BLACK EYED SUSAN [2]. AKA and see "Sweet William's Farewell to Black-Ey'd Susan." English, Air (3/4 time). E Minor (Oswald): D Minor (Manson). Standard tuning (fiddle). One part (Alexander, Manson): AABB (Oswald). The words to the song [Roud 560] were written by poet and dramatist wikipedia:John_Gay (1685-1732) around 1720, while the music was supplied a decade later by bass singer and composer Richard Leveridge wikipedia:Richard_Leveridge (1670-1758).
Richard Leveridge
All in the Downs the Fleet was moor'd, The streamers waving to the wind, When black-ey'd Susan came on board; Oh! where shall I my true love find? Tell me, ye jovial sailors, tell me true, If my sweet William, If my sweet William sails among your crew.
The song, with Leveridge's melody, was included in the patriotic ballad opera Robin Hood in 1730, although Leveridge had a connection with Henry Fielding and may have composed the tune for Fielding's Sailor Song of 1729[1]. It proved extremely popular and was much anthologized in the 18th century. Several subsequent songs were written, attempting to capitalize on its success: "Sweet William’s Return to his Dear Susan," "Sweet Susan’s Constancy" and "The True Answer to Black-Ey’d Susan", for example.
Additional notes
Printed sources : - Alexander (Alexander’s New Scrap Book, vol. 6), c. 1845; No. 854, p. 13. Howe (Second Part of the Musician's Companion), 1850; p. 6. Manson (Hamilton's Universal Tune Book vol. 2), 1846; p. 151. Oswald (Caledonian Pocket Companion, Book 11), 1760; p. 115. Edward Riley (Riley's Flute Melodies, vol. 1), New York, 1814; No. 286, p. 78.
See also listing at : Read the entry for the song at Mainly Norfolk [1]
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