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THE FACTORY GIRL
Early one morning as the sun was adorning,
The birds on the bushes did warble and sing,
Gay lads and young lasses in couples were sporting
ln yonder green valley, their work to begin.
I spied one among them, she was fairer than any,
Her cheeks like the red rose than none can excel,
Her skin like the lily that grows in yon valley,
And she's only a hard-working factory girl.
l stepped up to her, more closely to view her,
When on me she cast a look of disdain,
Saying, "Young man, stand off me and do not come near me
l work for my living and think it no shame."
"It's not for to scorn you, fair maid, I adorn you,
But grant me one favour, love: where do you dwell?"
"Kind sir, you'll excuse me, for now I must leave you,
For yonder's the sound of my factory bell."
"I have lands, I have houses adorned with ivy,
l have gold in my pocket and silver as well,
And if you'll go with me, a lady I'll make you,
So try and say yes, my dear factory girl."
"Love and sensation rules many a nation,
To many a lady perhaps you'll do well;
For I am an orphan, neither friend nor relation,
I'm only a hard-working factory girl."
It's true I did love her, but now she won't have me,
And all for her sake I`ll go wander a while
Over high hills and valleys where no one shall know me,
I'll mourn for the sake of my factory girl.
Now this maid she's got married, become a great lady,
Became a rich lady of fame and renown,
She may bless the day and the bright summer's morning
She met with the squire and on him did frown.
It's now to conclude and to finish those verses:
lt's may they live happy and may they do well,
Come fill up your glasses and drink to the lasses
That attend the sweet sound of the factory bell.
From Songs of the People, Sam Henry
@courting @work
filename[ FACTGIRL
TUNE FILE: FACTGIRL
CLICK TO PLAY
RG
FACTORY GIRL
As I was a walking one midsummer morning
The birds in the branches so sweetly did sing
The lads and the lasses together were sporting
Going down to yon factory their work to begin
I spied one amongst them more fairer than any
Her lips like red roses that none could excel
Her skin like the lily that blooms in the valley
And besides she's a hard working factory girl
I stepped up to her, it was for to view her
When on me she cast a bright look of disdain
"Oh young man have manners and do not insult me
For although I'm a poor girl I think it no shame"
"It's not for to scorn you, fair maid I adore you
Come grant me one favor, love where do you dwell?"
"Oh young man, excuse me, for now I must leave you
For yonder's the sound of my factory bell"
"Oh I have fine houses adorned with ivory
Gold in my pocket and silver as well
And if you'll come with me, a lady I'll make you
And no more will you heed yon poor factory bell"
"Oh love and temptation are our ruination
Go find you a lady and may you do well
For I am an orphan with ne'er a relation
And besides, I'm a hard working factory girl"
@work @courting
recorded by Frankie Armstrong on the Music Plays So Grand
filename[ FACTGRL2
TUNE FILE: FACTGRL2
CLICK TO PLAY
SOF
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Here's the Traditional Ballad Index entry:Factory Girl (I), The
DESCRIPTION: The singer sees a beautiful girl, an orphan who works in a factory (linen mill). He courts her, but she must leave to go to work. He offers to marry her. She again rejects him. She eventually marries well -- perhaps to the singer, perhaps to a squire
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1906 (Gardiner)
KEYWORDS: love courting beauty marriage money orphan factory technology
FOUND IN: Ireland Britain(England(South))
REFERENCES (9 citations):
Kennedy 221, "The Factory Girl" (1 text, 1 tune)
Wiltshire-WSRO Mi 563, "Factory Girl" (1 text)
SHenry H217, p. 368, "The Factory Girl" (1 text, 1 tune)
Morton-Ulster 19, "The Factory Girl" (1 text, 1 tune)
Morton-Maguire 41, pp. 129-130,171-172, "The Factory Girl" (1 text, 1 tune)
OCroinin-Cronin 157, "The Factory Girl" (2 texts, 1 tune)
Graham/Holmes 23, "The Factory Girl" (1 text, 1 tune)
DT, FACTGIRL* FACTGRL2
ADDITIONAL: Richard Hayward, Ireland Calling (Glasgow,n.d.), p. 7, "The Factory Girl" (text, music and reference to Decca F-3125 recorded Aug 12, 1932)
Roud #1659
RECORDINGS:
Margaret Barry, "The Factory Girl" (on IRMBarry-Fairs)
Bill Cassidy, "The Factory Girl" (on IRTravellers01)
Sarah Makem, "The Factory Girl" (on Voice10)
NOTES: OCroinin-Cronin does not end so well for the suitor. The factory girl tells him to "go marry a lady" and leaves him to wander "in some deep valley, where no one shall no me, I'll mourn for the sake of my factory-maid."
The date and master id (GB-4733-1) for Hayward's record is provided by Bill Dean-Myatt, MPhil. compiler of the Scottish National Discography. - BS
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