Sam Henry Collection Number 102 -

GLENARM BAY

Being on a mild September morn, the weather it being warm,
It was my lot to stray along the bay of sweet Glenarm,
The yellow corn was waving ripe and every field looked gay,
And the blue sea washed the pebbles white along Glenarm Bay.

'Twas there I spied a charming maid, a maid both young and gay,
The sun arose, nor brighter shone than she appeared that day.
I stepped up to this fair maid and unto her did say,
'What brings you here so early, dear, along Glenarm Bay?'

She answered me right modestly, 'What makes you ask me so?
There's nothing brings young women here but what all young men know,
It's the love that stirs a maiden young,' she modestly did say,
'And a manly man must prove himself along Glenarm Bay.'

Says I, 'My dear, you need not fear, all flattery I deny;
If you but felt the pain of love doth in my bosom lie,
You would surely pity me, my love, and name the happy day,
And cure these wounds that you gave me along Glenarm Bay.'

'I won't be your companion, sir, I'm but a maiden young,
I'm free as yet from Cupid's darts, from young men's flattering tongue,
I'm scarce eighteen, plain to be seen; oh leave me here, I pray,
For I would be a maiden still, along Glenarm Bay.'

Says I, 'My dear, if you're sincere, here is my heart and hand,
Young women's frames at first were formed to pierce the heart of man;
It was the case with you, my love, you did my heart betray,
Your killing glances wounded me along Glenarm Bay.'

She says, 'My dear, if you're sincere, here is my heart and hand.'
We'll ne'er forget the happy morn we met along the strand,
And when old age comes creeping on and our locks are getting grey,
We'll always mind the happy morn we met along the bay.

It may not be widely known but University of Georgia Press has put Sam Henry's 'Songs of the People' back in print as a 'print on demand item. (Paperback only and priced around $30.00, I think)