Green Brooms (3) 1. There was an old man and he lived in the east And his trade it was cutting down brooms, green brooms He had a young son, his name it was John And he stayed in bed until noon-day, noon And he stayed in bed until noon 2. The father arose and up to John goes And swore he would burn his room, gay room If he didn't rise and sharpen his knives And go down to the wood to cut brooms, green brooms And go down to the wood to cut brooms 3. So Johnny went on down through the green wood Till he came to a castle of fame, fame, fame He spied a maid and stood at the gate Crying: Fair maid, do you want any brooms, green brooms Fair maid, do you want any brooms? 4. This lady being up in her window so high She spied this young man so terribly neat, neat, neat She said to her maid: Go down to the gate And call in this young man with his brooms, green brooms, And call in this young man with his brooms 5. So Johnny went into this castle so great And entered this lady's room, gay room She gave him a chair and bad' him sit there Crying: You're welcome, young man, with your brooms, green brooms You're welcome, young man, with your brooms 6. Then to Jack she did say: You're handsome and gay Give over your cutting of brooms, green brooms And smiling she said: Give over your trade And marry this lady in bloom, gay bloom And marry this lady in bloom 7. Then Jack gave consent, to this lady's content And married they were in her room, gay room And Jack blessed the day that he travelled that way And became lord of that castle of fame, great fame And became lord of that castle of fame 8. So, come all you young blades, whatever your trades May you meet with a lady in bloom, gay bloom So, boys, will we drink, or what do you think? There is nothing like cutting down brooms, green brooms There is nothing like cutting down brooms Source: "Folksongs of Britain & Ireland," Peter Kennedy, 1975 BH JRO Oct01
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