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I Must Away
Duncan Williamson: On Autumn Harvest ah006: Old Songs & Bothy Ballads: Nick-knack on the Waa. Live from the Fife Traditional Singing Festival May 2007.
The lover returns from the dead but is doomed to return to the nether world before dawn. A version of the Grey Cock (Child 248).
1 Oh it's seven long years since my true love left me,
It is seven long years since he went to sea;
But another seven I shall wait his pleasure,
Till he comes home and he marries me.
2 Now I lie in my bed and I often wonder,
I lie in my bed and I often pray;
I pray to my dearest God in heaven,
Will he send my true love back home to me.
3 Now who is that there that is at my window,
Who's keeping me out of my night's rest?
It is not my father, it is not my mother,
Who is keeping me out of my night's rest.
4 He said, "Open your door love and let me in love,
Will you open the door love, will you let me in?
For I am cold love and I am weary,
And I am wet to the very skin."
5 So she opened her door with the greatest of pleasure,
She opened the door and she brought him in;
Saying, "If you're my young man, you've changed your colour,
You're not like the young man I used to know."
6 So they sat talking and went walking,
Until the small cock he began to crow;
He said, "I must away dear, I can stay no longer,
For it's a far away I have tae go."
7 She said, "Willie dear love, O please don't leave me,
O Willie dear don't go back to sea;
O Willie dear love, O please don't leave me,
O Willie won't you stay with me?"
8 He said, "I must away dear, I can stay no longer,
And it's a far away I have tae go;
And when I am gone love, please pray no longer,
For never more can I come home to you."
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c p 2008 Autumn Harvest : www.springthyme.co.uk
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