Cupid's Garden [ Roud 297 ; Ballad Index SWMS090 ; trad.]

From Mainly Norfolk

"Cuper's Gardens were an 18th century tea garden (a smaller version of pleasure gardens) on the south side of the River Thames in Lambeth, London, looking over to Somerset House near where Waterloo Bridge is located (centred around what is now the north end of Waterloo Road).

"The gardens opened in the 1680s and were named after the original proprietor, Abraham Boydell Cuper, the gardener of the Earl of Arundel. They were also known as Cupid's Gardens. A long landing stage in the river known as Cuper's Bridge acted as a popular entrance for the gardens.

"In 1736, an orchestra was included among the attractions. It also became known for its firework displays. However, it lost its license in 1753 due to the loose morals of its visitors." [Wikipedia]

This song from the repertoire of the Copper Family is printed in The Copper Family Song Book. Bob and Ron Copper sang Cupid's Garden in 1963 on their EFDSS LP Traditional Songs from Rottingdean; which was reissued in 2001 on the Topic CD Come Write Me Down: Early Recordings of the Copper Family of Rottingdean.

Another generation, John and Lynne Copper, sang in in 1987 on the EFDSS LP Coppersongs: A Living Tradition. And Mark Barratt and Tom Copper from the most recent Copper Family generation sang it in 2008 on the Young Coppers's CD Passing Out.

Tony Engle and Peta Webb sang Cupid's Garden in 1971 on Oak's Topic album Welcome to Our Fair, and Derek, Dorothy and Nadine Elliott sang it in 1976 on their LP Yorkshire Relish. Both groups credit the Copper Family as their source.

Jon Boden sang Cupid's Garden as the February 14, 2011 entry of his project A Folk Song a Day.

Lyrics
'Twas down in Cupid's Garden I wandered for to view
The sweet and lovely flowers that in the garden grew,
And one it was sweet jasmin, the lily, pink and rose;
They are the finest flowers that in the garden grow.