The Tale of Nancy Marley and John Riley

by Gavin Sutherland and Irmi Wolvin

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Traditional folk song.

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about

By way of diversion I decided a few weeks ago to record a couple of my favourite traditional songs. The chosen songs, 'Nancy Marley' and 'John Riley' date back two hundred years and more and through time many variations have been penned and performed, such is the nature of 'folksingery'. (That's a lovely word I've borrowed from Woody Guthrie). I sang them as I remembered them from visits to folk clubs and gatherings in the eighties and nineties as I followed my interest in the great tradition. It's always a pleasure working with Irmi, she's a lovely lass and her cello adds a wonderfully rich new flavour to these old favourites. Irmi lives in Vienna, Mozart's city and plays all the classical stuff, but she's clearly a country girl at heart. The solo cello tune, 'Turning Tide', I wrote some time ago as a fiddle lament that's now found a home as an introduction to Nancy's song. We enjoyed our venture into the world of traditional music and song and hope you like what we've done.
Cheers, GS

lyrics

Turning Tide, a solo cello lament.

Nancy Marley . . .
Do you know Nancy Marley, honey
The lass who sells the barley, honey
Lost her pocket, all o' her money
Back o' the bush in the garden, honey

Nancy Marley's grown so fine
She won't rise to feed the swine
She lies abed till eight or nine
Surly she will take her time

She sells the porter, gin and ale
Aside the house beneath the vale
Where gentle men from up and down
Shall go to spend their half a crown

When Nancy Marley walks the town
Raven hair and velvet gown
She turns the heads on every street
Lairds and lords fall at her feet

Do you know Nancy Marley, honey
The lass who sells the barley, honey
Lost her pocket, all o' her money
Back o' the bush in the garden, honey

John Riley . . .
Fair young maid, all in her garden
Strange young man came riding by
Said fair young maid will you walk with me
This then sir, was her reply
.
Oh no kind sir, I cannot walk with thee
For I've a love who sails the deep salt sea
Though he's been gone now seven years
No other man shall walk with me.

If he's died or in some battle slain
Or if he's drowned in the deep salt sea
If he's found another love
He and his new love shall blessed be.

He took her up all in his arms
And kisses gave her, one, two and three
Said weep no more my own true love
For I'm your love, John Riley
Weep no more my own true love
For I'm your love, John Riley.

credits

released February 22, 2022
Gavin Sutherland, guitar, voice. percussion
Irmi Wolvin, cello, voice.

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about

Gavin Sutherland Banff, UK

Musician song-writer whose pastimes include drawing, painting and watching clouds.

gavinsutherland.net

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