A compendium of articles relating to the history, culture and lifestyles of the people of Britain and Ireland Islands of the north Atlantic - a library of information about British and Irish history, culture and identity Islands of the north Atlantic - a library of information about English, Scottish, Welsh  and Irish history and identity, folklore and tradition.
Culture, tradition and folklore from the islands of the North Atlantic, poems, artwork, essays, supernatural stories, tales of heroes and legends.

Music And Song - English Folk Song

As I Was Going To Banbury

Posted by IONA folk correspondent, 8th Apr 2006

As I was going to Banbury
Ri fol latitee O
As I was going to Banbury
I saw a line coddlin apple tree
With a ri fol latitee O

And when the coddlins began to fall
Ri fol latitee O
And when the coddlins began to fall
I found five hundred men in all
With a ri fol latitee O

And one of the men I saw was dead
Ri fol latitee O
And one of the men I saw was dead
So I sent for a hatchet to open his head
With a ri fol latitee O

And in his head I found a spring
Ri fol latitee O
And in his head I found a spring
And seven young salmon a learning to sing
With a ri fol latitee O

And one of the salmon as big as I
Ri fol latitee O
And one of the salmon as big as I
Now do you not think I am telling a lie?
With a ri fol latitee O

And one of the salmon as big as an elf
Ri fol latitee O
And one of the salmon as big as an elf -
If you want any more you must sing it yourself
With a ri fol latitee O

We try to ensure all material is as factually correct as possible. Tell us if you see something published in error, or if you have another version of a story to share with our readers please let us know. Please submit in plain text format only. All material posted on these pages is, we believe, to be in the public domain. However if you see something which you know to be copyright protected, please let us know and we will act on your instructions. Contact us here.