Tune: Swallowtail Jig (traditional) Source: Nyx Bigler / Banbury Cross Morris & Sword Chorus: Corners each in turn come into the center & dance around each other clashing F-B-F-B, then loop around. (Clashes are 1st corners, 2nd, 3rd, 1st, 2nd, 3rd.) Then half hey. (Chorus does not repeat; second & fourth figures & choruses are done from inverted positions.) Sequence: once to yourself, foot up & down, half gyp, back to back, rounds
Chorus: Beats #1-4: First corners approach and clash F-B-F-B (forehand-backhand-forehand-backhand) as they move around each other while 2nd & 3rd corners loop around. (Movement is marching, though double steps could be substituted.) Beats #5-8: second corners have finished a small loop and clash F-B-F-B as they pass while 1st & 3rd corners loop around. Beats #9-12: third corners (middles) have finished looping and clash F-B-F-B as they pass while 1st & 2nd corners loop around. Beats 13-24: repeat the entire sequence. Beats 25-32: half hey.
Hankie dances: stand in position, trying not to look stupid. Five beats before the end of the tune, bring the hankies up to chest-level and rise onto your toes. Then two hop backs and a foot-together-jump. Stick dances: stand in position, trying not to look stupid. Two beats before the end of the tune, do a foot-together-jump.
Face up. Two double steps in the “up” direction (one stationary, one in place). Galley (out from the center). Foot-together-jump to face down. Face down. Two double steps in the “down” direction (one stationary, one in place). Galley (out from the center). Foot-together-jump ¾ of the way around to face across.
Face across. Two double steps, one to cross to your partner's position (starting on the left foot1) and passing by the right shoulder) and one in place. Hop backs to return to place. Foot-together-jump. Face across. Two double steps, one to cross to your partner's position (starting on the right foot2) and passing by the left shoulder) and one in place. Hop backs to return to place. Foot-together-jump.
Face across. Two double steps: on the first one cross to your partner's position (starting on the left foot and passing by the right shoulder), and on the second one slide to your right. Hop backs to return to place, this time passing your partner by the left shoulder. Foot-together-jump. Face across. Two double steps: on the first one cross to your partner's position (starting on the right foot and passing by the left shoulder), and on the second one slide to your left. Hop backs to return to place, this time passing your partner by the right shoulder. Foot-together-jump.
On the catch-step (“and”) before the downbeat, hop into a circle and face clockwise. Middles will need to move outwards (“bulge”). One double step around the circle (clockwise). On the second double step spiral into a clump, ending halfway around the circle but closer to the center. Hop backs to your corner's place (halfway around the circle). Foot-together-jump. On the catch-step (“and”) before the downbeat, all dancers turn a little more than 180° over their left shoulders (“hard turn”) and go back the way they came (counter-clockwise). Again, on the second double step spiral into a clump, ending halfway around the circle but closer to the center. Hop backs to your original place. Foot-together-jump.
At first we used Morrison's Jig for this dance, but we found that Swallowtail is easier to double step to.
Note that a danceable pace is much slower than the jig is played in sessions or for rapper sword dancing.
%%stretchlast yes X: 1 T:Swallowtail C:traditional (mid-19th century) R:jig M:6/8 L:1/8 K:Em P:A F | GEE BEE | GEE BAG | FDD ADD | d^cd AGF | GEE BEE | GEE B2 ^c | d^cd AGF | GEE E2 :: P:B B | B^cd e2 f | e2 f edB | B^cd e2 f | edB d3 | B^cd e2 f | e2 f edB | d^cd AGF | GEE E2 :|
