The Wexford Girl It was in the town of Waterford Where I was bred and born It was in the city of Baltimore That I owned a flowered farm I courted many a Wexford girl With dark and roving eyes I asked her for to marry me And yes, was her reply; I went up to here father's house About 8 o'clock one night I asked her for to take a walk Our wedding day to appoint We walked along quite easily Til I came to a level ground I broke a stake out of the fence And beat this fair maid down; Down on her bended knees she fell And, "mercy she did cry" Oh, Willie dear, don't murder me here I'm not prepared to die He heeded not the words she said But he beat her all the more Til all the ground for yards around Was in a bloody gore. I went up to my mother's house About 12 o'clock that night My mother, she'd been sittin' up a-waitin' She took an awful fright Oh son, dear son, what have you done What bled your hands and clothes The answer that I made to my mother "I was bleeding at the nose;" I asked her for a candle To light my way to bed Likewise, for a handkerchief, to wrap Around my aching head I tied it and I twisted it But no comfort could I find The flames of hell shown around me My true love not far behind; It was in about three weeks before This fair maid was found Floatin' down the river That leads to Wexford town And all that saw her said She was fair, a handsome bride That she was fit for any king Or any Squire's bride; I was taken on suspicion And locked in the Wexford jail For there was none to pity me Or none to go my bail Come ye, all you loyal true lovers A warning take by me And never treat your own true love To any cruelty; For if you do, you'll rue like me Until the day you die You'll hang like me, a murderer All on the gallows high. Recorded by Benny Barnes DT #628 Laws F5 GG oct97
Thanks to Mudcat for the Digital Tradition!