"THE LOVELY NORTHERN LASS,
who in this ditty here complaining shews
What harm she got milking her daddy's ewes."'
To a pleasant Scotch tune called
The Broom of Cowdon Knowes.
THROUGH Liddersdale as lately I went,
I musing on did pass,
I heard a maid was discontent,
She sigh'd and said, alas!
All maids that ever deceived were,
Bear a part of these my woes,
For once I was a bonny lass
When I milkt my daddy's ewes.
With O the broom, the bonny broom,
The broom of Cowdon Knowes,
Fain would I be in the north country,
To milk my daddy's ewes.
My love into the fields did come
When my daddy was at home,
Sugar'd words he gave me there,
Prais'd me for such a one,
His honey breath and lips so oft,
And his alluring eye,
And tempting tongue hath woo'd me oft,
Now forces me to cry,
All maids, &c.
He joy'd me with his pretty chat,
So well discourse could he,
Talking of this thing and of that,
Which greatly liked me,
I was so, greatly taken with his speech,
And with his comely making,
He used all the words could be
To enchant me with his speaking.
All maids, &c.
In Danby forest I was born,
My beauty did excell,
My parents dearly loved me
Till my belly began to swell:
I might have been a prince's peer,
When I came over the Knoes,
Till the shepherd's boy beguiled me,
Milking my daddy's ewes.
All maids, &c.
When once I felt my belly swell,
No longer might I abide,
My mother put me out of doors,
And bang'd me back and side:
Then did I range the world so wide,
Wandering about the Knoes,
Cursing the boy that helped me
To fold my daddy's ewes.
All maids, &c.
Who would have thought a boy so young,
Would have us'd a maiden so,
As to allure her with his tongue,
And then from her to go
Which hath, alas, procured my woe,
To credit his fair shews,
Which now too late repent I do
The milking of the ewes.
All maids, &c.
I often since have wisht that I
Had never seen his face,
I needed not thus mournfully
Have sigh'd, and said alas;
I might have matched with the best,
As all the country knows,
Had I escap'd the shepherd boy
Helpt me to fold my ewes.
All maids, &c.
SECOND PART.
All maidens fair then have a care,
When you a milking go,
Trust not to young men's tempting tongues,
That will deceive you so;
Them you shall find to be unkind,
And glory in your woes;
For the shepherd's boy beguiled me,
Folding my daddy's ewes.
All maids, &c.
If you your virgin honors keep,
Esteeming of them dear,
You need not then to wail and weep,
Or your parents anger fear:
As I have said of them beware,
Would glory in your woes,
You then may sing with merry cheer,
Milking your daddy's ewes.
All maid's, &c.
A young man hearing her complaint,
Did pity this her case,
Saying to her, sweet beauteous saint,
I grieve so fair a face
Should sorrow so, then sweeting know
To ease thee of thy woes,
I'll go with thee to the north country,
To milk thy daddy's ewes.
All maids, &c.
Leander like I will remain,
Still constant to thee ever,
As Pyramus or Troilus
Till death our lives shall sever;
Let me be hated evermore
Of all men that me know,
If false to thee, sweetheart, I be,
Milking thy daddy's ewes.
All maids, &c.
Then modestly she did reply,
Might I so happy be,
Of you to find a husband kind,
And for to marry me;
Then to you I would, during life,
Continue constant still,
And be a true obedient wife,
Observing of your will.
With O the broom, the bonny broom,
The broom of Cowden Knowes,
Pain would I be in the north country,
Milking my daddy's ewes.
Thus with a gentle soft embrace,
He took her in his arms,
And with a kiss he smiling said,
I'll shield thee from all harms,
And instantly will marry thee,
To ease thee of thy woes,
And go with thee to the north country,
To milk thy daddy's ewes.
With O the broom, the bonny broom,
The broom of Cowden Knowes,
Fain would I be in my own country,
Milking my daddy's ewes.
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In folk music circles I am counted as young!
Some very depressing songs and poems came out of it.