Young Johnny

Collected by Bob Copper in about 1954 from George Fosbury of Axford, Hampshire: see Chapter Fourteen, pp. 114-122, of Songs and Southern Breezes for the details; and the appendix for these words.


Young Johnny walked out on a sunshiny morn,
He sat himself down by the side of a thorn,
And he had not been there long when his true love she passed by,
And young Johnny followed after with a long and wishing eye.

I have two little lambs stole away from the fold,
And these two little lambs they came this way I've been told,
O, shepherd, gentle shepherd, will you tell to me, I pray,
Have you seen two little lambs come a-wandering this way?

O, yes, replied the shepherd, I saw them pass by,
They're down in yonder valley and that is very nigh,
She returned herself with a curtsey and thanked him with a blush
And young Johnny followed after and they lodged in a bush,
Lodged in a bush.


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