Lyr Req: Sweet Lemeny?

Subject: Sweet Lemeny?
From:
Date: 01 Jul 99 - 10:27 AM

anyone have the lyrics to this song? I heard Peter Bellamy sing it, but have never been able to track down the lyrics which are a typical lamnet for lost love.

If anyone has any idea what the significance of the heroes white robe is and why it causes parental upset then I'd love to know. many thanks

Gav

Subject: RE: Sweet Lemeny?
From: Susanne (skw)
Date: 01 Jul 99 - 03:52 PM

I should have the lyrics, but I haven't time to look now as I'm off to Germany's biggest folk & world music festival in precisely ten minutes. If you can wait till early next week and nobody beats me to it, I'll post what I have. - Susanne

Subject: RE: Sweet Lemeny?
From: Ian HP
Date: 01 Jul 99 - 06:09 PM

The Copper family do a version, so does Martin Carthy on the Albion Band's Lark Rise to Candleford. There are a few versions - I'll post one soon if no one else does.

Subject: RE: Sweet Lemeny?
From: The_one_and_only_Dai
Date: 02 Jul 99 - 03:41 AM

Posted by a mysterious benefactor already, here.

Subject: Lyr Add: SWEET LEMENEY (from Copper family)
From: Alan of Australia
Date: 02 Jul 99 - 11:40 AM

G'day,
Here's the Copper Family version:-

Sweet Lemeney

As I was a walking one fine summer's morning
And the fields and the meadows they looked so green and gay,
And the birds they were singing, so pleasantly adorning,
So early in the morning at the break of day.

Oh hark, hark, how the nightingale is singing
The lark she is taking her flight all in the air.
On yonder green bower the turtle-doves are building
The sun is just a-glimmering. Arise my dear!.

Arise, oh, arise! and get your humble posies,
For they are the finest flowers that grow in yonder grove.
And I will pluck them all sweet lily, pink and roses,
All for Sweet Lemeney, the girl that I love.

Oh Lemeney, oh Lemeney, you are the fairest creature,
You are the fairest creature that ever my eyes did see.
And then she played it over all on the pipes of ivory,
So early in the morning, at the break of day.

Oh, how could my true love, how could she vanish from me?
Oh, how could she go and I never shall see her more.
But it was her cruel parents that looked so slightly on me,
All for the white robe that I once used to wear.

Cheers,
Alan

Subject: RE: Sweet Lemeny?
From: Ian HP
Date: 02 Jul 99 - 01:30 PM

I was just about to post the above and Alan beat me to it. There is a male sweetheart version of this, Lemady, sung by Martin Carthy on The Albion Band's Lark Rise to Candleford, the words of which are on the link above. The version about a female from the Coppers must be earlier because of where the name derives from. Lemeney is not a proper name, but probably derives from the Gaelic 'leman', which means lover. What the significance of this white robe is I've no idea.

Subject: RE: Sweet Lemeny?
From: Vic Blake
Date: 29 Nov 02 - 05:25 AM

I am trying to get the words to a version of this song which Julie Murphy sings(as 'Break Of The Day) on Nigel Eaton's 'Pandemonium' CD. Thanks to all your wonderful information and help I have now managed to decypherh ALL BUT THE LAST LINE. Can anyone help me as I am partially deaf and will never work it out by myself.