Lady in her Father’s Garden, The (2)

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  • Teideal (Title): Lady in her Father’s Garden, The (2).
  • Uimhir Chatalóige Ollscoil Washington (University of Washington Catalogue Number): 863809.
  • Uimhir Chnuasach Bhéaloideas Éireann (National Folklore of Ireland Number): none.
  • Uimhir Roud (Roud Number): 264.
  • Uimhir Laws (Laws Number): N42.
  • 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): Almeida Riddle, Joe Heaney.
  • Ainm an té a thóg (Name of Collector): Fredric Lieberman.
  • Dáta an taifeadta (Recording Date): 05/08/1978.
  • Suíomh an taifeadta (Recording Location): New York, New York, United States of America.
  • Ocáid an taifeadta (Recording Occasion): workshop.
  • Daoine eile a bhí i láthair (Others present): Lisa Null, Daithí Sproule, Peter Bellamy.
  • Stádas chóipcheart an taifeadta (Recording copyright status): unavailable.

There was a lady in her father’s garden
A gentleman he was passing by
He stood awhile and he gazed upon her
He said, ‘Fair maid, would you fancy I?’

[‘I am no lady but a country girl
A country girl of a low degree
So, kind sir, you must find another
For I’m not fit your wife to be.’]

‘It’s seven years since I’ve had a true love
Seven years more since I did him see
And seven more I will wait upon him
If he’s alive he’ll come back to me.’

‘It’s seven years since you had a true love
Seven more since you did him see
And seven more you’ll wait upon him
Perhaps this young man you may never see.’

‘If he is married I wish him happiness
If he is dead I wish him rest

But if he’s alive I’ll wait upon him
For he’s the young man that I love best.’

When he saw his love was single
When he saw his love was true
He took out a gold ring they had between them
And when she saw it, it’s down she fell.

He took her up into his arms
He gave her kisses most loyal and true,
Saying, ‘I’m your young man and single sailor
Who’s come afar, love, to wed with you.’

‘If you’re my young man and single sailor
Your face and features look strange to me.’
‘Oh seven years make great alterations
The raging sea, love, between you and me.’

Now this couple are happily married
They have ships on the ocean blue
Her true love Willie never faltered
To please his darling, he loved so true.

Notes

The stanza in square brackets was not included in this performance, but did appear on other occasions (such as UW84-1.23) when Joe sang this song.