Charles Dickens and Music Part 23

SHE'S LIKE THE RED, RED ROSE (_O.C.S._ 8)

Burns revised the words from an old song.

The music is in _Caledonian Pocket Companion_, Bk. VII, 1754, under the name 'Low Down in the Broom.'

SHIVERY SHAKEY, AIN'T IT COLD (_Dr. M._)

See p. 94.

SINCE LAWS WERE MADE FOR EVERY DEGREE (_O.C.S._ 66, _L.D._ ii. 12)

TYBURN TREE.

Since laws were made for ev'ry degree To curb vice in others as well as me, I wonder we han't better company Upon Tyburn Tree.

From _Beggar's Opera_. Words by _Gay_.

Set to the tune of 'Greensleeves,' which dates from 1580. This tune is twice mentioned by Shakespeare in _The Merry Wives of Windsor_. An earlier 'Tyburn' version is a song ent.i.tled 'A Warning to False Traitors,' which refers to the execution of six people at 'Tyborne' on August 30, 1588.

SINCE THE FIRST DAWN OF REASON _J. Davy._

See p. 120.

SONG ABOUT A SPARKLING BOWL (_Ch._)

There are several songs of this nature, such as 'The Flowing Bowl' ('Fill the bowl with sparkling nectar'). Another began 'Fill, fill the bowl with sparkling wine.'

SONG ABOUT THE SLUMBERING ECHOES IN THE CAVERN OF MEMORY (_D.C._ 33)

Not at present traced.

STREW THEN, OH STREW A BED OF RUSHES (_O.C.S._ 65)

Words and music by _Moore_.

From the glee 'Holy be the Pilgrim's Sleep,' which is a sequel to 'Oh Lady Fair' (q.v.).

Moore wrote two inane songs, ent.i.tled 'Holy be the Pilgrim's Sleep' and 'Oh Lady Fair.' For both pilgrim and lady arrangements are made for spending the night somewhere, and in each song occur the words

Strew then, oh strew his [our] bed of rushes, Here he shall [we must] rest till morning blushes.

TAMAROO (_M.C._ 32)

Said to be taken from an English ballad in which it is supposed to express the bold and fiery nature of a certain hackney coachman.

According to _Notes and Queries_ (x. 1), this was sung at Winchester School some seventy or eighty years ago.

The following is quoted as the first verse:

Ben he was a coachman rare ('Jarvey! Jarvey!' 'Here I am, yer honour'), Crikey! how he used to swear!

How he'd swear, and how he'd drive, Number two hundred and sixty-five.

Tamaroo! Tamaroo! Tamaroo!

Dr. Sweeting, the present music-master at Winchester, says, 'The song "Tamaroo" is quite unknown here now, and if it was sung here seventy or eighty years ago, I should imagine that that was only because it was generally well known. d.i.c.kens'

allusion to it seems to suggest that it was a song he had heard, and he utilized its character to label one of his characters in his own fanciful way.'

TARRY TROUSERS (_D. & S._ 39)

An old folk-song. A mother wants her daughter to marry a tailor, and not wait for her sailor bold, telling her that it is quite time she was a bride. The daughter says:

My mother wants me to wed with a tailor, And not give me my heart's delight, But give me the man with the tarry trousers, That shine to me like diamonds bright.

TELL ME, SHEPHERDS (_E.D._ 2) _Mazzinghi._

Glee. 'Ye Shepherds, tell me' (or 'The Wreath').

THE BRAVE OLD OAK (_S.B.S._ 2.)

Words by _H.F. Chorley_. _E.J. Loder._

A song for the oak, the brave old oak, Who hath ruled in the greenwood long; Here's health and renown to his broad green crown, And his fifty arms so strong!

THE BULL IN THE CHINA SHOP

See p. 111.

THE CHERUB THAT SITS UP ALOFT (_U.T._ 5)

From 'Poor Jack.' _C. Dibdin._

For d'ye see, there's a cherub sits smiling aloft To keep watch for the life of Poor Jack.

(_Last two lines of verse 3._)

THE CORDIAL THAT SPARKLED FOR HELEN (_O.C.S._ 61)