X:46
T:The Elfin Knight
B:Bronson
C:Trad
O:Newell, JAF, VII (I894), p. 228. Sung by Gertrude Decrow,
O:Boston, Mass.; from family tradition.
N:Child 2
M:6/8
L:1/8
K:C
E | G2 G c2 d | ece c2 c |
w:As I walked out in yon-*der dell, Let
G2 G c2 d | ecd c2 G | AAA ABc |
w:ev'-ry rose grow mer-ry in time; I met a fair dam-*sel,
EAE GE C | EFG cEE | FDB, C2 |]
w:her name it was Nell; I said, "Will you be a true lov-er of mine?
W:
W:As I walked out in yonder dell,
W:Let ev'ry rose grow merry in time;
W:I met a fair damsel, her name it was Nell;
W:I said, "Will you be a true lover of mine?
W:
W:"I want you to make me a cambric shirt,
W:Let ev'ry rose grow merry in time;
W:Without any seam or needlework,
W:And thcn you shall be a true lover of mine.
W:
W:"I want you to wash it on yonder hill,
W:Let ev'ry rose grow merry in time;
W:Where dew never was nor rain never fell,
W:And then you shall be a true lover of mine.
W:
W:"I want you to dry it on yonder thorn,
W:Let ev'ry rose grow merry m time;
W:Where tree never blossomed since Adam was born,
W:And then you shall be a true lover of mine."
W:
W:"And since you have asked three questions of me,
W:Let ev'ry rose grow merry in time;
W:And now I will ask as many of thee,
W:And then I will be a true lover of thine.
W:
W:"I want you to buy me an acre of land,
W:Let ev'ry rose grow merry in time;
W:Between the salt sea and the sea sand
W:And then I will be a true lover of thine.
W:
W:"I want you to plough it with an ox's horn,
W:Let ev'ry rose grow merry in time;
W:And plant it all over with one kernel of corn,
W:And then I will be a true lover of thine.
W:
W:"I want you to hoe it with a peacock's feather,
W:Let ev'ry rose grow merry in time;
W:And thrash it all out with the sting of an adder,
W:And then I will be a true lover of thine."