The grey cock
Language: English
O saw ye my father? or saw ye my mother? Or saw ye my true-love John? I saw not your father, I saw not your mother, But I saw your true-love John. It's now ten at night, and the stars gie nae light, And the bells they ring ding, dang; He's met wi' some delay that causeth him to stay, But he will be here ere lang. The surly auld earl did naething but snarl, And Johnny's face it grew red; Yet, tho he often sigh'd, he neer a word replied Till all were asleep in bed. Up Johnny rose, and to the door he goes, And gently tirl'd the pin; The lassie taking tent unto the door she went, And she open'd and let him in. And are ye come at last? and do I hold ye fast? And is my Johny true? I hae nae time to tell, but sae lang's I like mysell Sae lang will I love you. Flee, flee up, my bonny grey cock, And craw when it is day; Your neck shall be like the bonny beaten gold, And your wings of the silver grey. The cock prov'd false, and untrue he was, For he crew an hour o'er soon; The lassie thought t'was day when she sent her love away, And it was but a blink of the moon.
Confirmed with Francis J. Child, The English and Scottish Popular Ballads, 248A. Tune: Crucifixion, Southern Harmony, p. 25.
Authorship:
- from Volkslieder (Folksongs) , title 1: "Saw you my father", title 2: "The grey cock", first published 1882 [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- [ None yet in the database ]
Settings in other languages, adaptations, or excerpts:
- Also set in English, [adaptation] ; composed by Joseph Haydn.
- Also set in German (Deutsch), a translation by Anonymous/Unidentified Artist [an adaptation] ENG ; composed by Max Bruch.
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2016-01-12
Line count: 42
Word count: 227