I have written down these two versions of Sovay. I hope that I got correctly all the words. In Lloyd's, in the second stanza, he doesn't actually sing "or else this moment I'll shoot you dead", but I can't get what he sings. If anybody can tell me, I'd be glad. Thank you. Roberto

Martin Carthy's:

Sovay, Sovay, all on a day
She dressed herself in man's array.
With a sword and pistol all by her side,
To meet her true love,
To meet her true love away did ride.

As she was riding over the plain,
She met her true love and bid him stand.
"Your gold and silver, kind sir," she said,
"Or else this moment,
Or else this moment your life I'll have."

And when she'd robbed him of his store,
She said, "Kind sir, there's just one thing more--
A golden ring which I know you have,
Deliver it,
Deliver it your sweet life to save."

"O, that golden ring a token is;
My life I'll lose, the ring I'll save."
Being tender-hearted just like a dove,
She rode away,
She rode away from her true love.

Now, next morning in the garden green,
Just like two lovers they were seen.
He spied his watch hanging by her cloak
Which made him blush,
Made him blush like any rose.

"O what makes you blush at so silly a thing?
I thought to have had your golden ring.
'Twas I that robbed you all on the plain,
So here's your watch
Here's your watch and your gold again.

"For I did intend and it was to know
If that you were my true love or no.
Well, now I have a contented mind;
My heart and all,
My heart and all my gear is thine."

A.L.Lloyd's:

Sovay, Sovay, all on a day
She dressed herself in man's array
With a brace of pistols all at her side
To meet her true love,
To meet her true love away she ride.

As she was galloping on the plain,
She met her sweetheart and bid him stand,
"Stand and deliver, young man", she said,
"Or else this moment,
Or else this moment I'll shoot you dead!"

He delivered up his golden store
And still she craved for one thing more,
"That diamond ring that I see you wear,
O hand it over,
O hand it over and your life I'll spare!"

"From me diamond ring I wouldn't part
For it's a token from me sweetheart,
Shoot and be damned, you rogue", said he,
"And you'll be hanged,
And you'll be hanged for murdering me!"

She being softhearted, much like a dove,
She turned her horse and she rode away from her true love.

Next morning in the garden green
Young Sophie and her love were seen.
He spied his watch hanging by her clothes
Which made him blush,
Which made him blush like any rose.

"Why do you blush, you foolish thing?
I thought to have that diamond ring:
'T was I who robbed you all on the plain,
And here's your gold, love,
Here's your gold and your watch and chain."

"I only did it for to know
Whether you were a man or no;
If you would given me that ring", she said,
"I'd pull the trigger,
I'd pull the trigger and shot you dead!"