| Share page | Visit Us On FB |
|
174 Ballads and Songs of Michigan
63 LADY LEROY
For a text of ten stanzas and for references see Cox, pp 377-378. See also Dean, pp. 33-34; Flanders and Brown, pp. 137-138; Greenleaf and Mansfield, pp. 220-221; Sharp, II, 210; and Stout, pp. 32-33. Version A is from the Gernsey manuscript.
A
1 Bright Phoebus had risen and shone o'er the sea; The birds were then singing; all nature was gay. There sat a fair couple on Ireland's shore A-viewing the ocean where billows do roar.
2 He said, "My dear Sally, 'tis you I adore,
And to leave you behind, it would grieve my heart sore. Your father is great and angry with me; If I tarry near him, my ruin he'll be."
3 She dressed herself up in a suit of men's clothes; Straightway to her father disguised she goes. She purchased a vessel, paid down his demand, But little thought he 'twas from his daughter's hand.
4 She went to her true love and this did relate, Wished him to get ready and no time to wait. She hoisted her topsail and hurrahed for joy, And over the sea sailed fair Lady Leroy.
5 When her cruel father did this understand, He vowed revenge on this worthy young man.
He swore his fair daughter ne'er should be his wife, And for her disobedience he would take her life.
6 He went to his captain in rage and despair; The whole of the story to him did declare. "Go pursue them, and their lives I'll destroy; He shall not escape with fair Lady Leroy."
7 The captain made ready and fierce for the fight; To bring them to justice it was his delight.
He hoisted his topsails, bright colors did fly; He swore by his Maker he'd conquer or die. |
||