Subject: Lyr. Add: O Saw Ye My Father, Grey Cock, Child
From:
Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 04 Oct 13 - 05:33 PM
Lyr. Add: O SAW YE MY FATHER?
Child 248, Herd, Ancient and Modern Scots Songs
1
O saw ye my Father, or saw ye my Mother,
Or saw ye my true love John
I saw not your Father, I saw not your Mother,
But I saw your true love John.
2
It's now ten at night, and the stars gi'e nae light,
And the bells they ring, ding dong;
He's met wi' some delay, that causeth him to stay,
But he will be here ere long.
3
The surly auld earl did naething but snarl,
And Johny's face it grew red;
Yet tho' he often sigh'd, he ne'er a word reply'd,
Till all were asleep in bed.
4
Up Johny rose, and to the door he goes,
And gently tirled the pin;
The lassie taking tent, unto the door she went,
And she open'd, and let him in.
5
And are you come at last, and do I hold ye fast,
And is my Johny true!
I have nae time to tell, but sae lang's I like myself,
Sae lang shall I love you.
6
Flee up, flee up, my bonny gray cock,
And craw when it is day;
Your neck shall be like the bonny beaten gold,
And your wings of the silver grey.
7
The cock prov'd false, and untrue he was,
For he crew an hour o'er soon;
The lassie thought it day, when she sent her love away,
And it was but a blink of the moon.
Child, The English and Scottish Popular Ballads, no. 248.
Reproduced in Bronson, with brief score, p 439.
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