There's nothing to be had without money (traditionnel anglais)
Cette ballade appartient à ce que les Britanniques classifient comme broadside ballads. Elles étaient imprimées sur feuille volante et vendues pour un penny par des marchands ambulants. Elles contenaient en général le texte, le nom de la mélodie utilisée et une illustration en gravure sur bois. Les premières broadsides sont concomitantes à l’apparition de l’imprimerie à Londres et perdurèrent jusqu’au XIXème siècle. Ces chansons peuvent être traditionnelles ou avoir un auteur connu, traiter de sujets aussi divers que l’actualité dans une forme de proto-journalisme, de légendes, d’amour et de mort, de religion ou de chansons à boire.
La première impression de celle-ci date de 1633, à Londres. C’est sans conteste une chanson de taverne. Si la chanson complète est composée de quatorze couplets, nous nous sommes basés sur l’interprétation qu’en a fait Ewan MacColl sur son disque Broadside Ballads (Folkways Records, 1962). La mélodie est un classique de l’époque, Stingo, air à danser que l’on retrouve dans le recueil de John Playford, The English Dancing Master, publié en 1651. Cet air a été réutilisé nombre de fois, particulièrement dans la ballad opera de John Gay, The Beggar’s Opera.
lyrics
You gallants and you swaggering blades.
Give ear unto my ditty,
I am a boon companion known
In country, town, or city,
I always loved to wear good clothes.
And ever scorned to take blows,
I am belov'd of all me know.
But God a mercy penny.
My father was a man well known,
That us'd to hoard up money,
His bags of gold, he said, to him.
More sweeter were than honey.
But I, his son, will let it fly
In tavern or ordinary,
I am beloved in company,
But God a mercy penny.
All parts of London I have tried,
Where merchant's wares are plenty,
The Royal Exchange, and fair Cheapside,
With speeches fine and dainty,
They bring me in for to behold
Their shops of silver and of gold,
There might I choose what wares I would.
But God a mercy penny.
For my contentment once a day
I walk for recreation.
Through Paul's, Ludgate, and Fleet-Street gay,
To raise an elevation;
Sometimes my humour is to range
To Temple, Strand, and New Exchange,
To see their fashions rare and strange,
But God a mercy penny.
The famous abbey I have seen,
And have the pictures viewed
Of many a noble king and queen,
Which are by death subdued.
And having seen the sights most rare,
The watermen fully ready were,
Me o'er the river Thames to bear,
But God a mercy penny.
Bear Garden, when I do frequent.
Or the Globe on the Bank-side,
They afford to me most rare content.
As I full oft have tried:
The best pastime that they can make.
They instantly will undertake.
For my delight and pleasure sake.
But God a mercy penny.
In every place whereas I come.
Both I and my sweet Penny
Got entertainment in the same.
And got the love of many,
Both tapsters, cooks, and vintners fine.
With other jovial friends of mine,
Will pledge my health in beer or wine.
But God a mercy Penny.
Yet will I never niggard be.
While I remain in earth,
But spend my money frolickly
In friendship, love, and mirth;
I'll drink my beer, I'll pay my score,
And eke dispense some of my store.
And to the needy and the poor,
I'll freely give my penny.
Thus to conclude as I began
I wholly am inclined.
Wishing that each true hearted man,
A faithful friend may find:
You that my verses stay to hear,
Draw money for to buy me beer,
The price of it is not too dear,
'T will cost you but a penny.
credits
from You that my verses stay to hear,
released October 26, 2016
Guitares, voix : Mikaël
Basse, trompettes : Clément
Trombone : Fabrice
Known Dwarf revisite cinq siècles de folksongs anglo-saxonnes.
Chansons de tavernes du XVIIe siècle, vieilles ballades,
chansons de mineurs et de marins, chansons de révolte, elles parlent de la vie, de l’amour, de la mort, du travail, voire de tout ça en même temps. C’est l’occasion d’y croiser les conscrits du XVIIIe siècle, les travailleurs itinérants ou les ouvriers en grève....more
Beautifully played and full of moving vocal performances, the Bay Area singer/songwriter's latest is a stellar work of art. Bandcamp Album of the Day Feb 3, 2023
