Ball of Yarn

In the pleasant month of May
When the birds they began to play
I took a walk out early in the morning
There I spied a pretty maid
And she's knitting of her trade
And I asked her could I wind her ball of yarn.

Oh no kind sir she said
We are strangers you and I
It's that you might have any other darling
And it's I have friends at home
They have money all bright in store
And it's then they wind m ball of yarn

I put me hand all round her waist
And I gently laid her down
I meant to do this maiden no harm
In the middle of the green
Where I knew I could be seen
Well it's there I winded up her ball of yarn

All those young ladies take a warning just by me
Don't ever go so early in the morning
Where the blackbird and the thrush
They'll be hopping all in the bush
Keep your handle on your little ball of yarn

Transcribed from the singing of Cyril Tawney on May 31, 1981
at the Holsteins Folk Club in Chicago. Issued on CD as in 2007
as Cyril Tawney: Live at the Holsteins.

According to the introduction to the song,
Cyril field collected this song from a homeless woman for whom he had
to buy a bottle of whiskey.

The tune is unlike any other I have heard for this song.


Listen to the song here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ubf7uoFl2cs