I started this thread in May 1999, Sandra Nixon has alerted me that it has resumed. Malcolm Douglas had kindly found in 2001 the original Ruth Tongue book The Chime Child from which I then only had a one page photocopy. He also posted the words.

I later was given a copy of the book. and to my surprise and delight, found that there is a further and last verse on the top of the following page, which is easily missed as the first page words, as posted here by Malcolm, looks complete.

Then back into Porlock they towed the Bride,
And buried her down below the tide.
Who left my true love, etc.

There is a footnote 1. after 'tide', which is given below as 'In order that her ghost should not walk.'

Dallas de Brabander (in Bundanoon, NSW, Australia - I am in Canberra) found the book for me, and we have both sung the full version, sometimes together in sessions.

I also visited Porlock in 2007 en route with the Shiny Bum Singers as first act at the Bude-Stratton Folk Festival. There was no mention of the Danish raid or this song in the small museum at Porlock, so I left a note in the visitors book. I went on the sing the song at the folk club in Bude, where they had not heard it.

Looking down on Porlock from the road above, the whole story of the song plays out - you feel you can almost see the galleys sailing in.

I am still interested in songs about love and death on the shore.