The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #17007   Message #162209
Posted By: Jeri
13-Jan-00 - 12:28 PM
Thread Name: Lyr Req: Flower of France in England
Subject: Lyr Add: Flower of France and England
I couldn't find the song in the DT, so here goes:
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The Flower of France and England

One night in my parading between Dover and Carlisle,
The place being full of revels, their noise ye would have heard a mile.
I knocked at the porch to see what entertainment I could find;
And being brisk I ran the risk, and called for a pint of wine.

My heartsome, smiling, bonnie lass, the flower o' France and England O.
They sent to me a candle with the boy that rings the morning bell
?????
And next there came a charming dame, said, Come away and follow me;
It is not fit that you should sit among such roving companie.

The table then she covered, the dinner dishes she brought in,
She was not like an idle slut or ane that never was taught to spin.
She said, My lad, tak' up and eat, I can afford no better cheer,
And when ye want the table drawn just ring the bell and I'll appear.

I rang the bell, she heard the knell, and then to me she did appear,
My bonnie lass, the table's drawn, sit doon by me and take a cheer.
Had I the courts of Africa, or Grampian Hills so neat and keen,
Or had I all fair Scotland's isles there's none but you should be my queen.

Young man, said she, you are as bad as any in the house this night,
The rest are drunk and you are mad or than ye never had spoke so light.
You drink your wine, go to your bed, and there you take a pleasant sleep,
For gin ye dreamed ye had me wed to be sure ye wad sit up and weep.

When I went to my bed at night my thoughts were on that bonnie lass,
She spent the night in scouring among the pewter and the brass.
I rang the bell, she heard the knell, and then to me she did repair,
And then into St. Mary's Church, and there we ended all our care.

I spent a month in feasting among their friends and neighbors all,
The lassie thought them jesting when they did her a lady call.
Now he's made her a lady gay, she needs no more to toil and spin,
And she may ever bless the day that ever she let the laddie in.

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From the Greig-Duncan Folk Song Collection, Vol 4 (#719), from the singing of Miss Bell Robertson.
Archie Fisher sings this on "Man With A Rhyme," but I can't locate my tape at the moment to try to fill in the missing line - maybe someone else can help?