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Music And Song - English Folk Song

Young William

Posted by IONA English folk correspondent, 29th Mar 2006

(Chorus):
So here's to every young man who's fond of a lark,
And heres to every young maid who's up to the mark;
And when her lover press her she will make this remark:
"You may kiss me where you will, my love, but kiss me in the dark"


Young William was a handsome, a roving sailor boy,
And Sally was the girl he loved, his heart's delight and joy.
He threw his arms around her waist when she made this remark:
"You may kiss me where you will, my love, but kiss me in the dark".

A Captain overhearing these lovers discourse,
He thought that he might kiss the girl and she be none the worse.
He heard young William name the time to meet her in the park;
Say he, "I will go in his stead and kiss her in the dark".

Now the third night after, just at the close of day,
The captain had found out a plan to keep her love away;
With William's dress upon his back he's gone into the park
He rolled her on the dewy grass and kissed her in the dark.

So in full three months after, to William she was wed,
And in full six months after she safely got her bed.
Her husband he did wonder how it came within the mark,
But little he thought the captain had kissed her in the dark.

The captain stood godfather unto this lovely boy,
And threw him down five hundred pound which he does now enjoy;
And Sally smiles unto herself when thinking of the park,
When the captain rolled her on the grass and kissed her in the dark.

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