Borsetshire Folk Songs

Keri Davies explains the genesis of the ‘authentic’ Borsetshire folk songs which Eddie and Joe Grundy plan to sing at Ed and Emma’s wedding. The full lyrics are below.

Music has always played a large part in my life. As a drummer and percussionist, I’ve played in orchestras and bands, and I’m currently singing in a pop choir. Like many people, I enjoy a wide variety of music, but in my late teens and twenties I was very keen on folk music. I was a loyal member of, and occasional performer at, the Village Pump Folk Club in my then home town of Trowbridge in Wiltshire.

So when Archers editor Sean O’Connor wanted Joe and Eddie to perform at Ed and Emma’s wedding, I thought rather than use existing folk songs, it would be fun to create some ‘authentic’ Borsetshire ones. (I’ve got form for this sort of thing, having once written A Pint Of Shires for the album The World of Eddie Grundy by Trevor Harrison...)

I didn’t want them to be some sort of Rambling Sid Rumpo pastiche, but to have the feel of songs that could have been collected from real Borsetshire sources, with appropriate local references. I came up with two titles: a tragic ballad called The Fair Maid of Edgeley, and a comic song, The Borsetshire Cobbler. Then I hunted round for some traditional tunes to fit new lyrics to.

The folk club favourite Pleasant and Delightful lent itself to the fair maid. Listen to a version of the original performed by Show of Hands. And once I came across the song Ramble Away, I knew I could adapt the refrain for comic effect. I used Norma Waterson’s version, which I can’t find online but here is a Shirley Collins’ version.

And so Joe and Eddie were able to treat Ed to a rendition of both songs last week. Constraints of time meant we could only hear a short extract from both. But here are the full lyrics. I hope you enjoy them.

Here's a clip of Eddie and Joe trying out The Fair Maid of Edgeley on unsuspecting Ed...

Maybe you’d like to write some verses of your own? After all, they are folk songs...

THE FAIR MAID OF EDGELEY

There once was a maiden in fine Borsetshire

So pure and so fragrant, in her seventeenth year

The swains of the county upon her would call

But the fair maid of Edgeley would have none at all

For up at the big house, there lived this girl’s love

A man of high standing whose heart would not move

The son of the squire, who saw not her worth

For he loved another, a girl of high birth

The fair maid of Edgeley waxed wan and forlorn

For the couple were to marry on Midsummer’s morn

As the village prepared for the gay wedding day

The maiden declined and would wither away

Bright dawned the day of the nuptials there

Bright were the eyes of the happy young pair

Bright was the bunting and ribbons a-twirl

But dark was the heart of the dolorous girl

The parson united the couple for life

But what a shock waited for husband and wife

For there at the lych-gate, the ivy above

The fair maid of Edgeley had died of pure love

Come all you fine fellows both high-born and low

Come all you fair maidens whose love you would show

If you love another who will not love you

Don’t wither and pine - here is what you must do

Stow your possessions and stride forth from home

Spurn unrequited love, widely to roam 

Seek a new beau by the Am or the Perch

And end not your life at the door of the church

THE BORCHESTER COBBLER

A man went a-walking to Borchester Fair

His feet full of pain and his face full of care

For the cobbler who fashioned his polished new shoon

Was the worst leather worker by sun or by moon

Sun or by moon, sun or by moon

Was the worst leather worker by sun or by moon

Rupert de Pargetyr fought a crusade

Many an enemy died by his blade

But ‘twas not a halberd which brought this knight down

‘Twas slippers supplied by the cobbler in town

Cobbler in town, cobbler in town

‘Twas slippers supplied by the cobbler in town

Squire Lawson-Hope went to purchase new boots

Needed for dancing and other pursuits

But the minuet left him collapsed on the floor

He took seven steps and could take not one more

Take not one more, take not one more

He took seven steps and could take not one more

So if you are seeking some boots or some shoes

Be guided by me on which cobbler to choose

Seek not in Borchester, for you will pay

I guarantee you will hobble away

Hobble away, hobble away

I guarantee you will hobble away

Pleasant and Delightful, performed by Show of Hands.

Ramble Away, performed by Shirley Collins

The World of Eddie Grundy by Trevor Harrison (tracklisting and artwork)