Name: My Pretty Fair Maid
Duration: P00H02M40S
Description: This is a common story found in folk songs, in this case with a sad ending, although they sometimes end happily with the couple getting married. Also known as "As I Roved Out" or "Night Visit", this song is often told from the point of view of the soldier. It has been performed by Christy Moore and Loreena McKennitt among others. Another one which I learnt at Forest School Camps.

My Pretty Fair Maid

from Of Love and Sailors by Roary Skaista

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This is a common story found in folk songs, in this case with a sad ending, although they sometimes end happily with the couple getting married. Also known as "As I Roved Out" or "Night Visit", this song is often told from the point of view of the soldier. It has been performed by Christy Moore and Loreena McKennitt among others. Another one which I learnt at Forest School Camps.

lyrics

LYRICS:

"Well who are you, my pretty fair maid
And who are you, me honey?
Well who are you, my pretty fair maid
And who are you, me honey?"
She answered me most modestly,
"I am me mother's darling."

With me
Too-ry-ay Fol-de-diddle-day Di-re fol-de-diddle Dai-rie oh

"If you come to the house in the middle of the night,
When the moon is shining clearly,
If you come to the house in the middle of the night,
When the moon is shining clearly,
I'll open the door and I'll let you in,
The devil's the one should hear us."

With me
Too-ry-ay Fol-de-diddle-day Di-re fol-de-diddle Dai-rie oh

So he came to the house in the middle of the night,
When the moon was shining clearly.
So he came to the house in the middle of the night,
When the moon was shining clearly.
And she opened the door and she let him in,
The devil's the one did hear them.

With me
Too-ry-ay Fol-de-diddle-day Di-re fol-de-diddle Dai-rie oh

And she took his horse by the bridle and the bit
And she led him to the stable
And she took his horse by the bridle and the bit
And she led him to the stable
Saying, "There's plenty of oats for a soldier's horse
To eat it if he's able."

With me
Too-ry-ay Fol-de-diddle-day Di-re fol-de-diddle Dai-rie oh

And she took him by the lily-white hand
And she led him to the table
And she took him by the lily-white hand
And she led him to the table
Saying, "There's plenty of wine for a soldier boy
To drink if he is able."

With me
Too-ry-ay Fol-de-diddle-day Di-re fol-de-diddle Dai-rie oh

Then he got up and he made the bed
And he made it nice and easy.
Then he got up and he made the bed
And he made it nice and easy
And he picked her up and he laid her down,
Saying, "Lassie, are you able? "

With me
Too-ry-ay Fol-de-diddle-day Di-re fol-de-diddle Dai-rie oh

And there they lay till the break of day
And devil's the one did hear them
And there they lay till the break of day
And devil's the one did hear them.
Then he got up and he put on his clothes
Saying, "Lassie, I must leave you."

With me
Too-ry-ay Fol-de-diddle-day Di-re fol-de-diddle Dai-rie oh

"And when will you return again
And when will we be married?
And when will you return again
When will we be married?
When broken shells make wedding bells
Then will we be married."

With me
Too-ry-ay Fol-de-diddle-day Di-re fol-de-diddle Dai-rie oh

credits

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

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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.

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