Can't think why this isn't in the DigiTrad in any form, unless it's because the tune may still be copyright (although R V Williams died 51 years ago now, it may be out of it...)Originally published as 'My Orchard in Linden Lea' as part of a collection called "Hwomely Rhymes" in 1859. Translation available as a thread here from 1998, search 'Linden Lea'
The sound e>a is sort of pronounced 'e' as in Beth, with the mouth opening to 'a' as in apple, all as one vowel.
'Ithin the woodlands, flow'ry gle>aded
By the woak trees massy moot,
The sheenen grass ble>ades, timber she>aded,
now do quiver undervoot;
An birds do whissle overhed
An water's bubblen in is bed,
An there vor me the apple tree
Do lean down low in Linden Lea.When leaves that le>atley wer a-springen
Now do ve>ade 'ithin the copse,
An painted birds, do hush their zingen,
up upon the timber tops;
An brown leav'd fruit's a turnen red,
Wi cloudless zunsheen over head,
Wi fruit vor me, the apple tree
Do lean down low in Linden Lea,Let other vo'k me>ake money vaster
In the air o dark room'd towns.
I don't dread a peevish master,
Though noo man do heed my vrowns
I be free to go abrode,
Or te>ake age>an my hwomeward road,
To where, vor me, the apple tree
Do lean down low in Linden LeaI've posted this in an effort to clear the homesickness that I'm suffering from at the moment - lots of threads here about Dorset and I keep breaking down and wailing like a baby - new acronym, BDAWLAB. Plus, it is a lovely song if you can manage the dialect. Can't believe it isn't in the DigiTrad...
LTS