Transcription
Faithful John Hanfield
When I was a young man I courted a beauty bride,
On whom I had placed my whole heart’s delight.
I courted her for her love and her love I did obtain,
Because she had no reason of me to complaint.
But when her own parents came for to know
That I was courting of their daughter so
They locked her up and they kept her so severe,
That I never got the sight of my love but once more.
Oh, then I was determined to the window for to go,
To see if my love had forgotten me or not.
But when I came there she said to me and cryed,
“I never will forsake you until they say I die”.
“I am for a man and a man of high degree,
I never will prove false to the man who once loved me,
Although I am in my chambers here confined,
Is that any reason that I should change my mind.
Oh, then I was prepared to the wars for to go
To see whether I could forget my love or not.
But when I was there with my arms a shining bright,
I took another thought of my own hearts delight.
It was seven long years I had served my ring,
Before I was freed to return home again,
But when I returned home I thought of my own love
I had not forgot my sweetheart, oh, no, now never should,
Oh, then I was determined to her father’s house to go
To see if my love had forgot me or not,
But when her mother saw me she rung her hand and cried,
Saying my daughter loved you dearly and for your sake
she died.
Oh, than I was struggling like aman that was slain,
I scarce could be brought to my senses again,
Crying O, O, O, O the pain that I do hear,
My true love is in the grave and I long to be there.
And when I was brought to my senses again
I took pen and ink and wrote down the same
Come all true hearted lovers, come pity, pity me,
Come pity my hearts fortune and my said misery.
I threw myself down all on the green grass,
And lay till my body was layed to the earth,
Now all true hearted lovers that passes thereby
May know that is the place where John Hanfied did die.
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