Six Choral Folksongs

I sow'd the seeds of love,
And I sow'd them in the spring;
I gather'd them up in the morning so soon,
When small birds sweetly sing.

My garden was planted well
With flowers ev'ry where,
But I had not the liberty to choose
The flow'r that I lov'd so dear.

The gard'ner standing by,
I asked him to choose for me;
He chose the Violet, the Lily, the Pink,
But these I refused all three.

The Violet I did not like
Because it fades so soon;
The Lily and Pink I did over think
And vow'd I would wait till June.

In June is a red, red Rose;
And that is the flow'r for me;
I'll pluck it and think that no Lily nor Pink
Can match with the bud on that tree.

There was a tree all in the woods,
As fine a tree as ever you did see,
For the tree was in the woods,
And the woods lie down in the valley below.

There was a limb all on the tree,
As fine a limb as ever you did see,
For the limb was on the tree and the tree was in the woods
And the woods lie down in the valley below.

There was a bough all on the limb,
As fine a bough as ever you did see,
For the bough was on the limb, 
and the limb was on the tree,
and the tree was in the woods,
And the woods lie down in the valley below.

There was a bird all on the tree,
The finest bird that ever you did see,
For the bird was on the bough, 
and the bough was on the limb, 
and the limb was on the tree, 
and the tree was in the woods,
And the woods lie down in the valley below.

Matthew, Mark and Luke and John,
Bless the bed that I lie on.
Four angels to my bed,
Two to bottom, two to head,
Two to hear me when I pray,
Two to bear my soul away.

God is the branch and I the flower,
Pray God send me a blessed hour.
I go to bed some sleep to take:
The Lord, He knows if I shall wake.
Sleep I ever, sleep I never,
God receive my soul for ever.

Kang, kang, kang ki ki kang kang.
For the blacksmith courted me, nine months and better;
And first he won my heart, till he wrote to me a letter.
With his hammer in his hand, for he strikes so mighty and clever,
He makes the sparks to fly all around his middle.

Abroad as I was walking, one evening in the spring,
I heard a maid in Bedlam so sweetly for to sing;
Her chains she rattled with her hands,
And thus replied she:
 
"I love my love because I know my love loves me!

O cruel were his parents who sent my love to sea,
And cruel was the ship that bore my love from me;
Yet I love his parents since they're his although
They've ruined me:

I love my love because I know my love loves me!
 
With straw I'll weave a garland,
I'll weave it very fine;
With roses, lilies, daisies,
I'll mix the eglantine;
And I'll present it to my love
When he returns from sea.
 
For I love my love, because I know my love loves me."
 
Just as she sat there weeping,
Her love he came on land.
Then hearing she was in Bedlam,
He ran straight out of hand.
He flew into her snow-white arms,
And thus replied he:

"I love my love, because I know my love loves me."

She said: "My love don't frighten me;
Are you my love or no?"
"O yes, my dearest Nancy,
I am your love, also I am return'd to
Make amends for all your injury;
I love my love because I know my love loves me."

So now these two are married,
And happy may they be like turtle
Doves togheter, in love and unity.
All pretty maids with patience wait
That have got loves at sea;

I love my love because I know my love loves me.

Oh, farewell to you my Nancy, ten thousand times adieu;
I'm bound to cross the ocean, girl, once more to part with you;
Once more to part from you, fine girl, you're the girl that I adore.
But still I live in hopes to see old Swansea Town once more.
Old Swansea Town once more, fine girl, you're the girl that I adore,
But still I live in hopes to see old Swansea Town once more.

Oh! It's now that I am out at sea, and you are far behind,
Kind letters I will write to you of the secrets of my mind,
The secrets of my mind, fine girl, you're the girl that I adore,

Oh now the storm it's rising, I can see it coming on,
The night so dark as anything, we cannot see the moon;
Our good old ship she is tossed aft, our rigging is all tore,

Oh, it's now the storm is over and we are safe on shore;
We'll drink strong drinks and brandies too, to the girls that we adore.
To the girls that we adore, fine girls, we'll make this tavern roar,
And when our money is all gone we'll go to sea for more.