Annotation:I Will Neither Spin Tow Nor Flax
X:1 T:I Will Neither Spin Tow Nor Flax M:9/8 L:1/8 R:Slip Jig Q:"Allegro con Spirito" B:Henry Hudson - The Dublin Magazine (July, 1842, No. 23) Z:AK/Fiddler's Companion K:G c|BAGAFD D2D|DEG G2B c2d2| BAG AFD D2D|DEG A2G G2:| |:G|G>AG GBd e2g|dBG c2B A>Bd| BAG AFD D2D|GAB {B}A2G G2:|]
I WILL NEITHER SPIN TOW NOR FLAX. Irish, Air (9/8 time). Dublin dentist and collector biography:Henry Hudson's note for the tune in The Dublin Magazine (July, 1842, p. 66) gives:
We obtained this air from Edward O'Reilly, under the name of "Ni Rince Me Banniac na Lin" – literally – not will-stretch I tow nor flax. It has been rendered, "I will neither spin" &c.; but the proper phrase for "I will not spin," &c. would be ni rniomra riab, "neither do they spin." There is a gay strain pervading this air well suited to the occupation of spinning. It is in the beautiful antique Celtic 9/8 time, and we deem it to be "very ancient."
Editions of The Dublin Magazine seems to have been the source for several melodies later printed in New York by P.M. Haverty.
