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Searching for Lambs

[ Roud 576 ; Master title: Searching for Lambs ; Henry H548 ; Ballad Index LO09A ; VWML CJS2/10/2916 , CJS2/9/1295 , CJS2/10/1409 ; DT SRCHLAMB ; Mudcat 84495 ; trad.]

Gale Huntington, Lani Herrmann, John Moulden: Sam Henry’s Songs of the People Maud Karpeles: The Crystal Spring James Reeves: The Idiom of the People Cecil J. Sharp: One Hundred English Folksongs

Shirley Collins sang Searching for Lambs as part of her and her sister Dolly’s Song Story which was one half of both their albums Anthems in Eden and Amaranth.

Tony Rose recorded Searching for Lambs for his 1971 album Under the Greenwood Tree (which featured Dolly Collins too but not on this track, even though his concertina playing sounds very organ-like). He noted:

Searching for Lambs is for me as near as one can get to the perfect folk song. When I say that it has a timeless quality about it, I mean that I cannot imagine a time when it would not give me pleasure to sing it.

June Tabor sang Searching for Lambs in March 1972 live at the Stagfolk Folk Club at Shackleford Social Centre, near Godalming. This performance was included in the Stagfolk Live Folk album. She recorded it again in 1988 for her album Aqaba.

Cyril Tawney sang Searching for Lambs in 1973 on his Argo album I Will Give My Love. His version is from Somerset.

Peter Bellamy sang Searching for Lambs, this “well-known ‘rustic idyll’ from the collection of Cecil Sharp” [liner notes], in 1975 on his eponymous US album, Peter Bellamy.

Martin Carthy recorded Searching for Lambs on 7 September 1976 for a BBC John Peel session that was broadcast on 21 September 1976.

Heritage sang Searching for Lambs in 1982 on their Plant Life album Living by the Air. They noted:

A west country ballad collected by Cecil Sharp, bringing together one of the loveliest traditional melodies and one of the most unlikely love stories.

Steeleye Span recorded Searching for Lambs in 1989 for their album Tempted and Tried.

Bob Lewis sang Searching for Lambs on the 1995 Veteran CD When the May Is All in Bloom. John Howson noted:

A.L. Lloyd suggests in Folk Song in England that this beautiful tune is the kind that owes its form to the mingling of the art of the peasantry and the art of the townsfolk. It was a great favourite of Cecil Sharp and in Somerset he collected five versions between 1904 and 1909. He included it in a number of publications, some with piano accompaniment, and as such it was one of his chosen ‘English folk songs’ which became popular as a drawing-room song: It also appears in Novello’s Schools Series which was compiled by Sharp and Baring-Gould in 1906 and in fact Bob learned it at school when he was 12 or 13 from a master who was interested in folk songs.

References to the song are infrequent and most published versions seem to be one of Sharp’s, although Hammond did note down three versions in Dorset under the title Under the Moon Shines Bright and there is a text (1934) in Sam Henry’s Songs of the People called One Morning Clear but the source is said to be ‘not given’ and although it has several similar lines it is a much fuller song.

Searching for Lambs should not be confused with Searching for Young Lambs [Roud 1437; Laws O9; G/D 5:966] which has been frequently collected, notably from George Spicer in Sussex.

Sue Brown and Lorraine Irwing sang Searching for Lambs in 1997 on their WildGoose CD Call & Cry. They noted:

Collected by Cecil Sharp from Mrs Sweet, Somerton, in 1907 [VWML CJS2/9/1295] . In One Hundred English Folksongs Sharp wrote: “Taking words and tune together, I consider this to be a very perfect example of a folksong.”

Maggie Boyle sang Searching for Lambs in 1998 on John Renbourn’s album Ship of Fools. This video shows her at Bedminster, Bristol, on 3 May 1995:

Charlotte Greig sang Searching for Lambs on her 1998 album Night Visiting Songs.

Ian Giles sang Searching for Lambs in 1999 on the Gift of Music album Folk Music of England.

Nancy Kerr and James Fagan recorded Searching for Lambs for their 1999 Fellside CD, Steely Water. Nancy Kerr also sang it in 2019 on Topic’s 80^th year anthology, Vision & Revision. She noted:

I’ve adored this love-song-with-a-happy-ending (gasp!) ever since my friend, guitarist and singer Jon Fletcher, introduced me to it 25 years ago. I recall making him show me in Cecil Sharp’s collection that, yes, that was how the timing went! I’m far from alone in appreciating its beauty—it’s been sung by almost everyone: favourite versions include Julie Murphy and Nigel Eaton’s on their Whirling Pope Joan album Spin, and of course June Tabor’s inclusion of it on 1988’s incredible Aqaba.

Jane and Amanda Threlfall sang Searching for Lambs on their 2002 CD Gown of Green. They noted:

Quintessentially English. The action deals with honest love amidst uncomplicated endeavours within a rural idyll. Cecil Sharp collected four variations of this most beautiful of English songs, all in the Langport area of Somerset. It was first published in Folk Songs of Somerset (1909). Sharp opined that “taking the words and tune together I consider this to be a very perfect example of a folk song”.

Eddie Upton and Philippa Toulson sang Searching for Lambs, as collected by Cecil Sharp from Eliza Sweet, Somerton, Somerset [in August 1907, VWML CJS2/9/1295] . in 2003 on Folk South West’s Fellside album Fanfare for the South West.

Mary Humphreys and Anahata sang Searching for Lambs in 2004 on their WildGoose album Floating Verses. Mary Humphreys noted:

Collected by Cecil J. Sharp from Mrs Bray in Langport, Somerset, on 23 August 1904. [VWML CJS2/9/475] . The tune reminds me of a psalm chant, being in essence only four bars long. It is totally different from the much more well-known modal version, but no less beautiful in its own right. I love the sentiment of the song.

Geoff Jerram sang Searching for Lambs in 2006 on his Forest Tracks album Bedlam. The first line “As I walked out one midsummer morn” instead of “May morning” is from James Bishop of Priddy, Somerset, collected by Cecil Sharp in September 1905. Jerram noted:

Described by the late Rev. Kenneth Loveless as the most exquisite of Sharp’s collection, it is one of those rare love songs with no complications. A true ‘May Morning’ song.

Kerfuffle sang Searching for Lambs, “a traditional English song collected by Cecil Sharp”, in 2006 on their RootBeat album Links.

Bella Hardy sang Searching for Lambs, accompanied by Emily and Hazel Askew, in 2007 on her first album Night Visiting.

The Maerlock sang Searching for Lambs in 2008 on their Fellside CD Sofa.

John Jones sang Searching for Lambs in 2009 on his Westpark album Rising Road. He noted:

I first heard this sung by the late, great Tony Rose in my very first folk club The Jolly Porter, Exeter, Devon. The song seems as old as the hills, feels like soul music to me.

Blowzabella played Searching for Lambs on their 2013 album Strange News.

Emily Spiers sang Searching for the Lambs in 2010 on her CD The Half-Moon Lovers.

Martha Tilston learned Searching for Lambs from her step-mum Maggie Boyle and sang it in 2010 on her CD Lucy and the Wolves.

Jon Boden sang Searching for Lambs as the 11 May 2011 entry of his project A Folk Song a Day.

Mawkin sang Searching for Lambs on their 2015 album The Ties That Bind. They noted:

A very popular song with great versions being sung by everyone and his dog. This particular variant is from the Steeleye Span version.

Lisa Knapp and Graham Coxon sang Searching for Lambs on her 2017 CD Till April Is Dead. She noted:

A real classic English folksong gem collected in Somerset by Cecil Sharp. I first heard this sung by legendary English folksinger Shirley Collins on one of her recordings. The beautiful almost aching melody gives this song such a depth and angle in relation to the story. Shirley is also my link with Graham Coxon, another long time fan of her work, and who generously lends his sensitive vocal and guitar to this piece.

Nick Dow sang Searching for Lambs on his 2018 album of unaccompanied traditional folk songs, Far and Wide. He noted:

Collected by Sharp from Mrs Sweet of Somerton [VWML CJS2/9/1295, CJS2/10/1409] . I have found numerous tunes and verses to this wonderful song, but no tune to touch Mrs Sweet’s melody. It was unique and numerous singers have felt the same way. I have added some unsung verses to make this hybrid version.

James Findlay sang Searching for Lambs on his 2019 CD The Where and the When. He noted:

Cecil Sharp likened this song to the writings of the Belgian playwright Maurice Maeterlinck. I think only because Sharp could not explain such organic beauty and poetry from rural Somerset and he wanted to sound posh. It’s quite simply just a lovely song.

The Gigspanner Big Band sang Searching for Lambs in 2020 on their CD Natural Invention. This track was also included in 2021 on the anthology The Electric Muse Revisited. They noted on their album:

Cecil Sharp considered the words and tune of this piece to be a most perfect example of a folk song, and collected five versions in Somerset alone between 1904 and 1909.

Pastoral, Idyllic, Bucolic. If Constable did folk songs…

Piers Cawley sang Searching for Lambs at a Trad Song Tuesday Twitter singaround. He included his recording in 2020 on his download EP Trad Song Tuesdays Volume 0.

Tarren sang Searching for Lambs on their 2022 album Revel.

Lyrics

Shirley Collins sings Searching for Lambs

As I rode out one May morning,
One May morning betimes,
I met a maid, from home had strayed,
All as the sun did shine.

“What makes you rise so soon, my love,
Your journey to pursue?
Your pretty little feet they tread so neat,
Strike off the morning dew.”

“I’m off to feed my father’s flocks,
His young and tender lambs,
That over hills and over dales
Lie waiting for their dams.”

“But stay, o stay, you handsome maid,
And rest a moment here.
For there is none but you alone
That I do love so dear.”

“How gloriously the sun doth shine,
How lovely is the air.
I’d rather rest on my true love’s breast
Than any other where.”

“Now thou art mine and I am thine,
And no man shall uncomfort me.
We’ll join our hands in wedlock bands
And married we shall be.”

Tony Rose sings Searching for Lambs

As I went out one May morning,
One May morning betime,
I met a maid, from home had strayed
Just as the sun did shine.

“What makes you rise so soon, my dear,
Your journey to pursue?
Your pretty little feet they tread so sweet,
Strike off the morning dew.”

“I’m going off to feed my father’s flock,
His young and tender lambs,
That over hills and over dales
Lie waiting for their dams.”

“O stay, o stay, you handsome maid,
And rest you here a while.
For there is none save you alone
That I do love so dear.”

“And how gloriously the sun do shine,
How pleasant is the air.
I’d rather rest on a true love’s breast
Than any other where.”

“For I am thine and thou art mine,
No man shall uncomfort thee.
We’ll join our hands in wedded bands
And married we will be.”

June Tabor sings Searching for Lambs

As I walked out one May morning,
One May morning betime,
I met a maid, from home had strayed,
Just as the sun she did shine.

“What makes you rise so soon, my dear,
Your journey to pursue?
Your pretty little feet they tread so neat,
Strike off the morning dew.”

“I’m going to feed my father’s flock,
His young and tender lambs,
That over hills and over dales
Lie waiting for their dams.”

“O stay, o stay, you handsome maid,
And rest a moment here.
For there is none that you alone
That I do love so dear.”

“How gloriously the sun doth shine,
How pleasant is the air.
I’d rather rest on a true love’s breast
Than any other where.”

“For I am thine and thou art mine,
No man shall uncomfort me.
We’ll join our hands in wedded bands
And married we shall be.”

Cyril Tawney sings Searching for Lambs

As I walked out one May morning,
One May morning betimes.
There I beheld my own true love
Just as the sun did shine.

The birds of love so sweetly did sing,
How fragrant was the air,
There’s none but her, and her alone,
Among the lilies fair.

“’What makes you stroll abroad so soon,
Your journey to pursue?
Your pretty little feet they tread so sweet,
To strike off the morning dew.”

“I’m going for to feed my father’s flocks,
His young and tender lambs.
They’re over hills and lonesome rocks,
Lamenting for their dams.”

As we sat under the myrtle shade
How the little lambs did sport and play,
And unto him these words did say,
“My dear and only Jay.”

How glorious like the sun did shine,
And pleasant was the air,
I’d rather be in my true love’s arms
Than any other where.

If you should stroll away my love,
No man could comfort me.
For I am thine, and thou art mine,
And a-married we will be.

Peter Bellamy sings Searching for Lambs

As I walked out one May morning,
One May morning betime,
I met a maid, from home had strayed
Just as the sun did shine.

“What makes you rise so soon, my dear,
Your journey to pursue?
Your pretty little feet they tread so neat,
Strike off the morning dew.”

“I’m going in search of my father’s flocks,
His young and tender lambs,
That over hills and over dales
Lie bleating for their dams.”

“O stay, o stay, you handsome maid,
Rest but one moment here.
For there is none save you alone
That I do love most dear.”

“How gloriously the sun do shine,
How pleasant is the air.
I would rather rest on my true love’s breast
Than any other where.”

“For I am thine and thou art mine,
No man shall uncomfort thee.
We’ll join our hands in wedded bands
And married we will be.”

Heritage sing Searching for Lambs

As I walked out one May morning,
One May morning betime,
I met a maid from home had strayed
Just as the sun did shine.

“What makes you rise so soon, my dear,
Your journey to pursue?
Your pretty little feet they tread so sweet
Straight off the morning dew.”

“I’m going to feed my father’s flocks,
The young and tender lambs
That over hills and over dales
Lie waiting for their dams.”

“O stay, O stay, you handsome maid,
And rest you here awhile,
For there is none save you alone
That I do love so dear.”

“How gloriously the sun do shine,
How pleasant is the air,
I’d rather rest on a true-love’s breast
Than any other where.”

“For I am thine and thou art mine,
No man shall uncomfort thee,
We’ll join our hands in wedded banns
And married we will be.”

Bob Lewis sings Searching for Lambs

As I walked out one May morning,
One May morning betime,
I met a maid from home had strayed
Just as the sun did shine.

“What makes you rise so soon, my dear,
Your journey to pursue?
Your pretty little feet they tread so sweet,
Strikes off the morning dew.”

“I’m going to feed my father’s flock,
His young and tender lambs,
That over hills and over dales
Lie a-waiting for their dams.”

“O stay, O stay, you handsome maid
And rest a moment here.
For there is none but you alone
That I do love so dear.

“How gloriously the sun do shine,
How pleasant is the air.
I’d rather rest on a true love’s breast
Than any other where.

“For I am thine and thou art mine.
No man shall uncomfort thee.
We’ll join our hands in wedlock bands
And married we shall be.”

Geoff Jerram sang Searching for Lambs

As I walked out on a midsummer morn,
A midsummer morn betime,
Who should I see but my own true love
Just as the sun did shine.

The birds of love so sweetly sing,
So pleasant was the air,
There’s none but her and her alone
Among the lilies fair.

And as I sat [a-weed?] in the grass
On her I cast my eye,
And unto her these words did I say,
“My dear, my only joy,

“How come you stroll abroad so soon?
Your journey to pursue
Before Bright Phoebus glorious shines,
Rise o’er the morning dew?”

“I’m going to feed my father’s flocks,
His young and his tender lambs.
They’re over hills and lonesome rocks,
Lamenting for their dams.”

Then as we sat under the myrtle shade
How the pretty lambs sport and play,
And unto me these words did say,
“My dear, my only joy,

“If you should stroll away my love,
No man shall comfort me.
For I am thine, and thou art mine
And nevermore shall be.”

Acknowledgements

Thanks to Patrick Montague for lyrics corrections.