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about

I first learned this lovely old Irish song from the singing of Andy Irvine and the great Irish folk band 'Planxty', who recorded it on their 1973 album 'The Well Below the Valley'. Here's what Andy says about the song in the liner notes:

"We learned this sad and beautiful song from the singing of Paddy Tunney who lives in Letterkenny, County Donegal. He has described it as dating back to the days of the famine, when any bit of property at all was enough to tempt a man to jilt his true love in favour of the 'lassie with the land'".

The last verse seems unconnected to the rest of the song and may well be a 'floater' that has drifted into this song from somewhere else.

lyrics

As I Roved Out
Traditional

As I roved out on a fine May morning
To view the meadows and flowers gay
Whom should I spy but my own true lover
As she sat under yon willow tree

I took off my hat and I did salute her
I did salute her most courageously
When she turned around, well the tears fell from her
Sayin' "False young man, you have deluded me

A diamond ring I owned I gave you
A diamond ring to wear on your right hand
But the vows you made, love, you went and broke them
And married the lassie that had the land"

"If I'd married the lassie that had the land, my love
It's that I'll rue till the day I die
When misfortune falls sure no man can shun it
I was blindfolded I'll ne'er deny"

Now at night when I go to my bed of slumber
The thoughts of my true love run in my mind
When I turned around to embrace my darling
Instead of gold sure it's brass I find

And I wish the Queen would call home her army
From the West Indies, Amerikay and Spain
And every man to his wedded woman
In hopes that you and I will meet again.

credits

from Folk Songs and Renovations, released May 13, 2013
Words and Music: Traditional
Vocal: Tim Chesterton

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Tim Chesterton Edmonton, Alberta

Tim Chesterton is inspired by the rich heritage of traditional folk music of the British Isles and North America, and enjoys interpreting traditional songs as well as writing new songs in the traditional style.

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