Down in the meadows the other day,
Gathering flowers both fine and gay,
Gathering flowers both red and blue,
I little thought what love can do.

I put my hand into the bush
Thinking the sweetest flower to find
I pricked my finger right to the bone
But left that sweetest flower behind.

I leant my back against some oak
Thinking it was a trusty tree
First he bended then he broke
And so did my false love to me.

There is a ship sailing on the sea
But it's loaded so deep as deep can be
But not so deep as the in love I am
I care not whether I sink or swim.

Since my love's dead and gone to rest
I'll think on her who I love the best
I've secured her up in flannel strong
Have another now she is dead and gone.


abc | midi | pdf

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Source: Journal of the English Folk Dance and Song Society, Dec 1954

Notes:
This is one of several songs in the Journal article by J. W. Allen that are all connected to 'O Waly Waly'. This is "the original of the published 'O Waly Waly'", collected by Cecil Sharp from Mrs Caroline Cox, High Ham, August 8th, 1905.

Roud:
Laws:
Child:

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Related Songs:  Down in the Meadows (thematic)