Jessie Munroe

One fine summer's evening as I was a-walking
Down by Leicester market I chanced for to go,
I spied a fair damsel, she attracted my attention,
I'll tell you about her as far as I know.

CHO: Right fall de di dey, right fall de di daddy,
I'll tell you about her as far as I know.

I said, "My fair lady, oh, where is your dwelling !
Oh, who is your father I'd fain like to know!"
"My father's a blacksmith, he lives down at Liscomb
And I am his daughter young Jessie Munroe.

Right fall de di dey, right fall de di daddy,
And I am his daughter young Jessie Munroe."

"Oh, I have fine buildings and lands of my own, love
And they are by the wayside as you go,
And you, my dear darling, may lie in my arms
Like a lamb in the bosom of Jessie Munroe.

Right fall de di dey, right fall de di daddy,
Like a lamb in the bosom of Jessie Munroe."

"Deceitful young Johnny, begone with such flattery
Into your buildings I never will go,
Your buildings are shattery, so begone with such flattery
There's a handsome a laddie for Jessie Munroe.

Right fall de di dey, right fall de di daddy,
There's a handsome a laddie for Jessie Munroe."

"Begone now, young Jessie, since you are so saucy
Back to my Betsy again I will go,
She isn't so bonny, she's fitting for Johnny,
So away to the devil young Jessie Munroe.

Right fall de di dey, right fall de di daddy,
So away to the devil young Jessie Munroe."

DT #517
Laws P40
From Creighton, Songs and Ballads of Nova Scotia, no.78
Collected from Ben Henneberry of Devil's Island, NS
SOF
oct96