Old King Cole
Our Version of Old King Cole
“Cole” is an English derivative of the Irish word “ceol” which means “music”. Legend has it on Glasses Island that Old King Cole was a great musician. Our elders reckon he played the timber flute because “pipe” is an old word for fife/flute derived from the Latin word “pipare”!
Our song is an adaptation of this traditional nursery rhyme and we sing it from the viewpoint of King Cole’s three fiddlers who enjoy playing music with him.
Throughout the song there are three lead vocalists. There are also three lead instruments: flute, fiddle and mandolin. The lead vocalists and lead instruments represent the "fiddlers three". However, we double-tracked Quince on clarinet because the clarinet represents Old King Cole! He plays "pipe" with the three fiddlers. Listen out for the clarinet. It plays harmony.
Classroom Ideas for Old King Cole
Social, Environmental and Scientific Education/History: Include this with our song “The King’s Concerto” by expanding on the roles played by the court’s musicians and jesters and by the wandering minstrels like Turlough O’Carolan.
Lyrics for Old King Cole
Old King Cole was a merry old soul and a merry old soul was he
He called for his pipe and he called for his bowl
And he called for his fiddlers three
Now every fiddler had a fine fiddle and a very fine fiddle had he
Fiddle fiddle dee fiddle dee went the fiddlers “Very fine men are we!”
There’s none so rare as can compare to the King’s fine fiddlers three
Fiddle fiddle dee fiddle dee went the fiddlers “Very fine men are we!”
There’s none so rare as can compare to the King’s fine fiddlers three
