Yorkshire Garland
 

The Oak and the Ash

 
Performed by:
Steve Gardham
Recorded in:
Hull
Recorded on:
01/07/2007
Recorded by:
Steve Gardham
Genre:
Courtship
Keywords:
Sailors,
Sex
 

Archival information

TYG:
10
Key:
G
Time Signature:
6/8
Roud id:
269
Laws id:
K43
Master title:
Rosemary Lane
Places Cited:
Saxon Street,
North Country

Lyrics

1
'Tis of a servant girl in Saxon Street did dwell,
Unknown to her master or mistress as well,
She took a sailor boy home with her to tea,
And this was the beginning over all this misery.

Chorus
Singing home, dearest, home and there let it be,
Far far away from me own country.
The oak and the ash and the bonny elum tree,
They're all growing green in the North Country.

2
She jumped into bed without the least alarm,
Never thinking that the sailor boy would do her any harm,
Oh, he huddled her and cuddled her all the night long,
And many a time they wished it had been ten times as long.

3
Now if it be a girl she'd have to wear a ring,
And if it be a boy he must fight for his king,
With his high top boots and jackets all in blue,
He must walk the quarter deck as his daddy used to do.

4
Now, all you servant girls, a warning take from me,
And never trust a sailor boy an inch above your knee,
For I trusted one and he rewarded me,
For he left me with a pair o' twins to dangle on me knee.

Archival information

TYG:
10
Key:
G
Time Signature:
6/8
Roud id:
269
Laws id:
K43
Master title:
Rosemary Lane
Places Cited:
Saxon Street,
North Country