The Traditional English Folk Song Lyrics List

Words And Music Traditional

A BEGGING I WILL GO
Of all the trades in England, a-beggin' is the best
For when a beggar's tired, You can lay him down to rest.
And a-begging I will go, a-begging I will go. (x2)

I got a pocket for me oatmeal, and another for me rye.
I got a bottle by me side to drink when I am dry.
And a-begging I will go, a-begging I will go. (x2)

I got patches on me cloak, and black patch on me knee.
When you come to take me home, I'll drink as well as thee.
And a-begging I will go, a-begging I will go. (x2)

I got a pocket for me ... and another for me malt
I got a pair of little crutches, you should see how I can halt.
And a-begging I will go, a-begging I will go. (x2)

I sleep beneath an open tree, and there I pay no rent.
Providence provides for me, and I am well content.
And a-begging I will go, a-begging I will go. (x2)

I fear no plots against me. I live an open cell.
Who would be a king then when beggars live so well.
And a-begging I will go, a-begging I will go. (x2)

Of all the trades in England, a-begging is the best.
For when a beggar's tired, you can lay him down to rest.
And a-begging I will go, a-begging I will go. (x2)

KEY Dm

verse:
Dm Gm Dm A7

chorus:
Gm Dm Gm-A7-Dm

Background: Though the lyrics here seem to refer to this song as an old English song. I found some lyrics for a Scottish version called Tae the Begging I Will Go.

ALL FOR ME GROG
Well it's all for me grog, me jolly jolly grog
It's all for me beer and tobacco
For I spent all me tin with the lassies drinking gin
Far across the western ocean I must wander

Where are me boots, me noggin', noggin' boots?
They're all gone for beer and tobacco
For the heels they are worn out and the toes are kicked about
And the soles are looking out for better weather

Where is me shirt, my noggin', noggin' shirt?
It's all gone for beer and tobacco
For the collar is all worn, and the sleeves they are all torn
And the tail is looking out for better weather

I'm sick in the head and I haven't been to bed
Since first I came ashore with me slumber
For I spent all me dough on the lassies movin' slow
Far across the Western Ocean I must wander

Where is me bed, me noggin' noggin bed
It's all gone for beer and tobacco
Well I lent it to a whore and now the sheets are all tore
And the springs are looking out for better whether.

Where is me wench, me noggin' noggin' whence
She's all gone for beer and tobacco
Well her (clap) is all worn out and her (clap) is knocked about
And her (clap) is looking out for better whether.

THE BALLAS OF THE SEA
I walked alone in foggy dew
Just me and my memories
A voice out seaward beckons thru
A whistle of love for me, for me
A whistle of love for me.

T'was two moons 'go her father stole
My love away from me
Arranged to wed a soldier red
My love's gone 'cross the sea, the sea
My love's gone 'cross the sea.

For ten days long our love grew strong
She swore her "love to thee"
Each night up high on mountainside
She'd whistle her love for me, for me
She'd whistle her love for me.

Late one night, my fire alight
Awaiting for her to see
My wait was long, o' what could be wrong
Where could my true love be, love be
Where could my true love be

A light 'cross waters latern glow
Was all mine eyes could see
And from below noise drifted slow
Like a 'gull come back from sea, from sea
Like a 'gull come back from sea.

Her song it haunts me still this day
Notes of uncertainty
If heaven laughs at prayers of mine
Then it never was to be, to be
Then it never was to be.

KEY D

verse/chorus:
D F C D
D F C-D
D F C D
D F C-D

Background: This was the first song Andrew and I wrote wholely together. I came up with a nice sad idea for a song and a simple melody. Then we went at it. There's actually another verse somewhere, but I can't find it.

words John Dyer (1700-58); music traditional
DOWN AMONG THE DEAD MEN
Here's a health to the Queen and a lasting peace,
To faction an end, to wealth increase;
Come, let us drink it while we have breath,
For there's no drinking after death,
And he that will this health deny,

Down among the dead men,
Down among the dead men,
Down, down, down, down,
Down among the dead men let him lie.

Let charming Beauty's health go round,
In whom celestial joys are found;
And may confusion still pursue,
The senseless woman hating crew,
And they that woman's health deny;

May love and wine their joys maintain,
And their united pleasures reign;
While smiling plenty crowns the land,
We'll sing the joys that both afford:
And they that won't with us comply,

KEY
verse/chorus:
Background: English song that dates back to the 1700s.

THE LUSTY YOUNG SMITH
A lusty young smith at his vice stood a-filing.
His hammer laid by but his forge still aglow.
When to him a buxom young damsel came smiling,
And asked if to work in her forge he would go.

Rum, rum, rum. Rum, rum, rum.
In and out. In and out. Ho!

"I will," said the smith, and they went off together,
Along to the young damsel's forge they did go.
They stripped to go to it, 'twas hot work and hot weather.
They kindled a fire and she soon made him blow.

Her husband, she said, no good work could afford her.
His strength and his tools were worn out long ago.
The smith said "Well mine are in very good order,
And I am now ready my skill for to show."

Red hot grew his iron, as both did desire,
And he was too wise not to strike while 'twas so.
Said she, "What I get I get out of the fire,
So prithee, strike home and redouble the blow."

Six times did his iron, by vigorous heating,
Grow soft in her forge in a minute or so,
But as often was hardened, still beating and beating,
But the more it was softened, it hardened more slow.

When the smith rose to go, quoth the dame full of sorrow:
"Oh, what would I give could my husband do so.
Good lad with your hammer come hither tomorrow,
But pray could you use it once more ere you go!"

KEY C

verse:
C F C G
C F F G
F C G C
C F G C

chorus:
C F C G
C F G C

Background: The Lusty Young Smith is an 17th century English song first appearing in Thomas D'Urfey's 'Wit and Mirth: Pills to Purge Melancholy' in 1698. I learned this song from a tape of the Irish Breakdown my mother gave me. Their version was different from that which I learned at Renaissance faires and thank goodness. Most of the other versions I've heard have use "jingle, bang, jingle" as their chorus. Boy, is that annoying! Okay, one exception. Dallas' Queen Anne's Lace puts the "jingles" and the "bang jingles" all in the right place as they jingle their breasts. It's very amusing to watch and really fits the chorus. But that's the ONE exception.

NONESUCH
And she shall bring the birds in spring
And dance among the flowers.
In summer's heat her kisses sweet
They fall from leafy bowers.

She cuts the grain and harvests corn.
The kiss of fall surrounds her.
The days grow old and winter cold.
She draws her cloak around her.

KEY Dm

verse:
Dm

chorus:
C Dm

Background: Fun old English song, also with English Folk dance

SCARBOROUGH FAIRE
Are you going to Scarborough Faire?
Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme.
Remember me to one who lived there.
She once was a true love of mine.

Have her make me a cambric shirt
Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme.
Without no seams, nor fine needle work.
Then she'll be a true love of mine.

Tell her to weave it in a sycamore wood lane.
Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme
Gather it up in a basket of flowers
Then she'll be a true love of mine

Have her wash it in yonder dry well
Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme
Where water ne'er sprung, nor drop of rain fell.
Then she'll be a true love of mine

Tell her to to find me an acre of land.
Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme
Between the sea foam and over the sand.
Then she'll be a true love of mine

Plow the land with the horn of a lamb.
Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme
Then sow some seeds from north of the dam.
Then she'll be a true love of mine

Have her reap it with a sickle of leather.
Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme
Gather it up in a bunch of heather.
Then she'll be a true love of mine

If she tells me she can't, then I'll reply.
Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme
Let me know, that at least she will try.
Then she'll be a true love of mine

Love imposes impossible tasks
Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme
Though not more than any heart asks.
And I must know she's true love of mine

When thou has finished thy task.
Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme
Come to me my hand for to ask.
For then you'll be a true love of mine

Additional verses:

Tell her to dry it on yonder thorn,
Parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme,
Which never bore blossom since Adam was born,
And then she'll be a true love of mine.

Ask her to do me this courtesy,
Parsely, sage, rosemary, and thyme,
And ask for a like favor from me,
And then she'll be a true love of mine.

Have you been to Scarborough Fair?
Parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme,
Remember me from one who lives there,
For he once was a true love of mine.

When he has done and finished his work,
Parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme,
Ask him to come for his cambric shirt,
For then he'll be a true love of mine.

KEY D

verse/chorus:
D F C D
D F C-D
D F C D
D F C-D

Background: Traditional English song and riddle made famous by Simon and Garfunkel with Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme harmonies.

THE MERMAID SONG
Twas Friday morn when we set sail
And we were not far from the land
When the captain, he spied a lovely mermaid
With a comb and a glass in her hand

O the ocean's waves will roll
And the stormy winds will blow
While we poor sailors go skipping to the top
And the landlubbers lie down below (below, below)
And the landlubbers lie down below

And up spoke the captain of our gallant ship
And a well-spoken man was he
I have me a wife in Salem by the sea
And tonight she a widow will be

And up spoke the cookie of our gallant ship
And a red hot cookie was he
Saying I care much more for my pots and my pans
Than I do for the bottom of the sea

Then up spoke the cabinboy, of our gallant ship
And a nasty little lad was he.
I'm not quite sure I can spell "mermaid"
But I'm going to the bottom of the sea.

Then three times around went our gallant ship
And three times around went she
Three times around went our gallant ship
And she sank to the bottom of the sea

KEY G

verse:
G G C C
C D7 G
G G C C
C D7 G

chorus:
G G G G
G G D7 D7
G G C C
C D7 G

Background: This seems to be one of the most popular songs sung at Renaissance festivals. It's loved by Rennies and a favorite for our home faire's (Excalibur Fantasy Faire) pub sing. I first remember hearing this song in 1999, when we played at the West Texas Renaissance Faire. I was adamant against playing any 'popular' or more appropriately, 'over done' Ren faire songs.

That was cured with time. Now these songs are some of my favorite. I love seeing the wenches line up and dance along. I love the shouting at the end. I love the parody performed by Celtic Cleavage! ;) The song has gotten better and better, and I think we have finally made the song our own with a very unique sea-worthy sound, and some fun anachronistic additions, because that's what makes Faire so much fun!

WHAT DO YOU DO WITH A DRUNKEN SAILOR?
What'll we do with a drunken sailor,
What'll we do with a drunken sailor,
What'll we do with a drunken sailor,
Earl-aye in the morning?

Chorus:
Way hay and up she rises (x3)
Earl-aye in the morning

1. Put him in the long boat till he's sober,
2. Keep him there and make 'im bale 'er.
3. Shave his belly with a rusty razor.
4. Put him in bed with the captain's daughter.

There are many many more verses, these are just the ones we use in the song.

KEY Dm

verse/chorus:
Am
G
Am
G
Am-G-Am-G-Am-Am

Background: AS HEARD on DR DEMENTO! This song combines two unlikely songs, "Donald, Where's Your Trousers?" and "What Shall We Do With A Drunken Sailor" together into one hilarious song with drunken Scots and kilts flying. It's a Live Performance favorite!