Weaver John
This is the song that gave me the idea for the CD - it was published in the 1891 version of
The Collier's Youth Companion - my great grandmother's first grade primer. No author was given.
I'd never heard of it, no one I knew had heard of it, and even the mighty Google turned up nothing.
It seemed to be a lost song, so I thought it would be fun to bring it back. We did, of course, loosen up
the rhythm a bit ...here's a piano version, performed by our good friend Dave Orr, as it was written.
Can't you just imagine those late 19th century school kids (my great-grandmother
among them) standing around the piano singing as the schoolmarm played this tune?
Weaver John
Down in a cottage lives Weaver John and a happy old soul is he
Maud is the name of his dear old dame and a blessed soul is she
Refrain
Wickety, Wackety, click and clack
How the shuttles do glance and ring
Here they go, here they go forth and back
And a sociable song they sing
Kitty is frisking about the floor with her kittens one two three four
Towser is taking a lazy nap on the settle behind the door
Refrain
Soft as the hum of the dame’s low wheel does the music of time roll on
Morning and noon of a useful life bring a peacefully setting sun
Refrain