JUST AS THE TIDE WAS FLOWING

One morning in the month of May,
Down by a rolling river,
A jolly sailor he did stray,
And there beheld a lover.
She carelessly along did stray,
A viewing of the daisies gay,
She sweetly sang her roundelay.
Just as the tide was flowing.

Her dress it was a white as milk,
And jewels did adorn her skin,
It was as soft and any silk,
Just like a lady of honour.
Her cheeks were red, her eyes were brown,
He hair in ringlets hanging down,
Her lovely brow without a frown,
Just as the tide was flowing.

I made a bow and said, "Fair maid,
How came you herre so early;
My heart by you it was betrayed,
And I could love you dearly.
I am a sailor come from the sea,
If you'll accept my company,
To walk and see the fishes play,
Just as the tide was flowing.

No more was said, but on her way
We both did gang together;
The small birds sang, the lambs did play,
And pleasant was the weather.
We both being weary sat us down,
Beneath a tree with branches roune:
Then to the church we soon were bound,
Just as the tide was flowing.

From Kidson's 'Traditional Tunes', 1891. Tune from Mr. Lolly (Yorkshire), but text from a broadside.

X:1
T:Just as the tide was flowing.
S:Kidson's Traditional Tunes
Q:120
L:1/4
M:C
K:G
B|GEED|GGA(G/A/)|B3/2c/B(A/G/)|\
(E3/2F/)GB|GEED|GGA(G/A/)|B3/2c/B(A/G/)|\
(E3/2F/)GB||B|ddd3/2B/|cde3/2d/|eAA(G/A/)|\
BDD(B/A/)|BEED|GGA(G/A/)|Be(B/A/) (G/F/)|(E3/2F/)G|]

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