The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #9182 Message #4139208
Posted By: Tony Rees
15-Apr-22 - 11:26 PM
Thread Name: Origins: Jesus Met Woman at the Well/Maid & Palmer
Subject: RE: Origins: Well Below the Valley/Maid & Palmer
Here are the snippets I have been able to extract via Google Books from the 1955 Anna Ní Mháille version mentioned above, in Anne O'Connor, "Child Murderess and Dead Child Traditions" - not the whole text (it would be nice to see this!):
There was a rider passin' by There was a rider passing by He askhed a drink, as he was dry At the well below the valley, oh! My washing tub it is afloat Green grows the valley, oh!
If I give you a drink, I might fall in In the well below the valley, oh! (Says she)"My true love never was born" She swore by grass an' swore by corn That her true love never was born "How dar' you tell me such a lie An' you havin' six childer, by the by, At the well below the valley, oh! ... ...
An' three more behind the hall door At the well below the valley, oh! "So's you're a man o' such a skill What's goin' to happen me? "You're going to be Seven years a nut in a wood Seven years a tongue in a bell ... ...