The Trees They Are So High- Hannaford (Wid) 1890 B-Gould
[From: Baring-Gould's MSS. There are at least two versions in Baring-Gould MS attributed to Hannaford- one is a second singing or has been modified. Some of Hannaford's version was used in Baring-Gould's long 13 stanza compilation.
R. Matteson 2016]
The Trees They Are So High- sung by Roger Hannaford of Lower Town, Widecombe, May, 1890; collected by Baring-Gould.
1. The sun is gone and set; and the moon is going down,
'Tis time for you and me love[1], no more to meet again,
On a cold winter's night; all as we walked alone,
So [And] my bonny lad is young but is growing.
2. O father, father dear, to me you've done great wrong,
You've wed me to a bonny lad that's far, far too young,
For I am only twelve and he but thirteen
But my bonny lad is young but is growing.
3. O daughter, daughter dear[2], no worry to you is done,
I wed you to a bonny lad that is a rich Lord's son.
He'll make of you a lady great if [that] you will say done.
So my bonny lad is young but is growing.
4. O daughter, daughter dear, if you will agree,
We'll send him for a month or two to a high collegree[3]
And there he shall abide awhile a month or two or three,
So my bonny lad is young but[4] is growing.
5. I'll cut my yellow hair, I'll cut it to the root[5],
I'll cast aside my maiden's garb and follow him a foot,
To the high collegree I'll follow him (by suit,)
So my bonny lad so young but is growing.
6. As I looked o'er my father's castle wall
I saw four and twenty lads, playing at the ball,
But my bonny lad, he did exceed them all
And my bonny lad is young and he is growing.
7. At the age of thirteen he was a married man[7],
At the age of fourteen he was the father of a son
And when he was fifteen O then his grave was green,
So[8] that made the end of his growing.
8. I'll buy five yards of holland so fine,
As a present to my bonny lad, that is a rich man's son
And as I sew it along my tears run down the twine,
For my bonny lad so young has ceased growing.
_________________
1. In 2nd MS: [sweet love, once more has come]
2. In 2nd MS: [I've done to you no wrong]
3. collegeree (1892 edition: college-re)
4. In 2nd MS: [but still a-growing]
5. In 2nd MS stanza 5:
I'll cut my yellow hair, I'll cut it to the root,
I'll cut my yellow hair, I'll cut it to the brow,
And I'll go to college with him, I'll go to college now,
So my bonny lad so young but is growing.
6. In 2nd MS stanza 6:
As I looked o'er my father's castle wall, my father's castle wall,
I saw four and twenty gallant boys were playing at the ball,
But my bonny lad [was there and he did exceed them all
And my bonny lad is young and he is growing.
7. Stanzas 7 and 8 have been reversed
8. In 2nd MS: [For my bonny lad so young has ceased growing.]