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Edward

from Up The Cut by Jon Wilks

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EDWARD [CHILD 13, ROUD 200]

This is a well-known, many-times recorded Child Ballad. A smattering of collections across Britain show that it was reasonably well known here, but it seemed to take a real hold in the US – and I have to say, I think my arrangement has more of an American twang to it than most of the other songs on this album.

Roy Palmer collected this song from George Dunn in the winter of 1971, the old singer having learnt it in his childhood. I first read the lyrics in Palmer’s book Songs of the Midlands, but it wasn’t until I heard Dunn’s haunting rendition on the aforementioned, George Dunn, Chainmaker, that I determined to learn it myself. It has become a personal favourite among the songs on this Up The Cut album.

lyrics

What did you kill your dear little brother for
My boy come tell it unto me
For killing three little dicky birds
That flew from tree to tree

What will you do with your houses and land
My boy come tell it unto me
I will leave them there for the birds all in the air
There’ll be no more welcomes there for me

What will you leave your dear little brother now
My boy come tell it unto me
I'll leave him a rope to hang himself
On yonder high tree

What will do you when your father comes home
My boy come tell it unto me
I will place my foot on board a ship
And so to Amerikee

When shall I see your dear dear face again
My boy come tell it unto me
Never till the sun sets on yonder high tree
And that will never never be

credits

from Up The Cut, released February 12, 2021
Arranged, performed and recorded by Jon Wilks.

Mixed and mastered by Andi Lee at Kosi Studios.

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Jon Wilks Whitchurch, UK

'The sort of performer folk circles mean when they talk of the living tradition' - Mike Davies, Folking.com

“One of the best of the New Wave of Folk Blokes. As a guitar player and arranger of traditional songs, Jon Wilks already deserves speaking of in the same breath as your Simpsons and your Morays.” – Ian A. Anderson, fRoots Mag ... more

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