The Squire's Lost Lady

Collected by Bob Copper in about 1954 from Ben Butcher in Popham, Hampshire - a song he had learnt from his father George Butcher in Storrington, Sussex: see Chapter Fourteen, pp. 114-122, of Songs and Southern Breezes for the details - and wonderful story about a shoot; see also the appendix for these words.

Martin Carthy has recorded a version of this story under the title Domeama. His daughter Eliza's version (which she learnt from him) is called Jacky Tar.

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As a sailor was a-walking one fine summer's day
The squire and his lady were making the hay,
The sailor overheard the squire say
This very night with you I must play.
Chorus
With my Um and my A and my good lack adaisy
Wack fol th' laddie, wack fol-i-day.

You must tie a string all round your finger,
And hang the string out of the window,
And I'll slip by and pull the string
And you must come down and let me in.
Chorus

Thinks the sailor to himself, I've a mind to try
To see if I cannot win the prize.
So Jack slipped by and pulled the string
And down she came and let Jack in.
Chorus

Along came the squire quietly humming a song
Thinking to himself, Now it will not be long,
As the squire slipped by, no string he found
And behold his hopes all dashed to the ground.
Chorus

And early in the morning 'twas getting light
The young lady jumped upright in a fright,
For there Jack lay in his old black shirt
And behold his face was covered with dirt.
Chorus

And Jack he says, O forgive, I pray,
At break of day I'll go right away.
Oh no, she said, don't go very far
For I'll never part from my Jolly Jack Tar.
Chorus

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