The Traditional Games of England, Scotland, and Ireland - LightNovelsOnl.com
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-Earls Heaton (H. Hardy).
[Music]
-Sporle, Norfolk (Miss Matthews).
[Music]
-Redhill, Surrey (Miss G. Hope).
[Music]
-Lancas.h.i.+re (Mrs. Harley).
[Music]
-Derbys.h.i.+re (Mrs. Harley).
I. Green gravel, green gravel, your gra.s.s is so green, The fairest young damsel that ever was seen; We washed her, we dried her, we rolled her in silk, And we wrote down her name with a gla.s.s pen and ink.
Dear Annie, dear Annie, your true love is dead, And we send you a letter to turn round your head.
-Belfast (W. H. Patterson).
II. Green gravel, green gravel, the gra.s.s is so green, The fairest young lady that ever was seen; I'll wash you in milk, And I'll clothe you with silk, And I'll write down your name with a gold pen and ink.
O Sally, O Sally, your true love is dead, He sent you a letter to turn round your head.
-Berrington, Oswestry (_Shrops.h.i.+re Folk-lore_ p. 510).
III. Around the green gravel the gra.s.s is so green, All the pretty fair maids are plain to be seen; Wash them in milk, and clothe them in silk, Write their names down with a gold pen and ink.
All but Miss "Jenny," her sweetheart is dead; She's left off her wedding to turn back her head.
O mother, O mother, do you think it is true?
O yes, child! O yes, child!
Then what shall I do?
We'll wash you in milk, and dress you in silk, And write down your name with a gold pen and ink.
-Derbys.h.i.+re and Worcesters.h.i.+re (Mrs. Harley).
IV. Green gravel, green gravel, The gra.s.s is so green, Such beautiful flowers As never were seen.
O Annie [or any name], O Annie, Your sweetheart is dead!
He has sent you a letter To turn back your head.
-Earls Heaton, Yorks.h.i.+re (H. Hardy).
V. Green gravel, green gravel, The gra.s.s is so green, The fairest young damsels As ever were seen.
O --, O --, your true love is dead; He sent you a letter To turn round your head.
Green gravel, green gravel, The gra.s.s is so green, The dismalest damsels As ever were seen.
O --, O --, your true love's not dead; He sends you a letter To turn back your head.
-Lincoln, Winterton, and Wakefield (Miss Fowler and Miss Peac.o.c.k).
VI. Green gravel, green gravel, the gra.s.s is so green, The fairest young lady [damsel] that ever was seen.
O --, O --, your true love is dead; He's sent you a letter to turn round your head.
-Redhill, Surrey (Miss G. Hope); Lancas.h.i.+re (Mrs. Harley).
VII. Green meadows, green meadows, your gra.s.s is so green, The fairest young damsel that ever was seen; O Mary, O Mary, your sweetheart is dead; We've sent you a letter to turn back your head.
_Or_, Green gravel, green gravel, the gra.s.s is so green, and following on as above.
-Sporle, Norfolk (Miss Matthews).
VIII. Green grover, green grover, your gra.s.s is so green, The prettiest young lady that ever was seen.
O --, O --, your true love is dead; I send you this letter, so turn round your head.
-Gainford, Durham (Miss Eddleston).
IX. Green gravels, green gravels, The gra.s.s is so green, And all the pretty maidens Are not to be seen, Except -- (said twice), And she's not [?] to be seen, So I send you a letter to turn round your head.
-Hamps.h.i.+re (Miss E. Mendham).
X. Green gravels, green gravels, the gra.s.s is so green, Fine pencils, fine pencils, as ever were seen.
O Mary! O Mary! your true love is dead, And he's sent you a letter to turn round your head.
-Wales (_Byegones_, 1890).
XI. Yellow gravel, yellow gravel, The gra.s.s is so green, The fairest young lady That ever was seen.
O --, O --, Your true love is dead; I send you a letter to turn round your head.
-Cowes, Isle of Wight (Miss E. Smith).
XII. Green gravel, green gravel, the gra.s.s is so green, Said the fairest young damsel that ever I've seen.
O mother, O mother, my true-love is dead, He sent me this letter to turn round my head.
O mother, O mother, do you think this is true?
O yes, love! O yes, love!
And what shall I do?
I'll wash you in b.u.t.ter-milk, I'll dress you in silk, I'll write down your name with my gold pen and ink.
-Isle of Man (A. W. Moore).
XIII. Green gravel, green gravel, the gra.s.s is so green, The flowers are all faded and none to be seen.
O [Dolly], O [Dolly], your sweetheart is dead, He's sent you a letter to turn back your head.
Wallflowers, wallflowers, growing up so high, We are but little, and we shall have to die!
Excepting [Dolly Turner], she's the youngest girl.
O for shame, and fie for shame, and turn your back to home again.
-Madeley, Shrops.h.i.+re (Miss Burne).
