As I Was Going to Banbury

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Lesley Nelson
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Lyrics
This tune appears in the Crawford Collection (circa 1890) and in the Roxburghe ballads. The tune is a variant of Tom Tell Truth which was entered in the Stationers' Register in 1562/3. As I was going to Banbury
Ri fol latitee O
As I was going to Banbury
I saw a line coddlin apple tree
With a ri fol latitee O

And when the coddlins began to fall
Ri fol latitee O
And when the coddlins began to fall
I found five hundred men in all
With a ri fol latitee O

And one of the men I saw was dead
Ri fol latitee O
And one of the men I saw was dead
So I sent for a hatchet to open his head
With a ri fol latitee O

And in his head I found a spring
Ri fol latitee O
And in his head I found a spring
And seven young salmon a learning to sing
With a ri fol latitee O

And one of the salmon as big as I
Ri fol latitee O
And one of the salmon as big as I
Now do you not think I am telling a lie?
With a ri fol latitee O

And one of the salmon as big as an elf
Ri fol latitee O
And one of the salmon as big as an elf -
If you want any more you must sing it yourself
With a ri fol latitee O
Related Links
From Folk-Songs, Chanteys and Singing Games
See Bibliography for full information.
Information From Bruce Olsen's Roots of Folk Website