Songs of the West

Part 2 — No 84 DOWN BY A RIVER SIDE

Reading edition

C.J.S.

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1 Down by a River-side, A fair maid I espied, Lamenting for her own true love; Lamenting, crying, sighing, dying; Dying for her own true love.

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2 Did you not promise me, That I your wife should be? Yet I deserted here must mourn; I who believed, now bereaved, grieved; I who believed, now bereaved, tarry here in tears forlorn. 3 Dry up your briny tears, And banish all your fears, For faithful I to you will prove; So now she's singing, clinging, Church Bells ringing, So now she's singing, Church bells ringing, married to her own true love.

Notes in this chapter

Note 1 · 84. Down by a River Side. Taken down from the singing of James Townsend, Holne. He had learned it from his grandfather, who had been parish