PRETTY MAID

Where are you going to my pretty maid?
Where are you going to my pretty maid?

I'm going a milking Sir she said, Sir she said, Sir she said
I'm going a milking sir she said.

Shall I go with you my pretty maid?
Yes if you please Sir she said.

Then what is your father, my pretty maid?
My father's a farmer Sir she said.

Then what is your future my pretty maid?
My face is my future Sir she said.

Then I won't have you my pretty maid.
No-one asked you Sir she said.

MOWES A VRY

Also known as 'My pretty maid' and 'Dabbling in the Dew' (to be found on the database) this particular version was collected by Cecil Sharp from Jim Thomas (65) in Camborne 6th July 1914. It belongs to the same family as Delyow Syvy (tune published in Racca but no words) from British Museum MSS 28554 Edwin Chirgwin's song in Cornish noted by Thomas Tonkin and included in Pryce's Archaeologia Cornu-Britannica. Despite the universality of the theme, Thomas' tune and treatment of the words are apparently unique to Cornwall.

X: 1
T:MY PRETTY MAID
M:6/8
L:1/8
Q:80
S:MERVE DAVEY, HENEGAN
K:G
"G"GGG BcB|"Am"AGA "G"G3|BAB ddd|"C"cBc "G"B2G|GFGB2B|
"Am"A2A "G"G3|B2cd3|"C"c2d"Em"e3|"G"dge dBG|B2AG3||

% Output from ABC2Win Version 2.1 f on 17/03/98

Pleth esos-sy ow mos mowes a vry
Pleth esos-sy ow mos mowes a vry
Yth af-vy dhe wodra yn-meth-hy, yn-meth-hy, yn-meth-hy
Yth af-vy dhe wodra yn-meth-hy.

A wraf-vy mos genes mowes a vry?
Gwra mar mynnyth-sy yn-meth-hy.

Pandra wra dha dasyk mowes a vry?
Ow thas yu tyak yn-meth-hy.

Pyth us dhe dhos ragos mowes a vry?
Ow fas yu ow gwaytyans yn-meth-hy.

Nyns osta ragof-vy mowes a vry.
Ny wovyn nagonen orthys yn-meth-hy.

Agas Dyw gans mos hwi
Baz