We’ve updated our Terms of Use to reflect our new entity name and address. You can review the changes here.
We’ve updated our Terms of Use. You can review the changes here.

Flash Company

from Of Love and Sailors by Roary Skaista

/
  • Streaming + Download

    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    Purchasable with gift card

      £1 GBP  or more

     

about

Also known in differing versions as "The Yellow Handkerchief", "Myrtle Tree" and "First I Loved Thomas". Performed over the years by Phoebe Smith, Bellowhead, Lucy Farrell and others, my lyrics are closest to those sung by Waterson:Carthy.

lyrics

LYRICS:

First I loved William and then I loved John,
But now I love Thomas he's a clever young man.
With his white cotton stockings and his high ankled shoes,
He wears a velvet jacket, like a flash lad he goes.

Fiddling and dancing was all his delight,
But keeping flash company has ruined him quite.
Has ruined him quite and a great many more,
If it hadn't have been flash company he'd never have been so poor.

Take this yellow handkerchief in remembrance of me
And wear it around your neck when in flash company.
Dry up your briny tears and don't look so sad,
There's plenty more flash girls all around to be had.

Rocks shall run to water and the sea shall run dry,
If I should prove false to the one that loves I.
The sweetest strawberries shall grow in the sea,
If I should prove false to the one that loves me.

First I loved William and then I loved John,
But now I love Thomas he's a clever young man.
With his white cotton stockings and his high ankled shoes,
He wears a velvet jacket, like a flash lad he goes.

Take this yellow handkerchief in remembrance of me
And wear it around your neck when in flash company.
Dry up your briny tears and don't look so sad,
There's plenty more flash girls all around to be had

credits

from Of Love and Sailors, released August 1, 2015
Traditional

license

all rights reserved

tags

about

Roary Skaista UK

Roary Skaista is a queer folk musician based in Oxford, performing traditional folk songs as well as their own material on the themes of love, nature and diversity.

Support Roary on Ko-fi: ko-fi.com/roaryskaista

Find Roary elsewhere on the internet: linktr.ee/roaryskaista
... more

contact / help

Contact Roary Skaista

Streaming and
Download help

Redeem code

Report this track or account

If you like Roary Skaista, you may also like: