The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #50807   Message #772740
Posted By: Dicho (Frank Staplin)
28-Aug-02 - 01:14 AM
Thread Name: Help: Age of East Virginia TWO
Subject: Lyr Add: AWAKE, DROWSY SLEEPER (from Bodleian)
And another Bodelian broadside, this one 1863-1885.

Lyr. Add: AWAKE, DROWSY SLEEPER

Awake, awake, you drowsy sleeper
Awake, awake, it is almost day,
How can you be there and sleep so easy
Since my poor heart you have stole away.

Oh, who is that underneath my window?
Oh who is that that sings so sweet?
It's me, my dear, the young man made answer,
Long time been waiting for your sweet sake.

My mother lies in the next chamber,
My father he will quickly hear
So I'd have you go, love, and court some other,
Or whisper softly in my ear.

Oh no I won't go and court no other,
Since I have rifled your sweet charms
You are fit, love, for to leave your mother,
You're fitter to sleep in your true love's arms.

The old man heard in their conclusion
He gently stept out of the bed,
He popped his old head out of the window
But Jane's true love was gone and fled.

Daughter, daughter, I will close confine you,
Your brisk young lad I will send to sea
Then you may write to him a letter,
And he may read it in Botany Bay.

Jim is the lad that I do admire
Jim is the lad I mean to wed
And if I can't have my own desire
A maid I will go to my silent grave.

Two copies: Firth C17 (25) and Harding B 11 (3643).

Can't find anything in the broadsides under Dagger or Sword that belongs to this group. The dagger could be an American addition (See Richie, above).