There is an Alehouse- James Channon (Hamp) 1907 Gardiner
[Fairly complete with music from George Gardiner Manuscript Collection (GG/1/15/957). Variant of the "Alehouse"/"Brisk Young Soldier" branch with two stanzas from Oxfordshire Tragedy with standard ending.
R. Matteson 2017]
There is an Alehouse- sung by James Channon (b. 1857) of Basingstoke, Hampshire in September, 1907. Collected by G.B. Gardiner, Charles Gambin.
There is an alehouse all in this town,
Where my true lover first set himself down,
He took a strange girl all on his knee,
And don't you think it's a grief to me?
A grief for me I'll tell you for why,
Because she has more gold than I,
The gold will waste and her beauty will fade[1],
And she [will be] a poor girl like me at last.
'twas down in the meadows this poor girl strolled,
Picking those flowers as fast as they grow;
It was some she picked, and some she pulled
Until she had gathered her apron full.
She spread them out and made her bed
A stony pillow to lay her head,
She laid herself down and never more spoke,
To think a poor girl her heart was broke.
So dig her a grave both long, wide and deep,
And cover it over with lilies so sweet;
and on her breast put a white turtle dove,
To show the world she died for love.
1. often, "blast" to rhyme