a nice evolutionary tale ~

"Her shoes were black her stockings white and the buckles shone like silver ~ she had a black/dark and a roving eye and her hair hung o'oer shoulders"

"How old are you me fair pretty maid, how old are you me honey ~ she answered me quite cheerfully ~ I am 17 come Sunday"

"Will you marry me me fair pretty maid~~~~~~ I dare not for me Mammy~~"

"And now she is a soldiers wife and sails across the briney O ~ A fife and drum is my delight and a married man is mine O!!

is my version probably from Ewan McColl (abridged)

Ray