Golden Bed of Slumber, The

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  • Teideal (Title): Golden Bed of Slumber, The.
  • Uimhir Chatalóige Ollscoil Washington (University of Washington Catalogue Number): 853910.
  • Uimhir Chnuasach Bhéaloideas Éireann (National Folklore of Ireland Number): none.
  • Uimhir Roud (Roud Number): 3479.
  • Uimhir Laws (Laws Number): none.
  • Uimhir Child (Child Number): none.
  • Cnuasach (Collection): Joe Heaney Collection, University of Washington, Seattle.
  • Teanga na Croímhíre (Core-Item Language): English.
  • Catagóir (Category): song.
  • Ainm an té a thug (Name of Informant): Joe Heaney.
  • Ainm an té a thóg (Name of Collector): Lucy Simpson.
  • Dáta an taifeadta (Recording Date): 25/02/1980.
  • Suíomh an taifeadta (Recording Location): Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, New York, United States of America.
  • Ocáid an taifeadta (Recording Occasion): private.
  • Daoine eile a bhí i láthair (Others present): unavailable.
  • Stádas chóipcheart an taifeadta (Recording copyright status): unavailable.

As I roved out on a bright May morning
To view the meadow and flowers so gay
Who should I spy but my own true lover
As she sat under a willow tree
I took off my hat, and I did salute her
I did salute her most couragely [recte: courageously? courteously?]
Then she turned around and the tears fell from her,
Saying ‘False young man, you have deluded me!

‘A diamond ring, sure, I only gave you
A diamond ring to wear on your right hand
But the vows you made, love, you went and broke them
And married the girl that had the land.’
‘If I married the girl that had the land, love,
‘Tis that I’ll rue ’til the day I die;
Where misfortune falls, sure, none can shun it
I was blindfolded, I’ll ne’er deny.’

At night when I go to my bed to slumber
The thoughts of my true love runs in my mind.
When I turn around to embrace my darling
Instead of gold, sure, ’tis brass I find.
I wish the Queen would call home her armies
From the West Indies, America and Spain
And every man to his wedded woman,
In hope that you and I would meet again.