The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #62296   Message #1006348
Posted By: masato sakurai
22-Aug-03 - 05:13 AM
Thread Name: Poor old weaver's daughter
Subject: Lyr Add: THE WEAVER'S DAUGHTER
From folktrax:
POOR OLD WEAVER'S DAUGHTER, THE - "Across the fields one sweet May morn" - light as any fairy - ROUD#1277 - WILLIAMS FSUT 1923 pp191-2 #76 Joseph Bartlett, Down Ampney, Gloucestersh 5v (w/o) -- George MAYNARD rec by PK, Copthorne, Sussex, 1955: RPL LP 23093/ 279/ TOPIC 12-T-286 1976 5v/ TSCD-655 (Rural) "The WD"- Frank HINCHCLIFFE rec by Mike Yates & Ruairidh & Alvina Greig, Sheffield, Yorksh: TOPIC 12-TS-308 1977 "The Poor Old WD"
This version is from Alfred Williams, Folk Songs of the Upper Thames (Duckworth, 1923, pp. 192-92; without tune):
THE WEAVER'S DAUGHTER
A pleasant old song, formerly popular in the villages between Cricklade and Cirencester. Obtained of Jpseph Bartlett, Down Ampney.

Across the fields, one sweet May morn,
As I walked out quite early,
A lovely lass came tripping by,
As light as any fairy.

"Where are you going, my pretty maid?"
And by the hand I caught her;
I asked her name, she blushed with shame,
"I'm the poor old weaver's daughter."

Her cheeks were fair as any rose,
Her age was almost twenty;
I says, "My dear, if you'll be mine,
I've gold and riches plenty."

"My mother she has not long been dead,
And a nice lesson she taught me--
To marry for love, and not for gold,"
Cries the poor old weaver's daughter.

"My father he is nearly blind,
And now gone past his labour,
And he'll break his heart for me to part,"
Cries the poor old weaver's daughter.
Broadside versions are at Bodleian Library Broadside Ballads:
2806 c.17(455)
Harding B 11(2017)