Constant Billy

The lord of Roslin’s daughter

Walked through the woods alone

When by come Captain Wedderburn

A servant of the king.

He said unto his servant man

Were it not against the law,

I’d take her into my own bed

And lie her next to the wall.

Then he jumped off his milk white steed

And he set the lady on

And all the way he walked on foot

And he held her by the hand.

He held her by the middle of the waist

For fear that she should fall

‘til he took her into his own bed

To lie her next to the wall.

Oh, said the pretty lady,

Before you do gain me,

It’s you must dress me dishes yet

And that is dishes three

Dishes three you must dress me

Though I’ll not eat at all

Before I lie in your bed

At either stock or wall

Oh, you must get for supper

A cherry without a stone

And you must get for supper

A chicken without a bone

And you must get for supper

A bird without a gall

Before I lie in your bed

At either stock or wall

A cherry when it is in bloom

I’m sure it has no stone

And a chicken when it’s in the egg

I’m sure it has no bone

The dove she is a gentle bird

And she flies without a gall

So we’ll both lie in one bed

And you’ll lie next to the wall.

Oh, said the pretty lady

Before you me perplex,

It’s you must answer questions yet

And that is questions six.

Questions six you must tell me

And that is three times twa

Before I lie in your bed

At either stock or wall.

Oh, what is greener than the grass?

What’s higher than the trees?

What is worse than a woman’s wish?

What is deeper than the seas?

What is the first bird that did crow?

And what did first downfall?

Before I lie in your bed

At either stock or wall.

Oh, death is greener than the grass

Heaven’s higher than the trees.

The devil is worse than a woman’s wish

Hell’s deeper than the seas.

The cock is the first bird that did crow

And the dew did first downfall

So we’ll both lie in one bed

And you’ll lie next to the wall.

Oh, little did this fair maid think

That morning when she rose

That this would be the very last

Of all her maiden days.

And in the parish where they live

They’re the happiest pair of all

And they both lie in one bed,

And she lies next to the wall.

MARY AND THE SOLDIER

(trad)

Come all you lads of high renown that will hear of a fair young maiden

As she roved out on a summer's day to view the soldiers parading.

They marched so bold and they looked so gay, their banners were flyin' and their bands did play.

It caused young Mary for to say, "I'll wed you me gallant soldier."

She viewed the soldiers on parade and as they stood at their leisure.

And Mary to herself she did say “At last I’ve found my treasure.”

But oh how cruel my parents must be to send my true love away from me.

I’ll leave them all and go with thee me bold undaunted soldier.

"Oh Mary dear, my own true love, I pray you don't be unruly

For when you're in a foreign land, believe me you'll rue it surely

And if in battle I should fall from the angry shot of a cannonball

And you so far from your daddy's hall, be advised by a gallant soldier."

"I have fifty guineas in my coat, likewise a heart that's bolder

I’ll leave them all and go with you me bold undaunted soldier

So don't say no but let me go. I will face the daring foe.

We'll march together to and fro, I'll wed you, me gallant soldier"

And when he saw her loyalty and Mary so true-hearted

He said: "Me darling, married we'll be - nothing but death will part us.

When we're in a foreign land, I'll guard you, darling, with my right hand.

And side by side we both shall stand, Mary and her gallant soldier"

GARDEN SONG

(David Mallett)

Inch by inch, row by row

Gonna make this garden grow

All it takes is a rake and a hoe

And a piece of fertile ground

Inch by inch, row by row

Someone bless these seeds I sow

Someone warm them from below

'Till the rains come tumbling down

Pullin' weeds and pickin' stones

Man is made of dreams and bones

Feel a need to grow my own

'Cause the time is close at hand

Grain for grain, sun and rain

Find my way in nature's chain

Tune my body and my brain

To the music of the land

Plant your rows straight and long

Temper them with prayer and song

Mother Earth will make you strong

If you give her love and care

An old crow watching hungrily

From his perch in yonder tree

And in my garden I’m as free

As that feathered thief up there

Inch by inch, row by row

Gonna make this garden grow

All it takes is a rake and a hoe

And a piece of fertile ground

YELLOW GALS
(trad) Revised by Bill Galbraith

Oh once I was in Madame Gashee's, down in Calleeyo,