Young but Growing- Margaret McGarvey (Ferm) 1954 Ennis
[From the recording: Good people, take warning: Ballads sung by British and Irish traditional singers.
R. Matteson 2016]
Young but Growing- sung by Margaret McGarvey of Belleck, Co Fermanagh, Aug 11, 1954, recorded by Seamus Ennis.
The trees that did grow green and the trees they did grow tall,
And many happy hour I've spent, me an my love John;
On a dark and stormy night when you and the winter wind doth blow,
Ah, my bonny boy is young, but he's growing, growing.
"Oh father, dear father, you to me much harm have done,
You married me to this bonny boy, and I fear he's rather young,"
"His age is sixteen, aye, and I am twenty-one,
Ah, my bonny boy is young, but he's growing, growing.
At the age of sixteen he was a married man,
At the age of seventeen he was the father of a son,
At the age of eighteen, sure the grass grew over his grave,
Cruel death has put an end to his growing, growing.
Oh made him a shroud which was made of green and gold,
And while she [1] was making it the tears they did run down,
[Saying] "Once I had a sweetheart, but now I have got none,
And we'll rear up his son while he growing, growing,
And we'll rear up his son while he growing."
1. originally "he"