Poor old weaver's daughter

22 Aug 03 - 04:32 AM (#1006337)
Subject: Poor old weaver's daughter
From: GUEST,[e-mail]

I'm trying to find the words for Poor Old Weaver's Daughter (could it be a Muckram Wakes song - not sure?)

It goes something like this but wondered if anyone had heard of it:

As I walked out one May Morning
Across the fields so early
I espied a maid, a most beautiful maid
As bright as any fairy
Said I pretty maid where art though going
And by the hand I took her
Well she turned and she said I'm going home
I'm a poor old weaver's daughter

May I go with you my pretty maid
For gold and silver I've plenty
Well she turned her head and she blushed and she said
Oh no kind sir I thank yee
My mother she is dead and in her grave
But the early lesson she taught me
Was to marry for love and not for gold
Cried that poor old weaver's daughter

My father's deaf and almost blind
And he's nearly passed his labours
Twould break his heart for me to part
For he's been such a good kind father
So parted from him I never shall be
For he's been such a good kind father
And until he is laid in his peaceful grave
I'm a poor old weaver's daughter

Fare thee well, fare thee well sweet maid I cried
May prospects ever look brighter
And the lad though love be handsome and true
And happily be united
For friendship's sake this gold ring take
Such a lovely maid I thought her
And as long as I live I never shall forget
That poor old weaver's daughter

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22 Aug 03 - 05:13 AM (#1006348)
Subject: Lyr Add: THE WEAVER'S DAUGHTER
From: masato sakurai

From folktrax:

POOR OLD WEAVER'S DAUGHTER, THE - "Across the fields one sweet May morn" - light as any fairy - ROUD#1277 - WILLIAMS FSUT 1923 pp191-2 #76 Joseph Bartlett, Down Ampney, Gloucestersh 5v (w/o) -- George MAYNARD rec by PK, Copthorne, Sussex, 1955: RPL LP 23093/ 279/ TOPIC 12-T-286 1976 5v/ TSCD-655 (Rural) "The WD"- Frank HINCHCLIFFE rec by Mike Yates & Ruairidh & Alvina Greig, Sheffield, Yorksh: TOPIC 12-TS-308 1977 "The Poor Old WD"

This version is from Alfred Williams, Folk Songs of the Upper Thames (Duckworth, 1923, pp. 192-92; without tune):

THE WEAVER'S DAUGHTER
A pleasant old song, formerly popular in the villages between Cricklade and Cirencester. Obtained of Jpseph Bartlett, Down Ampney.

Across the fields, one sweet May morn,
As I walked out quite early,
A lovely lass came tripping by,
As light as any fairy.

"Where are you going, my pretty maid?"
And by the hand I caught her;
I asked her name, she blushed with shame,
"I'm the poor old weaver's daughter."

Her cheeks were fair as any rose,
Her age was almost twenty;
I says, "My dear, if you'll be mine,
I've gold and riches plenty."

"My mother she has not long been dead,
And a nice lesson she taught me--
To marry for love, and not for gold,"
Cries the poor old weaver's daughter.

"My father he is nearly blind,
And now gone past his labour,
And he'll break his heart for me to part,"
Cries the poor old weaver's daughter.

Broadside versions are at Bodleian Library Broadside Ballads:

2806 c.17(455)
Harding B 11(2017)

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22 Aug 03 - 06:34 AM (#1006375)
Subject: RE: Poor old weaver's daughter
From: GUEST,MCP

Here's Frank Hinchcliffe's version. I'll put the tune up later. (I don't know if singing 2 halves of a verse to the 2nd half of the tune was a mistake during recording or if he always sang it like that)

Mick

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THE POOR OLD WEAVER'S DAUGHTER

As I was walking one May morn,
Across yon field so early,
I espied a maid, a most beautiful maid,
As sweet as any fairy.
I said "My pretty maid, where art thou going?"
And by the hand I took her.
She blushed and said, "I'm a-going home,
I'm a poor old weaver's daughter."

"Oh, may I come with you my pretty maid,
For gold and silver I've plenty?"
She turned her head and blushed and she said,
"Oh no, kind sir, I thank you.
My mother she is dead and lay in her grave
And the early lesson she taught me,
Was to marry for love and not for gold",
Cried that poor old weaver's daughter.

(2nd half of tune:)
"My father he is old and nearly blind
And he's almost past his labour;
It would break his heart for me to part,
For he's been such a good kind father"

(2nd half if tune:)
So parted from him I never shall be,
For he's been such a good kind father,
And until he is laid in his peaceful grave
I'm a poor old weaver's daughter.

"Fare-thee-well, fare-thee-well, sweet maid", I cried,
"May prospects ever be brighter
And the lad thou loved be constant and true
And happily be united.
For friendship's sake this gold ring take".
Such a lovely maid I thought her
And as long as I live I never shall forget
That poor old weaver's daughter.

Source: Frank Hinchcliffe LP In Sheffield Park

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