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New England Ballad Will you please give ear a while unto me, And straight I will tell you where I have been. I've been to New England, but now have come o'er, I think they shall catch me go thither no more I think they will catch me go thither no more. Before I went thither, Lord how folks did tell, How wishes did grow and how birds did dwell, All one 'mongst t'other in the wood and the water, I thought that was true, but I found no such matter. (2) When first I did land, they 'mazed me quite, And 'twas of all days on a Saturday night; I wondered to see strange buildings were there, 'Twas all like the standings at Woodbury Fair. (2) Well, that night I slept 'til near prayer time, Next morning I wondered I heard no bells chime: At which I did ask and the reason I found 'Twas because they had ne'er a bell in the town. (2) At last being warned, to church we repaired, Where I did think certain we should have some prayers; But the parson there no such matter did teach, They scorned to pray for all one could preach. (2) The first thing they did, a psalm they did sing, I plucked out my Psalm-book I with me did bring; And tumbled to seek it, 'cause they called it by name, But they'd got a new song to the tune of the same. (2) Now this was New Dorchester, as they told unto me, A town very famous in all that country; They said 'twas new buildings, I grant it is true, Yet methinks Old Dorchester's as fine as the new. (2) Printed in Silverman, American History Songbook SOF