earworm

[helenic]

I have The Pace-Egging Song firmly lodged in my brain - specifically, the Old Tosspot verse. Maybe if I post it I'll get rid of it and will actually be able to concentrate on this essay.


PACE EGGING

(A traditional song sung at Eastertide. Pace egging is still carried on in some parts of the country where the Pace Eggers would go from house to house performing a little play and collecting money)


Here's one two three jolly lads all in one mind
We have come a-Pace Egging and we hope you'll prove kind.
And we hope you'll prove kind with your eggs and strong beer
For we'll come no more nigh you until the next year.

Now the first that comes in is Lord Nelson you see
With a bunch of blue ribbons tied round by his knee
And a star on his breast that like silver doth shine
And we hope he'll remember it's Pace Egging time.

And the next that comes in it is Lord Collingwood
And he fought with Lord Nelson, till he shed his blood
And he's come from the sea for Old England to view,
And he's come a-Pace Egging with the whole of his crew.

And the last that comes in is old Tosspot you see,
He's a valiant old bugger in every degree.
He's a valiant old man and he wears a pigtail
And all his delight is in drinking strong ale.

Come ladies and gentlemen sat by the fire
Put your hands in your pockets and give us our desire.
Put your hands in your pockets and treat us aright
If you give nowt we'll take nowt, farewell and goodnight.

Comments

[maga-dogg.livejournal.com]

Wassail and wassail and wassail again
I don't like them lay-dies, I only likes men...

[alixandrea.livejournal.com]

Ah! I remember Wassailing to this song. Same thing, except 'Wassailing' instead of 'Pace-Egging' and sung at Yuletide rather than Ostara. Asking for 'Cakes and strong beer' instead of eggs.
:-)

[libellum.livejournal.com]

I think I'd rather have cakes than eggs. Although I suppose you can make cakes out of eggs. ... he's a valiant old bugger, in every degree... ARGH ARGH ARGH *hits temples*

[libellum.livejournal.com]

OHHHHH! That's what the tune to the Wassailing Song is! Right, now I have to go back and find your post on it and sing your version, if it fits the same tune :)

(But the hedgehog can never be buggered at all...)

[alixandrea.livejournal.com]

ROTFL.

Mmmmm... Caaaaakkke... ;-)

[libellum.livejournal.com]

right, having found the post in question (http://www.livejournal.com/users/maga_dogg/129280.html), unfortunately, no. The Pace-Egging Song is not the same tune as the Muckspreader Song, because it doesn't scan to your words. However, The Wild Rover fits quite well.

Also, while hunting through your archives, it strikes me that you haven't done any Tuesday Thwackings yet this year. This is a lamentable loss to livejournal culture. You should fix it.

[libellum.livejournal.com]

actually I've been thinking mmmmm, pickled eeeeegggggs for the last hour or so, but this just proves that I'm weird.

[smhwpf.livejournal.com]

Aaah! Now I've got a Wassailing, Pace-Egging earworm!

Is it the same tune as the Wassailing song? Couldn't quite make out from the above discussion if it is. You know, three-time, g4|C2C4|C4D4E4|F4E4D4|E4G4G4|F4D4D4|D4E4F4|E8D8C8D8E4|D2... etc. (where 2=minim 4=crotchet, 8=quaver etc.) Anyway that's the earworm I have now.

[libellum.livejournal.com]

I can't read your notation, so perhaps this is the same one, but the tune I know is this one (http://sniff.numachi.com/~rickheit/dtrad/pages/tiPACEEGG;ttPACEEGG.html) :)

[libellum.livejournal.com]

well, having looked at that tune more closely, actually the one I know is a slight variation on it. There are some note differences, and the one I know is more syncopated. Still, recognisable, though.

[smhwpf.livejournal.com]

Aha! No, very different to the Wassail.

I was using a variant of ring-tone notation. lower case to indicate a lower octave, and the number after the note to indicate note length. (Ring tone is even more cumbersome, with an octave-indicator before the note. So 1F4 means a crotchet on F in the 1st (lowest) octave, 2G8 means a quaver on G in the 2nd octave, 3C#2. means a dotted minim on C# in the 3rd octave etc. Highly cumbersome, but potentially a way of communicating melodies when musical notation is not available.)

[fakediy.livejournal.com]

old lord Collingwood there is a relative of mine. In fact, I even have his name in mine. Yeah !

it caused me to double take there...

[libellum.livejournal.com]

you have folklorish genealogy! fantastic!

Meet up!

[hello-cello.livejournal.com]

Hello! Did you get my email? Thought this might grab your attention better ;) I'd love to meet up if you have the chance...

David B.

Re: Meet up!

[libellum.livejournal.com]

WAAAH! EVERYONE'S ON LIVEJOURNAL!!!

yeah, I got your email. I've been in a weird place recently, as you've probably read. Would love to meet up but this week is superhectic with work and I'm in London over the weekend.

So. You can either: come listen to evensong on Sunday in Downing at 6pm and then join us for formal hall (although I'll just have got back from London and might be a bit out of it); or we'll do coffee/drinks some time next week.

If you like industrial/electro music, I'm going to be at the Calling on Wednesday night for Die Fabrik, a new industrial night - you'd be very welcome to join me :)

[hello-cello.livejournal.com]

Aww thanks for the invitations!

I'd love to come and hear Downing sing, but as I'm in my own chapel's service that would be a bit difficult... And Weds night I'm at an orchestra rehearsal, but may be able to join you afterwards - what time is the gig? I don't think I've come across industrial/electro before so it'll be an eye- and ear-opener for me...

The good news is that I've finally found a good drug for my depression! Hurrah! The doc got his act together and gave me venlafaxine, which I've been taking for 2 weeks, and feel great now, with no big side-effects!

Keep in touch on here/email/MSN?

[libellum.livejournal.com]

It's not a gig, it's a club night - it's at the Kambar from about 10.30 onwards. If you've never heard industrial before it might not be the best idea, perhaps - I pretty much have to go because it's the new project of a good friend of mine, so if you weren't enjoying yourself I'm not sure I could leave with you, which would be a bit crap. Let's stick with meeting up next week. In fact, pick a time on Monday afternoon. Or Monday evening is also fine :)

and as for the second bit - that definitely deserves a YAY!

[hello-cello.livejournal.com]

Monday afternoon at, say, 4.00 would be great - see you then :)