Product Description
Staines Morris
The song, Staines Morris, is very well known by singers of traditional songs. Its a 17th century song. Its a 19th century song. Actually, its both! The lyrics were certainly published, and probably written, by Robert Cox for his play Actaeon and Diana, published in 1656. The tune was first published in John Playfords The English Dancing Master in 1651. There is no evidence that, in the 17th century, the lyrics were sung to this melody. That didnt happen for two hundred years, when William Chappell put the two together for his Popular Music of the Olden Time, vol. 1 (1859).
I have added chords to the melody. Whilst humming the tune to myself, I found myself moving into 6/8 time, and that inspired me to compose a galliard based on it, complete with divisions (runs of semiquavers or 32nd notes) and counterpoint.
The song melody and the galliard can be played separately or as parts of one piece, perhaps with the galliard played between two of the verses. I put the galliard in A minor, to provide a contrast with the D minor song melody, but play them in whatever key takes your fancy.
I have also added below the lyrics, as most often sung today.
Come ye young men, come along
With your music, dance and song
Bring your lasses in your hands
For tis that which love commands
Then to the Maypole haste away
For tis now our holiday
It is the choice time of the year
For the violets now appear
Now the rose receives its birth
And the pretty primrose decks the earth
And when you well reckoned have
What kisses you your sweetheart gave
Take them all again, and more
It will never make them poor
When you thus have spent your time
And the day be past its prime
To your beds repair at night
And dream there of your days delight
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