The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #37992   Message #532430
Posted By: masato sakurai
21-Aug-01 - 10:07 AM
Thread Name: Lyr Req: Strawberry Fair
Subject: Lyr Add: STRAWBERRY FAIR
I think what is asked for is the one in James Reeves, The Everlasting Circle: English Traditional Verse from the MMS of S. Baring-Gould, H.E.D.Hammond & George B. Gardiner (Heinemann, 1960, p. 249). Here it is.

"Strawberry Fair"

As I was agoing to Strawberry Fair,
Ri-tol-ri-tol, riddle-tol-de-lido,
I saw a fair maiden of beauty rare,
Tol-de-dee.
I saw a fair maid go selling her ware
As she went on to Strawberry Fair,
Ri-tol-ri-tol, riddle-tol-de-lido.

O pretty fair maiden, I prithee tell,
My pretty fair maid, what do you sell?
O come tell me truly, my sweet damsel,
As you go on to Strawberry Fair.

O I have a lock that doth lack a key,
O I have a lock, sir, she did say.
If you have a key then come this way
As we go on to Strawberry Fair.

Between us I reckon that when we met
The key to the lock it was well set,
The key to the lock it well did fit
As we went on to Strawberry Fair.

O would that my lock had been a gun,
I'd shoot the blacksmith, for I'm undone,
And wares to carry I now have none
That I should go to Strawberry Fair.

(J. Masters at Bradstone, 1891. Taken down by H. Fleetwood Shepherd)