Johnny is the Fairest Man

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  • Teideal (Title): Johnny is the Fairest Man.
  • Uimhir Chatalóige Ollscoil Washington (University of Washington Catalogue Number): 843501.
  • Uimhir Chnuasach Bhéaloideas Éireann (National Folklore of Ireland Number): none.
  • Uimhir Roud (Roud Number): 419.
  • 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): Sonia Tamar Seeman.
  • Dáta an taifeadta (Recording Date): 1983.
  • Suíomh an taifeadta (Recording Location): unavailable.
  • 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 May morning to take a pleasant walk
I sat down neath an old oak tree to hear two lovers talk;
To hear what they might say, my dear, to hear what they might say
So I would know a little more about love before I went away.

‘Come and sit on the grass,’ he said, ‘on the dewy grass,’ said he
‘It’s a long three quarters of a year or more since together we have been;
Since together we have been, my dear, since together we have been
It’s a long three quarters of a year or more since together we have been.’

‘Oh I’ll not sit on the grass,’ said she, ‘now or any other time
My heart is given to another fair one, and yours is no longer mine
Yours is no longer mine, my dear, yours is no longer mine;
My heart is given to another fair one, and yours is no longer mine.’

P stands for Paddy, I suppose, J for my love John
W stands for false Willie-O, but Johnny is the fairest one;
Johnny is the fairest man, my dear, Johnny is the fairest man
My heart is given to another fair one, he’s Johnny, the fairest man.

I’ll climb up an old oak tree, I’ll rob a little bird’s nest
I’ll climb down without breaking leaf or flower to the arms I love the best;
To the arms I love the best; my dear, to the arms I love the best
I’ll climb down without breaking leaf or flower to the arms I love the best.

Chorus

I don’t care what an old woman says, her days they are gone;
Neither do I care what a young maiden says, she’s false to many a man;
False to many a man, my dear, false to many a man
I don’t care what a young maiden says, she’s false to many a man.

Chorus