Digital Tradition Mirror

Harry the Tailor

(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

Harry the Tailor

Young Harry, the tailor, 'bout twenty years old
He began to grow rattlin' courageous and bold
He told his old mother without any jest
A wife he would have then so well as the rest

     And sing: Fal-the-ral-laddy-O
     Fal-the-ral-laddy-O
     Fal-the-ral-laddy-O
     Fal-the-lie-day

He got up one morning, before it was day
From his house to the farmer's he did run away
Where she was a-working her dairy alone
He got bobbin and playin' but 'twas not with his own

I'll tell you the truth, let him say what he may
He came here a little before it was day
Where Dolly, the dairymaid, makin' her cheese
He began for to play and to tickle her knees

She gave him a shove, and straightway he fell
From the house of the dairy right into the well
Young Harry cried out with such pitiful sound
Or else, my dear Dolly, then I shall be drowned

Then William, the farmer, he did then come in
And up in the bucket he pulled him again
He says: You young rascal, and how came you here?
It was; Thou shoved me in, sir, I vow and declare

The farmer got up in a passion at that
And said: You young rascal, what have you been at!
The basin of buttermilk at him he threw
Which made him look sair and damn well blue

Young Harry went home like a poor drowned rat
And told his old mother what he had been at
Wi' slaps on his cheeks and a terrible fall
If this is your courtin', the devil take all

Words and tune from Kennedy, Folksongs of Britain and Ireland
RG,SF
                                                 apr96

Thanks to Mudcat for the Digital Tradition!