Black and Gold

This article is about the Cornish folk song. For the 2008 dance-pop song, see Black and Gold (song). For the Thoroughbred racehorse, see Gold and Black.

Black and Gold (also known as Gelasma) is a Cornish folk song written by Will Coleman.

Black and gold are the Cornish colours, and can be found on the banner and coat of arms of the Duchy of Cornwall. Traditionally furse (gorse) used to be the major form of fuel in Cornwall, and was widely employed for domestic use. Places mentioned within the song are all located around the village of Boscastle in Cornwall. These include Trevalga, a small village situated between Tintagel and Boscastle.

The Cornish phrase "Kissing's out of fashion when the furse is out of bloom" is a local version of the old country phrase: "When gorse is out of blossom, kissing's out of fashion." This is a reference to the fact that gorse bears flowers year round.

Lyrics

Black and Gold

Refrain

Go cut furse, Flames on the fuzzy bush

Go cut furse, Fill up the cloam

Go cut furse, Flames on the fuzzy bush

Kissing's out of fashion when the furse is out of bloom

'Twas one Midsummer's Eve
'As I strolled down from Trevalga
And I met, would you believe
The man with the golden tree

Refrain

We went house to house for furse
Then some grumpy old curmudgeon
Tried to dole us with a curse
So we rolled him into the sea

Refrain

When we'd doused out every spark
From Polrunny to Penally
There upon the highest mark
We set our wildfire flying free

Refrain

Axe me down and burn my bones
Turn my milk and sour my butter
Fill my pockets full of stones
Watch my ills all fly from me

Refrain

I could see the seven brands
Driving off the burning dragons
Scattering ashes over the land
From the smoke the spriggans flee

Refrain

For its black breaks the thorn
And its gold bursts the blossom
And it's not long now 'til dawn
Dances back from under the sea

Refrain

When I leapt the failing flames
Gold my head and black my body
Things can never be the same
Once the wheel goes rolling free

Refrain

Hear the words the chieftain said
Raise the rod and fill the belly
Wipe the tears you never should shed
For the death of the golden tree

Refrain

• Cloam = cloam oven (made of clay): often found built into the wall in old cottages
• Spriggans = a kind of sprite known only in Penwith, Cornwall

External links

• Gorse on www.the-tree.org.uk
• [1]
• 'A Modern Herbal' (Grieves 1931)

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