The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #168402   Message #4073402
Posted By: Stewie
27-Sep-20 - 08:54 PM
Thread Name: Mudcat Australia-New Zealand Songbook
Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia
Here is Martyn Wyndham-Read's version of Sally Sloane's 'The banks of Claudy'. There are minor changes to the text as printed in Meredith & Anderson 'Folk Songs of Australia'.

THE BANKS OF CLAUDY

It was on a summer's morning all in the month of May
Down by the banks of Claudy I carelessly did stray
I overheard a fair maid in sorrow did complain
All for her absent lover who ploughed the raging main

I stepped up unto her and gave her a big surprise
I hoped she would not know me, I being in such disguise
I said, ‘My pretty fair maid, my joy and heart's delight
How far do you mean to wander this dark and dreary night?’

‘It's to the banks of Claudy, if you'll be kind to show
Take pity on a fair maid who knows not where to go.
I'm searching for a young man, and Johnnyis his name
And on the banks of Claudy I'm told he does remain’

‘These are the banks of Claudy, fair maid, you’re standing on
But don’t depend on Johnny for he's a false young man
But don’t depend on Johnny for he'll not meet you here
But tarry with me in yon green woods, no danger need you fear’

‘If Johnny he was here this night, he’d keep me from all harm
He's in the field of battle, all in his uniform
He's in the field of battle and his foes he does destroy
Like the loyal king of honour all on the walls of Troy’

‘It's six long weeks and better since Johnny left this shore
A-crossing the main ocean where thundering billows roar
A-crossing the main ocean for honour and for fame,
But I'm told his ship was wrecked nigh to the coast of Spain’

Now when she heard this dreadful news, she flew in deep despair
A-wringing of her hands and a-tearing of her hair
Saying, ‘If my Johnny’s drowned, no man alive I'll take
Through lonesome shades and valleys I'll wander for his sake’

When he saw her loyalty, he could no longer stand
He flew into her arms, crying, ‘Betsy, I'm your man’
Crying, ‘Betsy, I'm the young man, the cause of all your pain
Now since we've met on Claudy banks, we'll never part again’

Youtube clip

For a discussion of the song's provenance, see this Mudcat thread:

Click

--Stewie.