Annotation:Dark Girl Dressed in Blue (1) (The)

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 DARK GIRL DRESSED IN BLUE [1], THE. English; Air, Polka. G Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). AB. Printed song versions date to about 1855. Actor Jack Warner (1896-1981) who got his start in music hall and radio (later with a long run in the BBC series "Dixon of Dock Green") was said to have used this tune as his theme song. It's a humorous piece that tells of a chance meeting of the Dark Girl, who asks him to get change for her for a five pound note. The money is, of course, counterfeit, and she disappears, leaving the protagonist to explain himself to the law. The song was originally written by an early British music hall entertainer named Harry Clifton (1824-1872) and was hugely popular in the second half of the 19th century. Clifton wrote the words but often used folk melodies to propel his lyrics (which he often tried to write with local references as he toured from city to city).  Source for notated version:  Printed sources: Raven (English Country Dance Tunes), 1984; p. 148. Westrop (120 Country Dances, Jigs, Reels, Hornpipes, Strathspeys, Spanish Waltz etc.for the Violin), c.1923; No. 41.  Recorded sources: Wild Goose WGS 320, Old Swan Band - "Swan-Upmanship" (2004).

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