| So, OK: Here's your Caveat. These songs are in no particular order, and some may be too bawdy for your tastes. By bawdy, I mean they are blunt, overtly sexual in nature, nasty, gross, and just plain dirty. You know, the stuff you never want your child to read or hear until they are out of the house... So, if you still want to look, go ahead and scroll down. These are some of what's in the Fabritzio Songbook. ~Molly |
| Hiring Fair Em C Em C Em C G D Bm7 Well I went down to the hiring fair for to sell my labour Em C D Bm7 Em I noticed a maid in the very next row and I hoped she�d be my neighbour G D Em C Imagine then my delight when the farmer picked us both G D C Em Bm7 Em I spoke not a word on the cart to the farm, but my heart beat in my throat. Well my lodgings were dry and my master fair and I gave him full measure But my envy grew like the corn in the field for in his house was my treasure I�d watch her carry water or drive cows from the byre And the heat from the sun made the corn grow strong, and with it my desire. Well I�d see her in my dreaming and in my dreams caress Her eyes, her lips and her dark brown hair, the curves beneath her dress. When harvest time it came at last, so heavy was the task That the women and the men worked side by side, and I had her near at last. So I swung harder with my scythe, few words between us passed And I cursed my tongue-tied youthfulness and hoped that she�d hear my heart When all was safely gathered in and we sat down to rest My trembling fingers touched her arm, and she placed them on her breast. And then she turned to me as the sun went down and all my senses reeled, As we lay there on the scented ground and the moon rose over the field. Mmmmm............................................ Well she was safely gathered in my arms when from the barn Drifted the sound of a violin and we hurried back to the farm, And all were dancing in the lantern light and music filled the air, And I thanked my stars for the harvest moon, and the girl from the hiring fair. BARBARA ALLEN In Scarlet Town where I was born There was a fair maid dwellin' Made every youth cry well-a-day Her name was Barbara Allen. 'Twas in the merry month of May When green buds they were swellin' Sweet William on his death-bed lay For the love of Barbara Allen. He sent his servant to the town, To the place where she was a-dwellin', Cried, "Master bids you come to him, If your name be Barb'ry Allen." Then slowly, slowly she got up, And slowly went she nigh him, And when she pulled the curtains back Said, "Young man, I think you're dyin'. "Oh, yes, I'm sick, I'm very very sick, I never will be better, Until I have the love of one The love of Barb'ry Allen." "Oh, ken ye not in yonder town In the place where you were a-dwellin', You gave a toast to the ladies all But you slighted Barb'ry Allen." "Oh yes, I ken, I ken it well, In the place where I was a-dwellin'; I give a toast to the ladies all, But my love to Barb'ry Allen." Then lightly tripped she down the stairs, He trembled like an aspen. 'Tis vain, 'tis vain, my dear young man, To hone for Barb'ry Allen. She walked out in the green, green fields. She heard his death bells knellin'. And every stroke they seemed to say, "Hard-hearted Barb'ry Allen." Her eyes looked east, her eyes looked west, She saw his pale corpse comin'; She cried, "Bearers, bearers, put him down That I may look upon him." The more she looked, the more she grieved, Until she burst out cryin'; She cried, "Bearers, bearers, take him off, For I am now a-dyin'!" "Oh, father, oh, father, go dig my grave, Go dig it deep and narrow. Sweet William died for me today; I'll die for him tomorrow." They buried her in the old churchyard, Sweet William's grave was nigh her, And from his heart grew a red, red rose, And from her heart a brier. They grew and they grew o'er the old church wall, Till they couldn't grow no higher, Until they tied a true lover's knot, The red rose and the brier. BEDLAM BOYS For to see Mad Tom of Bedlam Ten thousand miles I traveled Mad Maudlin goes on dirty toes For to save her shoes from gravel. Still I sing bonny boys, bonny mad boys Bedlam boys are bonny For they all go bare and they live by the air And they want no drink or money. I now repent that ever Poor Tom was so disdain-ed My wits are lost since him I crossed Which makes me thus go chained I went down to Satan's kitchen For to get me food one morning And there I got souls piping hot All on the spit a-turning There I took up a caldron Where boiled ten thousand harlots Though full of flame I drank the same To the health of all such varlets My staff has murdered giants My bag a long knife carries For to cut mince pies from children's thighs And feed them to the fairies The spirits white as lightening Would on me travels guide me The stars would shake and the moon would quake Whenever they espied me No gypsy, slut or doxy Shall win my mad Tom from me I'll weep all night, with stars I'll fight The fray shall well become me And when that I'll be murdering The Man in the Moon to the powder His staff I'll break, his dog I'll shake And there'll howl no demon louder So drink to Tom of Bedlam Go fill the seas in barrels I'll drink it all, well brewed with gall And maudlin drunk I'll quarrel For to see Mad Tom of Bedlam Ten thousand years I have traveled Mad Maudlin goes on dirty toes For to save her shoes from gravel . BLOW THE CANDLES OUT When I was apprenticed in London, I went to see my dear The candles all were burning, the moon shone bright and clear I knocked upon her window to ease her out of her pain She rose up to let me in, then barred the door again Chorus: Blow the candles out! Oh, blow the candles out! Roll me in your arms, Love, and Blow the candles out! I like well your behavior and this I often say I cannot rest contented when I am far away The roads they are so muddy, we cannot walk about So roll me in your arms, Love, and blow the candles out Your father and your mother in yonder room do lie A-hugging one another, so why not you and I? A-hugging one another, without a fear or doubt So roll me in your arms, Love, and blow the candles out I pray thee speak more softly of what we have to do Lest that our noise of talking should make our pleasure rue The streets they are so nigh, Love, the people walk about They may peep in and spy, Love, so blow the candles out And if we prove successful, Love, please name it after me Treat it neat and kiss it sweet and daft it on your knee When my three years are over, my time it will be out And I will pay my debt to you by blowing the candles out THE CRUEL SISTER There lived a lady by the North Sea shore Bend down the bonny broom! Two daughters were the babes she bore Fa la la la la la la la la la! One grew as fair as in the sun Bend down the bonny broom! So cold, dark, grew the elder one Fa la la la la la la la la la! A knight came riding to the ladies' door Bend down the bonny broom! He�d travelled far to be their wooer Fa la la la la la la la la la! He courted one with gloves and rings Bend down the bonny broom! But the other he loved above all things Fa la la la la la la la la la! "Oh, sister, sister won't you walk with me Bend down the bonny broom! To see the ships sail o'er sea" Fa la la la la la la la la la! And as they walked the windy shore Bend down the bonny broom! The dark girl pushed her sister o'er Fa la la la la la la la la la! Sometimes she sank, sometimes she swam Bend down the bonny broom! Crying "Sister, reach to me your hand Fa la la la la la la la la la! Oh sister, sister please let me live Bend down the bonny broom! And all that's mine I'll surely give Fa la la la la la la la la la! "It's your own true love I want, and more Bend down the bonny broom! That thou shalt never come ashore" Fa la la la la la la la la la! And as she floated like a swan Bend down the bonny broom! The salt sea bore her body on Fa la la la la la la la la la! Two minstrels walked by the windy strand Bend down the bonny broom! They saw her body float to land Fa la la la la la la la la la! They made a harp of her breast bone Bend down the bonny broom! Who's sound would melt a heart of stone Fa la la la la la la la la la! They took three strands of her yellow hair Bend down the bonny broom! And with them strung this harp so rare Fa la la la la la la la la la! They took this harp to her father's hall Bend down the bonny broom! There to play before them all Fa la la la la la la la la la! But when they set the harp upon a stone Bend down the bonny broom! It began to play alone Fa la la la la la la la la la! The first song sang a doleful sound Bend down the bonny broom! "The bride her younger sister drowned" Fa la la la la la la la la la! The second string, when this they tried Bend down the bonny broom! In terror sits the black haired bride Fa la la la la la la la la la! The third string sang beneath their bow Bend down the bonny broom! "And now her tears will surely flow" Fa la la la la la la la la la! THE CHANDLER'S WIFE I went into the chandler's shop some candles for to buy, I looked around the chandler's shop but no one did I spy. I was disappointed and some angry words I said, Then I heard the sound of a (knock,knock,knock) up above my head. (2x) Well I was slick and I was quick, and up the stairs I sped, And much to my surprise I found the chandler's wife in bed; And with her was another man of most gigantic size, And they were having a (knock,knock,knock) right before my eyes. (2x) When the fun was over and done and the lady raised her head, She was quite surprised to find me standing by the bed. "If you will be discreet, my lad, if you would be so kind, I'll let you come up for some (knock,knock,knock) whenever you feel inclined." (2x) So, many a day and many a night when the chandler wasn't home, To get myself some candles to the chandler's shop I'd roam. But nary a one she gave to me, but gave to me instead, A little bit more of the (knock,knock,knock) to light my way to bed. (2x) So, all you married men take heed, if ever you come to town, If you must leave your woman alone, be sure to tie her down. Or, if you would be kind to her, just sit her on the floor, Mind give her so much of that (knock,knock,knock) she doesn't need any more. (2x) GALLOWA' HILLS Oh I'll tak' my plaidie contented tae be A wee bittie kilted aboon my knee And I'll gie my pipes anither blaw And I'll gan oot ower the hills tae Gallowa' Oh the Gallowa' hills are covered wi' broom Wi' heather bells in bonnie bloom Wi' heather bells and rivers a' An I'll gan oot ower the hills tae Gallowa' For I say, bonnie lass, it's will ye come wi' me Tae share yer lot in a strange country For tae share yer lot when doon fa's a' And I'll gan oot ower the hills tae Gallowa' For I'll sell my rock, I'll sell my reel I'll sell my grannie's spinning wheel I will sell them a' when doon fa's a' An I'll gan oot ower the hills tae Gallowa' |