{"id":10222,"date":"2021-04-26T14:49:19","date_gmt":"2021-04-26T14:49:19","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/folksongandmusichall.com\/?page_id=10222"},"modified":"2021-09-09T09:52:07","modified_gmt":"2021-09-09T09:52:07","slug":"down-by-the-old-abbey-ruins","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/folksongandmusichall.com\/index.php\/down-by-the-old-abbey-ruins\/","title":{"rendered":"Down by the old abbey ruins"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
AKA<\/strong><\/td>No eye could see<\/td><\/tr>
First Published<\/td>1880<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Writer\/composer<\/td>Sweeney\/Rowley<\/td>Roud<\/strong><\/td>RN13629<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
Music Hall Performers<\/strong><\/td>JW Rowley<\/td><\/tr>
Folk performances<\/strong><\/td>Collected from the singing of:<\/strong>
Pardon, Walter; England, Norfolk; 1978
unknown singer collected by Alfred Williams, c1915<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n
From a broadside held in the Bodlleian library<\/a>\n\nOne day as I strayed 'neath the beautiful glade, \nEnjoying the sweet summer breeze, \nI chanced to behold the remains of an old\nRuined abbey all sheltered with trees; \nThe picture to crown, as I chanced to look down,\nWas a picture by form I did see, \nOf a lovely young maid, who reclined 'neath the shade \nOf a wide spreading horse-chestnut tree. \n\nThere were no eyes to see, no tongue to tell, <\/em>\nOnly the birds saw our doin<\/em>gs\nAs i fondly embraced her dear little waist<\/em>\nDown by the old abbey ruins. <\/em>\n\nAs closer I crept I found that she slept;\nThen boldly I crept closer still:\nAnd gazed with great zest on the charms she possess'd\nTill my heart with love quickly filled.\nIt seemed like a dream, till she awoke with a scream, \nAnd jumped to her feet in dismay;\nBut I took off my hat, said beg pardon, dear pet, \nFor disturbing you in such a way.\n\nI told her my name so friends we became, \nHer shyness I cannot compare; \nShe fondled And fussed, looked pale and then blushed, \nWhen I told her how long I'd been there \nBy the old abbey wall, I told her that all \nI had in this world she should share; \nAnd none but the birds heard our fond loving words, \nOr what we were saying down there<\/pre>\n\n\n\n
A song from the Halls of the 1880s, most often associated with the performer  JW \u201cOver\u201d Rowley<\/a>.<\/em>. The earliest record of a performance of the song is from 1879 at Gatti’s Hall in London:<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Feb. 23, 1879; The Era <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
In Scotland the song was also associated with Wilford Bowman, a “Scotch” comedian who organised weekly concerts at Trades Hall in Arbroath in the 1870s and later toured Scotland and the North of England.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The words were written by P Sweeney, the lyricist who  also wrote Delaney’s Chicken<\/a><\/em>. His songs often had music written by Lester Barrett, but in this case the music is credited to Rowley. Sheet music was later published in America, credited to WC Robey, whose name has been associated with other pirated editions of British Music Hall songs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The song was sung as part of a series of fragments by Walter Pardon alongside Wake Up Johnny<\/a> \/ When the cock begins to crow<\/a> \/ and Saving Them All for Mary. You can here them at the Vaughn Williams Memorial Library<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sources:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n