Ballads & Songs of Southern Michigan-songbook

Share page


	Happy Love 191 71 THE BANKS OF CLAUDY Fo* references and a very similar text see Cox, pp. 321-322. See also Hudson, p. 37; Mackenzie, p. 185; O'Conor, p. 39; Ord, p. 130; Scarborough, pp. 266-267; and Six Hundted and Seventeen Irish Songs and Ballads, p. 118. The present version was sung in 1935 by Mr. Frank Madison, Grattan Center.



	i As I rode out one evening, all in the month of May, Down by a flowery garden I carelessly did stray. I overheard a female most solemnly to complain All for an absent lover, who plowed the raging main. 2 I boldly stepped up to her and put her in surprise; She owned she did not know me, I being in disguise. I says, "My honored lady, my joy and heart's delight, How far do you travel this dark and stormy night?" 3 She says, "Kind sir, to Claudy if you'd be pleased to show A maid that is distracted between grief and woe. I'm in search of a fateless young man, young Johnny is his name. It's on the banks of Claudy I'm told he does remain." 4 "This is the banks of Claudy where on it you now stand. Do not believe young Johnny, for he's a false young man; Do not believe young Johnny, for he'll not meet you here, So come with me to the greenwood; no danger need you fear."