The Brisk and Lively Lad

It's of a brisk and lively lad came out of Gloucestershire,
And all his full intention was to court some lady fair,
Her eyes shone bright as the morning light that doth on the lily lie,
She was grace all in her face and mixed with modesty.

As these two lovers were walking they knew each other well,
When someone heard them talking and did her father tell,
And when he came for to hear the same and to understand the thing,
Then said he 'twill never be I will part them in the spring.

It was in the springtime of the year there was a press begun,
And all their full intention was to press this farmers son,
To press him and to send him far over the raging sea,
Where I'm sure he will no more keep my daughters company.

On the twenty-first of August there was a fight begun,
And foremost in the battle did they place that farmers son,
There he received a dreadful wound in the hollow of the thigh,
Every vein was filled with pain he got wounded dreadfully.

She went straight to the captain as captains handy mate,
And everything he said to her she agreed to undertake,
So tenderly she dressed his wounds which so bitterly did smart,
Then said he, oh one like thee once was mistress of my heart.

She went straight to the commander and offered very fair,
Forty or fifty guineas shall buy my love quite clear,
No money shall be wanting no longer tarry here,
Since 'tis so pray let us go to Old England we shall steer.

She went up to her fathers gate and stood there for a while,
He said Lord of Heaven bless me there's my dear and only child,
She said father I have found him and brought him safe on shore,
We will spend our day in England never roam abroad no more.

From singing of the Copper Family
Laws A15
DT #803
AG
apr97