Talk:April Come She Will

Origin of melody

Does the melody to this song originate from an English folk song? 173.88.241.33 (talk) 20:21, 9 October 2016 (UTC)[reply]

Origin of lyrics

The lyrics follow a song by Benjamin Britten - that (I think) is itself adapted from a folk song. One that describes the life cycle of the English Cuckoo. The version I remember is:
In April I open my bill [starts to sing]
In May I sing night and day
In June I change my tune
In July far far I fly
In August away I must [migrates to Africa]

see: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_cuckoo#Voice
& https://lyrics.az/benjamin-britten/-/cuckoo.html

Yes, it is adapted from the nursery rhyme "Cuckoo, Cuckoo, what do you do?" Acorrector (talk) 09:51, 17 May 2022 (UTC)[reply]

For those interested - there's a page about this rhyme on the German Wikipedia:
https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cuckoo,_cuckoo,_what_do_you_do%3F
In English (via google translate):
https://de-m-wikipedia-org.translate.goog/wiki/Cuckoo,_cuckoo,_what_do_you_do?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en&_x_tr_pto=wapp — Preceding unsigned comment added by 114.77.121.140 (talk) 00:11, 13 December 2022 (UTC)[reply]

A theme near at hand to poets in rural environments I suspect. Would be well if someone with scholarly sources at hand could include this background in the article.

Another month-metaphored love song I wonder if the duo had heard: April is in my mistress' face (a classic that needs proof of its "notability", by the way). 151.177.56.148 (talk) 23:37, 27 December 2022 (UTC)[reply]

Just added the rhyme to main article. The James Hardy cited is very likely to be this one. I'll add a link if I can confirm. Also - I've found in the work of a 19th cent Irish poet a case of the Cuckoo rhyme being expanded into a lover's lament. Though you'd be hard pressed to suggest a direct link between that instance and this song.

BTW - reference 4 is dead. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 58.110.44.246 (talk) 07:56, 9 October 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Found references to a stage announcement at the Hollywood Bowl in 1968. Paul Simon quotes his version of the rhyme. There's audio on YouTube - and at 8:45

April come she will
May she will stay
June she’ll change her tune
July she will fly
August die she must

Wiltshire (Swindon) - where Paul was told this rhyme - is just north of Hampshire where the rhyme quoted for the main article is from. 58.110.44.246 (talk) 15:38, 11 October 2024 (UTC)[reply]