JOHNNY GROAT
(Causley/Heap)

Johnny Groat says my eyes are blue
He says my hair is curled
He says I am the prettiest girl
He saw in the all the world

Sweeheart, your hair is straight as string
One eye is black, one brown
And you the homeliest looking girl
Twas ever in Launceston town

Johnny Groat says I'm smart and slim
My hands are soft as snow
And nobody walks so well as I
As thro' the fields I go

Dearest, your shift is all in rags
Your hands are red as cale
And it is well known at sixteen stone
You turn the miller's scale

Johnny Groat says my voice is sweet
As water or as wine
And when my granny goes up to heaven
His pig and colt I'll mind

When you're singing in the woods
The birds fall to the floor
And your granny of fifty years
Is good for fifty more

Then, shall I not marry Johnny Groat
Who thinks so well of me?
And shall he not give me a fine gold ring
When he goes back to sea?

Daughter, take the fine gold ring
And the love that's in his eye
For the love that comes from an honest poor man
Is more than money can buy

Source: As printed on record sleeve of Crowdy Crawn 'No More To Sing?' Sentinal Records LP SENS 1021 (1974). From a poem by Charles Causley, set to music by Steve Heap.

--Stewie.