Notes: This song can be sung from the female or male perspective.

The
words vary slightly.

"Steeleye Span" has done this song on their album "All Around My Hat"
(1976, Chrysalis records).

Male perspective

Guitar
chords:
chorus:
CF
CF
FCFC
CFGC
verse:
CF
CF
FCFC
CFGC
ChorusAll around my hat, I will wear the green willow,And all around my
hat, for a twelve-month and a day.And if anyone should ask me the reason
why I'm wearin' it,It's all for my true love who's far, far, away

Fare thee well cold winter, and fare thee well cold frost.For nothing I have
gained, but my own true love have lost.So sing and I'll be merry, when
occasion I do see-She's a false deluded lover, let her go, fare well she.

Chorus...

The other day I brought her a fine golden ring:I asked her to marry, but oh
what an awful thing.I thought that she loved me, 'til she began to laughShe
showed me the door and threw out my hat.

Chorus...

Take a quarter pound of reason, and a half pound of sense,A small sprig of
time, and a pinch of prudence,Now mix then all together and you and you
will plainly see:She's a false deluded lover, let her go, fare well she.
Chorus...

Female perspective:

ChorusAll around my hat, I will wear the green willow,And all around my
hat, for a twelve-month and a day.And if anyone should ask me the reason
why I'm wearin' it,It's all for my true love who's far, far, away

Fare thee well cold winter, and fare thee well cold frost.Oh nothing I have
gained, but my own true love have lost.So sing and I'll be merry, when
occasion I do see-He's a false deluded young man, let him go, fare well he.

Chorus...

Now the other day he brought me a fine diamond ring:but he thought to

deprive me of a far finer thing.But I being careful, as true lovers ought to
be,He's a false deluded young man, let him go fare well he.

Chorus...

Take a quarter pound of reason, and a half pound of sense,A small sprig of
time, and a pinch of prudence,Now mix then all together and you will
plainly see:He's a false deluded young man, let him go, fare well he.

Chorus...
The CreelTraditional
Entire song mp3 (644K)The Creel is sung by Briege Murphy
on her album "From Now On"Please refer to Cantaria's
Copyright information

As I roved out on a moonlit night, excitement for to findI met on the way
with a pretty little girl and I asked her to be mine

With my too-ri-ah fol-a-diddle-dahMy too-ri-ah ri-fol-a-diddle-dan-too-ni-doh

How can I get to your father's house, how can I get to your bedMy father
locks the door at night, and the keys lie under his head

With my too-ri-ah fol-a-diddle-dahMy too-ri-ah ri-fol-a-diddle-dan-too-ni-doh

If you get a ladder thirty foot, thirty foot and threeAnd place it up to the
chimney top, come down in the creel to me

Well I got me a ladder thirty foot, thirty foot and threeAnd placed it up to
the chimney top, and down in the creel came me

But the old one, she'd been still awake, when something that was saidI'll
lay me life, said the silly old wife, there's a man in my daughter's bed

The old man he got out of bed to see if it was trueBut she pushed me
down with her lily-white arms and under the coverlet blue

Where are you going, father dear, where are you going so lateYou
disturbed me of my evening prayers and oh, but they were sweet

The devil take you, silly old wife, and an ill death may you dieFor your
daughter's lying with a book in her arms, praying for you and I

But the old one, she is still awake, when something else was saidYou can
say what you want, you silly old fool, there's a man in my daughter's bed

No rest, no peace could the old one get till she got up to seeBut her foot
gave a shot to the chamber pot, and into the creel fell she

Well I rocked her up and I rocked her down and I gave her a great down
fallUntil every rib in the old woman's side played knickknack against the
wall

Rise up and help me, husband dear, rise up and help me nowFor the one
that you have wished me to, I fear he's got me now

What I hope he's got, I hope he keeps and never lets it goFor between
yourself and your daughter dear it's time for the cock to crow
Good PeopleTraditional
One verse .mp3 (80K)Entire song (high quality)
.mp3 (309K)"Good People" is performed by the
A Chorus of Twofrom the album "Our Cups
Runneth Over"Please refer to Cantaria's
Copyright information

Chords: (FGCG) C-FCFC             C-GC             C-GF             C-F-

Good people heed our petitionYour attention we beg and we craveAnd if

you are inclined for to listenAn abundance of pasttime we will have

We have come to relate many storiesConcerning our forefathers timesAnd

we trust they will drive out your worriesAnd of this we are both of one mind

Many tales of the poor and the gentryAnd of labour and love will arise
There are no finer songs in this countryIn Scotland and Ireland likewise

There is one thing more needing mentionThe songs we'll sing all are in fun
So now that you've hard out intentionWe'll play on to the beat of the drum

Easy and SlowTraditional

First verse and chorus: MP3 (455 K)
Easy and Slow is performed by Jill Anderson 
on her album, Seven Songs
 Please refer to Cantaria's Copyright
information
Sheet music

It was down by Christ Church that I first met with AnnieA neat little girl and
not a bit shyShe told me her father who came from DungannonWould take
her back home in the sweet bye and bye

What's that to any man, whether or noWhether I'm easy, or whether I'm
trueAs I lifted her petticoat, easy and slowAnd I tied up my sleeve for to
buckle her shoe

We wandered by Thomas Street, down to the LiffeyThe sunlight was gone,

and the evening grew darkAlong Whitemans Bridge, and by God in a jiffy
My arm was around her, beyond in the park

In city or country, a girl is a jewelAnd well made for gripping, the most of
them areBut any young fellow is really a foolIf he tries at the first time to go
a bit far

If you chance for to go the town of DungannonYou can search till your
eyes are weary  and blindBe you lying or walking or sitting or running
Another like Annie you never will find

The Cuckoo's NestTraditional

Two verses:  .wav (465K)  |  .mp3 (88K) "The Cuckoo's

Nest" is performed by  Jolly Rogers. Please refer to
Cantaria's Copyright information

Key: C guitar chords in [ ]

[Am]There's a corner in the meadow where the [Em]lads and lasses meet
Oh they do here what they couldn't do [Am]in the open streetThey
[Am]play all kinds of games there, but the [Em]one I like the bestIs
[Am]where every laddie rumples up the [Em]cuckoo's [Am]nest.

Chorus:It's high the cuckoo, low the cuckoo, high the cuckoo's nestIt's high
the cuckoo, low the cuckoo, high the cuckoo's nestI'll give any maid a
shilling and a bottle of the bestJust to rumple up the feathers of her
cuckoo's nest

I wooed her in the morning and I had her in the nightShe was my very first
one so I tried to do it rightI searched around and wandered and I never
would have guessedIf she hadn't showed me where to find her cuckoo's
nest

Chorus

When she showed me where to find it I knew just where to goThrough the
underbrush and brambles where the little cuckoos growFrom the moment
that I found it, she would never let me restFrom rumpling up the feathers of
her cuckoo's nest.

Chorus

It was bushy, it was prickled, it was feathered all aroundIt was tucked away
so neatly and it wasn't easy foundShe said young man you're blundering,
but I knew it wasn't trueFor I left her with the makings of a young cuckoo

Chorus x2
A Clean Song
Two Verses:  .wav (366K) | .mp3
(69K)"A Clean Song" is performed by  Jolly
Rogers. Please refer to Cantaria's Copyright
information

Notes: A clean song for dirty minds? This song is a word association game
that takes little imagination to figure out. You can help your audience "get
it" by putting a little extra pause before, or emphasis on, the word that
doesn't quite fit. Let them use their rhyming skills to anticipate what word
ought to go there.

There was a young sailor And then we will

Who looked through the
glass,
And spied a fair mermaid
With scales on her island
Where seagullsFly over their
nestsShe combed the long
hairThat hung over her
shoulders
And caused herTo tickle and
itch.The sailor cried out
"There's a beautiful
mermaid,"
A-sitting outThere on the
rocks,The crew came around
A-grabbing their glasses
And crowded four deepTo
the rail,All eager to shareIn
this fine piece of news.
Which the captain soon
Certainly find
If mermaids are better
Before or be brave
My good fellows."The captain
then said."With fortune we'll
breakThrough her mermaiden
head-
-ing to starboardThey tacked
with dispatch.And caught that
fair mermaidJust under her
elbows
And hustled herDown below
decks,And each took a turnAt
her feminine setting
Her free at the endOf the farce,
She splashed in the waves,
Falling flat on her after
A while one manNoticed some
scabs,Soon they broke out
 Heard from the watch.He with the poxAnd the
tied down the wheelAnd he scratching
reached for his crackers With fury,Cursing with spleen,
And cheese whichHe kept This song may be dullBut it's
near the door.In case he certainly clean.
might somedayEncounter a
mermaid.
He knew he mustUse all his
witsCrying "Throw out a
line.We'll lasso her flippers."

The Castle of DromoreTraditional

Entire song mp3 (630K) The Castle of
Dromore is sung by Matt ConnollyPlease
refer to Cantaria's Copyright information

Notes: This is an Irish lullaby.

October winds lament around the castle of DromoreYet peace is in her

lofty halls, my loving treasure storeThough autumn leaves may droop and
die, a bud of spring are you

Sing hushabye low la loo, low la lanSing hushabye low la loo

Bring no ill wind to hinder us, my helpless babe and meDread spirits all of
black water, Clan Owen's wild bansheeAnd Holy Mary pitying us to
Heaven for grace doth sue

Take time to thrive, my ray of hope, in the garden of DromoreTake heed,

young eaglet, till your wings are feathered fit to soarA little rest and then
our land is full of work to do
 Black Velvet Band Traditional
One verse
.wav (343K)
and chorus
Longer clip
Black Velvet Band is performed
Please refer to Cantaria's Copyrig
Notes: Extra verses appear at the bottom, taken from a similar version of
this song found elsewhere.

Sheet music

% Well, I was out strolling one evening Not intending to stay very long
When I met with a frolicsome damsel As She came a trippin along
Chorus Her eyes they shone like the diamond You'd think she was
queen of the land And her hair hung over her shoulder Tied up in a
black velvet band Well a watch, she pulled out her pocket And
slipped it right into my hand On the very first day that I met her, Bad
luck to the black velvet band Chorus... Before judge and jury next
morning Both of us did appear A gentleman claimed his jewelry And
the case against us was clear. Chorus... Now seven long years
transportation Right down to Van Dieman's Land Far away from my
friends and companions To follow the black velvet band Chorus...

Optional extra verses:

% First verses: In a neat little town they call Belfast Apprenticed in trade I
was bound And many an hour of sweet happiness I spent in that
neat little town. Then bad misfortune befell me And caused me to
stray from the land Far away from my friends and companions To
follow the black velvet band. End verses: So come all you jolly
young fellows I'd have you take warning by me And whenever you're
out on the liquor Beware of the pretty colleen They'll fill you with
whiskey and porter Until You're not able to stand And the very next
thing that you know You're landed in Van Dieman's Land

Ar Fa La La Low        Traditional Sea Shanty

Two verses: .wav (839K) | .mp3 (158K)"Ar fa la

low" is performed by  Jolly Rogers. Please
refer to Cantaria's Copyright information

Notes:   (quoted from The Irish Songbook)This is well-known in the Irish

and Scots Gaelic, at least in chorus and tune.  The English version bears
little relation to the original as we first heard it, and although written in the
early part of the century, it seems appropriate today.

There's lilt in this song I sing, there's laughter and loveThere's song of the
sea so blue and heaven aboveOf reason there's none, no, and why should
there be for whyAs long as there fire in the blood and a light in the eyeAr fa
la low ha row ere fa la la leAr far la low ha row ere fal la la leAr far la low
ha row ere fal la la leFa le fa low ha row ere fal la la leThe heather's ablaze
with moon, the myrtle so sweetThere's a song in the air, the road a song at
our feetSo step it along as light as a bird on the wingAnd while we are
stepping we' join our voices and singAr fal la low, etc.And whether the
blood be high, lowland or noand whether the skin be black or white as the
snowOf kith and of kin we are one be it right be it wrongAs long as our
voices join the chorus of songAr fal la low, etc.
Loch LomondTraditional

One Verse and Chorus: .wav (1.5 MB) | .mp3 (240

KB)"Loch Lomond" is performed by Andrew
Scarhart Please refer to Cantaria's Copyright information

sheet music | ABC notation

By yon bonnie banks and by yon bonnie braes, Where the sun shines
bright on Loch Lomond, Where me and my true love were ever won't to
gae On the bonnie bonnie banks o' Loch Lomond

Chorus:O' ye'll tak the high road and I'll tak the low road, And I'll be in
Scotland afore ye; But me and my true love will never meet again, On the
bonnie bonnie banks o' loch Lomond

Chorus

Twas there that we parted in yon shady glen, On the steep steep side o'
Ben Lomond, Where in deep purple hue, the Hieland hills we view, And the
moon coming oot in the gloaming.

Chorus
The wee birdies sing, and the wild flowers spring, And in sunshine the
waters are sleeping, But the broken heart will ken nae second spring
again,' Though the waefu' may cease frae their greeting

Are Ye Sleepin' Maggie

Robert Tannahill (1774 - 1810)

One verse and chorus: .wav (420 KB) One verse and chorus:
.mp3 (421 KB)"Are Ye Sleepin Maggie" is performed by Wild
Mountain Thyme on their CD Scotland's Depraved. Please
refer to Cantaria's Copyright information

sheet music    |   ABC notation with chords

Mirk [dark] and rainy is the nicht [night],There's no a star in a' the carry;
Lightnings gleam athwart the lift,And the cauld winds drive wi' winter's fury.

Chorus:O! are ye sleepin', Maggie?O! are ye sleepin', Maggie?Let me in,

for loud the linnIs roarin' o'er the warlock craigie!

Fearfu' soughs the boortree bank,The rifted wood roars wild and drearie,
Loud the iron yett does clank,And the cry o' howlets makes me eerie.

Chorus

Aboon my breath I daurna speakFor fear I rouse your waukrife daddie;

Cauld's the blast upon my cheek, -Arise, arise, my bonnie lady!

Chorus

She op'd the door, she let him in;He coost aside his dreepin' plaidie;Blaw
your warst, ye rain and win',Since, Maggie, now I'm in aside ye.

Final Chorus:Now since ye're waukin', Maggie,Now since ye're waukin',

Maggie,What care I for howlet's cry,For boortree bank, or warlock craigie?
My Love is Like A Red, Red RoseRobert
Burns Words, music and chords appear in The Andy M. Stewart
Collection, pub. 1998

One verse and chorus: MP3 (520K) "My Love is Like a Red, Red
Rose" is performed by Andy M. Stewart  on his album"The Songs of
Robert Burns Please refer to Cantaria's Copyright information

Notes:  According to "Scottish Songs Illustrated,"  this song is a Robert

Burns rewrite of an older street ballad,  which is said to have been written
by a Lieutenant Henches, as a farewell to his betrothed.

0, my love is like a red, red rose,that's newly sprung in June.0, my love is

like a melody,that's sweetly play'd in tune.

As fair thou art, my bonnie lass,so deep in love am I,And I will love thee
still, my dear,till a' the seas gang dry.

Till a' the seas gang dry, my dear,and the rocks melt wi' the sun!And I will
love thee still, my dear,while the sands of life shall run.

And fare the weel, my only love!And fare the well awhile!And I will come
again, my love.Tho it were ten thousand mile!

The False Knight Upon The Road

This version taken from "English and Scottish Popular Ballads" from the
collection of Francis James Child. Pub. 1904

Historical notes: This singular ballad is known only through Motherwell's

Minstrelsy. The idea at the bottom of the piece is that the devil will carry off
the wee boy if he can nonplus him. There is a similar Swedish ballad in
which an old crone, possibly a witch, is substituted for the false knight.

The dialog between the knight and the boy alternates consistently, the
attribution lines serving as a refrain.

A variation of this song is performed by "Steeleye Span" on Please to See

the King (1971, Chrysalis) and by Maddy Prior and Tim Hart on Summer
Solstice (Shanachie).

"O whare are ye gaun?" Quo the fause knicht upon the road. "I'm gaun to
the scule," Quo the wee boy, and still he stude. "What is that upon your
back?" Quo the fause knicht upon the road. "Atweel it is my bukes," Quo
etc. Quo the wee boy, and still he stude. What's that ye've got in your
arm?" Quo... "Atweel it is my peit." Quo... "Wha's aucht they sheep?" "They
are mine and my mither's." "How monie o them are mine?" "A'they that hae
blue tails." "I wiss ye were on yon tree;" "And a gude ladder under me."
"And the ladder for to break;" "And you for to fa down." "I wiss ye were in
yon sie;" "And a gude bottom under me." "And the bottom for to break;"
"And ye to be drowned."

I Care Not For These Ladies

T. Campion, printed 1601From "The Elizabethan Handbook", p. 98

More songs by Thomas Campion:

http://www.luminarium.org/renlit/campbib.htm

One verse and chorus: .wav (1 MB) | .mp3 (84 KB)Full

song: .mp3 (254 KB)"I Care Not For These Ladies" is
performed by Andrew Scarhart Please refer to Cantaria's Copyright
information

I care not for these ladies

That must be woo'd and pray'd

Give me sweet Amaryllis

The wanton country maid,

Nature Art disdaineth,

Her beauty is her own:

Chorus:
And when we court and kiss

She cries 'Forsooth, let go!'

But when we come where comfort is

She never will say no.

If I love AmaryllisShe brings me fruit and flowers

But if we love these ladies

We must bring golden showers

Give them gold that sell love

Give me the nut-brown lass

Chorus

These ladies must have pillows

And beds by strangers wrought

Give me a bow'r of willows

Of moss and leaves unbought,

And fresh Amaryllis

On milk and honey fed,

Chorus
Kitt hath lost her key,
But I have one will fytt
Her locke, if she will try,
And doe not me denie:
I hope she hath more wytte.
My key is bright, not rusty, It is so oft applied To lockes that are not dusty,
Of maydens that are lusty, And not full fillde with pride.
Then, Kitt, be not too prowde, But try my readie key, That still hath bene
allowde By ladyes faire a crowde, The best that ere they see.
You can but try, and than, If it fitts not, good bye: Go to some other man,
And see if anie can Doe better, Kitt, then I.
But neere come backe to mee, When you are gone away, For I shall keepe
my key For others, not for thee: Soe either go or stay.