Hi,

Seamus Ennis recorded "When cockle shells make silver bells" AFS 09961A (AFS Number) in 1947. Paul Clayton recorded a cover of it in 1957. Kennedy got the stanzas from Ennis in the early 1950s (c.1951) and titled it, "As I Roved Out"-- the same title of the Lomax recording (see text above). I'm using Ennis' original title from 1947. After stanza 4 the stanzas have been taken from "Trooper and the Maid," Child 299. Here's the Kennedy text:

"When cockle shells make silver bells" (As I Roved Out)- sung by Seamus Ennis of Dublin as recorded on AFS 09961A, 1947. Stanzas follow the form of stanza 1 with chorus.

1 As I roved out one bright May morning
One May morning early,
As I roved out one bright May morning
One May morning early
I met a maid upon the way
She was her mama's darling
CHORUS: With me roo-rum-re. Fal-the-diddle-ra,
Star-vee-upple, al-the-di-dee, do

2. Her shoes were black and her stockin's white
And her hair shines like the silver
She has two nice bright sparkling eyes
And her hair hangs o'er her shoulder.

3 "What age are you, my pretty fair maid?
What age are you, my darling?"
She answered me quite modestly,
"I'm sixteen years next Monday morning."

4 "And will you come to my Mama's house?
The moon shines bright and clearly
O, open the door, and let me in
And Dada will not hear us."

5 She took me by the lily-white hand
And led me to the table,
There's plenty of wine for soldiers here
As far as they can take it[1].

6. She took my horse by the bridle rein
And led him to the stable
There's plenty of hay for a soldier's horse
As far as they are able.

7. And she went up and dressed the bed
And dressed it soft and easy
And I went up to tuck her in
Crying: "Lassie, are you comfortable?"

8. I slept in the house till the break of day
And in the morning early
I got up and put on my shoes
Crying: "Lassie, I must leave you!"

9 "And when till you return again,
Or when till we get married?"
"When cockle shells make silver bells
That's the time we'll marry."
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1. As far as they are "able," to rhyme?