The Traditional Games of England, Scotland, and Ireland Volume I Part 41

VI. Walking up the green gra.s.s, A dust, a dust, a dust!

We want a pretty maiden To walk along with us.

We'll take this pretty maiden, We'll take her by the hand, She shall go to Derby, And Derby is the land!

She shall have a duck, my dear, She shall have a drake, She shall have a nice young man A-fighting for her sake!

Suppose this young man was to die, And leave the poor girl a widow; The bells would ring and we should sing, And all clap hands together!

-Berrington (_Shropshire Folk-lore_, p. 511).

VII. Tripping up the green gra.s.s, Dusty, dusty, day, Come all ye pretty fair maids, Come and with me play.

You shall have a duck, my dear, And you shall have a swan, And you shall have a nice young man A waiting for to come.

Suppose he were to die And leave his wife a widow, Come all ye pretty fair maids, Come clap your hands together!

Will you come?

No!

Naughty man, he won't come out, He won't come out, he won't come out, Naughty man, he won't come out, To help us in our dancing.

Will you come?

Yes!

Now we've got our bonny lad, Our bonny lad, our bonny lad, Now we've got our bonny lad, To help us in our dancing.

-Middles.e.x (Miss Collyer).

VIII. Stepping on the green gra.s.s Thus, and thus, and thus; Please may we have a pretty la.s.s To come and play with us?

We will give you pots and pans, We will give you bra.s.s,

No!

We will give you anything For a bonny la.s.s.

No!

We will give you gold and silver, We will give you pearl, We will give you anything For a pretty girl.

Yes!

You shall have a goose for dinner, You shall have a darling, You shall have a nice young man To take you up the garden.

But suppose this young man was to die And leave this girl a widow?

The bells would ring, the cats would sing, So we'll all clap together.

-Frodingham and Nottinghamshire (Miss M. Peac.o.c.k).

IX. Stepping up the green gra.s.s, Thus, and thus, and thus; Will you let one of your fair maids Come and play with us?

We will give you pots and pans, We will give you bra.s.s, We will give you anything For a pretty la.s.s.

No!

We won't take your pots and pans, We won't take your bra.s.s, We won't take your anything For a pretty la.s.s.

Stepping up the green gra.s.s, Thus, and thus, and thus; Will you let one of your fair maids Come and play with us?

We will give you gold and silver, We will give you pearl, We will give you anything For a pretty girl.

Yes!

Come, my dearest [Mary], Come and play with us, You shall have a young man Born for your sake.

And the bells shall ring And the cats shall sing, And we'll all clap hands together.

-Addy's _Sheffield Glossary_.

X. Up and down the green gra.s.s, This, and that, and thus; Come all you fair maids And walk along with us.

Some will give you silver, Some will give you gold, Some will give you anything For a pretty la.s.s.

Don't you think [_boy's name_]

Is a handsome young man?

Don't you think Miss [_child who has been choosing_]

Is as handsome as he?

Then off with the glove And on with the ring; You shall be married When you can agree.

Take hold of my little finger, Maycanameecan, Pray tell me the name Of your young man.

-Hurstmonceux, Suss.e.x (Miss Chase).

XI. Here we come up the green gra.s.s, Green gra.s.s, green gra.s.s, Here we come up the green gra.s.s, Dusty, dusty, day.

Fair maid, pretty maid, Give your hand to me, I'll show you a blackbird, A blackbird on the tree.

We'll all go roving, Roving side by side, I'll take my fairest --, I'll take her for my bride.

Will you come?

No!

Naughty miss, she won't come out, Won't come out, won't come out, Naughty miss, she won't come out, To help us with our dancing.

Will you come?

Yes!

Now we've got our bonny la.s.s, Bonny la.s.s, bonny la.s.s, Now we've got our bonny la.s.s, To help us with our dancing.

-London (A. B. Gomme).

XII. Here we go up the green gra.s.s, The green gra.s.s, the green gra.s.s; Here we go up the green gra.s.s, So early in the morning.