Digital Tradition Mirror

Tarry Trousers (3)

(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

Tarry Trousers (3)

As I roved out one fine summer's evening
To view those flow'rs and to take the air,
'Twas there I spied a tender mother
Talking to her daughter dear ;

Singing, "Daughter, O daughter, I'II have you to marry,
No longer to live a sweet single life."
"O mother, O mother, I 'd rather to tarry
To be some brave young sailor's wife. "

"A sailor shy sits all for to wander;
To some foreign counteree he go.
They will cause you to sigh and to murmur,
They will prove your overthrow."

"Or if you could get me to wed with a farmer,
To be your joy anD heart's delight;
But give me the boy with the tarry, tarry trousers,
To shine in my eyes like the diamond bright."

She hung her head on the top of her shoulders,
Tears from her eyes like thc fountain flowed;
" I'll stay at home and be true-hearted
Whilst my love to the seas doth go."

"Hark, O, hark, how the great guns are rattling
Big and small they all make noise ;
My true love's in the field of battle,
Now fight on, my gallant boys."

From Ballads and Sea Songs of Newfoundland, Greenleaf
DT #414
RG

Thanks to Mudcat for the Digital Tradition!