The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #84807 Message #1567823
Posted By: Roberto
21-Sep-05 - 01:49 PM
Thread Name: Lyr Req: Willie-O (from Cathal McConnell)
Subject: Lyr Add: WILLIE-O (from Cathal McConnell)
Here it is, I hope without errors. I've listed it as a variant of Child #77 SWEET WILLIAM'S GHOST. It seems to me that also The Bay of Biscay (My William sailed on board the tender...) is to be considered another version of this same ballad. I'd like to know what Malcolm Douglas thinks about that. R
Willie-O
Cathal McConnell – The Boys of the Lough, Regrouped, Topic 12TS409, 1980
My Willie sails on board a tender
And where he's bound I do not know
Seven long years I have waited on him
Since he's crossed the bay of Biscay-O
One night as Mary lay a-sleeping
A knock came to her bedroom door
Saying – Arise, arise my lovely Mary
Till you take one last glimpse of your Willie-O
Young Mary rose, put on her clothing
And opened wide the bedroom door
And 't was there he saw her Willie standing
And his two cheeks as white as snow
O Willie dear, where are those blushes
Those blushes you had many years ago? –
O Mary dear, the cold clay has changed them
I am only the ghost of your Willie-O
O Mary dear, I must be going
For now the cocks they've begun to crow
And when she saw him disappearing
It was down her cheeks the tears did flow
O had I great stores of gold and silver
And all the gold in Mexico
I would give it all to the king of England
If he bring me back my Willie-O