Fair Maid from Nightjar by Liz Overs
Arranged and recorded live in the studio. Found when reading a folklore book at Cecil Sharp House. I was initially taken by the lyric, then realised I recognised it as Gently Johnny. Paul Giovanni's version is unsurpassable but I wanted to record a version with this different collected melody and I haven't found another recorded example, although one may exist, and as The Wicker Man is a favourite film...
Collected by Sharp from William Tucker at Ashcott in 1907. It was interesting to see the lyrics written down by Sharp with exclamation marks all over and he confessed to having changed some of the words. It was most likely written and sung by a man as a song about sexual conquest (written as a jig).
Tracklist
| 6. | Fair Maid | 3:12 |
Lyrics
I put my hand all on her toe
Fair maid is a lily O
I put my hand all on her toe
She says to me do you want to go?
Come to me quietly
Do not do no injury
Gently Johnny my jingalo.
I put my hand all on her knee
She says to me do you want to see?
I put my hand all on her thigh
She says to me do you want to try?
I put my hand all on her belly
She says to me do you want to fill'ee?
I put my hand all on her breast
She says to me do you want a kiss?
Credits
Fair Maid Is a Lily-O (trad, arr MacColl/Nicholls/Overs/Tomlins)
Neill MacColl Acoustic Guitar
Ben Nicholls Double Bass
Liz Overs Vocals
David Tomlins Acoustic Guitar
License
All rights reserved.
Liz Overs is a songwriter and singer of traditional Folk.
Her recent history includes writing and singing with Chalk Horse Music and she presented Mostly Folk for five years, a monthly radio show with a primary focus on the traditions, social history, folklore and folk music of Sussex.
Liz's solo album Nightjar is released later this year.