Strawberry Season
One of my earliest memories from school is being in the Infants class and singing lessons. Not that I can sing, but all children join in raucously for a good sing song, and even now if there is a piano being played and people are having a sing song its very hard not to join in. Anyway the folk song I remember first is as follows. No one knows who wrote the song it is just listed as unknown. Here are the words - it seemed appropriate to revisit bearing in mind that tis Strawberry Season and lots of villages are having their local Strawberry Fairs, a quintessential british custom where every one flocks to the tea tent for the first seasons strawberries and lashings of cream - yummy.
As I was going to Strawberry Fair,
Singing, singing, buttercups and daisies,
I met a maiden taking her wares, fol-de-dee.
Her eyes were blue and golden her hair,
As she went on to Strawberry Fair.
Ri-fol, Ri-fol, Tol-de-riddle-li-do,
Ri-fol, Ri-fol, Tol-de-riddle-dee.
"Kind sir, pray pick of my basket," she said;
Singing, singing, buttercups and daisies
"My cherries ripe or my roses red, fol-de-dee.
My strawberries sweet I can of them spare,
As I go on to Strawberry Fair."
Ri-fol, Ri-fol, Tol-de-riddle-li-do,
Ri-fol, Ri-fol, Tol-de-riddle-dee.
"Your cherries soon will be wasted away;"
Singing, singing, buttercups and daisies
"Your roses wither'd and never stay, fol-de-dee.
'Tis not to seek such perishing ware,
That I am tramping to Strawberry Fair."
Ri-fol, Ri-fol, Tol-de-riddle-li-do,
Ri-fol, Ri-fol, Tol-de-riddle-dee.
"I want to purchase a generous heart;"
Singing, singing, buttercups and daisies
"A tongue that neither is nimble nor tart, fol-de-dee
An honest mind, but such trifles are rare.
I doubt if they're found at Strawberry Fair."
Ri-fol, Ri-fol, Tol-de-riddle-li-do,
Ri-fol, Ri-fol, Tol-de-riddle-dee.
"The price I offer, my sweet pretty maid;"
Singing, singing, buttercups and daisies
"A ring of gold on your finger displayed, fol-de-dee,
So come, make over to me your ware
In church today at Strawberry Fair."
Ri-fol, Ri-fol, Tol-de-riddle-li-do,
Ri-fol, Ri-fol, Tol-de-riddle-dee.
And my own strawberries are starting to ripen in the garden the miniature ones and the big ones.
Miniature Strawberry in a hanging basket
Strawberries in planters just starting to ripen
As I was going to Strawberry Fair,
Singing, singing, buttercups and daisies,
I met a maiden taking her wares, fol-de-dee.
Her eyes were blue and golden her hair,
As she went on to Strawberry Fair.
Ri-fol, Ri-fol, Tol-de-riddle-li-do,
Ri-fol, Ri-fol, Tol-de-riddle-dee.
"Kind sir, pray pick of my basket," she said;
Singing, singing, buttercups and daisies
"My cherries ripe or my roses red, fol-de-dee.
My strawberries sweet I can of them spare,
As I go on to Strawberry Fair."
Ri-fol, Ri-fol, Tol-de-riddle-li-do,
Ri-fol, Ri-fol, Tol-de-riddle-dee.
"Your cherries soon will be wasted away;"
Singing, singing, buttercups and daisies
"Your roses wither'd and never stay, fol-de-dee.
'Tis not to seek such perishing ware,
That I am tramping to Strawberry Fair."
Ri-fol, Ri-fol, Tol-de-riddle-li-do,
Ri-fol, Ri-fol, Tol-de-riddle-dee.
"I want to purchase a generous heart;"
Singing, singing, buttercups and daisies
"A tongue that neither is nimble nor tart, fol-de-dee
An honest mind, but such trifles are rare.
I doubt if they're found at Strawberry Fair."
Ri-fol, Ri-fol, Tol-de-riddle-li-do,
Ri-fol, Ri-fol, Tol-de-riddle-dee.
"The price I offer, my sweet pretty maid;"
Singing, singing, buttercups and daisies
"A ring of gold on your finger displayed, fol-de-dee,
So come, make over to me your ware
In church today at Strawberry Fair."
Ri-fol, Ri-fol, Tol-de-riddle-li-do,
Ri-fol, Ri-fol, Tol-de-riddle-dee.
And my own strawberries are starting to ripen in the garden the miniature ones and the big ones.
Miniature Strawberry in a hanging basket
Strawberries in planters just starting to ripen
Like you I remember this song from childhood but I've only ever kniow the first verse so thank you for posting the whole song:)
ReplyDeleteYou are welcome Rowan. Although I cannot sing I love music and listening to it. Also songs tell a story and I love stories. I have a particular fondness for folk music and songs that tell a story as it can give you a feel for the social history of a period of time as well as expressing sadness, love, unrequieted love, joviality or what Paddy MgGinty's goat did or didn't get up to. I also love classical music. I remember this song extremely well it as in infants class we all had to take it in turns having a go at singing and we were allowed our own choice of songs - needless to say this was the one I chose.
ReplyDeleteAlthough I don't at present play a musical instrument I do collect sheet music when I find it in charity shops as well - initially I started collecting it because my Dad could play several instruments piano, church organ and cathederal organ - and squeeze box. Before he passed he was contemplating taking banjo lessons - now that is a country instrument and if it is played properly it really does talk - my Granddad used to play and I have never heard anyone play Duelling banjos as good as he could.
xx