The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #28611   Message #969496
Posted By: Joe Offer
20-Jun-03 - 01:49 AM
Thread Name: Lyr Add: Claudy Banks/Where are the Claudy Banks?
Subject: DTAdd Version: Banks of claudy
Here's a version from Sam Henry's Songs of the People. It's the only one I can find that mixes in the sally gardens. I like the "rolling prince of honour," too.
-Joe Offer-


BANKS OF CLAUDY

As I roved out one morning, being in the month of May,
Down by the sally gardens I carelessly did stray,
I overheard a young maid in sorrow to complain
All for her absent lover, and Johnny was his name.

I stepp-ed up to this young maid, I took her by surprise,
I'll own she did not know me, I being in disguise,
Said I, 'My pretty fair maid, my joy and heart's delight,
Tell me how far you've travelled this dark and dreary night.'

'Kind sir, the road to Claudy would you be pleased to show?
Take pity on a fair one who knows not where to go.
I'm in search of a faithless young man and Johnny is his name,
Sure, it's on the banks of Claudy I'm told he does remain.'

'This is the banks of Claudy, the groun' whereon you stand,
Do not depend on Johnnny, for he's a false young man,
Do not depend on Johnny, he will not meet you here,
But tarry with me in these green woods; no danger need you fear.'

'Oh, if my Johnny were here this night, he'd keep me safe from harm,
But he's in the field of battle all in his uniform,
He's in the field of battle and his foes he does defy
Like a rolling prince of honour near to the walls of Troy.'

'It's about six months or better since Johnny left the shore,
He's sailing on the ocean, where foaming billows roar,
He's sailing on the ocean for honour and bright fame,
As I'm told, the ship was lost going round the coasts of Spain.'

Oh, when she heard this dreadful news, she could no longer stand;
To the tearing of her golden hair and wringing of her hand,
'Then, since my Johnny's drownded, no other man I'll take,
Through lonesome dales and valleys I'll wander for his sake.'

Then when he saw her loyalty, he could no longer stand,
He took her in his arms, saying, 'Betty, I'm the man,
I'm your true and constant Johnny, the cause of all your pain,
And since we met at Claudy banks, we'll never part again.'