Popular Music Of The Olden Time Vol 1

Ancient Songs, Ballads, & Dance Tunes, Sheet Music & Lyrics - online book

	304                                  ENGLISH SONG AND BALLAD MUSIC.
	The air is still current, for in the summer of 1855, Mr. Jennings, Organist of 'All Saints' Church, Maidstone, noted it down from the wandering hop-pickers singing a song to it, on their entrance into that town. The title of the ballad, as "printed by Coules, is " Truth's Integrity; or A curious Northern ditty, called Love will find out the way: to a pleasant new tune." A later copy in the Douce Collection, p. 232, is entitled " A curious Northern ditty, called Love will find out the way." In the Roxburghe Collection, ii. 436, is a black-letter ballad of " Stephen and Cloris; or The coy Shepherd and the kind Shepherdess: to a new play-house tune, or Love will find out the way." I suppose ballads which are said to be " to the tune of Over hills and high mountains," are also intended for this air; because the words of that ballad are almost a paraphrase of this, and in the same measure. See the following stanza from a copy in the Pepys Collection, iii. 165 :— " Over hills and high mountains                    Through bushes and briers, Long time have I gone ;                             Being void of all care; Ah ! and down by the fountains,                  Through perils and dangers By myself all alone;                                   For the loss of my dear." There is, however, an air, entitled On yonder high mountains, which may be in­tended, and which will be found in this collection, under a later date. Another black-letter ballad to the tune of Love will find out the way, is entitled " The Countryman's new Care away; " commencing— " If there were employments                         And every worthy soldier For men, as have been;                               Had truly his pay; And drums, pikes, and muskets,                   Then might they be bolder I' the field to be seen;                                 To sing Care away." As the version of Love will find out the way printed by Percy is the shortest, consisting in all of but five stanzas, it is here coupled with the tune.