Gossip Joan

Album: Centuries of Song (1705)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Written in 4/4 time, "Good Morrow, Gossip Joan" or more usually plain "Gossip Joan," is a traditional English folk song that is or was once popular in the school music curriculum, including for descant recorder. According to an official local government source - Wiltshire County Council - it was collected by Alfred Williams from Charles Frederick Hope of Filkins. Alfred Williams (1877-1930) was a folk song collector among his many other talents in his relatively short life. His contemporary note on "Gossip Joan" was "A quaint old song, that depended upon its highest success, on the ability of the singer to observe the proper quantities and modulations."
  • The British Library holds several copies of what may be the oldest version of a folk song that - unlike many - appears to have changed very little with the passage of time. The earliest is dated c1705. >>
    Suggestion credit:
    Alexander Baron - London, England, for above 2

Comments: 1

  • Dave from Northern IrelandIt’s a budgie, not a budget full of talking!
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Jon Foreman of Switchfoot

Jon Foreman of SwitchfootSongwriter Interviews

Switchfoot's frontman and main songwriter on what inspires the songs and how he got the freedom to say exactly what he means.

Adele

AdeleFact or Fiction

Despite her reticent personality, Adele's life and music are filled with intrigue. See if you can spot the true tales.

Lori McKenna

Lori McKennaSongwriter Interviews

Lori's songs have been recorded by Faith Hill and Sara Evans. She's performed on the CMAs and on Oprah. She also has five kids.

Donnie Iris (Ah! Leah!, The Rapper)

Donnie Iris (Ah! Leah!, The Rapper)Songwriter Interviews

Before "Rap" was a form of music, it was something guys did to pick up girls in nightclubs. Donnie talks about "The Rapper" and reveals the identity of Leah.

Dave Edmunds

Dave EdmundsSongwriter Interviews

A renowned guitarist and rock revivalist, Dave took "I Hear You Knocking" to the top of the UK charts and was the first to record Elvis Costello's "Girls Talk."

Andy McClusky of OMD

Andy McClusky of OMDSongwriter Interviews

Known in America for the hit "If You Leave," OMD is a huge influence on modern electronic music.