My Darling Asleep

jig

Key signature: Dmajor

Submitted on May 25th 2001 by Jeremy.

This tune has been added to 798 tunebooks.

Also known as The Mummer's , The Mummer's, The Mummers', My Darlig's A Sheep, My Darling's Asleep.

Recordings of a tune by this name:

• A Few More Tunes by John Skelton
• A Tribute To Joe Cooley by Frankie Gavin, Paul Brock, Charlie Lennon
• Alesia by Rapalje
• American Special by Stockton's Wing
• An Fhidil by Various Artists
• Cuckanandy by Moving Cloud
• Dance Time In Ireland by Larry McKee And The Shandonairs
• Début by Field Marshal Montgomery Pipe Band
• Doublin' by Paddy Glackin And Paddy Keenan
• Far Green Country by John Sherman
• Fluters Of Old Erin: Flute, Piccolo And Whistle Recordings Of The 1920's And 30's by Various Artists
• Foinn Seisiun 1 by Ceoltóirí Cultúrlainne
• Gallain2 by Barry Mcgandy
• I'm Leaving Tipperary by Various Artists
• Instrumental by The Dubliners
• Iona by Iona
• Irish Jigs by Paul Hutchinson, John Hymas And Tony Harris
• Kennedy's Kitchen by Kennedy's Kitchen
• Leo Rowsome: Classics Of Irish Piping by Leo Rowsome
• Midwinter Night's Dream by Boys Of The Lough
• Miles From Dublin by Dan Carollo
• Mind The Dresser: Music For The Sets Volume 2 by Various Artists
• Music From The Reeds by Noel Battle
• New Irish Harmonica by Brendan Power
• O'Malley's Music by Various Artists
• On A Rock In The Middle Of The Ocean by Various Artists
• One by Murphy Roche Irish Music Club
• Raise The Rafters by Raise The Rafters
• Set Dances Of Ireland: Music For Listening And Dancing by Various Artists
• Slowplay Jigs, Reels And Hornpipes by Jeffrey Hillgrove
• Standing Room Only by Eliot Grasso
• Star Of Ireland by Finbarr Dwyer
• The Celtic Fiddle Of Liz Knowles by Liz Knowles
• The Collection by Stockton's Wing
• The Connachtman's Rambles by Martin O'Connor
• The Day Dawn by Boys Of The Lough
• The Drones And The Chanters by Various Artists
• The Lovers' Waltz by Jay Ungar And Molly Mason
• The Morning Mist by Joe Burke
• The Wild Keys by Mikie Smyth
• Trasna Ceilidh Band by Trasna Ceilidh Band
• Uilleann Pipes And Whistles - Traditional Music From Co. Monaghan by Martin McCormack
• Up And Away by Paul Smyth

X: 1
T: My Darling Asleep
M: 6/8
L: 1/8
R: jig
K: Dmaj
|:fdd cAA|BGG A2G|FAA def|gfg eaa|
fdd cAA|BGG A2G|FAA def|gec d3:|
FAA Add|FAA BGG|FAA def|gfg eaa|
fdd cAA|BGG A2G|FAA def|gec d3:|

This is quite an easy tune to play. There isn't very much to memorise; the second part varies only slightly from the first.

For variation, try giving the notes in the first part equal length: play FD, CA, BG, A instead of FDD, CAA, BGG, A.

# Posted on June 2nd 2001 by Jeremy

My Darling Asleep

This is one of the tunes I really need to learn. I've been thinking it's a very old tired kids' tune, but it's definitely coming back! I often hear it played in both Ireland and Yorkshire these days. It also appears in Paul Smyth's very recent recording.

# Posted on September 10th 2004 by slainte

My Darling Asleep

With the right lift, this tune can really sail, despite (or because of) its simplicity. It's a good tune to toss in the mix to set up or recover from a more melodramatic tune. Also, you'll get an interesting change going from My Darling Asleep into Tar Road to Sligo.

The basic setting I play differs somewhat from Jeremy's and goes as follows:

X: 1
T: My Darling Asleep
M: 6/8
L: 1/8
R: jig
K: Dmaj
e|:fdd cAA|BAG A2 G|FGA def|~g3 eag|
|fdd cAA|BAG A2 G|FGA def|1gec d2:|2 gec d2 A||
|:FAA Bcd|FAA BAG|FGA def|ge/f/g eag|
|fdd cAA|BAG A2 G|FGA def|1 gec d2 A:|2 gec d2 e||

# Posted on September 10th 2004 by Will Harmon

Will, you could save yourself an awful lot of hassle transcribing repeat bars if you go:
|:e|fdd......gec d2:|
|:A|FAA......gec d2:|

# Posted on September 10th 2004 by Dr. Dow

Mark, I'm used to seeing the pick up note(s) (anacrusis) in the ending. I get lost when it's included as you've shown, partly because the end bar is incomplete (at least mathematically). I'm an old dog, you see.

# Posted on September 10th 2004 by Will Harmon

Dear me you're easily confused Will. Is that what I have to look forward to when I become an old dog?

# Posted on September 11th 2004 by Dr. Dow

"If you're not confused, you're just not thinking clearly." Irene Peter

# Posted on September 11th 2004 by Will Harmon

That quote will only make sense to me when I've had a few pints at tonight's session.

# Posted on September 11th 2004 by Dr. Dow

A New Trick?

Apparently, the word 'anacrusis' derives from the Greek 'anakrouein', which means ‘to strike up (a tune)’. So, whereas it may be mathematically incorrect to put an anacrusis at the beginning of a tune, it appears to be linguistically correct to do so...

# Posted on October 14th 2004 by CyberSmudger

Background for My Darling Asleep Jig

I am looking for some history about the Jig "My Darling Asleep." Thanks for any help anyone can give me!

# Posted on June 14th 2005 by jan farrar-royce

Background for My Darling Asleep Jig

If this were a slow air, I'd happily suggest the title was a hidden reference to Eire "sleeping" before she wakes to throw off the yoke of the English occupation, which of course has now happened in the greater part of the Island.
I just can't help wondering if the same idea could be behind the name of the jig.

Trevor

# Posted on June 15th 2005 by Trevor Jennings

Tiny variation

The version I learnt is almost identical to Will Harmon's but has a few small differences:

X: 1
T: My Darling Asleep
M: 6/8
L: 1/8
R: jig
K: Dmaj
e|fdd cAA|BAG A2G|FAA def|gfg eag|
fdd cAA|BAG A2G|FAA def|gec d2:|
G|FAA B2A|FAA B2A|FAA def|gfg eag|
fdd cAA|BAG A2G|FAA def|gec d2:|

# Posted on September 30th 2005 by JonB

Another variation

I learned this tune from Matt Cranitch's book, and the first line of the B part goes like this:
|FAA CAA|FAA BAG|FAA def|gfg eag|
The rest is the same.

# Posted on June 13th 2006 by Vil-hatarn

Oops

It was Peter Cooper's book, not Cranitch's.

# Posted on June 15th 2006 by Vil-hatarn

Just not typing right recently, i guess

I really need to proofread these things...it's FAA DAA, not CAA

# Posted on June 17th 2006 by Vil-hatarn

Doesn't anyone call this tune "My Darling's A Sheep?"

No? Is it just us? We're some sick puppies.

# Posted on June 14th 2007 by SWFL Fiddler

My Darling is a Sheep

Get it? GET IT? HA HA HA!

OK, sorry. Flogging a dead horse here...or sheep, as the case may be.

# Posted on June 14th 2007 by SWFL Fiddler

Ornament question

Grab your whistle or flute (or a pencil if you are at work) and play the first three notes. How do you separate the two Ds? Do you tongue the second D, or cut it? And if you cut it, which finger do you use? I am grateful for the help.

# Posted on August 6th 2007 by Greg the Piano Tuner

Banish Misfortune

Has anyone ever tried this in a set with Banish Misfortune?

# Posted on October 8th 2007 by EHendey