I've just realised that the abc I mentioned had annoying guitar chords added to it, and wasn't quite as accurate as I had thought. Perhaps, after all, I should put the whole thing here as it appeared in the Journal.


I'LL LOVE MY LOVE, BECAUSE I KNOW MY LOVE LOVES ME

Tune noted by E Quintrell from Mr J Boaden, Curry Cross Lanes, Helston, Cornwall, in May 1905.

Text "from a garland in the British Museum".


Abroad as I was walking, one evening in the spring,
I heard a maid in Bedlam so sweetly for to sing;
Her chains she rattled with her hands, and thus replied she:
"I love my love, because I know my love loves me!"

Oh! my cruel parents have been too unkind!
They've drove and banished me, and tortured my mind!
Although I'm ruined for his sake, contented will I be;
I love my love, because I know my love loves me.

Could I become a swallow, I'd ascend up in the air;
Then, if I lost my labour, and shouldn't find him there,
I quickly would become a fish, and search the flowing sea;
I love my love, because I know my love loves me.

With straw I'll make a garland, and dress it very fine,
I'll mix the same with roses, lily, pink, and thyme,
I will preserve it for my love when he returns from sea;
I love my love, became I know my love loves me.

Just as she was sat weeping, her love came on the land,
Hearing she was in Bedlam, he ran straight out of hand,
And, as he entered in the gates he heard her sigh and say,
"I love my love, because I know my love loves me!"

He stood and gazed on her, hearing his love complain,
He could not stand any longer, he bled in every vein;
He flew into her snowy-white arms, and replied he:
"I love my love, because I know my love loves me."

She said, "My love, don't frighten me; are you my love, or no?"
"Oh yes, my dearest Nancy, I am your love, also
I am returned to make amends for all your injury;
I love my love, because I know my love loves me."

So now they are married, and may they happy be,
Like turtle-doves together, in love and unity.
All pretty maids with patience wait, that have got loves at sea;
I love my love, because I know my love loves me.



X:1
T:I'll love my love because I know my love loves me
T:The Maid in Bedlam
S:Mr J Boaden, Curry Cross Lanes, Helston, Cornwall
Z:Noted by Mr E Quintrell, May 1905
B:Journal of the Folk Song Society, vol II no 7, 1905, 93-94
N:Text "from a garland in the British Museum": lyric fitted notionally.
N:Roud 578
M:C
L:1/4
Q:1/4=100
K:C
A,|D (D/E/) (F/E/) D|A/ B/ c2 A/ G/|F3/2 D/ E E|D3 A,|
w:A-broad as_ I_ was walk_ing one_ even-ing in the spring, I
D (D/E/) (F/E/) D|(A/B/) c2 c|d (B/A/) G G|A3 (A/B/)|
w:heard a_ maid_ in bed_lam so sweet-ly_ for to sing: Her_
c (B/A/) d d|c B A (A/G/)|F D D D|C3 A,|
w:chains she_ rat-tled with her hands and_ thus re-pli-ed she: I
D3/2 E/ F3/2 G/|(A/B/) c d (A/G/)|F2 E2|D3|]
w:love my love be-cause_ I know my_ love loves me!



The DT file, A MAID IN BEDLAM is an inaccurate transcription from a record, with no tune. It appears to be a slightly mutilated form of this very text, with which it might appropriately be replaced at some point.