| Play/Download Music File John Renfro Davis |
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| The earliest printed copy of this tune is found in Haliwell's Popular Rhymes and Nursery Tales (1849). The volume consists of nursery rhymes that he collected from "oral traditions". The tune was known in both England and Scotland. It is also known in the Appalachians. It was used in some areas as a two team singing game.
Variants and alternate titles include: The Keys of Canterbury, The Keys of Heaven, Madam I Present You with Six Rows of Pins, The Disdainful Lady, There Stands a Lady on the Mountain, There Stands a Lady in the Ocean, Lady on the Mountain, When I Was Young I Was Well Beloved, If You Will Walk With Me, Oh Madam I Will Give to Thee, Blue Muslin and The Little Row of Pins. There are many other additional verses in the variations. Another male/female courtship song is Huntingtower. |
O will you accept a new silver pin To pin up your hair and your fine donotuse-e-lin? Madam, will you walk? Madam, will you talk with me? No, I won't accept of a new silver pin To pin up my hair and my fine donotuse-e-lin. Neither will I walk, Neither will I talk with you. Will you accept of the key of my heart To bind us together and to never never part? Madam, will you walk? Madam, will you talk with me? No, I won't accept of the key of your heart To bind us together and to never never part. Neither will I walk, Neither will I talk with you. Will you accept of the key of my des' And all the money that I possess? Madam, will you walk? Madam, will you talk with me? Yes, I will accept of the key of your des' And all the money that you possess. Then I will walk, Then I will talk with you. Coda When you could, you would not Now you will, you shall not So fare thee well My Catherine Sue. Some of the additions in other versions: I will give you the keys of Heaven, To lock the gates when the clock strikes seven. And Madam, I present you with six rows of pins The very first offering my true love brings. |
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From Folksongs of Britain and Ireland See Bibliography for full information. |
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