Hedy West - The Sheffield Apprentice

[@sandramorey2529]

She brought many of us to Traditional stories brought to the US by those fleeing from persecution and poverty in the British Isles.

[@bridgetgill3651]

My first gig,I travelled to Ellesmere Port Community Centre to see Hedy perform. I still have the ticket in a frame by my bed,11 January 1969. This was the real beginning of my journey in music. Also on the bill were Hamish Imlach Eddie and Finbar Furey. So beautiful still. Fergus.

[@reddwing4368]

@EMD-E8 I m so jealous Cod liver oil n the orange juice

[@FamAmm]

Lyrics as I heard them for anyone that cares: (if you find a mistake/misheard word please tag me) I was brought up in Cornwall, oh in a high degree, my parents they adored me, had no child, only me I ripped, I wrote, I rambled where'er my fancy's led, 'til I become a 'prentice and then my joy's, they fled the man that I was bound to he did not use me well I formed a resolution with whom not long to dwell unbeknown to my poor parents from him I ran away I steered my course to London and cursed be the day there were a lady in London, she chanced to spy me there she offered me great fame and to dwell with her one year with her kind words and promises with her I did agree to go with her to London and stay with her one year I hadn't been in London but six months and a day when my foolish misstress grew very fond of me her gold and silver, her houses and her land if I consent to marry her would be in my command oh no my honored mistress, I cannot marry you, for I have made a promise likewise a solemn vow, to wed no one but Betsy my beauty's honored me pray excuse me honored mistress she has my heart betrayed one morning as I walked out to take the pleasant air, my mistress followed after me to view the lilies fair, gold rings come off her fingers as she did pass me by, she slipped them in my pocket and for them I must die the sheriff come and take me, it was useless to say, he took me up to justice, tried me before the mayor, took me up to justice and to the gallow's tree, oh lord, reward my mistress she has surely wronged me people all come flocking in to see me in my lie, likewise my pretty betsy, my own intended wife, farewell to sin and sorrow, I bid you all adieu, like my pretty betsy, I'll die for loving you.

[@SirMikeyD]

Thanks for doing that. I took a closer pass through it, and made a few changes: I was brought up in Cornwall, all in a high degree, My parents they adored me, had no child, only me. I ripped, I roved, I rambled whereʼer my fancies led, ʼtil I became apprenticed, and then my joys they fled. The man that I was bound to, he did not use me well, I formed a resolution - with him not long to dwell. Unbeknown to my poor parents from him I ran away, I steered my course to London, and cursèd be the day. There were a lady in London, she chanced to spy me there, She offered me great payments to dwell with her one year. With her kind words and promises, with her I did agree To go with her to London and stay with her one year. I hadnʼt been in London but six months and a day When my foolish mistress grew very fond of me. Her gold and silver, her houses and her land, If Iʼd consent to marry her, would be at my command. Oh no, my honored mistress, I cannot marry you, For I have made a promise, likewise a solemn vow, To wed no one but Betsy, my beauteous honored maid, Pray excuse me, honored mistress, she has my heart betrayed. One morning as I walked out to take the pleasant air, My mistress followed after me to view the lilies fair. Gold rings from off her fingers as she did pass me by, She slipped them in my pocket, and for them I must die. The sheriff come and taken me, it was useless to say, He took me up to justice, tried me before the mayor. He took me up to justice and to the gallows tree, Oh lord, reward my mistress, she surely has wronged me. Th’ people all come flocking in to see me end my life, Likewise fair pretty Betsy, my own intended wife. Farewell to sin and sorrow, Iʼll bid you all adieu, Likewise fair pretty Betsy; Iʼll die for loving you. Pronunciation note: Miss Westʼs delivery preserves subtle features of Appalachian English, such as aspiration before a stressed vowel (“hʼit was useless . . . he took me hʼup to justice . . . Hʼo lord,” etc․), or certain nonstandard conjugations (“the sheriff ‘come and taken’ me”, not “came and took me”). I doubt she (or anyone, really), would have bothered unless this “come natural tʼem”.

[@reddwing4368]

I care thanks Such a hard song to sing. The structure or something But having the lyrics will really help Me out

[@andrewjohnston5900]

@@SirMikeyD I think it's 'gold rings from off her fingers' and 'The people all come flocking in to see me end my life'. A powerful song by a wonderful performer, but a strange title. The story is of a boy from Cornwall who fled to London to escape his master, so why is it called 'The Sheffield Apprentice'? Interestingly there is a village neat St Austell in Cornwall which is called 'London Apprentice' and might possibly have been the origin of the song.

[@SirMikeyD]

@@andrewjohnston5900 Right you are - good catches! 👍I’ve made your corrections, plus added part of a missing word ("th’ people” for “people”). Funny to think that, so often with modern pop lyrics, “close enough is good enough” yet these old folk broadsides, murder ballads etc. have ossified into sanctity, so that every syllable - if not every breath - counts! 🤔

[@Wotsitorlabart]

​​@@andrewjohnston5900 Because the original lyrics from the 1790's name check Sheffield. Somewhere in its travels in the New World Sheffield was changed to Cornwall (as well as other significant lyric alterations). A Mary Gibson in North Carolina sang the song with the altered lyrics to Cecil Sharp in 1919.

[@johnmackenzie376]

I have this album, along with another by Hedy, called Old Times Hard Times. A lovely lady, sadly missed.

[@zygfryd69]

the whole album is very nice (this is my favourite song)

[@edwardamosbrandwein3583]

Are ballads from the Appalachians of Scottish origin?

[@Lockole]

Man her banjo sounds amazing

[@garymorris9571]

Wonderful. Hedy had such great talent. I know most of her work but hadn't heard this. Thanks for posting.

[@reddwing4368]

This is her masterwork The ultimate version

[@stevewilson8752]

Then you don't know her as well as you think.

[@McMaNi4C]

wow...gave me the chills

[@stevewilson8752]

Classic Hedy 😊👍🇦🇺

[@elliotvernon7971]

Amazing.

[@harrymason1053]

I love her.

[@Jarrahnut]

A most wonderful artist. Colin Hugh Abbott, Jarrahdale, Western Australia.

[@rjmun580]

Hedy West lived in England for a number of years so it's hard to understand why she sang about Cornwall in this version of the Sheffield Apprentice. Sheffield is around 200 miles from Cornwall.

[@Wotsitorlabart]

It's an American version of the song - perhaps a lyrical tweak by Cornish immigrants.

[@tbut155]

does anyone know the chords shes using?

[@stevewilson8752]

Yes.

[@robertommundsen9155]

Dylan did little sadie

[@mudaloishusdevendanderaber7271]

A metal band should cover this. Such a great melody and some pretty rough lyrics. It'd be tough to match Hedy though.

[@satansbunni6333]

I just wanna see it go folk punk

[@geniewiley4217]

Absolutely fucking not

[@stevewilson8752]

Are you crazy 🙈👎