One day I'll run out of smut to put on these albums. But today is not that day. Usually in a folk courtship song, what happens is the bloke tries his best lines on the girl and she repeatedly rebuffs him before suddenly they're at the church and getting married. Which is why, when I sing The Sweet Nightingale, I alter the last verse.
In this one though, there's a sense of playfulness from both parties that I like. Enthusiastic consent is the only consent worth having
lyrics
As I was a walking one morning in May
I met a pretty fair maid and unto her did say
"For love I'm inclined, I'm telling you my mind
That my inclination lies in your cuckoo's nest"
"My darling," said she, "I'm innocent and young
And I scarcely believe your false deluding tongue
Yet I see it in your eyes, it fills me with surprise
That your inclination lies in my cuckoo's nest"
Chorus:
Some like a girl who is pretty in the face
And some like a girl who is slender in the waist
Ah but give me a girl, will wriggle and will twist
At the bottom of your belly lies the cuckoo's nest
"My darling," said he, "I'm telling you no lie
I'm thinking of fondness and do not be surprised
For I love you my dear, I'll marry you as well,
If you'll let me clap my hands upon your cuckoo's nest"
"My darling," said she, "I cannot do such thing
For my mother often told me it was committing sin
For my maidenhead to lose, my sex to be abused
So have no more to do with my cuckoo's nest!"
Chorus
"My darling," said he, "It's not committing sin
For common sense should tell you it is a pleasing thing
You're brought into this world to increase and do your best
And to help a man to heaven in your cuckoo's nest"
"My darling," said she, "I cannot you deny
For you fairly won my heart by the rolling of your eye
And I see it in your eyes, your courage is delight
So gently lift your hands into my cuckoo's nest"
Chorus
This couple they got married and soon they went to bed
And now this pretty fair maid has lost her maidenhead
In a small country cottage they increase and do their best
And he often claps his hand upon her cuckoo's nest
Six ballads, beautifully sung unaccompanied in a lovely plain style. I can almost see the likes of Lizzie Higgins and Belle Stewart standing at Iona's back as she sings and nodding their approval. Piers Cawley
Jon's 'Grizzly Folk' blog was a wonderful source of thoughtful writing about folk songs, with most articles accompanied by a video of Jon's interpretation of the song. Now in a driver friendly format. Piers Cawley
Nora Brown continues to bring nuance and resonance to her modern interpretation of Appalachian folk and bluegrass on her latest LP. Bandcamp New & Notable Aug 30, 2022