The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #94355 Message #1826045
Posted By: GUEST,Dan Schatz at work
03-Sep-06 - 02:17 PM
Thread Name: ADD: The Brown and the Yellow Ale^^^
Subject: Lyr Add: THE BROWN AND THE YELLOW ALE
Debby McClatchy recorded this on her "Lady Luck" album under the title "The Brown and the Yellow Earl." A classic misheard song lyric - she acknowledges the mistake now, but I still maintain it makes some sense that way. That's how folk songs evolve, after all.
Here's the lyrics in the Digital Tradition.
THE BROWN AND THE YELLOW ALE
As I walked down the road one fine summers morning, Oh, the brown and the yellow ale I met with a young man without any warning Oh, love of my heart
He asked me if the woman by my side was my daughter Oh, the brown and the yellow ale And when I said she's my wife his manner didn't alter Oh, love of my heart
He asked me if I'd lend her for an hour and a day, Oh, the brown and the yellow ale I said, "if she thinks that's fair you can take her away." Oh, love of my heart
Then you take the high road and I'll be off with her Oh, the brown and the yellow ale And I'll meet you again by the ford of the river. Oh, love of my heart
I waited by that ford for an hour and a quarter Oh, the brown and the yellow ale And when she came to me, 'twas without shame I saw her. Oh, love of my heart
When she told me her story, sure I lay down and I died, Oh, the brown and the yellow ale She sent two men for timber, and she never even cried. Oh, love of my heart
A board of elder and a board of holly, Oh, the brown and the yellow ale And three great yards of a shroud all about me. Oh, love of my heart
If me own little mother, she had never been a woman, O the brown and the yellow ale I would tell you many's another tale about women. Oh love of my heart