Hello folks,

Sang this during Monday's world-wide sing and was asked for the words, so here they are (and after the song, a link to a video with the tune):

I wrote this because I was getting tired of all the trad broken token songs where the "fair maid" collapses weeping/vows she'll never marry when told her true love is dead, then falls rejoicing into the arms of her love when he says "Only kidding! It's really me – I just wanted to test your love."
Personally, I think she oughta smack him...


TRUE LOVE
by Vikki Appleton Fielden
©August 2018

As I roved out one May morning, I spied a maiden fair
I asked her if she'd marry me and my love did declare
She said her love was far away and that she must be true
And showed to me one half a coin that had been broke in two
Two-oh, two-oh, had been broke in two-oh...
And showed to me one half a coin that had been broke in two

Then I held up the other half and said, "Tis I, your Will!"
Now twenty years have we been wed and we are happy still
But I've a guilty secret though in wedded bliss we live
Which I will now confess to her, and hope she will forgive
Give-oh, give oh, hope she will forgive oh...
Which I will now confess to her, and hope she will forgive

Your darling Will, he died at sea, a-wounded in the groin
He told me of his love for you and gave me his half-coin
I promised I would tell you this if you I chanced to find
But when I saw you standing there... I somehow changed my mind
Mind-oh, mind-oh, somehow changed my mind oh...
But when I saw you standing there... I somehow changed my mind

Dear husband, what a charming tale, and what a big surprise
To learn that after all these years you told me porkie pies*
So now to you a tale I'll tell about my cousin Nancy
Who tired of waiting for her Will when Johnny caught her fancy
Fancy, fancy, Johnny caught her fancy...
Who tired of waiting for her Will when Johnny caught her fancy

And so to me her coin she gave, the one that was but half
And said, "If Willie e'er returns, 'twill be good for a laugh
I thought that I would tell him this if me he chanced to find
But when I saw you standing there... I somehow changed my mind
Mind-oh, mind-oh, somehow changed my mind oh...
But when I saw you standing there... I somehow changed my mind

So now my tale is at an end, our love has passed the test
And even after all these years, it turned out for the best
For I love her and she loves me; we found the love we sought
Despite the fact that neither one is who the other thought
Thought-oh, thought-oh, who the other thought oh...
Despite the fact that neither one is who the other thought


*"pork pies" is Cockney rhyming slang for "lies"
Link to video of me singing it, for those who want the tune as well: https://www.facebook.com/100008219862447/videos/2739949582955677/