Origins: An S-O-N-G / Among the Green Hay

Subject: Origins: An S-O-N-G / Among the Green Hay
From: Joe Offer
Date: 18 Apr 24 - 03:01 PM

In another thread, someone mentioned "An S-O-N-G from Marrow Bones. I thought it might be worthwhile to explore a few versions of the song.

AMONG THE GREEN HAY

1. As I was a-walking one morning in May
'Twas down in the meadow among the green hay,
My true love he met me the very same day,
'Twas down in the meadow among the green hay

2. What makes you my dearest this morning to mourn?
I wish to my own heart I could your’s adorn.
Do you think you find your own jewel more shy
Than T.I.M.O.T.H.Y.

3. My father is worth five hundred a year
And I am his daughter & his only dear.
Not a farthing of fortune he'll give me, I fear
If I marry Y.O.U. my dear.

4. O as for your fortune my dear I don't mind
I'll make you a husband both loving & kind
Put your hand into mine, Miss, if you are inclined
And Cupid shall U.S. in harmony bind.

5. So then to the church they hastened away,
And home to her father the very same day
Saying, Honoured father, I tell unto thee
I am M.A.R.R.I.E.D.

6. So then the old man he began for to stare,
What, married, my daughter, my love and my care!
Saying, if it be so - then I have a new son
And to him I say W.E.L.C.U.M. [sic]

Sent to Baring-Gould by Miss F.J. Adams, Mutley, Plymouth.

We have added Verse 2 from the version collected from Mrs Vaisey of Adwell, Oxfordshire by Lucy Broadwood, which she sent to Baring-Gould and which is included in his manuscript (though it is said
there that it came from Hampshire).


Sung by Shan Graebe on 'Dusty Diamonds' (WildGoose, WGS359CD)

Source: https://martinandshan.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Among-the-green-hay.pdf

https://sbgsongs.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Among-the-green-hay1.pdf

Also see https://mainlynorfolk.info/folk/songs/amongthegreenhay.html

Freda Palmer recording of "As I Was A-Walking": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vMSlg5CrGwM Tune Freda Palmer uses is "Villikins and his Dinah"

Subject: ADD: An S-O-N-G
From: Joe Offer
Date: 18 Apr 24 - 03:27 PM

An S-O-N-G

As I was a-walking one morning in May,
I heard a fair damsel to sigh and to say,
My false love has left me and showed me false play,
'Twas down in the meadows among the green hay.

The very first time that he came to court me,
He said he'd be constant in every degree,
The very second time I did him espy,
'Twas: Oh!. No, oh! No, my love, not I!

My father is worth five hundred a year,
I, being his daughter, his on-e-ly heir,
Not one penny of portion, will he give me I fear,
If I marries with Y-O-U, my dear.

But as for your portion, my dear, never mind,
I'll make you a husband most loving and kind,
So unto the church, love, let us repair.
It’s never mind your F-A-T-H-E-R.

To church they went and were married straightway,
And home to her father’s that very same day,
Saying, Father, honoured father, I will tell unto thee,
We're M-A-double-R-I-E-D.

With that the old man he begin for to swear,
Saying, You've married my daughter, my on-e-ly heir,
But, since it is so, I have a new son,
You're W-E-double-L-C-O- M.


Gardiner H. 663. Singer: Alfred Stride, Dibden, Southampton, Hants. - June, 1907

Page 82 in Marrow Bones (Frank Purslow, EFDS Publications 1965)


Melody transcribed upon request