Wexford City- Mike Kent (NL) 1951 Peacock B
[Published in Songs Of The Newfoundland Outports, Volume 2, pp.634-635, by the National Museum of Canada (1965).
R. Matteson 2016]
B. The Wexford City-- Collected by Kenneth Peacock in 1951 from Michael (Mike) A Kent [1904-1997] of Cape Broyle, NL. (Kenneth Peacock - Variant B)
'Twas in the city of Wexford
a merchant he did dwell,
He reared one comely daughter
a farmer he loved well;
He went to her one evening
at the hour of six o'clock,
Saying, "Come and walk and we will talk,
and plan our wedding day."
They walked along together
not thinking any harm,
He took a stick all from the ground
and beat his true love down.
"Oh Willie, lovely Willie,
oh Willie," she did cry,
"Oh Willie dear, don't murder me,
I'm not prepared to die."
He took her by her yellow locks
and gently threw her down,
And he threw her in the river
that flows through Wexford town;
Returning home that very night
at the hour of twelve o'clock
He saw his mother getting off
all in a purple shawl.
"Oh son, dear son, what have you done?
There's blood-stain on your clothes."
He quickly made an answer
he bleeding from the nose;
He asked her for a candle
to light himself to bed,
And all that night this Wexford girl
was trembling over his head.
For twisting and for turning
no peace nor rest could find,
The gates of hell were open,
before his eyes did shine.
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In less than three weeks after
this Wexford girl was found
A-floating down the river
that flows through Wexford town.
Then I was taken prisoner
and into prison cast,
With no one dear to pity me
or hear my mournful cries.
Come all ye young maidens
and warning take by me,
Don't ever trust your first true love
whoever he may be,
For if you do you'll surely rue
to find yourself like me,
For to die a public scandal
upon some gallows tree.