| Play/Download Music File Brian Hicks |
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There are many other sets of lyrics to the tune including:
The tune was originally a capstan shanty - a song sung as sailors turned the capstan to raise the achor. The lyrics at Digital Tradition contained a fragment of a verse, so without changing the story line I deleted two lines to fit the lyrics to the music. |
It was down by Swansea barracks one May morning I strayed A-viewing of the soldier lads I spied a comely maid, It was o'er her red and rosy cheeks the tears did dingle down, I thought she was some goddess fair, the lass of Swansea town. I said, "Fair maid, what brought you here, what brought you here to mourn?" "Oh I'm in search of Willie dear, my bonny young sailor boy, Eight years ago he left me here for Bermuda he was bound, He said he would prove faithful to the lass of Swansea town." "If eight years ago he left you it is useless for to mourn, For perhaps he is in some battle slain, or in the ocean drowned." "Oh God forbid, young man," she said. "By what token will he be known, if he ever do return to the lass of Swansea Town." "On his left breast he wears a scar where he received a wound" "If by that token your Willie is known it's him I know right well, The cannon-ball which made him fall gave him his deathly wound, He told me to take care of you the lass of Swansea town." Soon as she heard him say these words she fell in deep despair, Wringing of her lily-white hands and tearing of her hair, Saying, "Take me to my Willie, else give me my death wound, For no other man will ever enjoy the lass of Swansea town." On coming to herself once more up from the ground she rose, His waistcoat it blew open and the scar it did expose. They walked till they reached his cottage and there they settled down, Young Willie of the royal blue and the lass of Swansea town. |
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| Information and Lyrics From Digital Tradition Folk Song Search | |