The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #58944   Message #4048655
Posted By: cnd
26-Apr-20 - 12:09 PM
Thread Name: Help: Please Identify This Song-Red Rosy Bush
Subject: Lyr Add: Turtle Dove (John Jacob Niles)
Leenia, here's what I heard from the YouTube video linked by Guest_M on 28 Dec 16.

Turtle dove, turtle dove, oh my little turtle dove
The one whose song you sing
Reminds my heart of that pretty, pretty girl
Who wore my love's* silver ring
Who wore my love's* silver ring

I'll plant me a red and a rosy bush
I'll plant me a weep' willow tree
To prove to all who come this way
That she has forsaken me
That she has forsaken me

When I was young and I was gay
I loved her long and well
But the sorrow this loving brought
No human tongue can tell
No human tongue can tell

Oh, sing, yon lonesome little turtle dove
He swings on yonder vine
Lamenting for his own true love
As I do mourn for mine
As I do mourn for mine

Oh hush you lest you break my heart
For no more will I cry
Ten thousand loves have parted
Then why not you and I
Then why not you and I

*I have doubts that he says "love's silver ring" -- the verse sounds more like "blue silver" or "luve silver" or "lusilver" but "love" makes more sense than any of those to me