I'm Seventeen Come Sunday- W. Spearing[Spearman] (Som) 1904
[From: Journal of the Folk-Song Society, Volume 2 by Folk-Song Society (Great Britain) 1906. It's likely Spearing's text was used (edited) Sharp's "Folk Songs from Somerset."
See MS text below.
R. Matteson 2017]
3.— I'M SEVENTEEN COME SUNDAY. Sung by Mr. William Spearing (Spearman), at Isle Bruers, April, 1904; collected Sharp.
As I walked out one May morning,
One May morning so early,
I over-tooked a handsome maid
Just as the sun was a-rising;
CHORUS: With my ru- rum-a- day,
Fal the did-dle- i - day,
Fal the doll the did-dle - i - day.
Her shoes were bright and her stockings white.
And her buckles shone like silver;
She had a black and a rolling eye,
And her hair hung over her shoulder.
"How old are you, my fair pretty maid?
How old are you, my honey?"
She answered me, quite cheerfully,
"I am seventeen, come Sunday."
"Will you marry me, my fair pretty maid?
Will you marry me, my honey?"
She answered me quite cheerfully,
"I dare not, for my mammy."
" If you'll come unto my mammy's house
When the moon is shining brightly,
I will come down and let you in
And my mammy shall not hear me."
I went unto her mammy's house
When the moon was shining brightly.
She did come down and let me in,
And I stayed with her till morning.
"Now, soldier, will you marry me?
Now is your time, or never,
For if you do not marry me
I am undone for ever."
And now she is the soldier's wife
And the soldier loves her dearly.
The drum and fife is my delight,
And a merry old man is mine, O!
____________________________
MS of William Spearing at Isle Brewers April 6 1904
1. As I walked out one May morning
One may morning so early
I overtook a handsome maid
Just as the sun was a rising
Chorus
With my re rum a day
Fal the diddle i day
Fal the dol the diddle i day
2. Here shoes were bright & her stockings white
And her buckles shone like silver
She had a black and rolling eye
And her hair hung over her shoulder
With my etc
3. How old are you my fair pretty maid
How old are you my honey
She answered me quite cheerfully
I am seventeen come Sunday
With my etc.
4. Will you marry me my fair pretty maid
Will you marry me my honey?
She answered me quite cheerfully
I dare not for my mammy
5. If quick come with my Mammy's house
When the moon in shining brightly
I will come down and let you in
And my mammy shall not hear me
6. I went into her mummy's house
When the moon was shining brightly
She did come down and let me in
And I laid in her arms till morning
7. Now soldier will you marry me
Now is your time, or never
For if you do not marry me
I am a widow forever
8. And now she is this soldier's wife
And the soldier loves her dearly
The drum and fife in her delight
And a merry old man is mine- O.
With my etc