One for the Leaving ~ Garraed Galbraith

One For the Leaving

And it's one for the leaving. Two, I must go.

Three for the wishing. Ah, what for you'll never know

and at five o'clock we hit the dock

we'll never more be seen

as we sail away by break of day

to serve our Northern Queen

Come gather round ye ladies, come listen to my song.

My story it's a simply tale, and it wont delay you long

On how to choose a Mistress, the true love of your life

If you list right well to the tale I tell it'll save you all some strife!

Chorus

I'd always been a rover, could never settle down

I had a lass in every port, a girl in every town

but when they tried to claim me, I had to tell them no

for the Northern Sea would beckon me, and off to her I'd go

Chorus

And then one day I saw her, that lass I'd call me own

although she loved another who beside her sat the thrown

I entered in her service, she sent me far away

so now I roam the Northern Sea, and to ya all I'd say:

Chorus

So when you find your Lady, make sure her love is free

and pray she loves no other man, or soon ya all may see,

that love it can be fickle, just like the ocean green,

my tale is done, now I must run, to serve my Northern Queen.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EiYBQA869Gk

Royal Forester ~ Steeleye Span

I am a forester of this land
As you may plainly see,
It's the mantle of your maidenhead
That I would have from thee.

After each verse:
with me roo-run-rority ri-run-rority ri-no-ority-an.

He's taken her by the milk-white hand,
And by the leylan sleeve,
He's lain her down upon her back
And asked no man's leave.

Now since you've lain me down young man
You must take me up again,
And since you've had your will on me,
Come tell to me your name.

Some call me Jim, some call me John,
Begad it's all the same,
But when I'm in the king's hight court
Erwilian is my name.

She being a good scholar
She's spelt it over again,
Erwilian, that's a Latin word,
But Willy is your name.

Now when he heard his name pronounced,
He mounted his high horse,
She's belted up her petticoat
And followed with all her force.

He rode and she ran
A long summer day,
Until they came by the river
That's commonly called the Tay.

The water it's too deep my love,
I'm afraid you cannot wade,
But afore he'd ridden his horse well in
She was on the other side.

She went up to the king's high door,
She knocked and she went in,
Said one of your chancellor's robbed me,
And he's robbed me right and clean.

Has he robbed you of your mantle,
Has he robbed you of your ring,
No he's robbed me of my maidenhead
And another I can't find.

If he be a married man
Then hanged he shall be
,And if he be a single man
He shall marry thee.

This couple they got married,
They live in Huntley town,
She's the Earl of Airlie's daughter,
And he's the blacksmith's son.

Spotted Cow ~ Steeleye Span

One morning in the month of June,
As from my cot' I strayed,
Just at the dawning of the day
I met with a charming maid.

"Good morning to you, wither?" said I,
"Good morning to you now,"
The maid replied, "kind sir" she cried,
"I've lost my spotted cow."

"No longer weep, no longer mourn,
Your cow's not lost my dear,
I saw her down in yonder grove,
Come love and I'll show you where."

"I must confess you're very kind,
I thank you sir," said she,
"We will be sure her there to find,
Come sweetheart go with me."

And in the grove they spent the day,
They thought it passed to soon,
At night they homeward bent their way,
While brightly shone the moon.

If he should cross the flowery dale,
Or go to view the plough,
She comes and calls, "You gentle swain,
I've lost my spotted cow."

One Misty Moisty Morning ~ Steeleye Span

One misty moisty morning when cloudy was the weather
I met with an old man a-clothed all in leather
He was clothed all in leather with a cap beneath his chin
Singing how do you do and how do you do and how do you do again

This rustic was a thresher as on his way he hied
And with a leather bottle fast buckled by his side
He wore no shirt upon his back but wool unto his skin
Singing how do you do and how do you do and how do you do again

I went a little further and there I met a maid
A-going a-milking, a-milking Sir she said
Then I began to compliment and she began to sing
Saying how do you do and how do you do and how do you do again

This maid her name was Dolly clothed in a gown of grey
I being somewhat jolly persuaded her to stay
And straight I fell a-courting her in hopes her love to win
Singing how do you do and how do you do and how do you do again

I having time and leisure, I spent a vacant hour
A-telling of my treasure while sitting in the bower
With many kind embraces I stroke her double chin
Singing how do you do and how do you do and how do you do again

I said that I would married be and she would be my bride
And long we should not tarry and twenty things beside
I'll plough and sow and reap and mow and you shall sit and spin
Singing how do you do and how do you do and how do you do again

Her parents then consented, all parties were agreed
Her portion thirty shillings, we married were with speed
Then Will the piper he did play whilst others dance and sing
Saying how do you do and how do you do and how do you do again

Then lusty Ralph and Robin with many damsels gay
Did ride on Roan and Dobbin to celebrate the day
And when they met together their caps they off did fling
Singing how do you do and how do you do and how do you do and how do you do again

Trobairitz Beatritz de Dia - "Estat ai en greu cossirier"

Estat ai en greu cossirier
per un cavallier q’ai agut,
e vuoil sia totz temps saubut cum eu l’ai amat a sobrier. Ara vei q’ieu sui trahida
car eu non li donei m’amor don ai estat en gran error
en lieig e qand sui vestida.

Ben volria mon cavallier
tener un ser en mos bratz nut, q’el s’en tengra per ereubut
sol q’a lui fezes cosseillier;
car plus m’en sui abellida
no fetz Floris de Blanchaflor;
eu l’autrei mon cor e m’amor, mon sen, mos huoills e ma vida.

Bels amics, avinens e bos, cora.us tenrai en mon poder,
e que iagues ab vos un ser,
eqe.us des un bais amoros? Sapchatz gran talan n’auria qe.us tengues en luoc del marit ab so que m’aguessetz plevit de far tot so qu’eu volria.

English Translation:

I have been sorely troubled
about a knight I had;
I want it known for all time
how exceedingly I loved him.
Now I see myself betrayed
because I didn’t grant my love
to him; I’ve suffered much distress from it in bed and fully clothed

I’d like to hold my knight
in my arms one evening, naked, for he’d be overjoyed
were I only serving as his pillow, and I am more pleased with him than Floris with his Blanchaflor. To him I grant my heart, my love, my mind, my eyes, my life.

Fair, agreeable, good friend,
when will I have you in my power, lie beside you for an evening,
and kiss you amorously?
Be sure I’d feel a strong desire
to have you in my husband’s place provided you had promised me
to do everything I wished.