larks they sang melodious at the dawning of the day,
And the larks they sang melodious (×3) at the dawning of the day.
Now a sailor and his true love were a-walking one day.
Said the sailor to his true love, “I am bound far away.
I’m bound for the East Indies where the loud cannons roar
And I’m bound to leave you Nancy, you’re the girl that I adore,
And I’m bound to leave you Nancy (×3) you’re the girl that I adore.”
Then the ring from off her finger she instantly drew,
Saying, “Take this, dearest William, and my heart will go too.”
And as they were embracing tears from her eyes fell,
Saying, “May I go along with you?” “Oh no, my love, farewell,”
Saying, “May I go along with you?” (×3) “Oh no, my love, farewell,”
“Fare thee well my dearest Nancy, no longer can I stay,
For the topsails are hoisted and the anchors aweigh,
And the ship she lies waiting for the fast flowing tide,
And if ever I return again, I will make you my bride,
And if ever I return again (×3), I will make you my bride.”
The Holme Valley Beagles sing the Castle Hill Anthem
And the larks sang so melodious, and the larks sang so melodious,
And the larks sang melodious at the break of the day.
How pleasant and delightful on a bright summer’s morn
When the hills and the valleys are covered in corn.
There’s a blackbird and a throstle sings on every green tree,
And the larks sang so melodious, and the larks sang so melodious,
And the larks sang melodious at the break of the day.
Said the sailor to his true love: I’ll have thee beware,
Our top-sails are hoisted and we must away.
We are bound for the Indies where the loud cannons roar.
For to see my dear Nancy, for to see my dear Nancy,
For to see my dear Nancy, she’s the girl I adore.
And when I return, my love, and when I return, my love,
And when I return, my love, I’ll make thee my bride.
And the larks sang so melodious, and the larks sang so melodious,
And the larks sang melodious at the break of the day.
Cyril Poacher sings A Sailor and His True Love
A sailor and his true love were a-walking one day
Through the fields and the meadows, they were scattered with hay,
And the songbirds and the thrushes sang on every green tree,
And the larks they sang melodious at the dawning of the day.
Chorus (after each verse):
And the larks they sang melodious
And the larks they sang melodious
And the larks they sang melodious
At the dawning of the day.
“Oh it’s Nancy, me dearest Nancy, I can no longer stay.
Our topsails they are hoisted and we’re anchored away;
We are bound for the Indias by the next blowing tide
And if ever I return again I will make you my bride.”
Now the ring from her finger she entirely drew
Saying, “Take this, dearest William, and my heart will prove true."
And as he embracèd her, tears from her eyes did flow,
Saying “May I go along with you?” “Oh no, my love, farewell.”
Geoff Ling sings The Larks They Sang Melodious
A sailor and his true love was a-walking one day
Through the green fields and the meadows that was scattered with hay,
And the blackbirds and the thrushes sang in every green tree,
And the larks they sang melodious at the dawning of the day.
Now the sailor and his true love went out walking next day.
Said the sailor to his true love, “I am bound far, away.
I’m bound for the Indians, where the loud cannons roar,
For to go and leave my Nancy, for she’s the girl that I adore.
For to go and leave my Nancy, (×3) she’s the girl that I adore.”
Now the ring from off her finger she instantly drew,
Saying, “Take this, my dearest William, and my heart will go too.”
And as he embraced her, the tears from her eyes did flow,
Saying “May I go along with you?” “Oh no, my love, farewell.”
Saying “May I go along with you?”, (×3) “Oh no, my love, farewell.”
“Fare you well, my dearest Nancy, for I can no longer stay,
For our topsail she is hoisted and our anchor’s away.
For the big ship is waiting for the next flowing tide,
And if ever I return again I will make you my bride.
And if ever I return again (×3) I will make you my bride.”