Annotation:My Lodging is on the Cold Cold Ground

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MY LODGING'S IN/ON THE COLD, COLD GROUND (Is Mo Loistin an Talam Fuar). AKA and see "Believe Me if All Those Endearing Young Charms," "Oh Shrive Me Father," "When the dove Left the Ark," "Duty and Love." English, Air and Waltz; Irish, Slow Air (3/4 time). G Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). One part (O'Farrell): AB (Chappell, Kennedy, O'Neill, Raven): AABB (Kerr). This has been a very popular and enduring melody since its first appearance in print in Vocal Music, or The Songster's Companion of 1775. However, the lyrics in one form or another are considerably older and were set to another tune composed by Matthew Lock which appeared in the year 1664 (see "On the Cold Ground, or I Prethee, Love, Turn to Me"). At some point in the next century the old tune was discarded and the familiar one substituted. "My Lodging's..." was played as a Tattoo during the American Civil War, signalling bed-time and "lights out" in the military camp. See also note for "Annotation:Believe Me if All Those Endearing Young Charms" for more.

Source for notated version:

Printed sources: Bruce & Emmett's Drummers' and Fifers' Guide, 1862; p. 45. Chappell (Popular Music of the Olden Times), vol. 2, 1859; pp. 140-141. Kennedy (Fiddlers Tune Book), vol. 1, 1951; No. 67, p. 33. Kerr (Merry Melodies, vol. 3), c. 1880's; No. 402, p. 44. O'Farrell (Pocket Companion, vol. 1); c. 1805; p. 74. O'Neill (Music of Ireland: 1850 Melodies), 1903; No. 114, p. 21. Raven (English Country Dance Tunes), 1984; p. 133. Saunders (New and Complete Instructor for the Violin), Boston, 1847; No. 9, p. 22

Recorded sources: Topic TSCD 669, Billy Ballantine & Jimmy Hunter (et al) - "Ranting and Reeling: Dance Music of the north of England" (1998. Piccolo player Billy Ballantine {born c. 1890's} and harmonica player Jimmy Hunter were both from Northumberland).