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Title
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One O
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Singer
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Jeffries, William
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Notes
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Note 1
Williams, Alfred: Ms / WGS: 'This also enjoyed considerable popularity throughout the locality of the Upper Thames. It was chiefly sung at harvest homes and other farm festivals. It is old, and very curious. There were two versions, with but few variations. Instead of 'lily white boys clothed all in green O' etc., one version has, 'lily white pinks' followed by 'And when the one is left alone, It ever more shall be so.' The same version has, instead of 'five thimbles in my bosom', 'Five are the flannel boys under the bush'. Copy obtained of William Jefferies, Longcot, and William Wise, Alvescot, Oxfordshire.'
Williams, Alfred: FSUT: 'This piece enjoyed considerable popularity throughout the locality of the Upper Thames. It was chiefly sung at harvest homes and other farm festivals. It is old, and very curious. There were two versions. One has, instead of 'five thimbles in my bosom', 'Five are the flannel boys under the bush'. Copy obtained of William Jefferies, Longcot, and William Wise, Alvescot, Oxfordshire.'
Note 2
In Verse 1, Lines 7 and 8 the original text read:
And when the one is left alone
It evermore shall be so.
This form of words also originally ended Verse 11.
In Verse 2, Line 7 the original text read:
Two, two are lily white pinks,
In Verse 11, Lines 17 and 18 the original text read:
And when the one is left alone
It ever more shall be so.
Note 3
Williams, Alfred: Some Wiltshire folk-lore: our roots in Aryan speech
In this article in the Wiltshire Gazette Williams promotes a view of the linkages between English and Aryan folk lore based on his experiences while serving in the Army in the Punjab. He quotes part of Verse 6 in the above text which differs in minor detail:
Verse 6
“A song I will sing you.”
“What may your song be?”
“I will sing the Seven O”
“What may your Seven be?”
“Seven are the seven stars in the sky”, etc.
Transcribed and edited by Chris Wildridge, 2011.
