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Wiltshire Community History

Folk Song Information

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Book Title

Author

Date

Notes

Song Title	Once I courted a fair beauty bride
Roud No.	405
Collected From	Unknown
Location	Castle Eaton
County	Wiltshire
Collected By	Williams, Alfred
Alternative Title
Tune
Date
Source Primary	WSRO: 2598/36 Packet 4 - Wiltshire: Williams, A: MS collection No Wt 346
Source Secondary	Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard, 5th February, 1916, p 3, Part 17, No. 3
Recording

Song Lyrics
Verse 1 O once I courted a fair beauty bride, And she was the joy and comfort of my life; I courted her for love, it was for her love to gain, And I'm sure she had no reason at all to complain. Verse 2 As soon as her father came for to know, That I courted his daughter and darling also, O then he ordered me that I should be sent to sea, Away from my Polly and her sweet company. Verse 3 O then for a soldier I was forced for to go, To see whether I could forget my love or no; But as I entered in with my sword, it shone so bright, I could not forget her by day, nor by night. Verse 4 And when I returned unto my dearest dear, O then to New Bedlam I was forced to draw near; I asked her father for her, and he made this reply - "She broke her heart in love, and for her love she died." Verse 5 "Don't tell me, don't tell me more than I can bear! For if she's in a silent grave I wish I was there; Then I should be free from all sorrow, grief and woe, For I know not where to wander, nor where for to go." Verse 6 O then in New Bedlam this young man was confined, And the thoughts of his Polly ran hard in his mind; With the rattling of his chains on a straw bed he did lie, And he called for his Polly till the day that he died.

Print Song Lyrics

Notes
Williams, Alfred: Ms: 'This version originally came from Castle Eaton. I obtained of William King, Highworth, nephew of the Thomas King mentioned above.' Williams, Alfred: WGS 'This version also originally came from Castle Eaton. I obtained of William King, Highworth, nephew of the Thomas King mentioned above [Pressed off to war].' Transcribed and edited by Chris Wildridge, 2010.