Cold Haily Rainy Night
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Ron Clarke
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Lyrics
The tune is from a 19th century broadside. It was reprinted in Collection of ballads, songsheets, which contains two volumes and was printed 1805-1840. It is based on an older tune from the 17th century The Gown Made New. My cap is frozen to my head
My heart is like a lump of lead
My shoes are frozen to my feet
With standing at your window

Let me in the soldier cried
Cold haily rainy night
Oh let me in the soldier cried
I'll not go back again, oh

My father's walking on the street
My mother the chamber keys do keep
The doors and windows, they do creak
I dare not let you in O

Let me in the soldier cried
Cold haily rainy night
O let me in the soldier cried
For I'll not go back again O

Oh then she rose and let him in
And kissed his ruby lips and chin
And then they went to bed again
And soon he gained her favor

Then she blessed the rainy night
She rose and let him in O
Now since you had your will of me
Soldier will you marry me ?

No such thing can ever be
So fare you well for ever
Then she cursed the rainy night
Cold haily rainy night

O then she cursed the rainy night
That ever she let him in O
Then he jumped out of bed
He put his cap upon his head
And she had lost her maidenhead
And her mother heard the din O

Then she cursed the rainy night
Cold haily rainy night
O then she cursed the rainy night
That ever she let him in O
Related Links
  • Cold Haily, Rainy Night
    For the original words on the broadside. From Michael Hancher's University of Minnesota English Class.
Lyrics From Ron Clarke
A version of this tune is on Planxty's
Cold Blow and the Rainy Night