BONNIE TAVERN GREEN

The first time that I met my love it was in Tavern Green
And I would wish with all my heart her face I'd never seen.
It was her smiling glances that wounded my heart sore
For I being sick and bad with love till I could love no more.

O love it is a killing thing I hear the people say
And for to love and not be loved it would drive one astray
For to be sick and bad in love, and not to mend again
False heart, false heart must I die of love, and naught to end my pain

I wish my love was a nightingale, sitting on yon garden wall
And I to be a drop of dew, down on her breast I'd fall
Then into my love's arms, all with great sport and play
And we'd rowl about a whole winter's night, and never think long for day

If I was queen of England as Queen Anne was long ago
Many precious jewels to my love I would send o'er
She never would want money while I would reign as queen
For many a pleasant day I spent all round sweet Tavern Green

From Paddy Tunney's book The Stone Fiddle (1979).
Roud Folk Song Index number 3100. A number of commercially issued recordings of
Paddy singing this song exist, on some of which the title is spelled Bonny Taver
n Green.

Traditional: as sung by Paddy Tunney; learnt from his mother Brigid Tunney
filename[ TAVGREEN
MD
mudcat.org

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