Willow Tree- Bill Smith (Shrop) 1981 REC
[From the album, Bill Smith, A country life: Songs and stories of a Shropshire man (MTCD351). Liner noted follow. Bill Smith of Shropshire sang the two verses of The Willow Tree, teh additional text is from May Bradley.
R. Matteson 2017]
Lines in italics from the singing of May Bradley, who lived nearby. Bill didn't know her, but when shown a photograph of May and her husband published in the Fred Hamer collection Garners Gay, said, "No, I don't know her, but 'im! He owes me a pint!"
Roud has 14 versions of this lovely song, four of which are from North America. The earliest entry is Lucy Broadwood's 1909 collection Lucy Broadwood Manuscript Collection (LEB/5/380/2) of it from Shadres Petulengro, in Kendal, Westmorland. The others are from May Bradley (MTCD349), plus Sam Richards collected it from Bill 'Pop' Hingston, of Dittisham, Devon, in the 1970s, as did Gavin Greig from a Miss Ross, in Scotland.
The Willow Tree (Roud 18831) sung by Bill Smith. Recorded Spring 1981
As I passed by a willow tree
A willow leaf flew after me
I picked it up it would not break
I met my love she would not speak.
Come speak to me and don't be shy
Come speak to me don't pass me by
If I only had the one I love
How happy, happy would I be.
As friends we'll meet and friends we'll part
So take my hand but not my heart.
I wish your heart was made of glass
That I could view it through and through
To view the secrets of your heart
If he loves one he can't love two.
Then bring me back the one I love
Oh bring, oh bring him back to me
If I only had the one I love
How happy, happy I would be
My love he is a sailor boy
He sails across the raging sea
And when he gets so far away
He hardly thinks no more of me
Then bring me back the one I love
Oh bring, oh bring him back to me
If I only had the one I love
How happy, happy I would be