Banks of Sweet Dandee Collected by Bob Copper from Lily Cook in North Chailey, Sussex in about 1954: see pp. 43-50 of Songs and Southern Breezes for the details; and the appendix, pp. 200-201, for these words.
It's of a farmer's daughter so beautiful I'm told,
Her parents died and left her five hundred pounds in gold,
She lived with her uncle the cause of all the woe
And you soon shall hear this maiden fair did prove his overthrow.Her uncle had a ploughboy young Mary loved full well
And in her uncle's garden their tales of love would tell
And there was a wealthy Squire who oft came her to see
But still she lover her ploughboy on the Banks of Sweet Dandee.Early one summer's morning her uncle went straightway
And tapped at her bedroom door and thus to her did say,
Come rise up, pretty maiden, a Lady you shall be
For the Squire's waiting for you on the Banks of Sweet Dandee.A fig for all your Squires, all your Lords and Dukes likewise,
Young William he appears to me like diamonds in my eyes.
Then begone, unruly female, you ne'er shall happy be
For I mean to banish William from the Banks of Sweet Dandee.Her uncle and the Squire met out one summer's day,
Young William he's in favour, he thus to him did say,
Indeed 'tis my intention to tie him to a tree
Or else to bribe the press-gang on the Banks of Sweet Dandee.The press-gang came to William when he was all alone,
He boldly fought for liberty but they were three to one.
The blood did flow in torrents, Come kill me now, says he,
I would rather die for Mary on the Banks of Sweet Dandee.The Squire came to Mary down in her uncle's grove,
Two pistols and a sword she spied beneath his morning robe,
She took the weapon from him, his sword he used so free
And she did fire and shot the Squire on the Banks of Sweet Dandee.Her uncle overheard the noise, he hastened to the ground,
Since you have killed the Squire I'll give you your death wound.
Stand off then, said young Mary, undaunted I will be,
And the trigger she drew and her uncle slew on the Banks of Sweet Dandee.She sent then for the doctor, a man of noted skill
Likewise came his old lawyer for him to make his will.
He willed his gold to Mary who fought so manfully
And now she lives quite happy on the Banks of Sweet Dandee.
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