Springfield Mountain

[freebornman]

Picture taken from "Find A Grave"

Bob Gibson - Springfield Mountain:

Woody Guthrie - Springfield Mountain:

Народные песни сохраняют для нас не только важные исторические сюжеты, но иногда и удивительную хрень. Если б не комментарий Боба Гибсона на обложке пластинки о том что песня основана на реальном сюжете, мне бы и в голову не пришло поискать, действительно ли 250 лет назад недалеко от Спрингфилда человека укусила змея. Но да, действительно, некто Тимоти Мирик в начале августа 1761-го года вышел в поле по делам, был укушен гремучей змеей и умер. В результате бедняга Тим прославился так, что про него помнят люди через много лет на противоположном от Спрингфилда конце Земли.

На фотографии - могила Тима (найдено на "Find A Grave"). Надпись гласит:

"Здесь покоится тело Тимоти Мирика, сына лейтенанта Томаса и миссис Мирик, который скончался 7-го августа 1761 в возрасте 23 лет.
Как цветок, он выходит и опадает; убегает, как тень, и не останавливается (Иов, 14:2)"

Песня существует в большом количестве вариантов. Часть из них серьезная (как поет Боб Гибсон), другая часть - веселая (как поет Woody Guthrie). Ну да, чем не повод для веселья, правда?

Фамилия Мирик (или похожая по звучанию) возникает во множестве вариантов, хотя есть и варианты с другой фамилией и даже с главным героем другого пола. Но, как и подобает серьезным историкам, мы вот эти неудобные варианты заметем под ковер и замолчим, поскольку они нам рушат стройную картину.

Вариант текста, который поет Боб Гибсон, я не нашел. Приведу близкий. Под ним - вариант Woody Guthrie.


Springfield Mountain

On Springfield mountain there did dwell
A handsome youth, was known full well,
Lieutenant Merrill's only son,
A likely youth, near twenty-one.

On Friday morning he did go
Down to the meadows for to mow.
He mowed, he mowed all around the field
With a poisonous serpent at his heel.

When he received his deathly wound
He laid his scythe down on the ground
For to return was his intent,
Calling aloud, long as he went.

His calls were heard both far and near
But no friend to him did appear.
They thought he did some workman call
Alas, poor man, alone did fall!

Day being past, night coming on,
The father went to seek his son,
And there he found his only son
Cold as a stone, dead on the ground.

He took him up and he carried him home
And on the way did lament and mourn
Saying, "I heard but did not come,
And now I'm left alone to mourn."

In the month of August, the twenty-first
When this sad accident was done.
May this a warning be to all,
To be prepared when God shall call.

Springfield Mountain (as sung by Woody Gurthrie)

A nice young ma-wa-wa-wa-wan lived on a hill-I-will-I-will
And a nice young ma-wa-wa-wa-wan, and I knowed him well-well-well-well-well
Come a rood-i rood, a-rood-i rood-i ray.

This nice young ma-wa-wa-wa-wan, that I do know-wo-wo-wo-wo
See if he wee-wee-wee-wee-wee could make a show-oh-oh-oh-oh
Come a rood etc....

He had not nee-wy-nee-wy-walked but around the fie-wy-wie-wy-wield
When around come a snattle-come a rattle-come a snake
And he got him by the he-wy-wee-wy-weel
Come a rood etc....

Slap my pappy's daddy's daddy, go tell my ga-wa-wa-wa-wal
That I'm gonna dee-wy-dee-wy-die, and I know I sha-wa-wa-wa-wall
Come a rood etc....

Oh my pappy's daddy's daddy, go send for me-wywee-wy-woos
Here comes Sally-alla-walla-willy-walla without her she-wy-wee-wy-woes
Come a rood etc....

Oh John, oh Joh-wa-wa-wa-wanny, I've come for you to gi-wy-wee-wy-woe
Down in the meadow, way, way down in the meadow
Come a rood etc....

Oh Sally, oh Sally-wally-wally, why don't you know, don't you know
When the hay gets high it's gonna be mowed
Come a rood etc....

Come all you young men a-when in the mornin' by-wy-wee-wy-wake
And don't you get bit, bit by a rattle-some-a-snattle-come-a-rattle-come-a-snake
Come a rood etc....

Springfield Mountain (as sung by Bob Gibson more or less. Thank you, rauta. This is a variant from Roger McGuinn)

On Springfield Mountain there did dwell
Right – tum – a – new – rife – a – lime – a – diddle – do
On Springfield Mountain there did dwell tum – a – row
On Springfield Mountain there did dwell A handsome youth I knew full well
Right – tum – a – new – rife – a – lime – a – diddle – do

One Monday morning he did go
Right – tum – a – new – rife – a – lime – a – diddle – do
One Monday morning he did go tum – a – row
One Monday morning he did go Down in the meadow for to mow
Right – tum – a – new – rife – a – lime – a – diddle – do

He mowed once round that lengthy field
Right – tum – a – new – rife – a – lime – a – diddle – do
He mowed once round that lengthy field tum – a – row
He mowed once round that lengthy field And a poison serpent bit his heel
Right – tum – a – new – rife – a – lime – a – diddle – do

They brought him to his Molly dear
Right – tum – a – new – rife – a – lime – a – diddle – do
They brought him to his Molly dear tum – a – row
They brought him to his Molly dear Which made her feel so mighty queer
Right – tum – a – new – rife – a – lime – a – diddle – do

Oh Johnny dear why did you go?
Right – tum – a – new – rife – a – lime – a – diddle – do
Oh Johnny dear why did you go? tum – a – row
Oh Johnny dear why did you go Down in the meadow for to mow?
Right – tum – a – new – rife – a – lime – a – diddle – do

Oh Molly Dear now don't you know
Right – tum – a – new – rife – a – lime – a – diddle – do
Oh Molly Dear now don't you know tum – a – row
Oh Molly Dear now don't you know It's father's field and must be mowed
Right – tum – a – new – rife – a – lime – a – diddle – do

On Springfield Mountain there did dwell
Right – tum – a – new – rife – a – lime – a – diddle – do
On Springfield Mountain there did dwell tum – a – row
On Springfield Mountain there did dwell A handsome youth I knew him well
Right – tum – a – new – rife – a – lime – a – diddle – do