Northlands - Sam Lee

This pretty young boy came from the Northlands

And he came a-wooing me

And he promised he’d take me down by the Northland

And there he’d marry me

«And go get some more your mama’s own gold

And more of your daddy’s fee

And two o' the best horses from out your stable door

Where there were thirty and three.»

They rode down 'til they come to the north strand

For to watch all the old waves a-going by

«And get it down, get it down, pretty Polly,» he cried

«Get it down, get it down,» cried he

«For it’s six pretty babes I have drownded here

And the seventh one you shall be!

Your silks and your satins, you must take them off

And deliver them all unto me."

«If it’s my silks and my satins, I must take them off

Please turn your back unto me.»

And he turned his back unto the north strand

For to watch all the old waves a-going by

And she clipped him 'round by the middle so small

And she flung him right into the deep

And he swum high, and he swum low

And he swum 'til he come to the seashore

«For one hold of your hand, pretty Polly,» he cried

«Sure as sentence I’ll make you my bride!»

«And I’d stop where you are, you false-hearted young man

And I’d stop where you are,» cried she

«For I think you have been too big a blagard

For a naked young woman like me.»

And she mounted 'pon her milk-white steed

And she led the old dapple grey

And she rode down 'til she come to her father’s hall-door

It was three long hours 'fore day

«What ails you, what ails you,» her father he cried

«What have you home before day?»

«Hold tongue, hold tongue,» pretty Polly she cried

«Do not tell any tales by me;

For your cage shall be made of the glittering gold

And your door of the grand ivory!»