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Lyr Req: The Hiring Fair (Ralph McTell)-answered

10 Dec 00 - 05:37 AM (#354353)
Subject: The Girl from the Hiring Fair
From: GUEST,Andrew Walker - the Stag Band - Hastings

Dear Folks -

We know the chords and the tune to this lovely song, but not the lyrics - no-one has a version. The Girl from the Hiring Fair by Ralph Mctell Please e-mail - giddykipper@ntlworld.com if you can help. If you have a printed verson and a scanner, ANY image format will do to save you typing.

Warmest regards

Andrew Walker (guitar/vocals/drinking)

10 Dec 00 - 06:33 AM (#354364)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Girl from the Hiring Fair
From: The Shambles

Click Here.

An ex resident of Westfield.

10 Dec 00 - 12:47 PM (#354467)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Girl from the Hiring Fair
From: Noreen

Youre very busy, Shambles! I believe I've seen it in the DT too.

Lovely song- I like Simon Nicol singing it.

Noreen

10 Dec 00 - 08:36 PM (#354660)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Girl from the Hiring Fair
From: Dave Wynn

Have you found them ?..I have all but the half verse he wrote......I can send them if required....! Spot.

11 Dec 00 - 12:41 PM (#355002)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Girl from the Hiring Fair
From: Noreen

Here, Spot-

the link given by Shambles (above) goes to a previous thread containing the lyrics.

I imagine the lyrics were removed from the DT due to copyright considerations?

Noreen

12 Dec 00 - 08:36 AM (#355563)
Subject: Lyr/Chords Add: THE HIRING FAIR (Ralph McTell)
From: SueH

I got this from a web site but unfortunately can't remember where, now. Apologies if it all runs together, my connection's about to drop!

SueH

McTell's words as follows, chords as played by Foster & Alison in Sydney folk clubs.

THE HIRING FAIR
By Ralph McTell

Em C Em C
Em C G D Bm7
Well I went down to the hiring fair for to sell my labour
Em C D Bm7 Em
I noticed a maid in the very next row and I hoped she'd be my neighbour
G D Em C
Imagine then my delight when the farmer picked us both
G D C Em Bm7 Em
I spoke not a word on the cart to the farm, but my heart beat in my throat.
Well my lodgings were dry and my master fair and I gave him full measure
But my envy grew like the corn in the field for in his house was my treasure
I'd watch her carry water or drive cows from the byre
And the heat from the sun made the corn grow strong and with it my desire.
Well I'd see her in my dreaming and in my dreams caress
Her eyes, her lips and her dark brown hair, the curves beneath her dress.
When harvest time it came at last, so heavy was the task
That the women and the men worked side by side, and I had her near at last.

So I swung harder with my scythe, few words between us passed
And I cursed my tongue-tied youthfulness and hoped that she'd hear my heart
When all was safely gathered in and we sat down to rest
My trembling fingers touched her arm and she placed them on her breast.

And then she turned to me as the sun went down and all my senses reeled,
As we lay there on the scented ground and the moon rose over the field. Mmmmm............................................

Well she was safely gathered in my arms when from the barn
Drifted the sound of a violin and we hurried back to the farm,
And all were dancing in the lantern light and music filled the air,
And I thanked my stars for the harvest moon and the girl from the hiring fair.

And all were dancing in the lantern light and music filled the air,
And I thanked my stars for the harvest moon and the girl from the hiring fair.

HTML line breaks added. --JoeClone, 28-Jul-02.