- Written by
- Bob Johnson [GB], Peter Knight [GB2], Maddy Prior, Rick Kemp, Tim Hart
- Originally written by
- [Traditional]
- Language
- English
- Adapted from
-
All Around My Hat written by [Traditional] -
Uses the exact Chorus lyrics
Fare Thee Well, Cold Winter / Farewell He written by [Traditional] - Uses the exact lyrics for three of the Verses
- Comments
-
In 1975, the English band Steeleye Span had their highest charting hit with All Around My Hat. The band registered the song as their own but the lyrics came verbatim from two traditional songs. The chorus came from All Around My Hat and the remaining lyrics were from Fare Thee Well, Cold Winter / Farewell He. After the initial opening chorus, the Steeleye Span song becomes a rocker and musically differs greatly from the original folk songs, and thus warrants adaptation (recomposition) status.
All around my hat I will wear the green willow
And all around my hat for a twelve-month and a day
And if anyone should ask me the reason why I'm wearing it
It's all for my true love who's far, far away
Fare thee well cold winter and fare thee well cold frost
Nothing have I gained but my own true love I've lost
I'll sing and I'll be merry when occasion I do see
He's a false deluding young man, let him go farewell he
The other night he brought me a fine diamond ring
But he thought to have deprived me of a far better thing
But I being careful like lovers ought to be
He's a false deluding young man, let him go farewell he
And all around my hat I will wear the green willow
And all around my hat for a twelve-month and a day
And if anyone should ask me the reason why I'm wearing it
It's all for my true love who's far, far away
Here's a half a pound of reasons, and a quarter pound of sense
A small sprig of time and as much of prudence
You mix them all together and you will plainly see
He's a false deluding young man, let him go farewell he
And all around my hat I will wear the green willow
And all around my hat for a twelve-month and a day
And if anyone should ask me the reason why I'm wearing it
It's all for my true love who's far far away - Published by
-
PEERMUSIC LTD
BMI
PEERMUSIC III LTD BMI
STEELEYE SPAN MUSIC LTD BMI
- Licensing
- Request a synchronization license
Song
Versions
All Around My Hat written by Bob Johnson [GB], Peter Knight [GB2], Maddy Prior, Rick Kemp, Tim Hart English
| Title | Performer | Release date | Info | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All Around My Hat | Steeleye Span | 1975 | First release | ||
| All Around My Hat | Top of the Pops | December 1975 | |||
| All Around My Hat | Status Quo - special guest Maddy Prior | 1996 | |||
| All Around My Hat | Lesley Garrett | April 23, 2012 |