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by Alfred Perceval Graves (1846 - 1931)

A sailor lad wooed a farmer's daughter
 (Sung text for setting by C. Stanford)
 See original
Language: English 
A sailor once wooed a farmer's daughter,
 The fairest lass in all the country side.
She loved him well; but when he besought her
 With beating, beating heart to be his bride,
"A sailor lad," she said, "I'll never, never wed,
 And live a wife and widow all in one;
O no, my charmer shall be a farmer,
 Returning faithful with the set of sun."

At danger's warning, across the water
 The sailor went, but left his heart behind;
Fresh lovers whispered the farmer's daughter;
 Yet when they prayed her to confess her mind,
"A farmer's lad," she said, "I'll never, never wed,
 When heroes bleed to guard their native land.
Till war is over I need no lover:
 Then let the stoutest soldier claim my hand."

The war was over and safe from slaughter,
 With stars and crosses home our warriors came,
And some went wooing the farmer's daughter,
 But none could charm the lass to change her name;
Until her sailor brave returning o'er the wave
Again with beating heart his love did tell;
And sweetly turning, with blushes burning,
 She sighed: "Since first we met I've loved you well!"

Composition:

    Set to music by Charles Villiers Stanford, Sir (1852 - 1924), "A sailor lad wooed a farmer's daughter", published [1882?] [ voice and piano ], from Songs of Old Ireland. A Collection of Fifty Irish Melodies Unknown in England, no. 31, arrangement ; London, Boosey & Co. ; dedicated to Johannes Brahms, August 1882

Text Authorship:

  • by Alfred Perceval Graves (1846 - 1931), "A sailor loved a farmer's daughter", appears in Irish Songs and Ballads, in Songs and Ballads

See other settings of this text.


Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

This text was added to the website: 2008-12-10
Line count: 24
Word count: 197

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