Peter Bellamy 1977
Part of Bellamy's legendary folk opera The Transports
Oh the grass in the meadow, the reeds by the mere,
The sad boom of the bittern is all that I hear.
Chorus 1:
And the leaves in the woodland and the gulls by the shore cry
You never shall sit by your loved-ones no more. (x2)
When I was a young girl the world did seem gay,
But these cruel hard times do drive comfort away.
…dance with your sweetheart…
Once I gathered wild flowers in the sweet countryside,
But my garlands have withered, my posies have died.
…lie by your husband…
Once I went a-courting, but now my man’s gone,
Once I was a mother, but now I’m alone.
…walk with your men-folk…
Come all you young women that’s free from all care,
Don’t you ever get married, all sorrows lies there.
…The heart that is given no man may restore.
Now the fields are all empty, the hedgerows are bare,
Only wild desolation is all I find there.
Final Chorus:
I’ll go down to the river to ease all my pain and
Who knows, but I might find my dear ones again.