The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #110621   Message #2324102
Posted By: GUEST, Sminky
24-Apr-08 - 07:26 AM
Thread Name: Bertsongs? (songs of A. L. 'Bert' Lloyd)
Subject: Lyr Add: THE WEAVER AND HIS SWEETHEART
The Bodleian collection lists umpteen JO'G variants (though knowing which search-words to use takes some imagination) -
here's one.

Plus there's one in the Axon Collection.


RE: Weavers and Factory Maids

THE WEAVER AND HIS SWEETHEART

I am a weaver by my trade,
I fell in love with a servant maid,
If I her favour could but win,
Then I shall weave and she shall spin.

Her father to him scornfully said,
How can you fancy a servant-maid,
When you may have ladies fine and gay,
Drest like unto the Queen of May.

As for your ladies I don't care,
Could I but enjoy my only dear,
It makes me mourn when I thought to smile,
And I will wander the woods so wild.

I went unto my love's chamber-door,
Where oftimes I had been before;
But I could not speak nor yet go in,
To the pleasant bed my love lay in.

How can you tell what a pleasant bed,
Where nothing lies but a servant-maid?
A servant-maid altho' she be,
Blest is the man that enjoyeth she.

A pleasant thought came into my mind,
I turned down the sheets so fine,
There I saw two white breasts hand so low
Much like two white hills covered with snow.

My love she lives in the country of North,
And I myself live a great way off;
And when I weave for the county of Down,
Then I will weave her a holland Gown.

My love is sick and like to die,
A most unhappy young man am I;
But at length the Weaver's joy was blest
And he got the servant Maid at last.


Published: LATER ENGLISH BROADSIDE BALLADS - Holloway/Black
Source: Madden Collection, v6, slip sheet 1909