Four Oxfordshire Folk Songs

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Now the winter is gone and the summer is come
And the meadows look pleasant and gay
I met a young damsel so sweetly sang she
And her cheeks like the blossoms of May

I says: Fair maiden, how came you here
In the meadows this morning so soon?
The maid she replied: For to gather some may
For the trees they are all in full bloom.

I says: Fair maiden, shall I go with you
To the meadows to gather some may?
O the maid she replied: O I must be excused
For I’m afeared you will lead me astray.

Then I took this fair maid by her lily-white hand
On the green mossy banks we sat down
And I placed a kiss on her sweet rosy lips
And the small birds were singing all round.

When we arose from the green mossy banks
To the meadows we wandered away;
I placed my love on a primrosy bank
And I plucked her a handful of may.

When I returned she gave me a smile
And thanked me for what I had done.
I placed a sprig on her snowy-white breast
And believe me there’s never a thorn.

Then early next morning I made her my bride
That the world should have nothing to say.
The bells they did ring and the bridesmaids did sing
And I crowned her the sweet Queen of May.

I sowed the seeds of love,
And I sowed them in the spring:
I gathered them up in the morning so soon
While the small birds so sweetly sing.

My garden was planted well
With flowers everywhere.
But I had not the liberty to choose for myself
Of the flowers that I love so dear.

The gardener was standing by,
And I asked him to choose for me.
He chose for me the violet, the lily and the pink,
But those I refused - all three.

In June there's a red rosebud,
And that is the flower for me.
I often times have plucked that red rosebud
Till I gained the willow tree.

My father left me an acre of land,
Ivy, sing Ivery,
My father left me an acre of land,
And a bunch of green holly and Ivery.

I ploughed it with a ram's horn;
Ivy, sing Ivery,
I sowed it with a thimble,
And a bunch of green holly and Ivery.

I harrowed it with a bramble bush;
Ivy, sing Ivery,
I reaped it with a penknife,
And a bunch of green holly and Ivery.

I sent it home in a walnut shell;
Ivy, sing Ivery,
I threshed it with my needle and thread,
And a bunch of green holly and Ivery.

I winnowed it with my handkerchief;
Ivy, sing Ivery,
I sent it to mill with a team of great rats;
And a bunch of green holly and Ivery.

The carter brought a curly whip;
Ivy, sing Ivery,
The whip did pop and the wagon did stop;
And a bunch of green holly and Ivery.