1. |
Searching for Lambs
01:41
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As I walked out one May morning
One May morning betimes
I met a maid from home had strayed
Just as the sun did shine
"What makes you rise my dear, my dear
"Your journey to pursue?
"Your pretty little feet they tread so neat
"Strike off the morning dew."
"I'm going to feed my father's flock
"His young and tender lambs
"That over hills and over dales
"Lie searching for their dams"
"Oh stay, oh stay you handsome maid
"And rest a moment here
"For their is none but you alone
"That I do love so dear"
How gloriously the sun do shine
How pleasant is the air
I'd rather rest on my true love's breast
Than any other where
For I am thine and thou art mine
No man shall uncomfort thee
We'll join our hands in wedded bands
And married we shall be
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2. |
The Night Visiting Song
02:57
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I must away now, I can no longer tarry
This morning's tempest I have to cross
I will be guided without a stumble
Into the arms I love the best
But when he's come to his true love's window
He's knelt down gently all at a stone
And through the window has whispered softly
My darling dear do you like alone?
She's raised her head from her down soft pillow
And snowy were her milk-white breasts
And through the window has whispered lowly
Who's that disturbing me in my long night's rest?
It's I your love now, but don't discover
I bid you rise love and let me in
For I am wet love, aye very weary
Yes I am wet unto my skin
She's raised her up with the greatest of pleasure
Thrown open the window, she's let him in
And it's there they've kissed and embraced each other
Through that long night they lay as one
And when that long night was passed and over
And when the storm birds began to sing
He's raised him up, they've kissed and parted
He's mounted his steed and away did ride.
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3. |
The Silkie
02:28
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And earthy nourice [nurse] sits and sings
And aye she sings "ba lillie lie"
Saying "Little ken I my bairn's father
Far less the land that he lies in
Then he's stepped in to her bed foot
And a grummly guest I'm sure was he
Saying "Here am I thy bairn's father
"Although I am not comely"
"I am a man upon the land
"I am a silkie on the sea
"And when I'm far and fair from land
"My home it is in Sule Skerrie"
"Alas, alas" the lady cried
"Alas, alas indeed" quoth she
"That the great silkie of Sule Skerrie
"Should have come and laid a bairn with me."
And he's take out a purse of gold
And he has laid it on her knee
Saying "Gie to me my little young son
"And tak' thee up thy nourice' fee"
"And it shall come to pass on a summer's day
"When the sun shines hot on every stone
"That I will fetch my little young son
"And I'll teach him how to swim the foam."
"And you shall marry a gunner bold
"And a right good gunner I'm sure he'll be
"And the very first shot that he shall shoot
"Shall kill both my young son and me."
"Oh woe is me!" the lady cried
"What a weary doom is laid on me"
And once she's sobbed and twice she's sighed
And her tender heart it broke in three
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4. |
The Cuckoo's Nest
03:07
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As I was a'walking one morning in May
I met a pretty fair maid and unto her did say
"For love I'm inclined, I'm telling you my mind
"That my inclination lies in your cuckoo's nest!"
"My darling" said she, "I'm innocent and your ,
"And I scarcely believe your false deluding tongue.
"Yet I see it in your eyes, it fills me with surprise
"That your inclination lies in my cuckoo's nest"
Now some like a girl who is pretty in the face
And some like girl that is slender in the waist
Ah, but give me a girl will wriggle and will twist
At the bottom of your belly lies the cuckoo's nest
"My darling," said he, "I'm telling you no lie.
"I'm just thinking of fondness and do not be surprised.
"For I love you my dear, I'll marry you as well,
"If you'll let me clap my hand upon your cuckoo's nest"
"My darling," said she, "I cannot do such thing
"For my mother often told me it was committing sin
"For my maidenhead to lose, my sex to be abused
"So have no more to do with my cuckoo's nest"
Now some like a girl…
"My darling," said he, "It's not committing sin
"For common sense should tell you it is a pleasing thing
"You're brought into this world to increase and do your best
"And to help a man to heaven in your cuckoo's nest"
"My darling," said she, "I cannot you deny
"For your fairly won my heart with the roving of your eye
"And I see it in your eyes, it fills you with surprise
"So gently lift your hands into my cuckoo's nest."
Now some like a girl…
So this couple they got married and so they went to bed
And now this pretty fair maid has lost her maidenhead
In a small country cottage they increase and do their best
And he often claps his hand upon her cuckoo's nest
Some some like girl… (x2)
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5. |
The Rigs of the Time
02:56
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No wonder that butter's a shilling a pound
See them rich farmers' daughters as they ride up and down
And when you ask for the reason, they say
"Oh, alas! There's been a French war
"So the cows have no grass!"
And honesty's all out fashion
These are the rigs of the time, time my boys
These are the rigs of the time
And then here's to our landlord, I must bring him in
Charges tuppence a pint, yet he think it no sin
And when he do bring it in the measure is short
And the top of the pint is all covered in froth
Chorus
And then here's to the butcher, I must bring him in
Charges fourpence a pound, yet he think it no sin
To slap his thumb on the scale and make it go down
He swears it's full weight when it lacks half a pound
Chorus
And here's to the baker, I must bring him in
Charges ha'penny a loaf, yet he think it no sin
And when he do bring it in it's no bigger than your fist
And the top of the loaf is popped off with the yeast
Chorus
And here's to the tailor that skimps on our clothes
And here's to the cobbler that pinches our toes
And our bellies go empty, our backsides go bare
No wonder we've reason to curse and to swear
Chorus
Now the very best thing that I can find
Is to toss 'em all up in a high gale of wind
And the wind it would blow, the balloon it would burst
And the biggest old rascal come tumbling down first
Chorus
Yes, honesty's all out of fashion
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6. |
The Lyke Wake Dirge
03:50
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This ae night, this ae neet,
Any neet and all
Fire and fleet and candle leet
And Christ receive thy soul
When thou from hence away have passed
Any neet and all
To whinnie moor thou come'st at last
And Christ receive they soul
And if ever thou gavest hosen or shoon
Any neet and all
Then sit you down and put them on
And Christ receive thy soul
But if hosen or shoon thou ne'er gavest nane
The whinnie will prick thee to thy bare bane
When from whinnie moor away thou can pass
To the Brig o' Dread thou comes't at last
And if ever thou gavest silver or gold
On the Brig o' Dread thou'lt find foothold
But if silver or gold thou ne'er gavest nane
Then thou shalt tumblest to hell's flame
Now from the Brig o' Dread away though hast past
To Purgatory fire though comes't at last
And if ever thou gavest meat or drink
The flame shall never make thee shrink
But if meat nor drink thou ne'er gravest nane
The fire shall burn thee to thy bare bane
This ae neet, this ae neet
Any neet and all
Fire and fleet and candle leet
And Christ receive thy soul
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Piers Cawley Doncaster, UK
A singer for as long as he can remember, Piers (he/they) sings Old Songs with a clarity and conviction that makes them as fresh as paint.
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