Maid Of The Sweet Brown Knowe

Maid Of The Sweet Brown Knowe - Burl Ives

Come all you lads and lassies

And listen to me a while

I'll sing for you a verse or two

Which will cause you all to smile

It's all about a young man

And I'm going to tell you now

How he lately came a-courting

After the maid of the sweet brown knowe

Said he

My pretty fair maid

And then will you come along with me

We'll both go off together

And married we will be

We'll join our hands in wedlock bands

I'm speaking to you now

And I'll do my best endeavour for

The maid of the sweet brown knowe

This fair and fickle young thing

She knew not what to say

Her eyes did shine like

Silver bright

And merrily did play

She said 'Young man your love subdued

For I'm not ready now

And I'll spend another season

At the foot of the sweet brown knowe'

Said he 'My pretty fair maid

Then how can you say so

Look down on yonder valley

Where my crops do gently grow

Look down on yonder valley

Where my horses and my plough

Are at their daily labour

For the maid of the sweet brown knowe'

'If they're at their daily labour

Kind Sir it's not for me

I've heard of your behaviour

I have indeed' said she

'There is an inn where you call in

I've heard the people say

Where you rap call and pay for all

And go home at the break of day

If I rap and call and I pay for all

Then money is all my own

I will never spend your fortune

Cause I hear that you've got none

You've thought you had

My poor heart broken

Speaking with me now

But I'll leave you where I found you

At the foot of the sweet brown knowe