Bravo!! What a wonderful ballad....and your voice is really lovely. I'm glad to hear your singing with the dulcimer as its seems to be somewhat infrequent these days.
Wow! That was great! Such a lovely song that I had never heard before (I am a sucker for a good ballad). You really have a wonderful voice that's perfect for ballads, and your playing is beautiful. Also, I love to see into other people's homes (the stuff waiting for the carboot sale just made it look comfy).
I also have a five string dulcimer, so I may ask you questions later on how to best utilize the center two strings. I currently have it down to just the three main strings (removed the doubles) as I am learning to play it.
Tim - there are lots of versions of the song from both sides of theAtlantic. Iknow I sang it at school, but have forgotten that version. Since I got very interested in the relationship between US and GB folk music we have both bought a lot of books. One was published here in the UK in the 1960 by Maud Karpeles based on Cecil Sharp's collected music, and she had created a kind of composite of about 25 songs. Thanks so much for sharing your version. In some versions of the tale the couple kill the parents and elope, but in others (like mine) she pines away....
Pristine2 - I did not spot your comment in May - thanks so much. The Green Man MD was the first one every made by my partner Richard. It is walnut, with a Green Man carved on the back. It has 5 strings (doubled middle string for a fuller sound).
Beautiful! The Green Man and your voice make beautiful music together. Never stop. I know only of the vocal version of this done in the mountains of North Carolina. These are the lyrics I've learned. I wish I could play the dulcimer well enough to do it justice:
Awake, Awake my own true lover
Awake, Arise, it's almost day
How can you bear those soft soft sleeping
While your true love's goin' away
Oh, who is that, knocking at my window
I pray you, oh tell to me
It's me, It's me, your own true lover
Awake, Arise, come pity me
Go love go and ask your Father
If this night you can be my Bride
If he say's no, then return and tell me
Be the last time, ever bother thee
I can't go and ask my Father
For he's on his bed of rest
And by his side there lies a weapon
To kill the one that I love best
Go love go and ask your Mother
If this night you can be my Bride
If she say's no, then return and tell me
Be the last time, ever bother thee
I can't go and ask my Mother
And tell her of your love so dear
But you may go and love another
And whisper softly in her ear
I will go to some white river
Spend my days, my months and years
Eat nothing but the green growing willow
Also drink from my flowing tears
Come Back, Come Back my own true lover
And stay a little while with me
I will foresake my dear old Mother
And go along by the side of thee
05/07/11 09:37:50PM @pristine2:
Wish my children could sit at your feet, so you could play for them. Gentle, lovely and powerful. Tell us more about the Green Man dulcimer ...
12/14/09 05:24:47AM @foggers:
Thanks Julie and Guy.Guy - this version is largely from Maud Karpeles' published collection of 80 Appalachian songs in the 1960s, drawn from the Cecil Sharp collection. I have known several versions over the years so inevitably this version is a bit of a conglomeration in the end!
12/13/09 10:55:04AM @guy-babusek:
That's just sumptuous. I must learn this song now.
09/16/09 03:05:56PM @robin-thompson:
Jane,I'm adding my request for more videos from you!Robin
09/06/09 07:02:34AM @foggers:
Hi Ron - there is a close up of the green man carving in my photo collection - it is difficult to get the camera to light it properly as the wood is quite dark, but this pic just about does it justice in terms of showing the intricacy of the face and leaves. I know it took him longer to make than the actual instrument!Thanks folks for all your kind comments!
09/03/09 10:27:29PM @randy-adams:
When I see a vid of someone I feel I know them a little better than just thru the typed word..& it lends credibility.....it was a pleasure to see & hear you..You're a dang good player & singer Foggers..you sing with conviction & feeling. I'd watch another!!??
09/03/09 09:42:45PM @strumelia:
OK this is just fantastic!I used to sing that ballad unaccompanied, but a sort of rougher mountain version.I love that your voice is strong enough and deeper so that the dulcimer does not overpower it, which is so difficult to avoid sometimes.TERRIFIC. I'll look forward to hearing more from you!
I love the ballad genre and find them so peaceful to listen to. Well done! Thank you for sharing your talent...Blessings, Linda
Verybeautiful... Love it
Thanks all for your compliments about my playing and singing.
I love old ballads like this, this one is beautiful and you sing wonderfully. Thanks for posting.
Bravo!! What a wonderful ballad....and your voice is really lovely. I'm glad to hear your singing with the dulcimer as its seems to be somewhat infrequent these days.
GOODNESS ! What a treat! Enjoyed the music and your beautiful voice. Lovely.
Wow! That was great! Such a lovely song that I had never heard before (I am a sucker for a good ballad). You really have a wonderful voice that's perfect for ballads, and your playing is beautiful. Also, I love to see into other people's homes (the stuff waiting for the carboot sale just made it look comfy).

I also have a five string dulcimer, so I may ask you questions later on how to best utilize the center two strings. I currently have it down to just the three main strings (removed the doubles) as I am learning to play it.
Thanks, Paul, Tim and Pristine2/Richard.
Tim - there are lots of versions of the song from both sides of theAtlantic. Iknow I sang it at school, but have forgotten that version. Since I got very interested in the relationship between US and GB folk music we have both bought a lot of books. One was published here in the UK in the 1960 by Maud Karpeles based on Cecil Sharp's collected music, and she had created a kind of composite of about 25 songs. Thanks so much for sharing your version. In some versions of the tale the couple kill the parents and elope, but in others (like mine) she pines away....
Pristine2 - I did not spot your comment in May - thanks so much. The Green Man MD was the first one every made by my partner Richard. It is walnut, with a Green Man carved on the back. It has 5 strings (doubled middle string for a fuller sound).
Thank
Beautiful! The Green Man and your voice make beautiful music together. Never stop. I know only of the vocal version of this done in the mountains of North Carolina. These are the lyrics I've learned. I wish I could play the dulcimer well enough to do it justice:
Awake, Awake my own true lover
Awake, Arise, it's almost day
How can you bear those soft soft sleeping
While your true love's goin' away
Oh, who is that, knocking at my window
I pray you, oh tell to me
It's me, It's me, your own true lover
Awake, Arise, come pity me
Go love go and ask your Father
If this night you can be my Bride
If he say's no, then return and tell me
Be the last time, ever bother thee
I can't go and ask my Father
For he's on his bed of rest
And by his side there lies a weapon
To kill the one that I love best
Go love go and ask your Mother
If this night you can be my Bride
If she say's no, then return and tell me
Be the last time, ever bother thee
I can't go and ask my Mother
And tell her of your love so dear
But you may go and love another
And whisper softly in her ear
I will go to some white river
Spend my days, my months and years
Eat nothing but the green growing willow
Also drink from my flowing tears
Come Back, Come Back my own true lover
And stay a little while with me
I will foresake my dear old Mother
And go along by the side of thee
Wish my children could sit at your feet, so you could play for them. Gentle, lovely and powerful. Tell us more about the Green Man dulcimer ...
Thanks Julie and Guy.Guy - this version is largely from Maud Karpeles' published collection of 80 Appalachian songs in the 1960s, drawn from the Cecil Sharp collection. I have known several versions over the years so inevitably this version is a bit of a conglomeration in the end!
That's just sumptuous. I must learn this song now.
Jane,I'm adding my request for more videos from you!Robin
Beautiful!
Hi Ron - there is a close up of the green man carving in my photo collection - it is difficult to get the camera to light it properly as the wood is quite dark, but this pic just about does it justice in terms of showing the intricacy of the face and leaves. I know it took him longer to make than the actual instrument!Thanks folks for all your kind comments!
When I see a vid of someone I feel I know them a little better than just thru the typed word..& it lends credibility.....it was a pleasure to see & hear you..You're a dang good player & singer Foggers..you sing with conviction & feeling. I'd watch another!!??
OK this is just fantastic!I used to sing that ballad unaccompanied, but a sort of rougher mountain version.I love that your voice is strong enough and deeper so that the dulcimer does not overpower it, which is so difficult to avoid sometimes.TERRIFIC. I'll look forward to hearing more from you!