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(This score available as
ABC,
SongWright,
PostScript,
PNG, or
PMW, or
a MIDI file)
Pennywhistle notation
and Dulcimer tab
for this song is also available
Caroline of Edinburgh Town Come all you men and maidens attend unto my rhyme It's of a young damsel who scarce was in her prime She beat the blushing roses admired by all around Was lovely young Caroline of Edinburgh Town Young Henry was a Highland man a-courting to her came And when her parents came to know, they did not like the same Young Henry was offended and unto her did say "Arise my dearest Caroline and with me run away. "We will both go to London, love, and there we'll wed with speed And then lovely Caroline shall have happiness indeed." Now enticed by young Henry, she put on her other gown And away went young Caroline of Edinburgh Town. Over hills and lofty mountains together they did roam In time arrived at London, far from their native home Said Henry, "I will go to sea, your parents did on me frown So beg your way without delay to Edinburgh Town. "The fleet is fitting out at Spitzhead dropping down And I will join the fleet to fight for King and crown The gallant tars may feel their scars or in the water drown Yet I never will again return to Edinburgh Town." Oppressed with grief without relief this damsel she did go Into the woods to eat such fruit as on the trees did grow Some strangers they did pity her and some did on her frown And some did say, "What made you stray from Edinburgh Town?" There many a day she passed away in sorrow and despair Her cheeks, though once like roses, were grown like lilies fair She cried, "Where is my Henry?" and often she did swoon Crying, "Sad is the day, I ran away from Edinburgh Town." 'Twas beneath a balmy oak where she sat down to cry A-watching of the gallant ships as they were passing by She gave one shriek for Henry and plunged her body down And away floated Caroline of Edinburgh Town. A note, likewise her bonnet, she left upon the shore And in the note a lock of hair, with words, "I am no more." And fast asleep into the deep, the fish were watching round Once comely young Caroline of Edinburgh Town. Come all young tender parents, ne'er try to part true love You're sure to see, in some degree, the ruin it will prove Likewise young men and maidens, ne'er on your lovers frown Think on the fate of Caroline of Edinburgh Town. DT #342 Laws P27 from New Green Mountain Songster, Flanders et al. tune is a variant of Irish Girl, or Farmer and Shantyboy collected from Ella Warner Fisher in 1932 tune "CAROEDN3" from Songs the Whalemen Sang, Huntington play.exe CAROEDN3 RG
Thanks to Mudcat for the Digital Tradition!