| Music File Lesley Nelson |
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| This tune is from The Songs of Ireland (see citation below) and is listed there as "an old melody."
It appears in The Scots Musical Museum (1787 - 1802). The words, without music appear in "Vocal Companion" dated around 1772. The song thereafter appears in many collections. There are several variations in the spelling of Bawn (Ban=Fair), Peggy Ban, Peggy Baun, Peggy Bawne or Fair Peggy. According to Kennedy the tune is related to Polly Vaughn. |
As I gaed o'er the Highland hills, To a farmer's house I came; The night being dark and something wet I ventur'd into the same, Where I was kindly treated, And a pretty girl I spied, Who ask'd me if I had a wife? But marriage I denied. I courted her the lae long night, 'Till near the dawn of day, When frankly she to me did say, A-lang wi' thee I'll gae For Ireland is a fine country, And the Scots to you are kin, So I will gang alang with you, My fortune to begin. Day being come and breakfast o'er, To the parlour I was ta'en; The gudeman kindly asked me If I'd marry his daughter Jane? Five hundred marks I'll give her, Beside a piece of lan', But scarcely had he spoken the word, Than I thought of Peggy Bawn. Your offer, sir, is very good, And I thank you, said I, But I cannot be your son-in-law, And I'll tell you the reason why: By bus'ness calleth me in haste, I am the king's servant bound, And I must gang awa' this day, Straight to Edinburgh town. Oh! Peggy Bawn, thou art my own, Thy heart lies in my breast, And though we at a distance are, Yet I love thee still the best; Although we at a distance are, And the seas between us roar, Yet I'll be constant, Peggy Bawn, To thee forever more. |
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From Songs of Ireland J. L. Hatton and J. L. Molloy See Bibliography for full information. Information from Bruce Olsen's Roots of Folk Website |
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