Little Eyes

Last updated

Little Eyes or Little Lize (Lil' Lize) is a folksong that is popular in Cornwall, England, UK, although it originated in America. There is a claim that it was written by Buford Abner of the Swannee River Boys in the late 1940s or early 1950s however the lyrics are found in the notated version of minstrel shows dating from the 1890s suggesting that it was from a preexisting folk song. [1] The first known recording is from the 1950s by an American harmony group called the Delta Rhythm Boys. [2]

Cornish miners working in America brought the song back to Cornwall and it was later taken up by a group from Camborne called the Joy Boys in 1955. After a few alterations it became a local hit and is still sung widely across Cornwall, but is rarely heard elsewhere. [3] The song was adopted into the Cornish “shout” singing tradition and variation versions have been collected showing local variations. [4] A variation of the lyrics include a version in the Cornish Language from an original translation by Ken George, [5] demonstrating the significance of the song in its adopted community.

The Cornish band Crowns, cover the song on their 2012 album Stitches in the Flag. Before the Crowns, several Cornish singers and groups had already recorded their own versions of the song including the internationally known folk-singer Brenda Wootton (1928 –1994) who was considered an ambassador for the Cornish tradition. [6] More recently the song was released by Fisherman's Friends of Port Isaac for their 2019 album, ‘Keep Hauling’ which featured songs from the movie of the same name; this version has amassed hundreds of thousands of online plays.

Related Research Articles

The Oggy Oggy Oggy chant, and its variations, are often heard at sporting events, political rallies and around numerous Scout and Guide campfires, primarily in Britain, Ireland and some Commonwealth nations. One group will shout Oggy three times, while another will respond with Oi! three times.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Refrain</span> Repeated lines in music or poetry

A refrain is the line or lines that are repeated in music or in poetry — the "chorus" of a song. Poetic fixed forms that feature refrains include the villanelle, the virelay, and the sestina.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">English folk music</span> Tradition-based music originating in England

The folk music of England is a tradition-based music which has existed since the later medieval period. It is often contrasted with courtly, classical and later commercial music. Folk music traditionally was preserved and passed on orally within communities, but print and subsequently audio recordings have since become the primary means of transmission. The term is used to refer both to English traditional music and music composed or delivered in a traditional style.

Cornwall is a Celtic nation with a long musical history. Strengthened by a series of 20th century revivals, traditional folk music has a popular following. It is accompanied by traditions of pipers, brass and silver bands, male voice choirs, classical, electronic and popular music.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stargazy pie</span> Cornish dish made of baked fish

Stargazy pie is a Cornish dish made of baked pilchards (sardines), along with eggs and potatoes, covered with a pastry crust. Although there are a few variations using other types of fish, the unique feature of stargazy pie is fish heads protruding through the crust, so that they appear to be gazing to the stars.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Song of the Western Men</span> Cornish patriotic song

"The Song of the Western Men", also known as "Trelawny", is a Cornish patriotic song, composed by Louisa T. Clare for lyrics by Robert Stephen Hawker. The poem was first published anonymously in The Royal Devonport Telegraph and Plymouth Chronicle in September 1826, over 100 years after the events.

"Dem Bones" is a spiritual song. The melody was composed by author and songwriter James Weldon Johnson (1871–1938) and his brother, J. Rosamond Johnson. It was first recorded by The Famous Myers Jubilee Singers in 1928. Both a long and a shortened version of the song are widely known. The lyrics are inspired by Ezekiel 37:1–14, where the prophet Ezekiel visits the Valley of Dry Bones and prophesies that they will one day be resurrected at God's command, picturing the realization of the New Jerusalem.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zennor</span> Human settlement in England

Zennor is a village and civil parish in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. The parish includes the villages of Zennor, Boswednack and Porthmeor and the hamlet of Treen. Zennor lies on the north coast, about 6 miles (10 km) north of Penzance, along the B3306 road which connects St Ives to the A30 road. Alphabetically, the parish is the last in Britain. Its name comes from the Cornish name for the local saint, Saint Senara.

"Man of Constant Sorrow" is a traditional American folk song first published by Dick Burnett, a partially blind fiddler from Kentucky. The song was originally titled "Farewell Song" in a songbook by Burnett dated to around 1913. A version recorded by Emry Arthur in 1928 gave the song its current titles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brenda Wootton</span> Cornish folk singer and poet (1928–1994)

Brenda Wootton was a British folk singer and poet and was seen as an ambassador for Cornish tradition and culture in all the Celtic nations and as far as Australia and Canada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tom Bawcock's Eve</span>

Tom Bawcock's Eve is an annual festival, held on 23 December, in Mousehole, Cornwall.

Lamorna is a traditional folk song/ballad associated with Cornwall, and dealing with the courtship of a man and a woman, who turned out to be his wife. The title comes from Lamorna, a village in west Cornwall. Sheet music held in the British Library dates the song to 1910.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pendour Cove</span> Beach in west Cornwall, England

Pendour Cove is a beach in west Cornwall, England, UK. It is about 1 mile northwest of the village of Zennor, and immediately to the west of Zennor Head.

Professor Richard Roscow Morris "Dick" Gendall was a British expert on the Cornish language. He was the founder of "Modern Cornish"/Curnoack Nowedga, which split off during the 1980s. Whereas Ken George mainly went to Medieval Cornish as the inspiration for his revival, Gendall went to the last surviving records of Cornish, such as John and Nicholas Boson, in the eighteenth-century. He taught at the University of Exeter.

"Keep Your Eyes on the Prize" is a folk song that became influential during the American Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s. It is based on the traditional song, "Gospel Plow," also known as "Hold On," "Keep Your Hand on the Plow," and various permutations thereof.

Delkiow Sivy is a Cornish folk song.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Crowns (band)</span>

Crowns are an English folk punk band from Launceston, Cornwall, England, formed in 2010. The band consisted of lead singer and guitarist Bill Jefferson, bass player Jake Butler, mandolinist Jack Speckleton and drummer Rob Ramplin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mermaid of Zennor</span> Cornish folktale

The Mermaid of Zennor is a popular Cornish folk tale that was first recorded by the Cornish folklorist William Bottrell in 1873. The legend has inspired works of poetry, literature and art.

Fish and Tin and Copper is a traditional folk song/ballad associated with Cornwall, and dealing with the legend of the devil visiting Cornwall and being frightened away, fearing that he'd be made into a Cornish pasty filling.

References

  1. Kuumbi, Helen (6 September 2022). "The story of Little Eyes: A case study of a folk song".{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  2. The Delta Rhythm Boys Archived 2012-01-05 at the Wayback Machine
  3. Manley, Helen (2019). The revival of folk tradition: St Germans May Tree fair (2nd ed.). Cornwall: Cat on The Stairs. ISBN   978-1096421955.
  4. Colemand and Burley (2015). Shout Kernow: Celebrating Cornwall’s pub songs. London: Francis Boutle. ISBN   978-1903427972.
  5. "Deulagas Vyghan / Little Eyes / Little Lise". Cornish National Music Archive. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
  6. "Brenda Wootton: Cornish Singer and Ambassador (1928 -1994)". Cornish National Music Archive. Retrieved 6 September 2022.