This is one of the surprising songs that appeared in Ruth L Tongue's engaging book The Chime Child (Routledge & Kegan Paul, 1968). Although they were presented as having been collected from various (pseudonymous) singers in Somerset in the early part of the 20th century, all but one have never been found anywhere else, and internal evidence suggests that many of them were written by the same person; quite possibly Miss Tongue herself, though it is impossible to be sure. With the caveat that they may be fakes and not real traditional songs, they are nevertheless interesting and unusual, and well worth attention. I've posted a few here in the past.


THE GAY GREEN GOWN

The Proud Ladye she rode through the wood,
And there in her way the Wicked One stood.
"Now welcome, Proud Ladye, Light down! Light down!
For I must give thee a gay green gown.
'Twill punish thy pride, for no honest Bride
Wears such a gown, wears such a gown - a gay green gown."

The Proud Ladye rode out of the wood,
And her tears fell fast for her maidenhood.
"I will not cause my mother to frown,
I will not sully my Father's Crown-
With my little pen-knife I will take my young life."
And all for a gown, all for a gown - a gay green gown.

The Proud Ladye she laughed in scorn
"No Imp of the Pit by me shall be born!
Now God me forgive that I take my own life,
For maid I am none, and I'll never be wife.
A Leman of Hell, in flames I must dwell
All for a gown, all for a gown - a gay green gown."

The Proud Ladye she stabbed so deep
Her heart's blood trickled down to her knee.
The gown that was green was crimson to see
And red, red, red was her winding sheet.
Now let the bell toll for this Lost Ladye's soul
And all for a gown, all for a gown - a gay green gown.


"Collected", said Miss Tongue, "from Isaiah Sully over a period of sixteen years, from 1904-20."


X:1
T:The Gay Green Gown
B:Ruth L Tongue: The Chime Child, Routledge & Kegan Paul, 1968
S:"Isaiah Sully", West Somerset, 1904-20 (perhaps)
L:1/8
Q:1/4=140
M:3/4
K:C
E2|A4 G2|E4 E2|D3 C D2|E4 E2|A3 A A2|
w:The Proud La-dye she rode through the wood, And there in her
c4 c2|B B3 G2|A4 A2|e3 d c2|A G3 A2|
w:way the Wick-ed One stood. "Now wel-come, Proud La-dye, Light
E4 D2|E4 A2|c4 B2|G2 G2 e2|A4 G2|(EA3)||
w:down! Light down! For I must give thee a gay green gown._
E2|A F3 E2|A4 e2|d4 cB|A4 G2|
w:'Twill pun-ish thy pride, for no hon-est Bride Wears
M:4/4
EE D4 A2|DD E4 c2|(BA3) E4|A6|]
w:such a gown, wears such a gown, a gay_ green gown."


Other songs from the book, and more information on Isaiah Sully and other of Miss Tongue's pseudonymous sources, can be seen at:

On Sedgemoor (The Marsh Fever)
The Green Lady
The Broomsquire's Bird Song
The Worthy Wood Carol
The Three Danish Galleys

The Green Lady is also in the DT, but the notes are a little mangled and the additional information (and corrections) available in the Forum thread have not yet been incorporated.