> Shirley Collins > Songs > The Banks of the Mossom

The Banks of the Mossem/Mossom

[ Roud 1646 ; Ballad Index CoSB242 ; trad.]

Bob Copper collected The Banks of the Mossem in The Woodman's Arms, Hammerpot, Sussex, on October 30, 1954 from Harold “Jim” Swain and added it in 1973 to his book and album Songs and Southern Breezes: Country Singers from Hampshire and Sussex. It was also included on the 1998 Topic anthology Who's That at My Bed Window? (The Voice of the People Volume 10).

Shirley Collins sang this song as The Banks of the Mossom in 1974 on her album Adieu to Old England. The song then finishes with the melody played by Bill Molan, melodeon, John Harrington, concertina, and Geoff Singleton, fiddle. Shirley Collins commented in the sleeve notes:

Another song from the BBC sound archives, collected in the 1950s by Bob Copper, from Jim Swain of Angmering, Sussex, who said he learnt it from a shepherd near Felpham. The words are a little confused, but that's part of the charm, so I didn't attempt to change them. I loved Jim's singing so much that I pass the song on pretty much as I heard it.

Shirley Collins' recording was also included in 1992 on the Fellside CD Voices: English Traditional Songs and in 2002 on her anthology Within Sound.

Malcolm Douglas noted in the Mudcat Café thread Lyr Req: Banks of the Mossen:

Evidently Bob Copper and Shirley Collins have understood the song differently, hence all on through happy spring (Bob) versus that long true happy spring (Shirley) and, for that matter, Shirley's Mossom.

Jon Boden sang the “very Sussex” Sweet Mossom as the March 8, 2011 entry of his project A Folk Song a Day.

Lyrics

Jim Swain sings The Banks of the Mossen

As I was a-walking down by some shady grove,
Down by some shady Nancy, my heart, my soul's delight.

Chorus (after each verse):

Young lambs they were a-playing all on the banks of sweet Mossen,
All on the banks of sweet Mossen all on through happy spring,
The lark all in the air she rise all in the morning
And brings me joyful tidings of Nancy my dear.

The song-birds on the branches is now sat down to rest
I'll write to lovely Nancy, my heart, my soul's delight.

Oh, give me ink and paper that I may sit down to write
I'll write to lovely Nancy, my heart, my soul's delight.

Shirley Collins sings The Banks of the Mossom

As I was a-walking down by some shady grove,
Down by some shady Nancy, my heart, my soul's delight.

Chorus (after each verse):

Young lambs they were a-playing all on the banks of sweet Mossom,
All on the banks of sweet Mossom that long true happy spring.
The lark all in the air she rises in the morning
And brings me joyful tidings of Nancy my dear.

The song-birds in the branches is now sit down to rest
I'll write to lovely Nancy, my heart, my soul's deligh.t

Oh, give me ink and paper, I may sit down to write
I'll write to lovely Nancy, my heart, my soul's delight.