ONCE THERE LIVED A CAPTAIN

Sung by John Reilly

Once there lived a captain,
Who was borne out for sea,
And before that he got married,
He was sent far away.

Oh, but when that he returned
To her father he did go.
"Is your daughter inside, sir?
Can I see her once more?"

"For my daughter is not here, sir.
She left us last night.
She is gone to some nunnery,"
Was the old man's reply.

He went on to this nunnery,
And he knocked on the door.
Out comes the Reverend Mother,
And she tearing go leor. [literally=plenty]

Saying, "Your true love is not here, sir,
She is left us here last night.
She is gone to some asylum,
Where she's fractured in mind."

He went on to the asylum,
Where he got a hard surprise,
And the answer that he gave him
Was, "She died here last night."

"Let me in," says the captain.
"Let me in the captain cried.
"Let me in until I see her,
And I'll die by her side."

For he stood at her left side,
And his sharp sword he drew.
He stood to great attention,
And he pierced his heart through.

Oh, sad it was the parting,
And hard it was the dooms
To see two loyal lovers
Lying dead on the floor.

Oh, but green grows the laurel
And soft it falls the dew.
Saying, "Sorry am I, true lover,
For ever parting from you."

As sung by John Reilly on The Bonny Green Tree Topic LP 12T359,recorded by Tom Munnelly in 1967, and currently available on the Topic Voice of the People series; Volume 17.

John Reilly was mentioned on the Raggle Taggle Gipsies thread as the source of Christy Moore's song. He was an Irish travelling man with a great store of ballads, who deserves more recognition; and I would love to have his songs issued again.

The ballad given above appears quite rare, although there are some parts which seem familiar, especially the final verse from Green Grows the Laurel. It is a very bleak song, and I can't help feeling I've come across a similar story somewhere. Does anyone recognise it as a tale from folklore?