Charles Dickens and MusicLightwood, James T. (James Thomas)
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Charles Dickens and Music
Lightwood, James T. (James Thomas)
Dickens, Charles, 1812-1870 -- Knowledge -- Music; Music and literature
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 entitled
'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, entitled '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. Dickens'
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.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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