Wiltshire Community History
Folk Song Information
| Song Title | Betsy and Mary |
| Roud No. | 1318 |
| Collected From | Harris, Charles |
| Location | Oaksey |
| County | Wiltshire |
| Collected By | Williams, Alfred |
| Alternative Title | |
| Tune | |
| Date | |
| Source Primary | WSRO: 2598/36 Packet 4 - Wiltshire: Williams, A: MS collection No Wt 429 |
| Source Secondary | Williams, A: Folk songs of the upper Thames, 1923, p 283, 284 |
| Recording | |
| Song Lyrics | |
| Verse 1 Till I fell in love I was happy enow, At threshing or reaping, at harrow or plough; At sunrise each morn with the lark I was springing, And just like the lark I was always a-singing. Verse 2 Oh, Cupid, quite envious of my happy life, Put it into my head that I wanted a wife; About love and such like things completely a dunce, I fell slap in love with two wenches at once. Verse 3 Oh, Mary's as fair as an angel could be, Eyes like sweet Betsy I never did see; I tried all in vain my hot feelings to smother, By looking first at one and then at the other. Verse 4 If I went to see Mary to her I was blind, Betsy directly came into my mind; If I went to see Betsy it was quite the contrary, For I was always sure to be thinking of Mary. Verse 5 When Betsy looked at me, or when Mary smiled, I felt all my senses completely beguiled; 'Twas all no use to look this way or that way, Like a donkey betwixt two bundles of hay. Verse 6 Things went on like for five or six weeks, And I never could muster up courage to speak; Till, all of a sudden, they both went to church, And left me a bachelor quite in the lurch. Verse 7 Young men, be advised, and get it into your sconce, And never go courting two wenches at once; For with one lass you may work your way safe and sound, But between two stools your rump comes to the ground. | |
| Print Song Lyrics | |
| Notes | |
| Note 1 Alfred Williams - 'An old song; words of Charles Harris, Oaksey, Wiltshire' Note 2 In the manuscript a chorus has been crossed out. It reads: Fal di lal riddle o! Fal di lal riddle to! Fal di la right foe the riddle di dee. Transcribed and edited by Chris Wildridge, 2007. | |
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