Hi,

So here's Baring Gould's version in Songs of the West (the 1905 edition, for which Cecil Sharp acted as musical editor. What's remarkable is Baring-Gould re-wrote the stanzas - and rather poorly-- keeping only the first and half of the second of the four stanzas he collected from Sam Fone of Mary Tavy in Devon, 1893).

NO. 62 AT THE SETTING OF THE SUN

1. Come all you young fellows that carry a gun,
Beware of late shooting when daylight is done;
For 'tis little you reckon what hazards you run,
I shot my true love at the setting of the sun

CHORUS: In a shower of rain as my darling did hie
All under the bushes to keep herself dry,
With her head in her apron I thought her a swan,
And I shot my true love at the setting of the sun.

[Chorus: In a shower of rain as my darling did run,[1]
All under the bushes a shower to shun,
Her apron about her head, I took her for a swan,
I shot the only maid I loved, at the setting of the sun."]

2. I'll fly from my country, I nowhere find rest
I've shot my true love, like a bird in her nest.
Like lead on my heart lies the deed I have done,[2]
I shot my true love at the setting of the sun.
In a shower, etc.


3. In the night the fair maid as a white swan appears,
She says, O my true love, quick dry up your tears,
I freely forgive you, I have Paradise won,
I was shot by my love at the setting of the sun.
In a shower, etc.

[3. "Oh it's son! dearest son! don't you run away,[3]
Don't leave your own country till the trial I pray
Don't leave your own country till the trial is done,
For shooting of your own love at the setting of the sun."]

4. The years as they pass leave me lonely and sad,
I can ne'er love another, and naught makes me glad.
I wait and expect till life's little span done
I meet my true love at the rising of the sun
In a shower, etc.

[4. In a night to her uncle the fair maid appeared,[4]
Saying, "Uncle, dear uncle of me not be a-feared
As my apron about my head in the rain I did run,
He shot me as a swan, at the setting of the sun."]

1. Actual chorus from his notebook.
2. The last two lines of stanza two were forgotten by Fone. Baring-Gould added these.
3. This is the actual text of stanza 3 as recorded in his notebook.
4. This is the actual text of stanza 4 as recorded in his notebook.

Richie