Poor Murdered Woman

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Poor Murdered Woman
English folk song
Catalogue Roud Folk Song Index 1064
Genre Murder ballad
LanguageEnglish
Published1908
(written c.1834)

"Poor Murdered Woman" (Roud # 1064) is an English traditional folk song. On Tuesday 14 January 1834, the events related in the song were reported in The Times .

Contents

The song must date from 1834 or later, as the murdered woman was buried in a pauper's grave, in the churchyard of the Church of St Mary & St Nicholas, Leatherhead, Surrey, England, on 15 January 1834.

Synopsis

A squire out hunting discovers a woman's body on the common. The hounds detect the corpse, but are kept at bay; the hunting party examines the surrounding undergrowth, but find nothing else. They announce the gruesome find in the local village, but it is too late to move the body before nightfall. The next day, a Sunday, a huge crowd gathers to witness the scene and conclude that the woman had met a violent death. The body is transported to a nearby inn, a coroner's jury is assembled and quickly agree that the death has been unlawful. The unknown woman is prepared for burial at a church in Leatherhead, but her funeral is a lonely affair, bereft of mourners. The narrator reminds the listener that, although unidentified, the murderer will eventually face judgement for their deeds.

Commentary

Background

In her 1908 Lucy Broadwood edition notes that the song has "a fine Dorian tune" and reports that Rev. Charles J. Shebbeare, at Milford, Surrey, had collected the song from a young labourer, for whom it was a favourite song. The Vicar of Leatherhead, Rev. E. J. Nash had questioned Mr. Lisney, an 87-year-old, in February 1908 and had confirmed the accuracy of the account related in the ballad. Lisney suggested that that the ballad has been composed by Mr. Fairs, a brickmaker of Leatherhead Common. [lower-alpha 1] The Journal of the Folk Song Society , Vol. I, p. 186 records the original singer's version of names as "Yankee" for "Hankey" and "John Sinn" for "John Simms" of the Royal Oak Inn. Broadwood says:

This song is only one of many proofs that "ballets" are made by local, untaught bards, and that they are transmitted, and survive, long after the events which they record have ceased to be a reality to the singer. [2]

On Tuesday 14 January 1834, the events related in the song were reported in The Times . [2]

Standard references

Printed versions

"Poor Murdered Woman" was published in 1908 by Lucy Broadwood in her collection English Traditional Songs and Carols (London, Boosey). She had obtained it from Shebbeare, who had collected it in 1897 from a Mr. Forster of Milford, a young labourer. [2] [1]

Recorded versions

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References

  1. 1 2 3 Button, Clare (1 January 2015). "'No father, no mother, nor no friend at all': The Poor Murdered Woman as local composition and subversive 'crime ballad'". Proceedings of the English Folk Dance and Song Society Folk Song Conference 2013. Retrieved 12 April 2024– via www.academia.edu.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Zierke, Reinhard (2023-07-15). "Poor Murdered Woman (Roud 1064)". Mainly Norfolk. Retrieved 2024-03-25.
  3. ↑ "But Two Came By - Martin Carthy" – via www.allmusic.com.
  4. ↑ Hayden, Jackie. "A Collection". Hotpress.
  5. ↑ Irwin, Colin. "BBC - Music - Review of Martin Carthy - Essential". www.bbc.co.uk.
  6. ↑ Milner, Dan; Kaplan, Paul (1983-12-31). Songs of England, Ireland, and Scotland: A Bonnie Bunch of Roses [Lyrics & Chords]. Oak Publications. ISBN   978-1-78323-492-9 – via Google Books.
  7. ↑ Martin Carthy - Topic (2022-04-06). "Poor Murdered Woman". YouTube . Retrieved 2024-03-25.
  8. ↑ "Martin Carthy with Dave Swarbrick - But Two Came By". Topic Records. Retrieved 15 April 2024.
  9. ↑ "The Weedkiller's Daughter - John & Mary" – via www.allmusic.com.
  10. ↑ "The Poor Murdered Woman" – via www.youtube.com.
  11. ↑ Collins, Shirley (2021-07-21). "Poor Murdered Woman". YouTube . Retrieved 2024-03-25.
  12. ↑ Release - Topic (2021-06-17). "Poor Murdered Woman". YouTube . Retrieved 2024-03-25.
  13. ↑ "Gordon A. Jackson: It's Cold by the Door". thejonesboys.org. Retrieved 15 April 2024.
  14. ↑ Jackie Oates - Topic (2021-10-02). "Poor Murdered Woman". YouTube . Retrieved 2024-03-25.
  15. ↑ "Saturnine by Jackie Oates". brightyoungfolk.com.
  16. ↑ The Woodbine & Ivy Band - Topi (2022-04-01). "Poor Murdered Woman". YouTube . Retrieved 2024-03-25.
  17. ↑ "The Woodbine & Ivy Band (plus FRUK Exclusive)". KLOF Mag. 23 November 2011. Retrieved 15 April 2024.
  18. ↑ "Ulver 'Poor Murdered Woman', by Ulver". Shirley Inspired...
  19. ↑ "Ulver - Poor Murdered Woman" – via www.youtube.com.

Notes

  1. ↑ Button (2015) suggests the composer was Leatherhead bricklayer James Fields. [1]
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