> Waterson:Carthy > Songs > Twenty-One Years on Dartmoor

Twenty-One Years on Dartmoor

[ Roud 2248 ; Laws E16 ; Ballad Index LE16 ; DT YRS21 ; Mudcat 23631 ; Bob Miller]

Ewan MacColl, Peggy Seeger: Travellers’ Songs From England and Scotland

Frank Luther and Carson Robison sang Twenty-One Years in a recording made in 1931 in New York. It was included, together with Caroline Hughes’s recording made by Ewan MacColl and Peggy Seeger in 1963 (see below) in 2020 on the Musical Traditions anthology Wait Till the Clouds Roll By. Mike Yates and Rod Stradling noted:

Twenty One Years was written by the prolific ‘Hill Billy’ song writer Bob Mills (1895-1955). Originally from Tennessee, Mills moved to New York, where he worked as a song-writer for the Irvin Berlin Company. Most American recordings name American prisons, so it is rather surprising to hear mention of the English Dartmoor Prison on this American recording.

‘Gypsy’ Charlie sang Twenty-One Years on Dartmoor at Tostock Gardeners’ Arms in 1960 and ‘Lubidy’ Rice sang Twenty-One Years on Dartmoor in Haughley in 1983. Both recordings made by John Howson were included in 1993 on the Veteran Tapes cassettes of traditional music making from Mid-Suffolk recorded 1958-1993, Many a Good Horseman. John Howson noted:

Twenty One Years originated in America and is usually set in Nashville, Tennessee although it seems not to be connected with a specific incident. It was recorded on a Decca 78 rpm record by ‘Mac and Bob’ in the early 1930s and became popular with duet singers. In England it became a favourite amongst Gypsy singers and Ewan MacColl and Peggy Seeger recorded it from Caroline Hughes in Dorset (1963) and from Nelson Ridley in Kent (1974). Lubidy Rice who sings the other version on this album (Disc Two, track 3) had Traveller connections as did Louie Fuller who can be heard singing the song on When the May Is All in Bloom.

Caroline Hughes from Dorset sang Twenty-One Years in a recording made by Ewan MacColl, Peggy Seeger and Charles Parker in 1963 on her 2014 Musical Traditions anthology Sheep-Crook and Black Dog. Rod Stradling noted:

An American song, written by Bob Miller in 1930. Roud’s first sighting is John Lomax’s 1934 recording of George Smith in North Carolina, and the majority of the 25 entries are from the USA. England has just five named singers—all Gypsies, I would guess. Indeed, I’m surprised that there aren’t more Gypsy recordings, as I’ve heard the song from several. It appears that this will be the only version available on CD.

Louie Fuller (Saunders) sang Twenty-One Years on Dartmoor on the 1995 Veteran anthology When the May Is All in Bloom. John Howson noted:

Twenty-One Years originates in America and is usually set in Nashville, Tennessee although it seems not to be connected with a specific incident. It was recorded on a Decca 78 record by ’Mac and Bob’ in the early 1930s and became popular with duet singers.

Will Duke and Dan Quinn played Mr Rew’s Waltz and sang Twenty-One Years on Dartmoor on their 1996 album Wild Boys. They noted:

Mr Rew was a gardener from Sidbury in Devon and some of his delightful tunes are contained in a booklet entitled Dances for a Party published by the English Folk Dance and Song Society in 1957. For the record, he played a concertina. The song was cobbled together by Will from versions by Lubidy Rice, Gypsy Charlie, Caroline Hughes and Louie Fuller, more of whom anon. An American song originally, it crops up in many an English country singer’s repertoire.

Tim van Eyken sang Twenty-One Years on Dartmoor in 2004 on Waterson:Carthy’s fifth album, Fishes & Fine Yellow Sand. Martin Carthy noted:

The album is topped and tailed by Goodbye Fare You Well and Twenty-One Years on Dartmoor. […] Tim learned the latter from a recording of the lovely London born, Sussex dwelling singer Louie Fuller who sadly died just this year. It’s great to come upon an old American song which has made the crossing the other way for a change and this is one which has been given a real working over into an English vernacular. Louie can be heard on When the May Is All in Bloom, one of John Howson’s Veteran series of tapes and CDs.

Nick Hart sang Twenty-One Years on Dartmoor in 2017 on his CD Nick Hart Sings Eight English Folk Songs. He noted:

I learned this one from a recording of a woman called Mrs Saunders in Lingfield, Sussex, although it’s been collected many times over the years, and seems to have been particularly popular with Gypsy singers. The melody and much of the language feels very American to me, but the place names all appear to be English. I’m mostly in it for verses 5-6.

Jim Causley sang Twenty-One Years on Dartmoor on his 2021 album Devonshire Roses and on his 2023 CD Songs of Dartmoor. He noted:

Written by Bob Miller (USA) and first published in 1930. It was a popular song that went on to become a traditional song in America, Ireland, Australia and England and became localised and much altered from the original version first recorded in the early 1930’s.

Lyrics

Frank Luther and Carson Robison sing Twenty-One Years

The judge said, “Stand up, boy, and dry up your tears
You’re sentenced to Dartmoor for twenty-one years”
So kiss me goodbye, babe, and say you’ll be mine
For twenty-one years, babe, is a mighty long time.

O hear that train blow, babe, she’ll be here on time
To take me to Dartmoor to serve out my time
O look down that railroad, as far as you can see
And keep right on waving your farewell to me.

The steam from the whistle, the smoke from the stack
I know you’ll be true, blue, until I get back.
So hold up your head, babe, and dry up your eyes
For the best of friends must part, babe, and so must you and I.

O call back the Governor, babe, on your sweey phone/toll
If you can’t get a pardon, better get a parole
If I had the Governor where the Governor’s got me
Before Tuesday morning, that Governor’d be free.

Six months have gone by, babe, I wish I was dead
This dirty old jailhouse, with a post for a bed
It’s raining its hailing, the moon gives no light
O babe please tell me why you never write?

I’ve counted the days, babe, I’ve counted the nights
I’ve counted the minutes, I’ve counted the lights
I’ve counted the footsteps, I’ve counted the stars
I’ve counted a million of these prison bars.

I’ve counted on you, babe, to get me a break
I guess you forgot, babe, I’m here for your sake
O you know who’s guilty, you know it too well
But I’ll rot in this jailhouse before I would tell.

Come all you young fellows with hearts brave and true
Don’t believe a women, you’re beat if you do
Don’t trust any women, no matter what kind
For twenty-one years, boys, is a mighty long time.

‘Gypsy’ Charlie sings Twenty-One Years on Dartmoor

Now the judge sez stand up lad and dry up your eyes:
You’re going to Dartmoor for 21 years.
Now kiss me goodbye babe I hope you’ll be true,
For you’re sentenced to Dartmoor for 21 years.

It’s hailing, it’s raining, the moon give no light,
It’s hailing, it’s blowing, you look down the line,
You look down the railroad; seem a mighty long way,
But she says I hope you’ll be oh true dear, until I get back.

Now he counted the months sir, he counted the nights,
He counted the (hours?) dear but the moon gave no light.
He counted the stars dear, he counted those days,
But he counted a million of you prison lads.

Now come on you young fellas that is (heartbreak?) and true,
If you trust any old woman you’ll be (deaf?) if you do.
Now hold up your (???) dear and dry up your eyes,
For 21, oh years boys is a mighty long time.

Caroline Hughes sings Twenty-One Years

She judge said, “Stand up, babe, dry up your tears.”
They’re sending me to Dartmoor for twenty-one year.
You’ll hoist up your hand, babe, and wish me goodbye,
For twenty-one years, babe’s a mighty long time.

Well now, six months is gone past, babe, I wish I was dead,
While the dirty old gaol my floor for my bed.
It’s raining, ‘tis hailing, the moon gives no light,
And baby, please tell me why you never write.

I’ve counted the days, babe, I’ve counted the nights,
I’ve counted your footsteps, I’ve counted the files(?);
I’ve counted your footsteps, I’ve counted the files(?),
I’ve counted one million of those prison bars.

Now, come you young fellows, with hearts brave and true,
Don’t b’lieve in a woman; you’re beat if you do;
Don’t trust any woman, don’t matter what for,
For twenty-one years, boys, is a mighty long time.

‘Lubidy’ Rice sings Twenty-One Years on Dartmoor

Twenty one years boys they put me to gaol.
To serve down in Dartmoor because I have no bail.
The judge said to the jury, “I know it is fine.
For twenty one years boys is a mighty long time.”

The judge said, “Stand up boy and dry up your tears.
You’re sentenced to Dartmoor for twenty one years.”
So hold up your head boy and say you’ll be mine.
All the best friends must part babe so must you and I.

The steam from the whistle the smoke from the stack.
For we shall be true babe until I get back.
It’s raining, it’s hailing, and the moon gives no light.
O baby please tell me why you never write.

I’ve counted the days babe. I’ve counted the nights.
I’ve counted the minutes. I’ve counted the lights.
I’ve counted the footsteps. I’ve counted the stars.
I’ve counted ten million of these prison bars.

O governor, good governor you (????) for all.
Your place has got a smell in just like an old stall.
O governor, good governor you’re still in your chair.
While I lay breathing this filthy old air.

Waterson:Carthy sing Twenty-One Years on Dartmoor

The judge said, “Stand up, boy, and dry up your tears.
You’re sentenced to Dartmoor for twenty-one years.”
So kiss me goodbye, babe, and say you’ll be mine,
For twenty-one years, love, is a mighty long time.

Just look down that railway and there you will see,
My comrades are waving their farewell to me.
The steam from the whistle and smoke from the stack
But I know you’ll be true love until I get back.

Go back to the governor, babe, on your sweet soul,
He has sent me to Dartmoor so get up that road.
For if I’ve got the governor then the governor’s got me
But before Tuesday morning I guess I’ll be free.

It’s hailing, it’s raining, this moon gives no light.
O baby, please tell me why you never write.
I’m here in this gaolhouse, my heart broken down,
I had a letter from mother in old Campton Town.

Six months have gone by, babe, and I wish I were dead
In this dirty old gaolhouse with a post for a bed.
So hold up your head, babe, and dry up your eye
Best friends must part, love, so must you and I.

I’ve counted the minutes, and I’ve counted the nights,
I’ve counted the hours, I’ve counted the lights.
And I’ve counted the footsteps, and I’ve counted the sighs,
And I’ve counted one million of these prison bars.

And I’ve counted on you, babe, to get me a break.
Well I guess you forgot me, I’m here for your sake.
You know who is guilty and know it too well,
But I’m up in this gaolhouse before I would tell.

Come all you young fellows with a heart brave and true,
Don’t trust any women, you’re beat if you do.
Don’t trust any women, no matter what kind,
For twenty-one years, love, is a mighty long time.